QUADRUPLE NEEDLE CASE by H Milward & Sons
 
DESIGN DETAILS
Needle Case Type - Quadruple
Name - H Milward & Sons - Redditch with regular endcap
Patent/Registered to William Avery, Redditch Needle Manufacturer and Albert Fenton of the same place, Machinist
Patent/Design Representation - Mechanical Patent #3517
Patent/Design Registration Date - 19 November 1868
Location of Patent/Design Reg - British Library, Business & Intellectual Property Centre London
Material - Brass
US Patent - US 1870-98904
Dimensions - 3cm x 7cm
 
A FUN FACT
Milward, a variation of Millward, is an English surname that originated in Southern England and the West Midlands, the area in west central England in and round the city of Birmingham.  It is based on the pre 7th Century Old English words 'mylen' meaning mill and 'weard' the keeper of or guardian of.  Therefore Milward is an occupational name for someone in charge of a mill.  This is fitting since H Milward & Sons, one of the largest needle manufacturing companies in the world during the Victorian Period, operated a needle factory at the Washford Mill in Redditch during the 18th and early 19th centuries.