Birm­ing­ham Pen Museum

Published Categorised as History, Travel, UK No Comments on Birm­ing­ham Pen Museum

Ink

While I was in Birm­ing­ham, I visited the Pen Museum. Because I gave a small dona­tion, one of the kind volun­teers essen­tially gave me a person­al guided tour.

Machines

In the 1800s a local manu­fac­turer inven­ted a meth­od for mass-produ­cing steel pen nibs, and at one point 75% of the world’s pens were made in Birm­ing­ham, essen­tially mean­ing that they were respons­ible for a large propor­tion of the world’s words. I got to have a go with the Victori­an machines, stamp­ing out and shap­ing a pen nib, a job usually done by women at the time.

Stamping

Here’s the basic shape being stamped out.

Nibs

Here’s my nib I made under­neath, which can’t be used until it’s hardened in a furnace, so they gave me anoth­er (shini­er) pre-hardened one too.

Museum

They have exhib­its of all kinds of pens and writ­ing memor­ab­il­ia.

Braille

I got to have a go on a Braille machine too, typing out my name.

Rubber stamps

There’s a big table in the centre full of all kinds of pens and inks and stamps to have a go with.

Penholder

I like this pen hold­er.

Notepaper

I am rusty at writ­ing with a dip pen. I have one at home for draw­ing with indi­an ink, but I haven’t used it in a while.

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