MARKS - HALLMARKS - HISTORY Sampson Mordan (1770-1843), apprentice and assistant of the mechanic John Bramah, established his own business in 1815. The first patent for a "metal pencil with an internal mechanism for propelling the graphite 'lead' shaft forward during use" was obtained in 1822 (his co-inventor was John Isaac Hawkins). In 1823 Mordan bought out the rights of Hawkins, entering his first mark as "smallworker" in London Assay Office on 9 June 1823 (SM oblong). In 1824 he entered in partnership with Gabriel Riddle, registering a new mark (SM.GR) in London Assay Office. The partnership with Riddle was dissolved in 1836 and he continued the business as S. Mordan & Co. Sampson Mordan died in 1843 and the business was taken over by his sons Sampson (Jr) and Augustus. They were later joined by Edmund George Johnson and Zachariah Watkins who retired in 1879. After the death of Sampson Mordan (Jr) his share of the business passed to his brother Augustus, joined as partner in 1890 by Harry Lambert Symonds. In 1898 the company was converted to a limited liability company under the name of S. Mordan & Co Ltd. In 1933 the distribution rights on the propelling pencil business were given to L. G. Sloan Ltd, and in 1941, following the destruction of the factory by enemy bombing, the patents were sold to Edward Baker. The firm went into voluntary liquidation in 1952. Between the 1820s and 1870s the firm obtained more of 160 patents for various mechanical pencils. The first spring-loaded mechanical pencil was patented in 1877 and a twist-feed mechanism was developed in 1895. In addition to pencils the firm had a large production line of small silver and gold items, most of them belonging to the type of "novelties" so popular at the end of the 19th/beginning of the 20th century. They were supplied to many retailers, including Asprey & Sons and the Goldsmiths & Silversmiths Co. Ltd. Sampson Mordan & Co was present at the 1851 London Great Exhibition and at the 1922 and 1929 British Industries Fair. STERLING SILVER HALLMARKS
SILVER PLATE MARKS
|
Adie & Lovekin
Angell Family
Asprey & Co
Atkin Brothers
Barker Brothers
E.Barnard & Sons
Bateman Family
M. Baum
G. Benney
B.Blackburn
Boardman,Glossop & Co
M.Boulton
C.Boyton & Son
T.Bradbury & Sons
A.Browett
Chawner & Co
A.Clark Manufacturing Co
G.R.Collis & Co
Courtauld Family
Daniel & Arter
J.Deakin & Sons
S.Devlin
Deykin & Sons
J.Dixon & Sons
Dobson & Sons
Eley family
Elkington & Co
Emes family
Fattorini & Sons
Fox family
Garrard & Co
S.Godbehere
Goldsmiths & Silversmiths Co
H.Griffith & Sons
J.Grinsell & Sons
Hamilton & Inches
C.F.Hancock
Harrison Br. & Howson
Hawksworth Eyre & Co
Hayne & Cater
Hennell family
Holland Aldwinckle & Slater
Horton & Allday
Hukin & Heath
W.Hutton & Sons
G.Jamieson
Lambert & Co
P.deLamerie
Latham & Morton
Levi & Salaman
Lister & Sons
C.Maas & Co
Mappin & Webb
Martin Hall & Co
R.F.Mosley
H.G.Murphy
Pairpoint Brothers
H.H.Plante
T.Prime & Son
R.Pringle & Sons
O. Ramsden
Reid & Sons
Richards & Brown
Roberts & Belk
J.Round & Son
Sampson Mordan & Co
A.B.Savory & Sons
Sibray, Hall & Co
W & G Sissons
Smily Family
Spurrier
P.Storr
Tessiers Ltd
F.B.Thomas & Co
G.Unite & Sons
C.J.Vander
Wakely & Wheeler
Walker & Hall
D&J Wellby Ltd 
West & Son
H.Wilkinson & Co
J.Williams & Co
H.Woodward & Co
London
Birmingham
Dublin
Edinburgh
Glasgow
Sheffield
Chester