Book Review

by Nancy Olson

The recently published book, John Sheldon, a Birmingham Master of Manufacture and Innovation, by Brian George, sheds light on the nineteenth-century innovator, bestowing Sheldon the title of “toymaker, pencilmaker and silversmith.” But this saddle-bound soft-cover book reveals the broader life and pursuits of the Birmingham native and also demonstrates the depth and vision of his work. It weaves a tale that begins with a look at Birmingham, England, in the 1800s—its growth, political life, social condition and commercial status—which sets the stage for the story of Sheldon and his work to unfold.
Though the exact year of Sheldon’s birth is unclear, it is known that he was in business for himself by 1820, listed in Wrightson’s Directory as a steel spectacle case, tobacco box and gunshot charge maker. He began producing writing equipment in 1835, as the demand for written communications and record keeping was growing: pens, pencils, letter balances and more. The book continues on to trace Sheldon’s business, which grew in both size of manufactories and the number of products offered. His family also continued to grow to include eleven children from two marriages.