This is my attempt to write a review on a vintage pen that is not talked about much. The first time I heard of it was here at FPN, I think Mister Binder made reference to it on some post, I don't even recall where. I'm not sure how old this pen is and I am not familiar with its history, so you are welcome to fill in those details. Anyways, here it is.
Appearance 4/5
I must say I'm not a fan of flat top or cylindrical cap style, this is why I give it a 4/5. It is a very simple design. It has a reddish brown plastic (??) body with steel clip and twist button at the end of the barrel. This one still has the sticker with $1.00 and instructions how to fill. The top of the cap has a very strong imprint that reads: CHAS. H. INGERSOLL (scrolled) E. ORANGE N.J. The button/dial at the end of the barrel shows you how to turn the knob to fill the pen. With two arrows: counter clock wise to empty and clock wise to fill.
Size and weight 5/5
Very comfortable light weight, but by all means, not a small pen. It measures 4 7/8 capped and 6 1/8 posted.
Filling system 5/5
"Twist fill". I'm not to sure how convenient this system is, but I tell you is very interesting. Apparently, the sac is glued to both the section and the knob at the end of the barrel. When one twists the knob/dial counter clock wise, the sac twist releasing the air and emptying the sac. When twist the other way, obviously, takes the ink in the sac. Fascinating! Will see how it holds.
Nib 4/5
Medium 14K. the iridium tip is worn out, but not completely. Still writes very smoothly. It reads CHI and 14K. Although not toothy at all, you can feel the paper under it. this nib has a little bit of flex also.
Cost and Value 5/5
I was told by the seller that these pens were not very expensive when they were made... heck, the sticker says $1.00. I was able to acquire this baby for $24 USD (plus $4 shipping charges). I can not compare this to any other Ingersoll pen, cos' I don't see too many of them out there, so I thought it was a good buy. I'm very happy that I was able to get a pen that is rare and in such a good condition.
In conclusion: 4.6/5 aint bad!!!
Well, now I'm hoping you guys and gals can help me by giving me more details on the history of this pen.
I'm posting some pics (pardon my bad pic taking abilities)
Full Version: C H Ingersoll
Are you sure this is a plastic body and not Ebonite ?
Nice review and very interesting pen
Thanks
Nice review and very interesting pen
Thanks
Oh Goodguy - this is definitely not ebonite.
The material of this pen is Bakelite. It is one of the few pens that were ever made, and mass-produced, in Bakelite. Parker experimented with transparent bakalite in the lucky curve pens around 1918-1919 or so, and Dunn made some transparent bakelite pens. The stuff is brittle and difficult to work with - be careful, it will crack if you look at it wrong, especially around the section. On the upside, it is totally impervious to chemicals, heat (you can hit it with a blow-torch and it will eventually get damaged) etc.
These date from approximately 1928-1930, maybe 1931 (they were out of business by 1932), and yes, this model was the dollar pen. Charles Ingersoll was the seceratary and general manager of the Robert Ingersoll and Bro. Dollar Watch company from the late 1800s till 1922. In 1922 they ran into financial difficulty and were forced by their creditors to sell the company to the Waterbury clock company. Charles moved to Newark and started the Charles Ingersoll Dollar pen co in 1924. The original dollar pens were nickel-plated brass twist-fillers, but they started making models in Celluloid in 1927 and Bakelite in 1928.
They are nice pens. I was eying that particular one myself. (Need to get my paypal balance back in shape. . .)
Here is your pen:
(with thanks to Richard Binder for image editing)
A few of the metal versions:
Celluloid:
And Bakelite:
John
The material of this pen is Bakelite. It is one of the few pens that were ever made, and mass-produced, in Bakelite. Parker experimented with transparent bakalite in the lucky curve pens around 1918-1919 or so, and Dunn made some transparent bakelite pens. The stuff is brittle and difficult to work with - be careful, it will crack if you look at it wrong, especially around the section. On the upside, it is totally impervious to chemicals, heat (you can hit it with a blow-torch and it will eventually get damaged) etc.
These date from approximately 1928-1930, maybe 1931 (they were out of business by 1932), and yes, this model was the dollar pen. Charles Ingersoll was the seceratary and general manager of the Robert Ingersoll and Bro. Dollar Watch company from the late 1800s till 1922. In 1922 they ran into financial difficulty and were forced by their creditors to sell the company to the Waterbury clock company. Charles moved to Newark and started the Charles Ingersoll Dollar pen co in 1924. The original dollar pens were nickel-plated brass twist-fillers, but they started making models in Celluloid in 1927 and Bakelite in 1928.
They are nice pens. I was eying that particular one myself. (Need to get my paypal balance back in shape. . .)
Here is your pen:
(with thanks to Richard Binder for image editing)
A few of the metal versions:
Celluloid:
And Bakelite:
John
hi guys,
notice how i wrote question marks next to plastic. i knew about bakelite, but i wasn't sure if that was the material used on this pen.
nice collection John! mine is exactly like the bottom tray (style: forth from the left, color: third from the left, mottled reddish brown). and thanx for the history and info, i knew you you would post!!!... after i did the review last night, i did a search and found you had talked about this pen here at FPN.
regards,
notice how i wrote question marks next to plastic. i knew about bakelite, but i wasn't sure if that was the material used on this pen.
nice collection John! mine is exactly like the bottom tray (style: forth from the left, color: third from the left, mottled reddish brown). and thanx for the history and info, i knew you you would post!!!... after i did the review last night, i did a search and found you had talked about this pen here at FPN.
regards,
lovemy51, thanks so much for the review! It seems like every tenth vintage pen for sale on eBay is a "bakelite" pen....but yours truly is!
Johnny A, thanks (as always) for the pen history post !
That green flat top of yours looks right at home with his/her "cousins"....
Johnny A, thanks (as always) for the pen history post !
That green flat top of yours looks right at home with his/her "cousins"....
thanx maja, i was happy to get something this nice, rare and in working order!!
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