[UK] Stephenson, Blake

1. Overview

1818-1996. Sheffield and London. Materials acquired by The Type Museum. See also the revived firm Stephenson, Blake & Co. (2000), which now supplies brass rule.

Some sources say that Stephenson, Blake was formed for the purpose of acquiring the Caslon [IV], Jr foundry (formerly Jackons's). Millington's account makes it clear that this was not the case and that the real story is much more interesting.

From 1805, William Henry Garnet (1784-1854) was punchcutting (and also hand-cutting matrices in larger, "sanspareil," sizes) for the Sheffield firm of Slater & Bower (later Slater & Bacon, later "Bower, Bacon & Bower").

Garnet started on his own in 1818 in partnership with John Stephenson (1790-1864), who was acting in an engeering capacity and James Blake (1785-1832), acting in a financial capacity. The initial firm name was "Blake, Garnet & Co.

The initial parnership expired in 1830 and was renewed under the name Blake & Stephenson. James Blake died very shortly after this, however. His heirs continued as silent partners.

The partnership was renegotiated in 1842 as Stephenson, Blake & Co.

1905. Acquired Fann Street Foundry (which traced its origins back to Thomas Cottrell, apprentice to Caslon I.)

1937. Acquired H. W. Caslon & Co. Ltd, which was the main thread of the Caslon family foundry. (It, in turn, had previously acquired one of the threads of Alexander Wilson (Glasgow Letter Foundry.)

1952. May have acquired Miller & Richard.

Ceased operation as a foundry around 1996. Materials acquired by The Type Museum.

Millington, Roy. Stephenson Blake: The Last of the Old English Typefounders. New Castle, DE and London: Oak Knoll Books and The British Library, 2002.

2. Specimens, Catalogs, and Price Lists