Birmingham pen trade same time Osmiroid International had a large production plant in the city. Birmingham pen trade The Birmingham pen trade evolved in the Birmingham Jewellery Quarter and its surrounding area in the 19th century; for many years, the city was the centre of the world's pen trade. In Newhall Street, John Mitchell manufactured pens; he pioneered mass production of steel pens (prior to this, the quill pen was the most common form of writing instrument). Mitchells are credited as being the first manufacturers to use machines to cut pen nibs, greatly speeding up the process. John's brother William later set up
Joseph Gillott's (pens) fine-point dip pens, suitable for drawing, mapping and calligraphy purposes. Nibs currently produced are #170, 290, 291, 303, 404, 659, 850, 1068, 1290, 1950 and 2788. Joseph Gillott's (pens) Joseph Gillott's is a company based in Birmingham, England, which has been manufacturing high-quality dip pens since 1827. The company is currently part of William Mitchell Ltd. Joseph Gillott was a working cutler in his home town Sheffield, but in 1821 he moved to Birmingham, where he found employment in the steel toy trade, the technical name for the manufacture of steel buckles, chains and light ornamental steel-work generally. About 1830