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Posted 4 months ago
MartinM
(7 items)
This is a retractable pen with a lead holder hidden inside. (The lead holder is broken, pushed inside it's tube)
I am considering having it repaired, but before doing so, would love to know who made it and when.
It's been in the family for as long as I can remember (which in this case is far too long) And has now been passed to me. I'd dearly like to see it back in full working condition since the rest of the pen is in great condition.
Can anyone shed any light on this?
PensVintage pens, in particular fountain pens, are highly collectible and come …
Hems (Steve) seems to be out of town right now but when he sees it he will give you the whole history. Maybe more than you want. He can probably tell you who bought it, how much it cost(with tax), how many times it was used & what kid pushed the lead holder up inside.
I hope he can.. I've searched high and low and even my friend Google can't find it for me!
Steve is our resident expert on these & I just saw a post from him. Not sure he believes that the pen is mightier than the sword though as he also likes big guns that go BOOM.
I hope that the big guns shoot straight, and that the power of the pen can prevail!
Blunderbuss...It's not nice to mock your friends.......we ARE mates I hope! Your first comment is a bit harsh...ok..I run on at the mouth occasionally...but if people want the info..why not give it? If you have it, that is! And contrary to popular opinion (yours)...I don't know everything about Victorian pencils & pens!!!!
As to your second comment...I've actually handled a pen that IS a gun!...but thats another story...
MartinM...sorry about that ramble....seeing as how I'm this weeks EXPERT...according to Lucas that is!: Your Pen & Propelling pencil is beautiful! Thanks for posting...it's the first pencil on CW for ages, I have posted a few and the only other major player/poster is Kevin aka AR8Jason who also knows a great deal about these. In this case I think he's your man, because this Pen/Pencil Combo is certainly American made, around 1880-1900 and is a lovely peice to own, especially with deep family connections. I deal mainly in English Pens/Pencils which is why I point you to Kevin. There are several premier American makers like William Hicks, Edward Mabie and Todd They have all produced fantastic items looking just like yours, I do not have the like in my collection but I'm pretty sure AR8Jason does!.....I personally would get it repaired but go to a reputable specialist as it is SO easy to destroy these items!
Is it gold? Are there any markings? I'll watch this post with interest!
MartinM Sorry I couldn't be more help, AND to let you down so badly blunderbuss2!
Martin: I see this is your first post on Collectors Weekly....I wish you a warm welcome! Hope you enjoy it! There are some strange characters here but are very friendly and the knowledge base is incredible!
Best wishes for the New Year,
Steve
Thank you Hems.
Far from being a let down, you have given some pointers to start identifying what this is.. The nib is a HUGE N°7 Leroy W Fairchild, though I don't know that means the body is a Fairchild. It's not gold (unfortunately) though has the appearance of gilded brass?
And thanks for the welcome!
I am a collector of fountain pens mainly from the first half of the 20th century, and mainly English or European (I live in France) Some of those too are difficult to identify so you can be sure I'll be around for a while!
I also have an offbeat sense of humour, and have a feeling I may just fit in around here!
Martin
Hi Martin
Here's a link..have a look near the bottom of the page...a very similar pen to yours (not all metal):
http://pentooling.com/victorian.html
I found that one earlier Hem... Decided it can't be the same maker as mine which won't be worth more than two farthings.. It probably came free in a box of cornflakes knowing my family!
Cheers
Martin
Have you ever heard of "WES"? The Writing Equipment Society? UK based but very excellent worldwide coverage...especially for fountain pen collectors. I'm a member, so do have an interest with the society, but can really recommend it to you! (It does not really have deep coverage for Victorian collectors, even so, I find it's databases VERY useful)
Steve
:) Like you sense o' humour already. I know what you mean!
You being a collector too, have heard of the (John) Loring Collection...have you checked to see if there is a pen in there that is similar to yours?
Funnily enough I was trawling around the website a few days ago when searching for info on a Mabie Todd I still can't identify and which may yet end up posted here ;)
Just for info, their web site is somewhat out of date..
John Loring collects smokers pipes if I remember correctly?
He certainly did collect smoking items. He unfortunately died October 7th, 2009. He also collected Western Writing Equipment amongst other things. The family are selling off the final remains of his collections (all broken up following his passing)
That's the guy.. I was unaware he collected pens though.
It's always sad to see a collection being dispersed, but I hope his items will go to others who love them equally as much as he obviously did.. Do you know where the remaining items are being advertised?
I was once tempted to collect some vintage pipes too, but here in France the government requires us to collect so much paper there's no room for another collection!
MartinM; here's the link, I have never tried but I believe you email the family representative and buy from them. I really don't know what is left of the collection.
http://www.loringpage.com/pens/penhome.htm
When John was still with us he sent me inventory pictures of ALL his gold/silver pens/pencils which was his sideline collection..("tobacciana" being his main love) there were MANY more pens & pencils in the photo collection than are now on the family's "tribute"/sale site. His "sideline" collection was several hundred items more than my main collection of just over a 700 pens/pencils!!! :O
LOL: I know what you mean about the *!@?*^! Government requiring you to "collect" paper...just like the Brit Gov.....IN TRIPLICATE..and three times on Sundays!! lol
Right on Martin. I have a French company & a kilo of paper is required for doing anything.
Time for AR to enter, stage left.
You'll get on well with Blunderbuss2!!..he lives on the French side of StMaartens (Island in Carib)...and he just LOATHS the French...or so it seems sometimes!
There you go...he must have been listening...got in before I could type my last comment....bless!
Now you know why all gov't offices have scales on the counter.
I'm a Brit and proud of it! Especially when the six nations tournament starts in Feb.. Mine's the only home round here to fly an English flag and resonate to the sound of "Swing Low Sweet Chariot"
I figure they require is to save more paper so they can tax us on the space it takes up!
And me.. We will show them !!!!!! Can't wait
Don't know where you got that idea Hems? I hold nothing against the French. Don't get that close!
I think it must be something you said (? once) blunderbuss
Hi Kevin
Yes we all have a life outside CW. I'm very sorry to hear of the loss of your friends son. Hope you and your wife are well.
Martin has posted here a beautiful, I think American Pen/Pencil combination. It looks very similar in style to some you have posted?
Steve
Sorry for you & friends AR. Just went thru that here if you remember. Sounds like a similar situation. On to Martin:
Martin, you are new here & missed my Fr. jokes. I'll repeat a few at risk of being banned from CW. How was garlic-bread invented? By Fr. farm women carrying baguettes home under their arms. I can understand how Germany took France so easily during the war. I just don't understand why they wanted to stay so long? Lived there 13 yrs & still work there some & loaded with them!
If it doesn't say "MADE IN CHINA", it must be fairly old.
amen to that blunder and i won't say the rest of what is on my mind in that regards
Cheer up Epson, maybe future collectors will refer to "pre-M.I.C., M.I.C. & post-M.I.C.". I refer to the M.I.C. as a warning label. I believe it was you that told about the "gas pipes" in Jersey. I am happy to tell you that they informed me some time back, that:"There will be no more distorting of history by our guides".
Thanks AR..
On the body of the pen (the ring just above the nib) there is a now illegible engraving. There is a small area half way down the body that appears to have been left for the engraving of the owners initials, though that was never done. That has been rubbed by the action of the nib slider and is showing some braising.
The nib is marked Leroy W Fairchild N°7, though I understand they made nibs for other pen manufacturers so may not be a good guide.
As regards the French.. there's a run on the national flags in the shops right now, in preparation for the six nations series. In the absence of finding them in the shops, the French are cutting up their white sheets which make a remarkably good copy of the flag ;)
Thanks for the warm welcome folks!
Martin
Good afternoon AR...
The makers mark appears to begin with AW.... With my poor eyes I can't make the rest out, and the W is the most legible of the letters. (Both upper case)
The N°7 nib is huge. Looks like it has never been used, and, to me at least, would feel cumbersome in use. I need another pair of hands to photograph through a loupe, and will try to set that up in the next day or so.
That looks a good possibility, and seems they were working in New York too..
Still can't find anything which shows this model though. Google here I come!
Excuse me MartinM..just a quick comment for blunderbuss2...your comment (.38).. it wasn't "epson233" that made the very incorrect "gas pipes" allegation on my "Lost Guns of Jersey" post it was "ralph".. ;)
Martin... I have been doing a bit of research on your pen/pencil combo but have turned nothing up as yet...a real puzzle!!! Just what we like.
Steve
Hi Martin and Kevin:
Kevin I'm VERY aware of your posts and collection...surely you remember it was YOU that dragged me into the addiction that is "COLLECTORS WEEKLY"! with you superb posts in the past...I KNOW THEM SO WELL as the lyrics of the song go:
It was some of your items that made me think of you and youcollection and expertise when I saw MartinM's post here! The actual link to your CW collection under "Writing Related" (NOT Writing Implements) is:
http://www.collectorsweekly.com/stories/17041-victorian-dip-pens---retractable-nibs?in=collection-572
Check it out Martin... and I think you will see why I connected it to this, your CW post! Kevin IS the main man when it comes to these American pens!
Now that's what I call a collection!