While the video mentions that the company is one of the oldest manufacturers of mechanical pencils in the world, it could probably have done better with the history.
“In the early 20th Century, another gold and silversmith was established in London by Ludwig Brenner, who came from Pforzheim, Germany, bringing the secrets of the Black Forest artisans. It was in London that he would perfect the instrument that would secure his fame and fortune: a self propelling pencil holding twelve three-inch leads, the iconic "Yard O Led". Brenner went into business with one Frank Tuffnel, whose father had worked with Sampson Mordan, founding the official Yard O Led company in 1934.”
“Despite the ravages of time, including the obliteration of both Brenner and Mordan's factories during the Blitz, Yard O Led survived and prospered. After the Second World War, new premises were established in Birmingham, where the company is located to this day. In the 1950s it acquired and merged with Edward Baker, obtaining the legendary Mordan patents. Tim Tuffnel, the son of Frank, remains the honourary President, ensuring the family ethos and dedication to quality remain at the heart of the company.”
And then Sampson Mordan.
“In 1822, Mordan and his co-inventor
John Isaac Hawkins filed the first patent in
Great Britain for a metal pencil with an internal mechanism for propelling the graphite "lead" shaft forward during use, as an improvement on the less complex leadholders that merely clutched the pencil lead to hold it into a single position.”
“Mordan bought out Hawkins and entered into a business partnership with Gabriel Riddle, an established stationer. From 1823 to 1837, they manufactured and sold
silver mechanical pencils with the marking "SMGR".
[1] After the partnership with Riddle dissolved, Mordan continued to sell his silver pencils as "S. Mordan & Co.", adding many other types of silver and gold items to his product line.
[2] Mordan often made his pencils in whimsical "figural" shapes that resembled animals, Egyptian mummies, or other objects; like his other silverware and goldware, these pencils are now highly collectible.
[3]”
“Upon Mordan's death in 1843, his sons Sampson (junior) and Augustus inherited the firm. "S. Mordan & Co." continued to make silverware and brass postal scales until 1941, when their factory was destroyed by bombs during the
London Blitz.”
The above is copied from both the Yard-O-Lead and Wikipedia pages.
Mordan pencils routinely pop up on eBay, and are just as expensive as the new ones, although they may use a now obsolete lead diameter unless the 1.4mm leads still manufactured fit.
I have a fondness for Pentel 0.5mm pencils, but these things don't have any mechanical bits that can break or jam.
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