The business was founded in Birmingham in about 1837 by Meyer Myers. When the next generation came into the business it became M Myers & Son. The Charlotte Street Steel Pen Works was built in 1854. Meyer`s son, Maurice, wasn't as successful as his father, but Maurice's sons Adolph and Leo joined him as partners and saved the business. The firm became a limited liability company in 1914. In the late 1930s the factory and offices moved to Vicarage Street, Langley Green, Oldbury. During WW1 and WW2 the factory was changed over to producing munitions. After the war it produced mathematical instruments and office equipment.
John Mitchell was born on Sheffield in 1798. He moved to 36, Newhall Street, Birmingham right in the heart of Birmingham's Jewellery Quarter. His brother, William, became a major pen manufacturer, and his sister, Maria, married another Birmingham pen maker, Joseph Gillott. In around 1822 he applied tools used in the cutlery and jewellery trades to steel pen manufacture. The use of the hand press increased production and cut costs. Many of his pens were sold in France and Belgium, particularly popular were "les plumes ballon" which became a household name.
In 1908 the company moved to the Newhall Works, Moland Street, Birmingham. The factory was damaged by enemy action in April 1941. In April 1947 the pen business was sold to an American company Easterbrook Hazell Ltd.
William Mitchell was born in Sheffield in 1806 and came to Birmingham in 1824. From 1830-1852 he was at 7 St Paul's Square. He then moved to the Washington Works, Cumberland Street, Birmingham. The company moved to a purpose built factory , the Pedigree Pen Works, Bearwood Road in 1910 and employed between 400 & 500 people. William Mitchell became a part of British Pens in 1920. He invented the "alphabet Pens" series in 1843, including the famous "J" Pen.
James Perry was born in Banbury, Oxfordshire in 1769. He began his working life in Manchester as a schoolmaster. He began manufacturing pens in Manchester in 1819, and London in 1824. He popularised the steel pen with his patent Perryian pens. He died in 1843. Josiah Mason manufactured Perry's pens, the company produced over 14,000 patterns of pens of every size and description. Perry & Co took over 3 other companies in 1876 and by 1880 were producing 360,000,000 pens a year. Perry & Co (Pens) Ltd was sold to British Pens 1961.
