www.925-1000.com

I have acquired this victorial telescopic pencil. The first hallmark is on the retractable part and I believe is the sterling mark. However, I could not understand the rest of the mark. Who was the maker? Was this pencil made by S Mordan? Anyone with the knowledge, I will greatly appreciate your insight. Thank you very much.

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(admin photo edit - image too large - insert as link or thumbnail only - see Posting Requirements)
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The picture is not really clear enough to make an accurate assessment... can you get a better image of the mark.. I have a collection of Mordan pencils and documentation on types/styles etc. Best wishes, Mike.
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Hi, I am very far from being any sort of expert but would like to give back a bit of info for a change!
I have a couple of (what I have always been told are ..) Sampson & Mordan bookmarks. While I cannot see your marks clearly from the photo I attach a close up of the marks on a 1917 bookmark which I hope may help you.



You may like to know a bit of history: Sampson Mordan, Snr was born in 1790 & established his business in 1815. By 1824 he was in partnership with Gabriel Riddle 22 Castle Street, City Rd. London UK. This partnership was dissolved in 1836 and the company run by Sampson Mordan. Mordan Snr died in 1843 and the business was taken over by his sons Sampson and Augustus. They were later joined by Edmund George Johnson and Zachariah Watkins who retired in 1879. Sampson Mordan Jnr retired to Paris and died there in 1881. His share of the business passed to Augustus. By 1890 Harry Lambert Symonds had joined as a partner and they operated from 41 & 43 City Road London EC. In 1898 the company became a limited liability company and operated under the name S. Mordan & Co Ltd absorbing a smaller business of Johnson Sons & Edmonds of 32 John Street Bedford Row, London, WC. The City Road Factory was rebuilt in 1900 and showrooms were opened at 9 & 11 Warwick Street, Regent Street, London W. After 1909 they moved to Belfast Chambers, 7 Beak Street, Regent Street, London W. The company ceased trading in 1941.
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Hi Bookworm,

Thanks for posting the information.

The reason the company finally folded was that the factory at City Road was destroyed in a bombing raid in December 1941. This would have appeared to be the final nail in the coffin, for this once great company.

The patents held by Sampson Mordan were later to pass to the Yard-o-Led Pencil Co., now part of the Letts Filofax Group.

Trev.
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Thanks very much for the additional and interesting information Trev ..... I'm beginning to think there isn't anything you don't know!

Bookworm
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