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Abel Morrall

Patent/design registration not found

Abel Morrall needle case
Needle Case

Design Details

Needle Case Type:

Flat-Names

Patent/Registered to:

Unknown

Patent/Design Representation #:

Unknown

Patent/Design Registration Date:

Unknown

Location of Patent/Design Registration:

Unknown

Reference #:

Unknown

Dimensions:

4.5 x 2.3 and 5 x 2.7

Material:

Nickel-silver

Name Variations:

Abel Morrall

Other Variations:

a) Back without company name
b) Back with company name
c) Kwikso
d) La Belle

Additional Photographs

Front open and back without company name

Front detail view and back view with company name (photo from eBay)

Facts

history

Abel Morrall was a major needle manufacturer from Studley, a town near Redditch, during the Victorian Period.  Around 1785 Michael Morrall, who was taught the art of needle making by an maternal uncle, moved to Studley and founded the company with his brother Abel and a brother-in-law.   Within five years the company was producing 40% of the 2.5 million needles that were made each week in the Redditch area.  In 1811 the company introduced the concept of creating the eyes by using a stamping press.  Additional machines were invented by them throughout the 19th century leading to major improvements in the way needles were produced.  Abel Morrall demonstrated their needle making machinery at the Great Exhibition of 1851 and Queen Victoria personally inspected it.  The company selected the demi-griffin for its new trade mark in 1861. One of Morrall's bell-shapped knitting needle gauges is pictured below.

Abel Morrall facts

History

Michael Morrall wrote and published a booklet in Manchester in 1862 entitled History and Description of Needle Making.  This book contains 42 pages of interesting history and information about needle making and 17 pages of advertisements.  It is available online at the UK National Archives.  Click on the picture below to see this book on their website.

Abel Morrall history

Miscellaneous

The griffin is a mythical creature with the body of a lion, the head and wings of an eagle and an eagle’s talons on its front feet.  It dates back to ancient times and was most common during the Classical Greek Period.  Since the griffin symbolizes strength and courage it is frequently found on heraldic shields, military insignia and family crests.  Today one also sees it used on athletic team emblems and corporate logos.

Abel Morrall misc