F. Chambers and Co

of Garden Pencil Works, Stapleford, Nottingham.

The company was established by Fred Chambers, foundry manager at Stanton Iron Works and a Mr Brown, a timber merchant from Nottingham. They founded the CB Syndicate in 1913 at Mitcham, Surrey. They were joined by a Professor Hinchley a Chemist with pencil making knowledge.

Their thinking was that a world war was coming and as a very high percentage of the pencils used in England were imported there would be a shortage.

In 1915 Fred bought out Mr Brown and formed F. Chambers and Co, and moved to an old lace factory at Stapleford, Nottingham where the company remained till 1973.

Chambers were the first to produce cosmetic pencils for Boots the chemist in 1931.

In 1973 the factory moved to a new factory at Sandiacre, Derbyshire and remained there until March 1991 when it was bought out by German based Lyra Company.

• 1922 Listed Exhibitor. Manufacturers of Lead Pencils, Copying Pencils, Coloured chalks, Checking Pencils, Crayons, Pastels, of all grades, to suit requirements of all markets. (Stand No. K.163)

Sources of Information

• [1] Chambers Pencils Website
• 1922 British Industries Fair Page 16