Pen Museum

The Pen Museum is an industrial museum in Birmingham's Jewellery Quarter focused on the history of steel pen nib production. The collections display original steel nibs, manufacturing machinery, and tools from different periods of this craft tradition.

The museum documents Birmingham's role as a global center of steel pen nib manufacturing from the 1800s onward. The city fundamentally shaped this industry and for many decades determined how people wrote across the world.

The museum shows how writing tools changed communication and explains why Birmingham became such an important production center. Visitors see how this craft tradition shaped daily life and the sharing of ideas.

The museum is located in a historic building in the heart of the Jewellery Quarter and is easily accessible by public transport. Plan time to explore the exhibits slowly and understand the craft techniques used in production.

Visitors can operate original machinery from the 1800s and create their own steel nibs as craftspeople once did. This hands-on experience gives a direct sense of how skilled work was passed down through generations.

Location: Birmingham

Inception: 2001

Operator: Birmingham Pen Trade Heritage Association

Address: Unit 3 The Argent Centre, 60 Frederick Street, Birmingham B1 3HS

Opening Hours: Tuesday-Saturday 11:00-16:00; Sunday 13:00-16:00

Phone: +441212369834

Website: http://penmuseum.org.uk

GPS coordinates: 52.48460,-1.91161

Latest update: December 10, 2025 20:09