The firm of Charles Horner was established in Halifax in the middle of the 1900’s and the business continued until it was liquidised in 1984. Charles Horner is famous for its silverware – hat pins especially! What was not generally known until the book ‘Charles Horner of Halifax’ (by Tom J. Lawson and published by GML Publishing) was written was the firm’s diversification into casein plastics This is what particularly interests me! The firm’s main production in which they called ‘Dorcasine’ was between the 1920s and the 1940s – but production continued until the 1970s. They made a lot of buttons, knitting needles and sewing accessories, propelling pencils and brooches. A lot of the vintage dog brooches of the period were made by the Charles Horner factory. Having the book has helped me to identify many of the unmarked pieces I have sold over the years!
