Taking the Diamond Point 'Long & Short' for the distance

[ToasterPastry]

ToasterPastry takes the Diamond Point “Long and Short” Pen for the whole distance.

 

http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/nn130/ToasterPastryphoto/shortandlong2.jpg

 

Introduction Diamond Point Pen Company was a New York City-based pen manufacturer that produced pens for the second tier market. Despite its name, their pens contained no diamonds. They offered elaborate top-tier finishes, but they often cut corners on plating and materials. Diamond Point initially made eyedroppers, and even produced a line of blow-fillers. By the 1920s, they switched to making lever-filled pens. As with most pen companies, Diamond Point produced cheaper quality pens in the 1940s in order to compete with the ballpoint pen. By the mid 1950s, Diamond Point ceased operations. Meanwhile they produced pens under their own name, as well as sub-brands Blofil, Protector, and Selfill. They also produced pens for Macy’s department store. Their pens are usually marked “Diamond Point Pen,” “Diamond PP,” or in pens produced after the mid-1920s, “New Diamond Point Pen.” Their nibs are typically marked only “Warranted 14K.” Modern collectors may confuse the company name with “Diamond Medal,” a pen produced by National Pen Company in Chicago. Some of the most noteworthy pens produced by Diamond Point were made between the late 1920s to mid-1930s. Diamond Point countered the Sheaffer Balance and the Wahl-Eversharp Equipoise with bright patterns and unique end tapers. However, the company’s most unique design was the “Long and Short Pen,” produced between 1930 and 1935.

 

http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/nn130/ToasterPastryphoto/LongShortPen.jpg

 

Morris Kolber’s idea was to produce a pen that when not in use could be compacted to a very small size such that it could be “carried in a vest pocket or a purse. But when conditioned for use, would be of substantially the same length as a full-sized conventional pen.” He accomplished this by making the barrel relatively short, and the cap relatively long. When not in use, the barrel would be stored inside the cap. When assembled for writing, the barrel was then unscrewed from the cap, reversed, and then screwed back onto the cap at the barrel’s other end. While Kobler originally called for metallic hardware, the finished product was machined entirely out of celluloid. A full functioning pen was contained within the barrel, complete with a side lever that compressed a small rubber sac. As an employee of the New Diamond Point Pen Company (sic), Kobler’s idea was granted a U.S. Patent (No. 1780527) in November 1930.

 

http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/nn130/ToasterPastryphoto/shortandlong1.jpg

 

Material: Celluloid

 

http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/nn130/ToasterPastryphoto/DP_LongShort1.jpg

 

Date of production: Between 1930-1935

 

http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/nn130/ToasterPastryphoto/DP_LongShort2.jpg

 

Fill mechanism: There is a side mounted lever that compresses a rubber bladder. The filling lever is located quite close to the nib, making it difficult to fill the pen with a narrow-mouthed ink bottle. Bottles with reservoirs, like the old Skrip bottle and the recent Mont Blanc bottles, are almost mandatory for filling this pen.

 

http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/nn130/ToasterPastryphoto/ShortLongDiamondPPenPoint-1.jpg

 

Dimensions: Length: 84 mm (3-1/4”) closed; 140 mm (5-1/2”) open. Width 18 mm (½-inch) at widest point. This pen must be posted in order to write effectively.

 

http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/nn130/ToasterPastryphoto/ShortLongDiamondPPenPoint-4.jpg

 

Nib: The 14 karat gold nib with iridium tip is stamped “Warranted 14 K.” This is the original nib as Diamond Point nibs were produced outsourced from the factory.

 

Cap: Screw-on cap with screw-on posting. The pen requires posting in order to write comfortably.

 

Price: These pens are typically worth $100 to $200, but can be found for less.

 

http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/nn130/ToasterPastryphoto/DP_LongShort3.jpg

 

Writing Performance: Writing performance is a purely subjective analysis that varies from user to user and pen to pen. It is also based on the paper, the ink and the condition of the nib. The pen is a bit small when posted, but it handles surprisingly well, and feels good in the hand. There is a great degree of flex in the nib, yet it is no wet-noodle. The feed keeps up with the ink-flow as I flex it for more varied line-widths. I used it as a daily writer for medical documentation, and found myself looking forward to ceremoniously assembling the pen, pretending I was the evil villain Scaramonga in Man with the Golden Gun (A James Bond reference, if you didn’t get it). However, the novelty quickly wore off when I had to not-so-ceremoniously assemble the pen just to quickly jot down telephone numbers.

 

http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/nn130/ToasterPastryphoto/ShortLongDiamondPPenPoint-3.jpg

 

Conclusion: By today’s standards, there is nothing unique about the compact pen. Small pens even then were quite common, as most companies offered a pen that could easily be stored for portable writing. They were great for carrying in a small pocket or purse; ideal for jotting a quick note on post card or writing out a quick list. But small pens offered no advantage to the large hand or the small arthritic hand when it came to writing lengthy missives. Diamond Point’s entry offered a unique design, and they were the first to do it: a full-sized pen that could be compacted into a small space. It’s actually smaller than some of the smallest pens produced at that time. The bright celluloid colors make them ideal collector’s items. The pen performs surprisingly well for its small size and is a pleasure to use, even though it takes a few seconds to assemble it. However, filling the pen with ink is a bit clumsy as the fill-lever is too close to the nib. A modern version would benefit from a cartridge-fill design.

 

Photo credits: Antonioz: green pens. ToasterPastry: Black & Cream

[ethernautrix]

That is way cool, TP!

 

I don't like lever fillers, but seeing as how this one's an Olde Tymey pen, I like it. (I do have a modern compact, the Japanese OHTO Tasche, which uses a cartridge.)

 

Good review!

[pen2paper]

Excellent Review!

Great handwriting samples in both.

The 'Transformers' character to this pen is fascinating..

Assembled by threads? then inked?

Where there any ringtop models?

[Mauricio]

ToasterPastry,

 

Thanks for a wonderful review you share with us. I really like your review of the pen, the pens themselves (more than one pen included in the pictures, am I correct?), writing samples and the richness of historical reference on this and other Diamond Point pen models you have included.

Do you happen to know the official name of the color of the pen depicted in your first two pictures? Have had two Diamond Point pens with that color (amber, moss with red and white marbled veins), but a model from the 1930s with domed ends. It seems like that color was prone to ambering, but the color of yours is just fantastic!

Edited January 2, 2010 by Mauricio

[ToasterPastry]

Mauricio:

Thank you for your comments. As you may notice, the writing style of the green pens and the black-and-cream pen is different. That's because they were created by two different writers. I am quite flattered that you were not able to recognize the difference, as I consider 'antonioz' quite an excellent calligrapher. Antonioz is/was the owner of the two green pens. I am the owner of the black-and-cream pen. In order to supplement the article, I had asked 'antonioz,' and had received permission, to use his photographs. I have a couple Diamond Point pens, but only one L & S. I have not run across any literature describing the color or any vintage advertisements for the pen. I saw another eBay sale for a similar bright green L & S pen recently, and was impressed with its color. It did not appear to be oxidized. Usually the outside cover (or cap) is not exposed to the rubber sac. Therefore, the color is usually unchanged with age. However, if you open the pen, the inner body will most likely be oxidized (as seen with the black & cream).

 

Instead of writing another review on a commonly reviewed pen (i.e. Esterbrook, Parker 51 or Mont Blanc), I try to pick a pen that intrigues me for its clever design, but one that tends to be overlooked by the community. In the past, others have shown pictures of their collected pens. Soon we assemble a whole file of good reference information.

Edited January 2, 2010 by ToasterPastry

[MYU]

This is the best collaborative pen review I've seen on FPN yet! Really great pen, especially for those of us that like the "pocket pens" Pilot has produced (including the recent M90). Excellent design conception on this Diamond Point. I wonder how rare these are? Where did you and Antonioz happen to obtain yours?

[diplomat]

Thank you TosPas, a most informative and enjoyable review. Cool pen.

 

I don't like lever fillers [...]

 

What? Now say it again in front of your Sheaffer OS Flat Top if you have the guts!

 

Ciao,

[georges zaslavsky]

:clap1: fairly unusual and nice pen, thanks for sharing

[Carrie]

Thanks for such an interesting review, I'd never even heard of this pen prior to reading your review. Now all I need to wait for is the one for the Omas Senna

[antoniosz]

I don't know what is the official name of the first pen but it is identical (?) to the Chilton carnelian.

[tsukiyo]

When not in use, the barrel would be stored inside the cap.

 

There is a great degree of flex in the nib, yet it is no wet-noodle.

 

They were great for carrying in a small pocket or purse . . . they were the first to do it: a full-sized pen that could be compacted into a small space.

 

Photo credits: Antonioz: green pens. ToasterPastry: Black & Cream

 

I'm the lucky so-and-so who purchased from antoniosz the darker green (shiny!) long and short pictured above. I must admit that before the pen arrived in the mail, I had many geeky moments studying the patent diagrams I found online...

 

 

 

 

The pen is shinier and even more adorable than in the photos. It weighs only 10 grams. But it has a sturdy, solid feel, with the threads screwing together securely and easily.

 

I also like the fact that when "capped," the lever is completely encased. It's protected from accidents: no catastrophic lever catching + ink blorping in your purse or pocket.

 

Really great pen, especially for those of us that like the "pocket pens" Pilot has produced (including the recent M90). Excellent design conception on this Diamond Point.

 

It does look amazing alongside pocket pens; with my M90, MYU 701, and MYU 500bs (black stripe), they look like cousins. Futuristic. Mysterious.

 

This is a great collaborative review, ToasterPastry and antoniosz. Thank you.

 

And I so love antoniosz' calligraphy

[significantpass]

Ooh that's a cool pen!

[Ed Ronax]

Excellent review, thanks.

[ethernautrix]

I'd forgotten about this review! It really is a cool pen. I wonder if it could be converted to an eyedropper....

 

I don't like lever fillers [...]

 

What? Now say it again in front of your Sheaffer OS Flat Top if you have the guts!

 

Ciao,

 

I just saw this.... It made my Flat Top cry. I was all, "But you're the only lever-filler for me, Flat Top. I swear! I meant all those other lever-fillers!"

 

Oh great. Now the Esterbrooks are crying.

[watch_art]

Now THIS is a cool pocket pen! Wow what a nib! About the same size as the Stipula Passaporto.

[opus7600]

Now THIS is a cool pocket pen! Wow what a nib! About the same size as the Stipula Passaporto.

 

You can get a modern version here http://www.brunocorsinipens.com/P_LS.html