Believe it or not, but during the 19th Century, 75% of everything written in the world was written with a ‘Birmingham’ pen. Nowadays people don’t even know what a pen is. You mean I have to write it down? Like write write? WHAT???
Birmingham’s Pen Museum helps to keep the hand-writing legacy alive with exhibits of over 5,000 objects devoted to the history of the pen making industry. After all, there were once over 100 pen factories in the city until steel pen nibs were overtaken by fountain pens and ballpoint pens, which were subsequently overtaken by iPads. Besides “hands-on” demonstrations and activities like making a pen nib using original factory presses, there are guided museum tours and weekly calligraphy lessons. And the best part is the museum is located in a a Grade II listed building, the Argent Centre, which itself used to house a pen factory. So it shows how everything comes full circle. Who knows? Maybe your local Apple Store will one day be a museum dedicated to Apple products when all iPhones go the way of the dinosaur. It will be here sooner than you think.
