Morton pen continued

[albatrosdva]

Some time back there was a post about Morton pens and it was absolutely fascinating for me and I thought you all would appreciate this Morton that I got this weekend at an estate sale. Lets just say that in the jewelry that it came in there was a WWI RFC wings as well as an 8th cavalry badge from at least the Spanish American War. The lady's father was a general store owner in Oklahoma Territory and this I would have no problem believing that it could be Civil War era or even older but I will leave that up to the experts. I only pick one up occasionally when it catches my eye and this one I didn't even know what it was at first. Nib says A. Morton New York NY St. Quality No. 7.

[albatrosdva]

I forgot to list a picture of the nib. Sorry about that.

[kamakura-pens]

A Morton apprenticed under A. G. Bagley and even signed as a witness on some of the Bagley patents. Morton began his own business around the time of the War. In addition to making his own pens, he also supplied nibs to early Fountain pensmiths like FC Brown of the Caws pen company.

 

I don't have a lot on Morton, but I do have some on Bagley:

 

http://www.kamakurapens.com/Manhattan/BagleyAG.html

http://www.kamakurapens.com/Manhattan/ManhattanList.html

http://www.kamakurapens.com/SiteImages/NYC/BagleyPen3.jpg

 

Stay Well

 

RD

http://www.kamakurapens.com

 

[rhr]

Some time back there was a post about Morton pens...

You were probably referring to the thread about Morton fountain pens, but there was also this thread on the German pen company Kaweco, which quite improbably crossed paths with A. Morton & Co., the company founded by Alexander Morton in 1848.

 

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/in...showtopic=14104

 

George Kovalenko.

 

 

[albatrosdva]

Some time back there was a post about Morton pens...

You were probably referring to the thread about Morton fountain pens, but there was also this thread on the German pen company Kaweco, which quite improbably crossed paths with A. Morton & Co., the company founded by Alexander Morton in 1848.

 

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/in...showtopic=14104

 

George Kovalenko.

 

 

Is there any way of knowing when this pen falls into the time frame of the A. Morton company from 1848-1920? I would think by style that it is certainly from the 1800s and the nib does not have Mr. Waterman's hole at the end of the slit so off hand I would think that it predates about 1890 but this is purely conjecture. I hope someone can enlighten me on this point. One thing that I think is really neat but perhaps not all that unusual is that the plunger to suck the ink into the pen is made of wood.

[Johnny Appleseed]

I don't think that is a plunger to suck ink into the pen. I believe this is a dip-pen, and the black piece on the back is simply an extendable taper. The nib most likely retracts into the barrel by means of the little slider on the side.

 

As for the date, unfortunately the lack of a vent-hole on the nib does not mean that it is early or before 1890. Waterman and many other fountain-pen nibs had vent-holes as early as the 1880s AFAIK, but gold dip-pen nibs were often ventless well up into the nineteen-teens if not the twenties. I have a catalog from 1917 with a selection of Aikin Lambert ventless dip-nibs, sold right alongside fountain-pens with vented nibs.

 

John

[albatrosdva]

I don't think that is a plunger to suck ink into the pen. I believe this is a dip-pen, and the black piece on the back is simply an extendable taper. The nib most likely retracts into the barrel by means of the little slider on the side.

 

John

 

For curiousity, if the taper is not for ink why would it be extendable?

[rhr]

John is right. It is not a fountain pen, but rather a telescopic penholder. The taper is merely extendable for balance, to make it more like a desk penholder when being used, and collapsible for portability in the vest pocket. The taper also can be part of a mechanism to extend the nib.

 

The penholder was probably not made by A. Morton & Co., since they were a gold nib making company. You're right to think that by the style it is from the 1800s. And most early gold nibs for penholders do not have the hole at the end of the slit. Good guess that it predates about 1890.

 

Here's a similar penholder, Patent 243,319 from 1881 assigned to Aikin-Lambert & Co. To be quite technical and pedantic, ;~) it's not just a penholder, but a pen case with a sliding, telescopic taper end that makes it a collapsible, portable penholder. Often such a pen case also has a mechanical pencil in the taper, or under the nib, in which case it is called a

pen and pencil case, or a combination pen and pencil case.

 

George Kovalenko.

 

Edited November 6, 2007 by rhr

[Johnny Appleseed]

The penholder was probably not made by A. Morton & Co., since they were a gold nib making company. You're right to think that by the style it is from the 1800s. And most early gold nibs for penholders do not have the hole at the end of the slit. Good guess that it predates about 1890.

 

George Kovalenko.

 

 

Ok, I am bringing this back from the dead, but I thought I would post the 1917 catalog with Aikin-Lambert ventless dip-nibs. They were obviously sold long after most fountain pens (including Aikin Lambert) had vented nibs. Not that this has any bearing on the specific date of the Morton, but just to point out that ventless nibs were around into the 19-teens.

 

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a150/laridae/BairdNorth1917B.jpg

 

John

 

 

 

[rhr]

Let's set something straight about nib terminology. Some people refer to the hole at the end of the slit in a fountain pen nib as a "vent hole", but it doesn't "vent" anything. Most fountain pen nibs have them, but they would do just fine with a nib without a hole. Okay, some air goes in through the hole, but enough air also burps in through the slit, and gets in all around the nib and feed that it almost makes the hole superfluous. And an open nib in a penholder, or dip pen doesn't need any kind of "vent hole" at all, although most steel nibs still have an aperture at the end of the slit.

 

This is what the so-called "vent hole" really does. The aperture in most steel nibs serves the function of adding flexibility to the tynes of the nib, so they should more rightly be called "flex holes". This is also true for gold nibs, but in most gold nibs the aperture serves the extra function of stopping the slit in the nib from splitting further under the pressure of flexing, so they should more rightly be called "anti-split holes". Sometimes even an aperture won't stop a slit from cracking further. Drilling a hole at the end of a crack to stop it from spreading any further is an old machinist's trick. It is used by a lot of pen repairmen to repair cracked cap lips. They drill the hole, then fill the hole and crack with the repair material of their choice. There is a third function that the aperture serves, and that is the purpose of providing good looks. Fountain pens with nibs with apertures are a longstanding tradition, and some people think that they just look better this way, so they should more rightly be called, I don't know, "pretty holes"? ;~)

 

As for the 1917 catalogue listing of the nibs without apertures, this is to be expected. A product will always continue to be produced as long as some old fuddy duddy keeps asking for it. Eyedropper pens were produced by Waterman well into the 1940s. When I said that it was a "good guess that it predates about 1890", I wasn't just referring to the nib. I was also taking into consideration the style of the pen case in the original posts.

 

Please notice that I didn't use the term "vent hole" even once in this post. I merely mentioned it. ;~)

 

George Kovalenko.

 

Edited July 4, 2008 by rhr

[Maria]

I forgot to list a picture of the nib. Sorry about that.

Greetings Albatrosdva,

 

In Harpers Weekly:

 

HARPER'S WEEKLY.

[DECEMBER 14, 1861.

799

" The PEN is Mightier

than the Sword."

THE GOLD PEN—THE BEST OF ALL PENS. MORTON'S GOLD PENS.

The Best Pens in the World. On receipt of any of the following sums in cash or post-stamps, the subscriber will send by return mail, or otherwise as directed, a Gold Pen or Pens, selecting the same according to description, viz.:

 

GOLD PENS, WITHOUT CASES.

For 25 cents, the Magic Pen ; for 38 cents, the Lucky Pen ; for 50 cents, the Always-Ready Pen ; for 75 cents, the Elegant Pen ; and for $1, the Excelsior Pen. The sizes are, Nos. 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6.

 

THE SAME PENS IN SILVER-PLATED EXTENSION CASES, WITH PENCILS.

For 50 cents, the Magic Pen; for 75 cents, the Lucky Pen ; for $1, the Always-Ready Pen ; for $1.25, the Elegant Pen; and for $1.50, the Excelsior Pen. These are well-finished, good writing Gold Pens, with Iridosmin Points, the average wear of every one of which will far outlast a gross of the best Steel Pens.

 

"Quality" are stamped on the following Pens, and the Points are warranted for six months, except against accident. The numbers indicate size only: No. 1 being the smallest, No. 6 the largest, adapted for the pocket ; No. 4 the smallest, and No. 10 the largest Mammoth Gold Pen, for the desk. Long and medium Nibs of all sizes and qualities. Short Nibs of Nos. 4, 5, 6, and 7, and made only of first quality. The engravings are fac similes of the sizes and styles.

 

GOLD PENS, WITHOUT CASES.

For 75 cents, a No. 1 Pen, 1st quality, or a No. 3 Pen, 3d quality. For $1, a No. 2 Pen, 1st quality, or a No. 3 Pen, 2d quality, or a No. 4 pen 3d quality. For $1.25, a No. 3 Pen, 1st quality, or a No. 4 Pen, 2d quality, or a No. 5 Pen, 3d quality. For $1.50, a No. 4 Pen, 1st quality, or a No. 5 Pen, 2d quality, or a No. 6 Pen, 3d quality. For $1.75, a No. 5 Pen, 1st quality, or a No. 6 Pen, 2d quality. For $2.25 a No. 6 Pen, 1st quality.

 

THE SAME GOLD PENS IN SILVER EXTENSION CASES, WITH PENCILS.

For $1.50, a No. 1 Pen, 1st quality, or a Nor 3 Pen, 3d quality.

For $1.75 a No. 2 Pen, 1st quality, or a No. 3 Pen, 2d quality, or a No. 4 Pen, 3d quality.

For $2, a No. 3 Pen 1st quality, or a No. 4 Pen, 2d quality, or a No. 5 Pen, 3d quality.

For $2.50, a No. 4 Pen, 1st quality, or a No. 5 Pen, 2d quality, or a No. 6 Pen, 3d quality.

For $3, a No. 5 Pen, 1st quality, or a No. 6 Pen, 2d quality. For $3.50 a No. 6 Pen, 1st quality.

 

Writing Qualities (the only true considerations) any Gold Pens made elsewhere.

In regard to the Cheap Gold Pens, he begs leave to say that, previous to operating his New and Patented Machines, he could not have made as Good Writing and Durable Pens, for the price, had the Gold been furnished gratuitously. Address A. MORTON, No. 25 Maiden Lane, New York. FOR SALE by all dealers in this line throughout the country.

 

Any one sending a single letter post-stamp will receive a circular with the engravings above referred to.

-------------------------------

The dip pen that you have in the photographs are like mine. The rod pulls out to balance the pen in a writer's hand (usually men) and the cuff pulls and pushes the mechanics of the nib holder down and up, and you will see a slit to which this O-O collar slide uses to travel up and down. I have collected a few myself but, minus the original nibs unfortunately.

 

John Foley (Sr) made nearly the identical pen and, like today's pen selections style really is similar to various makers.

 

The terms though at times throws people. When they say 'gold pens' it is talking about the nib only, e.g. gold pens without cases. The 'case' is the nib holder. Some makers had a 'over and under' pen/pencil combination in the case--a button or collar, or collar and twist motion governed the nib and pencil separate. All were mechanical pencils at this period, I find. The lead fed by the muzzle like loading the Civil War musket. A tiny dial then fed the lead forward but, in order to refill it it had to be dialed all the way back down.

 

Back to the style you have--though I don't know what 'exact' model you have, I do have similar ones that do have a pencil and dip pen assembly. The rod is pulled out and twisted, then pushed and it shoves the pencil out. Pulling the rod back out doesn't retract it and the nib can be pulled down at the same time. This is a 'marker' for me in dating the pen. They hadn't quite got the mechanics to do either one --not both out of the same hole. Each had their own channel. Retracting the pencil, the plunger/rod had to be twisted and engaged, probably a hook inside was then engaged in a hole as to move the lead mechanical pencil back up into the case.

 

Gold nibs at that period didn't have a reservoir (hole) yet, nibs were made with them long before, e.g. Joseph Gillott #303, #404, Esterbrooks #354, 355, 356, 357, 358--so, it isn't a 'law set in stone' in aging the nib based on the reservoir.

 

I've been informed that the style you have in the picture, was more popular with male secretaries, as it was always ready in their vest pockets. In offices ink wells were always there so they were not always in need of carrying a traveling ink well with them when at an office. Homes were always filled with inkwells where writing took place.

 

Being keen on writing instruments during the American Civil War, there are many pen makers that were jewelers and didn't put their name/mark on their works. So many clever pen makers are probably lost to the ages for a lack of recording, e.g. hallmarks, makers marks and or stamping dip pens as larger and or specific companies did.

 

Hope this helps some!

 

Respectfully,

Maria

[Maria]

This might be a helpful guide:

 

Pen Maker Name Address Date

A. G. Bagley & Co.

189 Broadway 1846

A. G. Bagley & Co. 227 Broadway 1851

A. G. Bagley & Co. 12 Maiden Lane 1853

A. S. Barnes & Co.

156th 5th Ave. 1901

A. Norton & Son 1870

ACME Gold Pen Co 17 Vanderwater 1919

Aikin - Lambert

19 Maiden Lane 1870

Aikin - Lambert 23 Maiden Lane 1881

Aikin - Lambert 15 Maiden Lane 1915

Aikin - Lambert 10 Cortlandt 1917

Aikin - Lambert 163 Front Street 1920

Aikin - Lambert 3 Dey Street 1931

Aikin J. C

19 Maiden Lane 1859

Alex Conklin & Co.

New York 1870

American Gold Pen Co 200 Broadway 1865

Armeny & Marion Co.

90 Nassau 1890

Autograph Fountain Pen Co 1133 Broadway

Bankers Pen Co. 1 Madison Ave 1912

Bankers Pen Co. 76 5th Ave. 1917

Bard & Brothers

101 William 1850

Bard Brothers & Co

21 Maiden Lane 1859

Bard James D. 22 Maiden Lane 1870

Barnett Ira 21 Beekman 1900

Barnet Ira 396 Broadway 1925

Bassar, Paul 1880

Beaumel D W & Co.

35 Ann 1890

Beaumel D W & Co. 45 John 1902

Beaumel D W & Co. 17-27 Vanderwater St 1917

Beers & Clark

25 John Street 1849

Beers James B 10 John Street 1853

Beers James. B. 9 Maiden Lane 1859

Benton Brothers Broadway & Cortlandt 1857

Berk Brothers 543 Broadway 1917

Berolzheimer,Illfeder & Co 118 William St 1863

Berquest 645 E Tremont 1925

Bierman Jos 1476 Wilkins 1925

Blair Fountain Pen Co 257 Broadway 1888

Blair Fountain Pen Co 141 & 178 Broadway 1897

Blakenley Thomas

44 Nassau 1859

Blakeney's

41 & 42 Nassau Street 1849

Broadway Gold Pen Co

335 Broadway 1857

Brown Henry A & Co 181 Broadway 1859

Brown Brothers

Byers & Hayes (B & H ) 68-70 Barclay St 1920

C & C Fountain Pen Co. 1905

C. N. Luckey & Co 36 Maiden lane 1859

C. R. Bassett & Co New York 1860

Carey

196 Broadway 1910

Carey 1433 Broadway

Caws Ink & Pen

189 Broadway 1888

Caws Ink& Pen 168 Broadway 1896

Caws Ink& Pen 76 Duane 1915

Caws Ink& Pen 200 Broadway 1931

Central Pen & Mfg Co. 1899

Certified Fountain Pen Co 135 Maiden Lane 1925

Champion Pen Co 543 Broadway 1940

Clarke G. S. & Co 26 Maiden Lane 1859

Clutch Pencil Co 535 Pearl 1925

Coleman (James E ) 173 Broadway 1867

Collins 161 Grand 1915

Columbia Pen & Novelty 1 2nd Ave. 1925

Cordell Universal Pen Co. 1940

Cutter Tower & Co. 7 Beekman Street 1858

D. F. Foley 23 Maiden Lane 1888

D. W. Evans & Co 677 Broadway 1854

Dawson (Rollin L. Dawson )

10 Maiden Lane 1857

Dawson, Warren & Hyde

4 Maiden Lane 1859

Dean Merrick

335 Broadway 1859

DeWirtridge S. H. 39 Maiden Lane 1870

Dewolf Hyman S 157 E117th 1925

Diamond Point Pen Co 100 & 102 Beekman 1905

Diamond Point Pen Co 86-88 Fulton 1908

Dictator Fountain Pen Co 1922

Dods Harry B 187 Laf 1925

Dubel-Servis Corp 130 W 42nd 1925

Duke & Co 153 E 184th 1925

Dunkley Pen Inc 17 Battery Pl 1925

Dunn Pen Co 300 Madison Ave. 1921

Dunn Pen Co 170 Broadway 1925

E. M. Case 90 Nassau 1898

E.S. Johnson & Co 44 Nassau 1867

Eagle Pencil Co 377-379 Broadway 1885

Eagle Pencil Co 703 E 13th 1931

Eagle Regalia Co 115 Nassau 1930

Eastburn William S. SW Corner Cortland & Greenwhich 1870

Eaton, Tarbox & Co. 19 Maiden Lane 1857

Eclipse Pen & Pencil Co 42 East Houston 1925

Eclipse Pen & Pencil Co Chrysler Bldg. 1931

Eggins Hambler Co Inc 180 Broadway 1925

Empire Fountain Pen Co. 65 E 9th 1925

Estrbrook Steel Pen Co. 75 John Street 1869

Estrbrook Steel Pen Mfg Co. 26 John Street 1890

Fairchild & Co. 30 W36th 1915

Fairchild & Co. 110 William St 1880

Fairchild & Co. 10 John Street 1885

Fairchild LeRoy 135 William St 1859

Fellows & Co 17 Maiden Lane 1857

Fifth Ave Fountain Pen Co 815 W 179th 1925

Fountain Ink Co 62 Cliff St 1886

Friedlander Co. 49 W. 23rd 1931

G. & E. M. Smith (Formerly AG Bagley) 16 Maiden Lane 1849

Gallagher (James B Gallagher ) 16 Maiden Lane 1857

Gaydoul 47 Ann 1915

Gaydoul Gold Pen Co Inc 117 Fulton 1931

Gem Fountain Pen Co 59 Park Place 1925

Gem Fountain Pen Co 53-61 Park Place 1931

Golden Rule Mfg Co Ltd 135 Maiden Lane 1925

Goldsmith Bros. 77 Nassau 1930

Goodyear Rubber

Grant S. J. 544 Broadway 1869

Greaton John 23 Maiden Lane 1859

Greaton John 71 Cedar St. 1881

Griswold Stephen M 177 Broadway 1858

H H Houghton & Co (Henry H. Houton) 1 Maiden Lane 1857

H M Smith

83 Nassau 1864

H. Mauri & Co 1920

H. P. Kennedy & Co 17 John Street 1860

H. Ropes & Co 82 Nassau 1859

H. S. Worth & Co.

1890

Harrison & Bradford 218 W 37th Street 1869

Hawkes George F. 64 Nassau 1859

Hawkes George F. 66 Nassau 1870

Hawkes George F. 18 John Street 1909

Hicks ( William S. Hicks ) 235 Greenwich 1915

Hicks ( William S. Hicks )

20 Maiden Lane 1869

Hicks ( William S. Hicks ) 5 Liberty Place 1869

Hicks & Mitchell 20 Maiden Lane 1857

Hill & Hill Inc 40 W. Broadway 1931

Hodge, Robert (Robert Hodge)

83 Maiden Lane 1786

Holmes F. W. & Sons

509 Pearl 1890

Horn, M T 114 Park Pl 1915

Hulse (James Hulse) 4 Cortlandt 1857

Hutcheon Bros 241 Centre St 1931

Hyde Ellsworth 10 Maiden Lane 1857

India Rubber Pen Co. 79 John Street 1869

Inkograph Co. Inc 159-201 Centre 1931

Inkograph Co. Inc 208 Hudson 1942

Iridium Point Pen Co

1910

J Crawford & Co 18 John Street 1893

J D Snow Co 1940

J.F. Christian 1870

J. H. Sturdy & Co. No. Gilsey Building 1857

J. Harris & Co.

535 Pearl 1925

J. Harris & Co. 110 E. 23rd. 1931

J. Y Savage 92 Fulton 1856

James Gerard & Co. 24 Nassau 1870

John Foley

163 Broadway 1853

John Foley 167 Broadway 1856

John Foley 262 Broadway 1869

John Foley 256 Broadway 1870

John Foley 2 Astor House 1873

John Foley 169 Broadway 1903

John Hague New York 1839

Johnson Ephriam S. ( E. S. Johnson ) 121 Fulton 1859

Johnson Ephriam S. ( E. S. Johnson ) 15 Maiden Lane 1864

Johnson Ephriam S. ( E. S. Johnson )

Katchem & McDougall 15 Maiden Lane 1931

Keene (Charles A. Keene) 180 Broadway 1920

Keene (Charles A. Keene) 189 Broadway 1925

Kelly James 21 Ann 1925

Keueffel & Esser Co 127 Fulton 1896

Knapp (John H. Knapp ) 17 John Street 1869

Kurtz & Monagahn 1870

Lancaster (Warren Lancaster)

212 Broadway 1885

Lapham & Bogart

202 Broadway 1888

Lapham & Bogart 3 John Street 1890

Leniham 50 John 1915

Levi Brown

179 Broadway 1840

Levy Fountain Pen Co 985 Simpson 1915

Liberty Fountain & Gold Pen Co 69 Cortlandt 1915

Lincoln Fountain Pen Co. 108 Fulton 1895

Lovejoy Daniel 187 W 42nd 1859

Ludden (William Ludden) 89 Maiden Lane 1857

Mabie, Todd & Bard 130 Fulton 1904

Mabie, Todd & Co 15 Maiden Lane 1915

Mabie, Todd & Co 17 Maiden Lane 1859

MacKinnon Pen Co 200 Broadway 1880

MacKinnon Pen Co 192 Broadway 1876

MacKinnon Pen Co 21 Park Row 1878

Maconnel, James 52 Nassau 1859

Maconnel, James 28 Maiden Lane 1857

Manhattan Novelty Co. 227 Canal 1931

Marathon Fountain Pen Co. 12 Union Square 1932

Marlboro Co. 309 5th Ave. 1931

Master-Craft Pen Corp 59 Park Place 1931

Masterlite Mfg. Co 110 E. 23rd. 1931

Mathewson & Allen 20 Maiden Lane 1857

Modern Pen Company 22 Thames 1915

Monaghen (Joseph Monaghen) 1 Maiden Lane 1869

Monroe Fountain Pen Co. Chrysler Bldg. 1931

Moore (Francis Moore ) 10 Cortladt (3rd floor) 1869

Morgan Pen and Pencil Co. 116 Nassau Street

Morrison Fountain Pen Co. 1600 Broadway 1931

Morrisons 1547 Broadway 1925

Morton A. 25 Maiden Lane 1864

Morton A. & Co. 25 Maiden Lane 1859

New Diamond Point Pen Co. 333 Hudson 1931

New York Gold Pen Mfg Co 183 Greenwhich Street 1853

Newton C. F. 1 Maiden Lane 1859

Norton & Son 1880

Novelty Fountain Pen Co 419 Broadway 1890

Oriental Art Studios 11-35 W. 35th 1931

Pearce 180 Broadway 1915

Pen - Pencil Co. 1 West 47th Street 1946

Penco 1930

Penographic Pen Co. 152 W. 42nd 1931

Pen-O-Pencil Co, Inc 1 W. 47th 1931

Phillips (William Phillips) 1 Maiden Lane 1857

Popular Fountain Pen Co - John Blair 257 Broadway 1887

Post Self Filling Pen Co 126 w14 1915

Postal Pen Co. 41 Park Row 1927

Potsdamer & Ludden 39 Maiden Lane 1857

Price J. T. & Co (H. C. Godspeed) 37 Park Row 1869

Prime (Edward Y Prime) 1848

Prince Protean Pen Co 262 Broadway 1858

Prince Protean Pen Co 267 Broadway 1859

Prince (N A Prince ) 212 Broadway 1869

Purdy ( John S. Purdy ) 212 Broadway 1869

Rauch John H. 19 Maiden Lane 1857

Reliable Pen Co 421 Broadway 1915

Reliable Pen Co 15 Park Row 1931

Rendell (John Rendell ) 132 William Street 1853

Rendell & Fairchild 132 William Street 1854

S. Maycock & Co Society Hall Place 1837

Sackett Fountain Pen Co

169 & 171 Broadway 1890

Salz Brothers 45 W34th 1915

Salz Brothers 102 W 101st 1931

Sanford & Bennett Co 51 Maiden Lane 1915

Schnell 18 Spruce Street 1903

Schnell 9 Franklin 1915

Shatkun & Kahn 1433-39 38th Street 1896

Shipmans & Sons (A L Shipmans )

10 Murray 1885

Soper & Sievewright

89 Fulton Street 1902

Spencer & Rendell 2 Maiden Lane 1845

Spencer & Rendell 170 Broadway 1847

Spencerian Pen Co. 349 Broadway 1900

Spencerian Pen Co. 434 Broadway 1930

Smith, Darrow & Co 25 Maiden Lane 1849

Smith & Todd 17 Maiden Lane 1857

St. George Fountain Pen Co 90 Nassau 1915

Stearns Thomas G 227 Broadway 1859

Stockmann's

75 Nassau 1884

Stratford Pen Company Salz Building 1943

Sutton Pen Co 15 William 1915

T. Y Savage 22 Fulton 1850

TANY (Thomas Addison) New York - Ward 14 1825

Todd Charles B. 169 Broadway 1859

Todd Edward

44 East 14th Street 1895

Todd Edward 208 5th Ave 1902

Todd Edward 1 W34th 1915

Todd Edward 100 6th Ave. 1931

Tower Mfg 136 Broadway 1915

U. S. Victor Fountain Pen Co. 2 Lafayette 1931

Ullrich, Jacob (JUCO)

27 Thames 1915

Ullrich, Jacob (JUCO) 161 Washington Street 1925

Underwood Pen Company 693 Broadway 1920

Union Fountain Pen Co 1920

Universal Fountain Pen Co. 1935

US Fountain Pen Co. 1925

Vanderoff & Ball 10 Cortlandt 1869

Wanger Pen Co 261 Broadway 1915

Warren, Ludden & Sollace 33 Maiden Lane 1859

Waterman Arthur A 22 Thames 1915

Waterman's Ideal Pen Co 173 Broadway 1915

Waterman's Ideal Pen Co 136 Fulton 1884

Waterman's Ideal Pen Co 155 Broadway 1885

Waterman's Ideal Pen Co 10 Murray 1885

Willmarth & Clussman 21 Maiden Lane 1859

Wilmarth & Brother 1 Cortlandt & Broadway 1849

Wilrite Fountain Pen Co

312 Lafayette Street 1928

Wilson & Maney Benton Gilsey Bldg 169 Broadway

Yale Fountain Pen Co.

126 Wiliam St. 1888

[rhr]

This might be a helpful guide:

 

Pen Maker Name Address Date

 

-- snipped --

 

Maria,

 

Where did you get this "helpful guide"? Am I mistaken, or did you forget to cite your source? It looks curiously like a copyrighted list on Ron Dutcher's personal website, "Kamakura Pens", http://www.kamakurapens.com/Manhattan/ManhattanList.html, which is covered by this copyright.

 

"Copyright notice

© 2007 Kamakura Pens all rights reserved.

 

Material published by Kamakura Pens on these web pages is copyright by Kamakura Pens and may not be reproduced without permission."

 

Did you get permission from Ron to reproduce his list here without citing your source?

 

Sincerely,

 

George Kovalenko.

 

[Maria]

 

QUOTE(Johnny Appleseed @ Nov 6 2007, 05:28 PM) 411783[/snapback]

I don't think that is a plunger to suck ink into the pen. I believe this is a dip-pen, and the black piece on the back is simply an extendable taper. The nib most likely retracts into the barrel by means of the little slider on the side.

 

John

 

For curiousity, if the taper is not for ink why would it be extendable?

 

The pull out from this particular style of dip pen, which is known as a "Secretary's Pen" is for balance in the writer's hand. I do think your pen is around the 1860's myself looking at your photographs. I have one also. The 'ends' extend out on both ends, as to prevent anything from invading the channel where the nib point is retracted. Known as the "Secretary's Pen," men were clerks and secretaries and carried their dip pen in their vest pocket, as they did not always have their frock coats on. Inkwells were in every room so there would be no need, with the exception of traveling outside the office, to carry an inkwell with them. They would just dip into the one at any given desk. Desk sets or 'Desk Caddy' had removable inkwells so it could be walked over to another portion of the room if need be or used at the location of the caddy.

 

Maria

[veryred]

Very rare dip pen. Fantastic. I have also similar type of the Edward dip pen. Good looking.