Today Yard O Led is one of the world's leading manufacturers of fine pens and pencils, as well as one of the most historic craft workshops in Britain. The story begins over over 200 years ago with the founding of a goldsmith in London by Sampson Mordan, an associate of the groundbreaking scientist Michael Faraday. Mordan would shortly go on to patent the world's first propelling pencil in 1822, which he dubbed "ever-pointed". This patent would later be acquired by Edward Baker & Company of Birmingham.