I have an old Wahl pen that had been my mother-in-law's before she died. I'm pretty sure that it's the Doric model, although I do not know exactly when it was made. It is a faceted shaped pen with a black and light brown/cream and pearl like marbled pattern ( although the light areas of the cap are more like mother of pearl than light brown ). I don't know if it was made this way or if the barrel changed color over the years. Capped it's 5 and 7/8" long. The gold colored clip has a little roller at the end. The nib has the following writing on it: the word "WARRANTED". Under that, the number "7'. Under that, the designation "14K". Under that, the words "Made in the U.S.A.". It's a lever filler. There is a band around the cap that is really 3 separate bands, two thin gold colored outer bands and a wider middle band. The middle band has diamond shaped cutouts in it.

One tine on the nib is missing, so the nib needs to be replaced. I have no idea if the ink bladder still works, but wouldn't bet on it after all these years. Any advice on a good internet site I could send it to for repair without spending a fortune? Also, does anyone have an idea when the pen was likely made and what it would be worth if operable?

Thanks,
Ron C

Hi Ron,

The moderator of this forum (Syd) will be able to answer your questions better than I, but I'll give you what information I can. If you can post some photos of the pen, they would be very helpful.

The light cream/brown color on the barrel is probably discoloration of the celluloid. This is not a bad thing; it's just what happens to them. The mother of pearl color on the cap is what the cream parts on the barrel looked like when it was new.

Your mom's pen sounds like a very nice Doric, probably an oversized model if it's 5 7/8" long. Is there a lever in the side of the barrel? If so, there will be an ink bladder - and yes, it's most likely hardened over time. I'd suggest not trying to move the lever if there is one. If there's no lever, this is probably a rod filler. Is there a gold seal on the cap (look at my avatar - it will look like that). If it's there, is there a small hole drilled through it? If it's drilled, this would explain the Warranted nib.

I'm not going to be able to guess value very accurately, especially without a photo, but it is a valuable pen. Based on the physical description, it's probably worth more than a couple hundred, perhaps significantly more.

The nib could be a replacement or the original. Warranted (guaranteed to be 14K gold) probably only came standard on this model if/when the gold seal was drilled out (this was likely done at the factory to show that the pen did not carry the same warranty as "normal" pens). Perhaps the best guy to put a new nib in this for you, and to let you know it's value is Syd. He may be the most likely candidate to 1) know just what nib should be in this pen, and 2) actually have one available.

Dating it accurately is difficult for me, so I'll leave that to Syd or someone else that knows more about the history of Doric pens.

One more note about value... As the fortunate owner of several heirloom pens from my mom and my grandfather (both of whom are deceased now), I'd have to say that the real value of your pen is above estimation - a treasure to be cherished, gently used, wondered over, and perhaps passed down to the next person in your family to care for. I think of myself as a caretaker of the heirlooms I own, and can't help but remembering mom and grandpa every time I write with one of their pens. I hope your mom's pen brings you great joy...


Cheers,
Tom

Thanks Tom. The lever is on the side of the barrel. There is no gold seal on the cap. Both the cap end and the barrel end are pointed and marbled just like the sides. It's a somewhat fat pen ( the barrel diameter appears to be a little more than 1/2". I kind of thought that the barrel color had probalbly been the same as the cap color when the pen was new. I do want to keep the pen in the family, and I do want to write with it. It bothers me to know it's just sitting in my drawer. Ron

Here's a link to Syd's Website.

His email address is on the front page. I'd suggest dropping him a line to ask about a replacement nib. He'll know if the Warranted nib is correct for the pen, and should be able to tell you what the model is, what the color was called in the catalog, when it was made, and probably a zillion other things about it. They don't call him the Wahlnut for nothing

I'm really glad to hear you'll be using this great old pen. Please share with us whatever you learn. It would be great to see a picture, if that's possible...


Cheers,
Tom

Hi Ron,
You rang?
The pen you describe is among the rarest of Dorics. I am not sure why there is no gold seal on your cap (some of the early Dorics did not have gold seals for some reason). The thing that adds to the curiosity about the gold seal is the Warranted nib. Many folks have become familiar with seeing these warranted nibs on pens where there was no lifetime guarantee. Many have "drilled" perforated gold seals (the double check marks on a tiny gold seal embedded in one of the facets of the dodecagon barrel above or below the pocket clip) But that will remain a mystery for the time being at least.

The cap band pattern you describe was only made on the Black and Pearl color. All the other colors (Kashmir, Morocco, Cathay, Black and Burma) had a different cap band that has been described as lattice like, where the band is one-piece with more tole style cut outs. Yours with a separate top and bottom band and a triangle cut out center band was unique to that color alone. As Tom has pointed out, the "carmelizing" of the pearl plastic to a range of colors from pearl to mocha is common to these pens as they have aged. The discoloration is attributed to the sulfur leaching out of the inner cap bd the ink sac over the years, but could also be "aided" by ink pillage, and other environmental conditions the pen endured over the years.

The Warranted nib was most likely a replacement for the original which got damaged or broken at some point.

The pens we are discussing here (the early Dorics with the open-work cap bands came in a number of sizes. The length you describe would seem to go along with the Oversized pens of that era. It all depends on what your definition of "capped" means. If that is the length of the pen with the cap screwed on in the close position, it would be an Oversized, I believe. If the length you mention is with the cap mounted on the end of the barrel as in the writing position, it is probably a senior size Doric.

Value? Black and Pearl Dorics being rare enough. If everything about the pen was "original and the metal and plastic were in excellent condition with no cracks (these pens were notorious for developing cap lip cracks) the pen could easily fetch about $425-500. If it is an oversized that figure could run up to $900 or more depending on just who "needs" one...Who doesn't!?

Photos would be Great.

Here's one just for starters:



Is this it?

Hope this helps

Syd the Wahlnut

Hi Syd,
Thanks. That's my pen exactly. Even the nib looks the same (except mine has a tine that has broken off). I do have that small gold circle on the cap (and in the very same place as in your photo). When Tom asked if I had one, I mistakenly thought he was talking about the top of the cap. I just thought the gold circle on the side was a "W" and was the initial for Wahl that was on all Wahl pens. The size I measured, approximately 5 7/8" is with the cap screwed on in a closed position for travel or to be put away. There are no cracks that I can see. There is a little roughness (like little parallel lines) running about an inch and a half along one facet on the barrel. The barrel diameter or width appears to be about 1/2" or a fraction more.

What would it cost me to have the pen put in working order? I suspect that the ink bladder or sac inside is probably disintegrated or too brittle to hold ink, and, of course, it would need a new nib. Also, can you say about when the pen was made?

Thanks for the info and photo you've already given me and I look forward to your reply.
Ron C




Thanks Tom. I received a post from Syd and just replied to him. I do have the gold seal you show. I mistakenly thought you were referring to a gold circle on the end or top of the cap. I have one on the side of the cap a half inch above the top of the clip. However, I do not see any hole drilled out of the seal?!
Regards,
Ron

One other thing. On one facet of the cap are the words "Made in USA" and above that the word "Eversharp" written vertically. Ron

We are not really supposed to do "business" on this forum, so I will be sending you a Personal Message about this. Stand By.

Syd


[QUOTE]Hi Syd,
Thanks. That's my pen exactly. Even the nib looks the same (except mine has a tine that has broken off). I do have that small gold circle on the cap (and in the very same place as in your photo). When Tom asked if I had one, I mistakenly thought he was talking about the top of the cap. I just thought the gold circle on the side was a "W" and was the initial for Wahl that was on all Wahl pens. The size I measured, approximately 5 7/8" is with the cap screwed on in a closed position for travel or to be put away. There are no cracks that I can see. There is a little roughness (like little parallel lines) running about an inch and a half along one facet on the barrel. The barrel diameter or width appears to be about 1/2" or a fraction more.

What would it cost me to have the pen put in working order? I suspect that the ink bladder or sac inside is probably disintegrated or too brittle to hold ink, and, of course, it would need a new nib. Also, can you say about when the pen was made? [QUOTE]

Ron,

Your mom-in-law had really good taste! What an awesome pen...

It's always fun to see a story with a happy ending!


Cheers,
Tom

Thanks Tom. I will give serious thought to having the pen put in good working order. I would then have a vintage family heirloom that I can write with on a rotation with my other FPs. Ron

The black and pearl doric is indeed a rare pen. Syd's experience seems to be that there are fewer oversize than standard. I have gotten the reverse impression, at least I have had more OS pens offered to me than standard. But either is rare and worth a good bit largely depending on color more than size, and yours has better color than most I've seen. So let me add some food for thought. How this pen is kept will play a large role in how much more it deteriorates. Using it will speed that up. it will discolor further. If you use it regularly the pen you have now, as you see it now, will not be available to the next generation. You might consider regarding it like delicate china or other works of art. Best to not even have a sac in it. It is your family heirloom and your decision to make, I just thought you might want to hear a pitch for preservation given that it is a truly rare pen and in better condition that most. PS - this whole subject is a great source of debate among pen people - my bias is right up front for all to see