Joan of Art’s pencils have the heart and soul of Chambers legacy running through each lead...
We are proud to say that our Joan of Art pencils are crafted by Chambers Pencils Ltd. Chambers is one of the oldest pencil makers in England (if not the world) still manufacturing and has been making pencils for over 100 years. Chambers is still a family run business with Tim Chambers currently at the helm.
The journey began in 1913 when Professor Hinchley, a Chemist with pencil manufacturing knowledge joined Mr. Fred Chambers and Mr. Brown. Mr Brown was a timber merchant from Nottingham and Fred was the foundry manager at Stanton Iron Works. The First World War was approaching and at that time a very high percentage of pencils were imported to England - a pencil shortage was correctly anticipated! Their mission was to ‘undertake the all-British manufacture of pencils of all grades for all requirements’. They did just that. In 1915 Chambers bought out Mr. Brown, moved into an old lace factory and F. Chambers and Co Ltd was born. The impressive factory became known as the Garden Pencil Works. F. Chambers and Co’s reputation rapidly grew to heady heights of exhibiting at the British Empire Exhibition in 1924 – which was then the world's largest display of commercial wares ever seen. A souvenir booklet from the exhibition proudly proclaimed that ‘Chambers made lead pencils for draughtsmen, artists, clerks, scholars and carpenters.’
‘We make short ones and long ones, thick ones and thin ones, good ones – and no – only good ones.’
Joan of Art’s pencils have the heart and soul of Chambers legacy running through each lead and with every mark you make you are joining the rich crosshatch created by over 100 years of draughtsmen, artists, clerks, scholars and carpenters that have come before you. Each of our pencils has been hand screen printed by a craftsman and we hope you will enjoy every journey they take you on.
