Sampson Mordan

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SAMPSON MORDAN

A topic for recording information regarding S. Mordan & Co. and their earlier and later entities.



If you have any details of the above company, advertisements, examples of their work, etc., anything that you are willing to share, then here's the place to post it.



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Though not so lavishly decorated as some of the more modern streets of London City Road was nevertheless gaily decked in honour of the King’s visit on June 29. Private enterprise as usual was responsible for much of the pleasing effect. One firm in particular we noticed not merely for the tasteful way in which its premises were decorated but also because the name of the firm is known all over the world. We refer to Messrs. S. Mordan and Co., Ltd., makers of the celebrated Mordan’s ever-pointed pencils. This firm has been established nearly a century, occupying from the beginning the building known as 41, City Road.

Source: The Tatler - 12th July 1911

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S. Mordan & Co., Ltd. - London - 1908

WANKLYN'S PATENT TURBINE STRIKER

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A silver match-box is always an agreeable present to give to a smoker. The fault with most silver match-boxes, however, is the tendency of the striker, at the bottom of the box, to clog and prevent the ignition of matches struck on it. The celebrated firm of silversmiths, Messrs. S. Mordan and Co., Limited, of 41, City Road, London, E.C., have just started to supply silversmiths and jewellers with a new box which entirely overcomes this difficulty. This new match-box is fitted with an original patent, known as Wanklyn's patent "Turbine" striker, which rotates automatically and cleans itself instead of filling and presenting' a smooth surface to the match. It can be used equally well in dry and wet weather, and is practically indestructible. Another feature is that each box is made out of one piece of silver. It would be difficult to think of a more useful Christmas gift at a moderate price for a smoker.

Source: Country Life - 6th December 1908

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S. Mordan & Co. - London - 1843


S. Mordan & Co. - London - 1843

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It is not generally known that Mr. John Isaac Hawkins, civil engineer, Hampstead, in the year 1822, invented that useful and now well-known pocket appendage, the patent ever-pointed pencil, and the leads for the same, the right of making which was purchased from him by Gabriel Riddle and Sampson Mordan, under the well-known firm of S. Mordan & Co.

Source: Mechanic's Magazine - April 1837

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S. Mordan & Co. - London - 1833


S. Mordan & Co. - London - 1833

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Member MCB wrote:

For information Grimwade page 283 shows Gabriel Riddle registering a rounded end rectangle as his own mark in 1837. Culme's London Directory suggests Riddle was out of the business by 1851.

Also the SM mark originally registered by Sampson Mordan continued to be used by his descendants to circa 1890.

Sampson Mordan was born around 1790 but research of the various English genealogy web sites fails to trace details of his parents etc. These records are not wholly complete however.

In his book on London Silversmiths and Goldsmiths 1838-1914 John Culme records that Sampson Mordan was apprenticed to John Bramah the famous inventor of patent locks. Wikipedia notes that Bramah also patented the first elastic form of ink reservoir for a fountain pen, hence, no doubt, Sampson’s interest in writing requisites.

There is no trace on web sites of Sampson Mordan’s date of marriage but he has been noted as having six children all born in London, their mother’s name Elizabeth; daughter Elizabeth who was born 1810, sons Sampson Junior 1814, Francis 1817, Augustus 1820, Charles 1822 and daughter Emma 1824. Interestingly all six were christened on the same day on 12th July 1828 at St Luke’s in Old Street London.

Wikipedia notes that in 1822 Sampson with his partner John Isaac Hawkins filed the first Great Britain patent for a metal pencil with an internal mechanism for propelling “lead” forward during use. The advertisements pictured above give an indication of the many other goods Sampson produced thereafter. The business was noted for well engineered top quality.

There is no record of Sampson senior on the 1841 UK Census nor is there a record for his wife Elizabeth. It is possible she had died earlier but Sampson did not pass away until 1843. His absence on the Census day is the more intriguing because both younger sons Francis and Augustus are mentioned at 22 Castle Street which was the family business address whereas the youngest two children are not.

Sampson senior was buried on the 9th of April 1843 in Highgate Cemetery. Sampson junior and Augustus carried on their father’s business from 22 Castle Street.

Those interested in the later history of S Mordan & Co may wish to read pages 330-1 of Volume 1 of John Culme’s book.

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A silver whistle by Sampson Mordan & Co., assayed at London in 1920:






S.M & Co - London - 1920

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S. Mordan & Co., Ltd. - London - 1928

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Some details of an interview with Sampson Mordan and three of his apprentices as carried out by Mr F.D. Longe of the Children's Employment Commission in 1865.

This would have been Sampson Mordan II, who inherited the business, along with his brother Augustus, following the death of his father in 1843.


Mr. S. Mordan's Pencil Manufactory, City Road, Finsbury, London.

Mr. S. Mordan.–Out of about 300 hands we have about 45 boys between 12 and 20. Most of these boys are apprenticed by deed to different trades. Some are apprentice lock makers, others are apprentice pencil makers. Our lads are generally our workmen's sons. They are never apprenticed before 14. They are apprenticed to the firm. The hours of work are from 6 to 6 in summer, and from 8 to 8 in the winter, with two hours out of that time for meals. I do not think the boys ever work overtime. We very seldom have any overtime. On Saturdays we leave off at 2 o'clock. There is no addition to the time of work on the other days of the week to make up for Saturday. The hands don't work 60 hours a week regularly.

John Jelks, apprentice, silversmith.–I am 18 next birthday. I have been apprenticed three years. I come at half past 8. I go away at 8 at night. I never work after 8. On Saturday I leave at 2 o'clock. I go away for dinner on all days, except Saturdays. Before I came here I was at school, till I was 14. I am not a very good scholar. I can write and read.

John Neil.–I am in my 20th year. I have been an apprentice four years. Before I came I was at a perfumer's. I was two years and a half there. I made violet powder. There were three other boys there. Before that I was at a printer's. I was at a machine ruler's when I was about 12 or 13 years old. There were 60 other boys with me. Our hours there were from 8 to 8. Every week we worked some hours overtime. We worked to 9 or 10 two or three days out of each week. Before that I was at a lithograph printer's. I was about three months there. Before that I was at a glass cutter's. I ground glass in the shop. I was only a month or two there. Before that I was at an eating-house keeper's. I washed up plates. I was about 11 when I went there. I was three months there. I worked from half-past 7 to 8. I always left at 8. I was at school for four years before that. I could not read when I went to work. I am a Sunday school teacher now.

William Ward.–I am 16 on the 24th of next January. I have been apprenticed since last May as a silversmith. I have been here three years. I come at half-past 8. I go away at 8. I never work after 8. I am paid day wages. On Saturday I leave at 2 o'clock. Before I came I worked at a watchmaker's. I worked from 7 to 7. I was two years there. I used to work to 7 on Saturdays there as on the other days. Before this I worked at another watchmaker's. I was hardly 10 years when I went there. I worked then from half-past 7 to 8. I worked the same time on Saturday. We never worked after 8. I was nine months there. Before that I was at school since I was 4 years old. I could read and write and knew arithmetic when I left.

Source: Reports from Committees - 1865

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S. Mordan & Co. - London - 1900

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THOMAS JOHNSON

10, Dyer's Buildings, Holborn, later, 32, John Street, Bedford Row, London


An example of the work and mark of Thomas Johnson:




















Retailer mark of Walter Thornhill & Co., 144, New Bond Street, London


TJ - London - 1863


Established c.1850 by Thomas Johnson.

Restyled c.1875 to Thomas Johnson & Sons.

Restyled c.1878 to Johnson, Sons & Edmunds (Thomas Johnson, Frederick Edmunds, Thomas George Johnson, and Edward James Winter Johnson).

The business was transferred to Sampson Mordan & Co. Ltd. on the 27th August 1898.

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S. Mordan & Co. - London - 1923

'CENTENNIAL'

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Instead of cutting a cigar with a knife, which often tears or breaks the leaf, it is a good plan to use Hardtmuth’s Patent Cigar- Piercer, which drills a clean hole in the cigar without injury to the leaf. These useful piercers cost only sixpence or a shilling at any tobacconist’s, but if more expensive ones be required, jewellers can supply them in silver at 5s. and upwards, and in gold at 21s. and upwards. The gold and silver piercers are made and sold wholesale by the well-known firm of S. Mordan and Co., Ltd., of 41, City Road, E.C.

Source: The Illustrated London News - 24th September 1910

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L. & C. Hardtmuth - London - 1910

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S. Mordan & Co., Ld. - London - 1909

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A tea-strainer stand with drip bowl by Sampson Mordan & Co., assayed at Chester in 1911:








S M & Co - Chester - 1911 - Rd. 548382

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JOHN SHIRLEY

9th August 1851.

Drowned while bathing at Ramsgate, aged 64, John Shirley. His loss is deeply regretted by his employers, Sampson Mordan & Co. of the City Road, in whose service he has lived as Foreman for 30 years.

Source: Gentleman's Magazine Vol.36 - 1851

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S. Mordan & Co. Ltd. - London - 1916

CENTENARY

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