Heritage

Our unique history

Pioneering design, fine craftsmanship, family ties and a rich company heritage all make the Yard-O-Led range of beautiful writing instruments so covetable.
1822	Sampson Mordan, based in City Road, London, invented and patented the first ever propelling pencil. One of his lifelong employees, who features later in the company’s history, was Frank Tufnell.
1934	Ludwig Brenner moved to England from Germany shortly before the First World War. He specialised in fine jewellery, and in 1934 founded the Yard-O-Led company, patenting a new version of the propelling pencil that was able to hold 12 three inch leads (a yard of lead).
1941	During the London Blitz the premises of both Sampson Mordan and Yard-O-Led were destroyed, along with the records and archives of both companies.
1946	Sampson Mordan never traded again after the war. However, over the coming years Mr Brenner teamed up with Frank Tufnell’s son, eventually selling the Yard-O-Led business to the Tufnell family. At the same time they acquired the patents for Sampson Mordan pens, continuing the family link between the two companies. The company flourished, and became renowned for its heritage and excellent craftsmanship.

1970	Tim Tufnell, Frank’s son, joined the company and Yard-O-Led continued to grow, building on a reputation for making beautiful individual pieces, and connections with the writing instrument trade reaching back to the early 19th century.
Today	The Yard-O-Led range of fine writing instruments is admired worldwide for its quality, individuality and valued sense of heritage.

Each pen or pencil (except the Retro range) is hand crafted from hallmarked sterling silver, individually numbered and comes complete with a lifetime guarantee.

Craftsmanship and Hallmarks
At our workshops in the jewellery quarter of the City of Birmingham, we understand the importance of time-honoured methods of craftsmanship. Uncompromising skill and painstaking detail have been put into each writing instrument we make.

Every Yard-O-Led is handcrafted using traditional turn-of-the-century techniques. All pencils contain one yard of lead (12 x 3 inches leads) from which the name Yard-O-Led derives.