T. Hessin Co., Birmingham, Originally founded 1870 - Pen Models Collections Series

Oct 20, 2026

T. Hessin Co., Birmingham, Originally founded 1870 - Pen Models Collections Series

The works

In 1930 T. Hessin & Co. was in Wheeleys Lane, Birmingham. Arthur Charles put the output at ten to fifteen thousand gross a week: between 1.4 and 2.2 million pens.

Highley, 1983

The Steel Pen Trade

Arthur Charles, Tom’s son, joined T. Hessin & Co. in 1930, when Birmingham was making pens to suit the handwriting of different countries. In 1983 he wrote the trade’s story down. “The World was our market and the number of patterns ran into many hundreds A. A. S. Charles, The Steel Pen Trade 1930–80

The Tom Hessin Pen Collection Series / Models (as of 2026 October)

1) Magnetic Series
2) Charles Collection
3) Charles 1870 Gherkin
4) Revolution
5) Edinburgh
6) Rebel

1) Magnetic Series :
1) Ritz 
2) Carbon
3) Poppy Red 

2) Charles Collection :
1) Birmingham Noir
2) Castle Claret
3) Highland Green
4) Signature Blue

3) Charles 1870 Gherkin :
1) "All Black"
2) "Sky Blue"
3) "Monument Grey"

4) Revolution :
1) Palace Gates
2) Ironbridge Red
3) Charcoal 
4) Rustic

5) Edinburgh :
1) "Firth Blue"
2) "Arthur's Seat Green"
3) "Forth Bridge Red"
4) "Stockbridge Stone"

6) Rebel :
1) "Garrison Green"
2) "Oxford Blue"
3) "Jewellers Rouge"
4) "Cambridge Blue"


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