New showroom for Pen Company Manuscript

Deputy Lieutenant, Selina Graham, was delighted to attend the new showroom opening at Manuscript in Highley on Friday 16th August – not a coincidence that it was also world calligraphy day!  It also marked the official launch of their new fine writing brand, Tom Hessin – Charles collection, the culmination of five generations in the pen industry!

Hearing about the past present and future plans for the largest employer in Highley was absolutely fascinating – starting in 1856 as D Leonardt & Co employing 3,000 people in Birmingham, they have brushed shoulders with royalty as pen makers to the Kings of Spain, Italy and Portugal, worked on the creation of the “Eureka” pen – now known as a ballpoint! and after mergers, partnerships and restructuring, not to mention a book about the steel pen trade, current Managing Director Charlie Stockbridge, pictured here with Selina, is leading the company into an exciting future of pen making, fine writing brand creation and international distribution.