52. The Propelling Pencil

The epicentre of the global pen industry used to reside in Birmingham. Then the plastic biro arrived and everything changed.But in the city’s jewellery quarter, a team of skilled silversmiths are ensuring the history of Birmingham’s pen industry continues to be written.Number 52 on our list of the greatest things we make here is the propelling pencil by YARD-O-LED.Owner Giles English shows us around the company’s historic workshop as we celebrate a 100-year-old design, admire irreplaceable machines, and learn the meaning behind the company’s distinctive name.Also on the show, we explore the power of loss, Giles talks about the birth and sale of the Bremont Watch Company, and we discover the important distinction between chasing and engraving.Say hello on Instagram @thefactorynextdoor Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.