Nib Making, Engine Turning, & Hand Chasing: the Art of Pen & Pencil Making with Giles English of Yard-O-Led

Nib Making, Engine Turning, & Hand Chasing: the Art of Pen & Pencil Making with Giles English of Yard-O-Led

Author: BLISTER October 8, 2025 Duration: 1:02:52

Since 1822, Yard-O-Led has been making some of the finest pens and pencils in the world. They’ve survived wars, they created the “self-propelling pencil,” and today, we talk with Giles English, about the nearly 200-year history of the company that invented the mechanical pencil and still hand-crafts every sterling silver pen in their Birmingham workshop. We dig into the artistry behind engine-turning and hand-chasing, Yard-O-Led’s story of wartime survival, and what it means to carry Victorian tradition into the 21st century.

We Want to Hear from You!

Have a topic, craft category, or craft company you’d like to see us cover? Email us here to share those or any other thoughts you have about CRAFTED.

RELATED LINKS:

SennzaFinne

Blister Craft Collective

Become a BLISTER+ Member

Yard-O-Led

TOPICS & TIMES:

The Custodian of Yard-O-Led (3:41)

Origin Story of Yard-O-Led (5:36)

Nibs & Nib Making (9:30)

The Self-Propelling Pencil (13:33)

The Craft of Penmaking (22:27)

Ink Propulsion (34:20)

Yard-O-Led’s Lineup (40:50)

Why Pens Matter (44:38)

Surprises in the Pen Making World (48:34)

The Yard-O-Led Arcade (54:42)

SEE OUR OTHER PODCASTS:

Blister Cinematic

Bikes & Big Ideas

GEAR:30

Blister Podcast

BLISTER NEWSLETTER:

Get It & Our Weekly Gear Giveaways


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.


There's a particular kind of conversation that happens when someone has dedicated their life to making something tangible, driven by obsession over details most of us overlook. CRAFTED, from BLISTER, is built on those conversations. Each episode moves beyond a simple product review to explore the entire ecosystem of creation, whether the subject is a meticulously roasted coffee, a complex whiskey, a precision timepiece, or a bold new wine. You'll hear directly from the individuals who define these fields-brewers, distillers, founders, and artisans who started their ventures not because it was easy, but because they couldn't imagine doing anything else. This podcast digs into the raw materials, the failed experiments, the business risks taken on a principle, and the quiet triumphs that happen long before a product reaches a shelf. It’s about the philosophy embedded in the process as much as the technical skill. Tuning in feels less like listening to an interview and more like pulling up a stool in a workshop or a tasting room, offering an intimate look at the patience, setbacks, and unwavering standards that transform a simple idea into a crafted object. The stories are specific, but the themes of creativity, resilience, and entrepreneurial spirit are universal, connecting anyone who appreciates the depth behind a well-made thing.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

CRAFTED
Podcast Episodes
Amateur Hour: Atomic's Matt Manser on Scotch (Part 1) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:38:03
When Atomic Ski Boots Product Manager, Matt Manser, isn’t nerding out about ski boots … he’s nerding out about Scotch. And in this conversation, Matt and Jonathan discuss butt casks and blood tubs; why cask size matters;…
CORK: Holiday Edition [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:27
Danielle and Katie Nichols — the sisters behind CORK Natural Wine Shop & Restaurant in Stowe, Vermont — are back on CRAFTED to talk more about “natural wine”; discuss Italy, “priest stranglers,” and Corksicles; offer adv…
Amateur Hour: ON3P Skis founder, Scott Andrus, on Knives [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:26
In the ski world, ON3P Skis founder, Scott Andrus, is known for being maniacal about the craft of building skis. But today, we talk with Scott about his other obsession: knives. We discuss how Scott got into knives; knif…
The Art & Science of Whiskey, with Liz Rhoades, WhistlePig [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:03:51
We headed back to Shoreham, Vermont, to sit down with the head of whiskey development at WhistlePig, Liz Rhoades, to dive deep into the art and science of distilling, sourcing, yeast strains, specific types of rye, non-a…
Barr Hill Distiller, Ryan Christiansen, on Honey, Bees, Gin, & More [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:43:46
Barr Hill Gin is one of the best products being made in America today. And when paired with the mission of Barr Hill, you’ll understand why the company has such a fanatical following. Last week Jonathan Ellsworth was in…
Blue Collar Fine Art: Rob Dickinson of Precise Painting [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:39
Around here, we all think of Rob Dickinson as skiing royalty. But Rob is also the owner of Precise Painting, an interior and exterior paint and finishing company that does extremely fine work, and employs 25+ people in t…

«1...678910