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American Blotting Stone - Renewable Blotting Stone


AAAndrew

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Has anyone else seen one of these American Blotting Stone rocker blotters? It looked curious so I pulled the trigger and just got it.

 

fpn_1461606206__image.jpeg

 

From what I can tell, it's a cast, porous, ceramic rocker blotter with a screen-printed aluminum top. The top slides off and on the concave side of the blotter is cast the words:

Amer.

Assoc. of Mfrs.

99 Warren St

N.Y.

 

The references I've found for it range from around 1907 to about 1918, which seems to correspond to the printing style of the instruction sheet.

 

It came in the original cardboard box, and from the references I've seen, it was primarily a commercial giveaway. A company would have their name printed on the flat top, and give these away as a combination blotter and paper weight.

 

fpn_1461606219__image.jpeg

 

What I've found interesting is that the instructions say that once it "needs renewing" all you do is take off the aluminum top, pop it in the oven and let it get red hot and this "will consume all foreign matter and leave this stone as good as new." But if the ink had iron it it, it may leave a yellow stain that doesn't affect usage.

 

I did try it out and it works quite well as a blotter. One rock and it took up any excess ink so that I could run my finger across the words and not smear a thing. I've tried it with fountain pen ink (J. Herbin Lie de The) as well as dip pen ink (walnut ink).

 

The only ones I've seen for sale all seem to be for this same paper box machinery company. I suspect someone ran across a whole box of them and has been selling them around through various sources, or at flea markets and thus to the internet. I did read contemporary references to other companies using this as an advertising giveaway, so I'll keep my eyes out to see if any others come on the market.

 

Thought you might find this interesting as a concept. Wonder if a modern ceramic artist could make molds and cast a new version of this? It doesn't look like it would be terribly difficult. But it wouldn't pay as who uses enough blotting paper to want a permanent blotting stone?

 

“When the historians of education do equal and exact justice to all who have contributed toward educational progress, they will devote several pages to those revolutionists who invented steel pens and blackboards.” V.T. Thayer, 1928

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"No one is exempt from talking nonsense; the mistake is to do it solemnly."

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Where did you find it???

San Francisco Pen Show - August 28-30, 2020 - Redwood City, California

www.SFPenShow.com

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What an amazing find. Never heard of such a thing. Thank you for sharing.

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