John Mitchell
of 104-8 Newhall Street, Birmingham
of Newhall Pen Works, Moland Street, Birmingham. (1922)
1798 John Mitchell was born in Sheffield
He moved to 36, Newhall Street, Birmingham right in the heart of Birmingham's Jewellery Quarter.
His brother, William, became a major pen manufacturer, and his sister, Maria, married another Birmingham pen maker, Joseph Gillott.
In around 1822 he applied tools used in the cutlery and jewellery trades to steel pen manufacture. The use of the hand press increased production and cut costs. Many of his pens were sold in France and Belgium, particularly popular were "les plumes ballon" which became a household name.
1849 Advert shown on this page.
1901 Maker of steel pens.
1908 The company moved to the Newhall Works, Moland Street, Birmingham.
1922 Listed Exhibitor. Manufacturer of Steel Pens. Maker to the King. (Stand No. K.164)
WWII The factory was damaged in an air-raid in April 1941.
1947 The pen business was sold to an American company Esterbrook Hazell Pens in April.
1960s Acquired by British Pens
See Also
Sources of Information
- Birmingham’s Industrial Heritage by Ray Shill. Published by Sutton Publishing 2002. ISBN 0-7509-2593-0
- [1] The Pen Room
- History and Directory of Birmingham, 1849
- 1922 British Industries Fair Page 55