Pen Ebonite/hard Black Rubber

[Pensaregood]

Does anyone know if old black hard rubber used in pens from the early 20th century contains lead or lead compounds such as lead sulfide?

[Vintagepens]

The problem is that there were a good number of hard rubber manufacturers, each making a range of products. So it is very hard to state with complete accuracy that a given ingredient was or wasn't used.

In general, however, I would say that heavy metal compounds were more in use for red/orange hard rubber, not so much for black.

[balson]

I have been wondering that myself because i was reading just the other day that lead was used in early ebonite manufacturing, but i cant seem to find a reference to it now.

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php/topic/1223-modern-red-hard-rubber/

you can read more about red hard rubber here. i have also heard cadmium was used as a colorant for red hard rubber.

[Pensaregood]

So, after some more reading it seems likely that lead(II) sulfide would have been used in early ebonite products as a black dye. It seems that this lead compound is not soluble to the toxicity is probably a lower risk, but I could be totally wrong this is just a little bit of my reading

[kirchh]

So, after some more reading it seems likely that lead(II) sulfide would have been used in early ebonite products as a black dye. It seems that this lead compound is not soluble to the toxicity is probably a lower risk, but I could be totally wrong this is just a little bit of my reading

Can you post the link(s)?

 

--Daniel