Interesting (?) Little Paramount

[Univer]

Hi All,

 

A couple of weeks ago - remembering a post about another "Paramount" Wahl sub-brand model - I picked up a small Paramount ringtop in what looks to be black hard rubber.

 

It's definitely a Wahl: the imprint alone is a dead giveaway. And this one has some other features I thought might be worth mentioning.

 

First of all, it's tiny: 3 5/8" capped, and slender. Two full inches of that length is taken up by the cap, creating an unusual long/short effect. And the ringtop itself is interesting: it's really more of a bail-top, since the ring attaches to the sides of the cap rather than the top itself.

 

For me, though, the most interesting single feature is the letter "B" on the top of the cap. When I bought the pen, I just assumed that someone had added his/her initial - maybe with some kind of stamp. But when I was polishing the top cap band (I still haven't polished the rest of the pen), I was surprised to see the very top of the cap come off altogether.

 

The letter "B" is actually printed onto a thin cover - not unlike an old-fashioned button cover - that snaps onto the top of the cap. It seems to be made of black celluloid; the underside is printed "Pat Applied For." When the cover is removed, the plain black cap top looks complete; if you didn't know the "B" cover had been there, you wouldn't be conscious of anything "missing."

 

As I hope the photographs show, this cover is a perfect fit for the pen. I think it's unlikely - although I suppose it's remotely possible - that this is an after-the-fact consumer add-on. I think it's more probable that this was a personalization option at the time of purchase. And it seems to me that this sort of cover would work only with pens of a certain configuration. It works here because the top cap band creates a sort of natural lip or "stop" against which the cover sits, keeping the cover from coming off too easily. On a pen lacking such a band, the cover would be lost within days.

 

Has anyone encountered a similar feature before? Maybe they're common, and I simply haven't come across an example.

 

Cheers,

 

Jon

[Wahlnut]

Very interesting.

 

Here are a couple of shots of another such pen in RMHR.

 

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a75/wahlnut/P5060275.jpghttp://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a75/wahlnut/P5060276.jpg

 

About the "protective cap", or :false cap", or whatever it is, Wahl used a number of such devices over a the early years. Some were imprinted with the pen model number, the nib size and style or other catalog info that would be of importance to a dealer and the factory, but not so much for the consumer. It made it possible to identify the pen without the cost of model numbering each pen during manufacture. This device also protected the hard angle edhges of the pen during shipping and other inventory shuffling at the retailer, too.

 

Here is a shot of another pen (Wahl Gold Seal ("Flattop") Soldier Clip with Gold Filled cap end area suitable for engraving, that was so protected by a plastic snap on cap, although this one is cut out to show the cap end.

 

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a75/wahlnut/P5060280.jpghttp://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a75/wahlnut/P5060279.jpg

 

 

 

 

 

I have others that were full cover snap ons as well.

 

 

My guess is that the snap on cap you are asking about was turned into an initial bearer by the owner after the purchase, rather than toss it away.

 

I have NO literature about these protective caps, but that is my best guess based on what I know.

 

Syd

Edited May 6, 2007 by Wahlnut

[Univer]

Hi Syd,

 

Thanks so much for the information (and the photos). As you say: very interesting.

 

I know my photos don't convey it, but the letter "B" on my false cap looks like a pure "factory" job. It's dead center and perfectly evenly applied. I have no hesitation in saying that I couldn't do half as good a job.

 

So whoever had the notion to turn the protective cap into a monogram...they knew what they were doing. Maybe it was some anonymous dealer who had the facilities to apply the letters, and who thought he could turn the false cap into an added selling feature...?

 

Again: many thanks!

 

Cheers,

 

Jon