Visit To The Yard-O-Led Factory

[twdpens]

Earlier this year, Anna and I visited Yard-O-Led in Birmingham and had a factory tour. You can read about it here.

 

Enjoy,

 

Martin

[pen2paper]

Thanks Martin and Anna!

 

This is a must read, and See.

 

I have other very old objects still beautiful with their hand chasing. Most don't realize this is unique to each artist.

[richardandtracy]

As P2P says, absolutely fascinating.

 

Would love to [be able to] do it myself.

 

Regards,

 

Richard.

[jar]

It was great to see "Youth" doing the engraving. Why Alex and Krish both look like mere children. The biggest threat to companies like Yard-o-Led has to be the loss of institutional knowledge and craftsmanship with time.

[hari317]

Loved the write up and pictures. Thank you Martin.

[Barkingpig]

Thank you for sharing this adventure. It makes my pen more special to see the manner in which it was created. AND that "front door" is beyond amazing!

[da vinci]

Excellent post Martin, thank you

 

How many people are employed by YoL in total do you think?

[Ghost Plane]

Wish I could afford more.

[jchch1950]

Thanks for the report.

[twdpens]

Excellent post Martin, thank you

Glad you like it. We'd been meaning to pay a visit for years. It was a wonderful experience.

 

How many people are employed by YoL in total do you think?

Not many: 11 or 12 I think, mostly craftspeople.

 

Martin

[Postscript]

Reading your report makes my Grand Victorian even more special to me now. Thanks for taking us along.

 

Post Script

[da vinci]

Glad you like it. We'd been meaning to pay a visit for years. It was a wonderful experience. Not many: 11 or 12 I think, mostly craftspeople.Martin

Thanks for the information. They achieve an awful lot - I had thought the company was much bigger.

[IrishEyes]

I adore my YoL Victorian fp. It's great to be able to see what goes on behind those gorgeous tree doors. Thank you for sharing :-).

[mongrelnomad]

At the London Pen Show i was told, "oh, that Victorian of yours was made by John". Thank you for the photos - I can now put a face to the name!

 

What a wonderful company.

[inkstainedruth]

Wow. Very cool. I'm completely and utterly jealous. And now want a Viceroy Victorian even more than ever.... But sadly, at the moment it's the "when I win the lottery" pen.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[bbs]

Fabulous. A Victorian is also on my wish list - but probably the pocket version, love those compact pens!

[gclyn]

Excellent post and read...Good incite into the company and the pens.....Now I am even more excited and happy that my Viceroy Grand Victorian is on the way. I did not know that only 3 smiths did the engraving of the Victorian...definitely makes the pen more special.

 

I am literally checking my tracking ID for this pen daily.

[FredRydr]

It's six months since the last post, but I'll give it a shot. Martin, can you share what craftsmanship you saw applied to the business end of their fountain pens, that is: the nib, the feed and the section?

 

Thanks much.

 

Fred

Edited December 22, 2016 by FredRydr

[Diderot]

I'm glad you woke this up from its slumber as I had missed it.

 

I only have a propelling pencil which my wife gave me and I do enjoy using it.

 

Wonderful report, many thanks.

[siddr90]

Thanks for sharing! Their pocket pen is on top of my wish list for 2017!