|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Think how lucky we are to have the pen ! For thousands of years, writing was a laborious business. The quill had to be dipped in ink every few words. The feather shaft of the quill could only hold a small amount of ink. The point of the quill wore out quickly and after only a few days a new quill had to be cut.Although the dip pen was a very inconvenient writing instrument, it remained the in universal use until the late 19th century.
1832 Parker pen
watch a 1953 Papermate commercial
The word pen comes from the Latin word for feather, pinna. The ancient Egyptians wrote on papyrus with reed pens, which remained in use till the early Middle Ages when they began to be replaced with quills. After the fall of the Roman Empire, Europeans had difficulty in obtaining reeds and began to use quills. Quill pens were used until the nineteenth century.Quill pensbegan to be replaced by steel dip pens by the turn of the 19th century.
video on the world of fountain pens
One of the early fountain pens was patented by John Jacob Parker in 1832. By the 1850s the fountain pen was making its way into the market. The first patent on a ballpoint pen was issued on October 30 1888.
It was in the 1880s that the era of the mass-produced fountain pen finally began. The dominant American producers in this pioneer era were Waterman and Wirt. Waterman soon outstripped Wirt, along with the many companies that sprang up to fill the new and growing fountain pen market, and remained the market leader up until the early 1920s
In 1938, László Bíró, a Hungarian newspaper editor, with the help of his brother George, a chemist, began to work on designing new types of pens including one with a tiny ball in its tip that was free to turn in a socket.In 1938, László Bíró, a Hungarian newspaper editor, In 1938, László Bíró, a Hungarian newspaper editor, began to work on designing new types of pens including one with a tiny ball in its tip that was free to turn in a socket. Bíró filed a British patent on June 15, 1938 and it was on the market by 1943.In the 1960s the felt tipped pen was invented by Yukio Horie of the Tokyo Stationery Company, Japan. Rollerball pens were introduced in the early 1980s.Higher end pens including archaic types such as fountain pens are still a status symbol and vintage pens are sought by collecters.
Montblanc Pens
Parker Pens
a 1939 Wilrite
The most desiable pens today are those that were made between 1900 and the 1930s.The qualities that make a fountain pen vauluable are:rarity,size and workmanship. Pens with filigree are usually more valuable than those without. to warrant high valuation, the dry nib of the pen must run smoothly over writing paper and all parts must be orginal. If the filling mechanism does not work, it must be intact and repairable.The cap and barrel must have no cracks. A good investment are mint condition, high quality rolled gold pens from the 1920s.
An example of a rare filigree pen, a early 1900s Waterman 420.
High value pen manufacturers
Aurora
an Aurora 1919 Guiseppe Verdi valued at $1,300 in exellent condition
An Italian company which has made pens from 1919 to the present.
Conklin
a vintage Conklin gold rolled pen
A US company. Its early filigree pens are eloborate and rare. Pens made after 1920 are of medium value and rarely found outsie the US.Conklin was the brand that Mark Twain endorsed and used to write many of his memorable books.
Thomas De La Rue (Onoto and Pelican)
a 1930s Onoto pen Pens of this company are very valuable if made before 1920 if the are elaborate, especially if they are silver or metal enamel models.
Dunn
Dunn A US company which made pens from 1921 to 1924.Two of the famous pens were the Super dreadnought and the Super giant, which are huge.
Kaweco
Kaweco A German company which made pens from 1892 to 1970.
Mabie,Todd & Bard
A 14KT Gold eye dropper filled pen early 1920s
A Mabie,Todd & Bard 44 ETN with a jade green covering, $130~$200.
Mabie,Todd & Bard An Anglo-American company which made pens from the 1860s to 1958, also known as Swan.
Montblanc
a gold plated 1950s pen
A Mountblanc Oscar Wilde with a pearl and black resin barrel, worth around $600~$900.
Moore
Moore was a US company which made pens from 1898 to the 1950s. Montblanc A German company which has made pens from 1910. The company used 4810 on nibs after the height of which the company is named.
Namiki
Namiki A Japanese company which has made pens from 1924.Exported ad Dunhill-Namiki. Above is a Dunhill Namiki maki-e, hand painted in lacquer which took many weeks and are often singed by the artist. A good pen such as this with unworn lacquerwork can fetch $3~$5,000.
A Parker 51, produced from 1940 to 1972. Used Parker 51s can usually be bought for $20`$50. rare colors or one with an unusual cap can fetch up tp $1,200.
How to repair a fountain pen ink sac
Antique fountain pens were made with precision by expert craftsmen. Most conventional nibs were set in the same way. to replace a nib, one must know if the point section screws into or is friction fitted into the barrel. When fountain pens were in vouge, authorized repair shops had specialized tools for repairing them. One of the most important tools was the fitting block. It was used in pen assembly and disassembly. One also neds replacement parts, which, of course are no longer being made. One needs to parts pens for this .
parts of a vintage fountain pen
Repairing a fountain pen is not as simple as it seems. It might be compared to repairing a watch. It is easy to tinker with a watch with the result that it keeps poor time or no time at all; and it is easy to tinker with a fountain pen so that it gives the poorest kind of satisfaction or no satisfaction at all. No one should attempt to repair or to adjust a fountain pen until he is familiar with the mechanical characteristics of that pen. With the help of the directions in this service manual, a dealer can quite easily remedy the ordinary complaints made by a customer. It should be borne in mind that a pen is a delicate writing instrument and will obey the laws of natural physics if given the opportunity, but it must have fairly intelligent treatment in order to function as both the owner and manufacturer expect it to do.
video on how to fill a piston fountain pen
video on refiiling Fountain Pen Ink Cartridge
Using Fountain Pens
How to prepare a fountain pen for inking
How to write like an architect
There are many 'spy pens' on the market so now everybody can be 007. Most spy pens have a USB connection, a 8 GB capacity and a microphone. Most data is recorded in an .avi format and have an easy 'one touch' record button.
Now you can detect counterfeit money with the simple swipe of a pen. This is a very small investment that will help you guard against loss. A simple color change tells weather the bill is fake or real. Just mark the bill with the pen, if it turns orange then you know that it is not real. This pen can be used by anyone and does not require a special light. These pens can be used on American and most other currencies.
Counterfeit Detector Pens for sale
Read the Spencerian key to practical penmanship 1866
My Grandfather's 1903 Penmanship Guide
|
parts pens and tools for repair
|
