Private company
Stephenson Blake
English engineering company
Stephenson Blake is an engineering company based in Sheffield, England. The company was active from the early 19th century as a type founder, remaining until the 1990s as the last active type foundry in Britain, since when it has diversified into specialist engineering. The type foundry began operations in July 1818 by silversmith and mechanic William Garnett and toolmaker John Stephenson, financially supported by James Blake.2 Wikipedia text CC BY-SA 4.0
Last updated Oct 21, 2026.
Overview
See how the biggest companies compare on our leaderboards
Stephenson Blake is an engineering company based in Sheffield, England. The company was active from the early 19th century as a type founder, remaining until the 1990s as the last active type foundry in Britain, since when it has diversified into specialist engineering.2
Acquisitions
Fann Street Foundry (1906)
Fry's Type Street Letter Foundry via merger of Sir Charles Reed & Sons in 1905. Sir Charles Reed & Sons historically purchased Edmund Fry & Son in 1828 via the William Thorowgood Foundry 'Letter Foundry to His Majesty' which changed the Company name three times: Thorowgood and Besley 1838-1849; Robert Besley & Co 1849-1861; till it was Reed & Fox in 1861-1877.
H.W. Caslon & Sons (1937)
The foundry also acquired some materials from Miller & Richard when it was wound up in 1952.
From Wikipedia’s article on Stephenson Blake, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.3
Timeline
- 1818Founded Founded1
Links
- WikipediaStephenson Blake
- More imagesWikimedia Commons
- WikidataQ2152637
Sources
The numbers on this page point here. Each one links to the record it came from.
- 1WikidataStephenson Blake on Wikidata
- 2WikipediaStephenson Blake on Wikipedia
- 3