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Collecting vintage writing instruments

Is there anything that better exhibits the traits of style, elegance and utility, more than antique writing instruments?  From its humble beginnings as a simple reed or bird feather dipped into a concoction of plant, animal and minerals, to a fashionable statement of style and design, crafted of the finest materials, the pen and ink have for over 3,000 years applied man’s thoughts to papyrus, parchment and paper.

Although there are early references, along with an undeveloped 1803 patent for metal pen tips, quills remained the primary writing instrument for thousands of years.  Still common during the late 18th Century, quills were used to draft and sign the U.S. Constitution. 

The first mass produced pens with metal nibs were developed and marketed by John Mitchell in Birmingham England. And, although metal nib fitted pens would quickly improve, with steel giving way to gold and still more durable iridium tips, the dip pen, with a nib attached to a simple holder would remain the height of writing technology until well into the 19th century. However, although functional in concept, the holders for the new interchangeable nibs would range from a simple straight wooden shaft, to elegant engraved instruments made of gold, mother-of-pearl and other fine materials.

Although fountain pens (any pen which can contain its own ink supply) began to appear in the mid 1800′s, the available nibs did not allow for an even flow of ink to the tip.  Writing with these instruments resulted in a series of skips and blots.  The first practical advancement, a 3 channel feed providing a smooth flow of ink from the reservoir to the tip, was made by L.E. Waterman in the 1870′s.  These early Waterman’s, are referred to by collectors as eyedroppers, because they would be unscrewed, and ink squirted into the reservoir dropper that came with the pen.  Although prone to leakage around the seams, these were nonetheless a big advancement in writing.  Waterman addressed this problem with its 1907 “Safety pen”, which they would manufacture into the 1920′s.  Other early advances in pen technology included Conklin’s “crescent filler” (a rubber sac that could draw ink into to reservoir through the nib,  the Parker “button filler”, and the Shaeffer “lever filler”, which eventually became the system used by most pen makers.

From the late 1800′s to the 1950′s, famous pen makers like Waterman, Wahl, Conklin, Parker and Shaeffer would continue development and refine the fountain pen.

From the 1880′s, when the first commercially viable fountain pens appeared, until well into the 1950′s, the fountain pen dominated writing instruments.  Early fountain pens, although occasionally found in other colors, were typically made from black, hard rubber, which could be covered with metal embellishments or decorated by engraving to enhance the pens appearance. During this time, most pen manufacturer’s concentrated on the pens mechanical improvement, but as time passed, and writing quality more or less equalized between the major makers,  pen company’s began to compete with products featuring more status and style.  Coupled with the appearance of new more versatile materials, fountain pens would become a seamless blend of art and utility

 In the early 1920′s pen company’s began experimenting with bakelite, casein and other synthetics, abet, with little success.  However, in 1924, Sheaffer would come out with a line of celluloid pens which proved immensely popular, and within a few years, most pen makers were using celluloid as their primary material.  From the mid 1920′s to the early 1940′s is considered the golden age of the fountain pen.  Along with striking changes in design and aesthetics, advancements in reservoirs and filling systems brought writers  better instruments than ever before.

The elegance and grace of fountain pens would unfortunately, by the 1950′s, begin to give way to the more practical and less expensive ball point pen. The invention of Laszlo Brio, a Hungarian news paper editor frustrated with filling fountain pen’s and cleaning smudges. Patented in 1938, ballpoints gained popularity with the military, and in post world War II America, these low cost  disposable pens were just what the doctor ordered. Just as dip pens were replaced by fountain pen’s, ballpoints would quickly drive most fountain pen’s from the market.  Pen and paper would never be the same again.

Ink of course, is to pens, as man is to woman, one exists to complement the other, and any discussion of pens requires the mention of ink.  And, while ink itself is perhaps mundane, the same cannot be said of the myriad ink bottles, wells and pen stands which complement writing instruments.

It’s apparent, that since quills and other dip pens must be frequently refreshed with ink, writing with them required a convenient container.  In the middle ages, scribes would use the most  pedestrian clay pots, however, beginning in the 18th century, as the wealthy and educated classes began to take their own pen to paper,  utilitarian wells began to give way to ornate silver inkstands, along with elaborate boxes which would include not only the ink pot, but paper, quills, sand and other writing needs.  By the 19th Century, inkwells began taking characteristics of their county of origin. Ornate ormolu and porcelain in France, glass incased in rich woods from England, and cut glass in America.  By the late 1800′s, Victorian tastes were demanding figural inkwells,  with people,  animals and birds gracing elaborate stands.

Although inkwells can be found in 20th century styles such as Arts & Crafts, Art Deco and Moderne, as a practical matter, with the  advent of the fountain pen in the early 1900′s, the inkwell had become an anachronism.  Most inkwells dating from that period tend to be pieces from desk sets, and were more decorative than functional.  These however, remain quite collectible.

About the Author

  Dennis Barker – About the Author:

Dennis Barker is publisher of the New Century Collector, a monthly Utah based collectors newspaper, which features collecting news, along with antiques advertising and articles related to the field. Distributed thoughout Utah and parts of Idaho, the publication can be picked up free from most antiques shops withing their distibution area.  The current issue, along with past issues can be read at our website www.newcenturycollector.com. 

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