Sampson Mordan Senior, who was born in 1790, is reputed to have been the favourite apprentice and assistant of the mechanic Joseph Bramah (1748-1814), inventor of patent locks. While I have not been able to find direct evidence of the apprenticeship there is a lot of circumstantial evidence to suggest that he did at least work with Bramah. Although he established his own business in 1815, it is not clear what he was producing between 1815 and 1823. Mordan did not patent his ever-pointed or propelling pencil until the 20th December 1822.
"To John Isaac Hawkins, of Pentonville, civil engineer, and Sampson Mordan, of Union-street, City Road, portable pen maker, for improvements on pencil holders or port-crayons, and on pens for the purpose of facilitating writing and drawing by rendering the frequent cutting or mending of the points or nibs unnecessary."
Patent Description 1823
Mordan only entered his first silver mark alone on 26th June the following year, followed by another with his partner, Gabriel Riddle, on 30th April 1824. This partnership between Sampson Mordan and Gabriel Riddle, under the firm of S. Mordan and Co., was formed by virtue of an indenture made in October 1823, "to carry out business as Mechanists and Manufacturers of Patent and other articles, at No. 22, Castle Street, Finsbury, London". Research suggests that Riddle provided the capital necessary for Mordan to expand his hitherto small scale craft production.
"To John Isaac Hawkins, of Pentonville, civil engineer, and Sampson Mordan, of Union-street, City Road, portable pen maker, for improvements on pencil holders or port-crayons, and on pens for the purpose of facilitating writing and drawing by rendering the frequent cutting or mending of the points or nibs unnecessary."
Patent Description 1823
Mordan only entered his first silver mark alone on 26th June the following year, followed by another with his partner, Gabriel Riddle, on 30th April 1824. This partnership between Sampson Mordan and Gabriel Riddle, under the firm of S. Mordan and Co., was formed by virtue of an indenture made in October 1823, "to carry out business as Mechanists and Manufacturers of Patent and other articles, at No. 22, Castle Street, Finsbury, London". Research suggests that Riddle provided the capital necessary for Mordan to expand his hitherto small scale craft production.
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