Custom pen around 1914

[Stompy]

Okay, I'm writing a story where this pen plays in important part and I'd like to get things right.

 

This is a gold pen, made in Paris just before WWI. But not by a major manufacturer, it would have been custom made. The point is that it would have been made from a gold scarab beetle with ruby eyes that was stolen from a burial chamber in an Egyptian pyramid - but I get ahead of myself.

 

So far I Have this as a simple gold pen with art nouveau patterns engraved on the cap and lbarrel. The two rubies would be end jewels. A large gold nib (with a scarab engraved on it), the cap screwing onto the barrel. I'm not very good with pen history, but an eye drop filling method seems in keeping.

 

Does this sound about right for the period? Is it possible that a jeweller would make custom pens? Any other suggestions?

 

There was a documentary about Einstein on television the other night that had him using a Parker 25 and the anachronism was a major distraction.

 

Thanks for any help.

[Guest Denis Richard]

I think custon jeweler pens were made during that era. What about a custom snake overlay with the rubies as the snakes eyes ? There are a few models like that (not sure they are overlay, but with stones for the snake's eyes.)

[Titivillus]

Okay, I'm writing a story where this pen plays in important part and I'd like to get things right.

 

This is a gold pen, made in Paris just before WWI. But not by a major manufacturer, it would have been custom made. The point is that it would have been made from a gold scarab beetle with ruby eyes that was stolen from a burial chamber in an Egyptian pyramid - but I get ahead of myself.

 

So far I Have this as a simple gold pen with art nouveau patterns engraved on the cap and lbarrel. The two rubies would be end jewels. A large gold nib (with a scarab engraved on it), the cap screwing onto the barrel. I'm not very good with pen history, but an eye drop filling method seems in keeping.

 

Does this sound about right for the period? Is it possible that a jeweller would make custom pens? Any other suggestions?

 

There was a documentary about Einstein on television the other night that had him using a Parker 25 and the anachronism was a major distraction.

 

Thanks for any help.

What you might do instead is have the scarab as the tassie of the pen similar to several of the nib holders I have seen. Then a little art nouveau engraving on the pen body would be fine. I don't know alot of egyptology but I thought the scarabs were always carved out of the stone itself so maybe a ruby scarab atop a gold pen. Quick look shows that they did use gold and as an interesting twist there was always writing on the flat side of the scarab, so maybe a curse ot two could be added.

 

 

 

 

Kurt H

[wimg]

Hey Kurt,

 

Stompy didn't tell you it was a scary story now, did he?

 

 

Regards,

the Mad One

[Titivillus]

Hey Kurt,

 

Stompy didn't tell you it was a scary story now, did he?

 

 

Regards,

the Mad One

Lets' see scarab stolen from egyptian burial chamber, sounds like the start of a horror story to me or maybe a murder mystery.

 

Kurt H

[Stompy]

Yes it is supposed to be a creepy story, a little obvious, huh?

 

Thanks a lot for the excellent suggestions. I was worried about having enough gold to make a pen, but an overlay won't take as much will it?

 

So, a 1913-14 bhr Waterman with a gold overlay. I like the idea of having a 'safety' filller in an 'unsafe' pen.

 

The majority of the story is set in the present day. Wife (pen afficionado) does a sumgal and gets a good deal on this pen for her hubby at a flea market. discoloration of the bhr, maybe, discoloured overlay, covered in gunk.

 

I think the nib should have some give but not be a flex nib, as the man would be unused to a fountain pen he wouldn't know what to do with one of those.

 

Thanks a lot for your help, you've been more help to me than you know.

 

Now I'm off to look up pictures of vintage Watermans....