Wahl Eversharp Gold-On-Silver Ladies Ringtop Pen, Niagara Pattern C1928

[PenHero]

Hi, Folks,

This pen is a trip in the way back machine in two ways, first, it's a fairly old photo, and of course, it's a fairly old pen.

As many here may know, Wahl Eversharp was well known for its very broad assortment of machine turned pens and pencils, especially in the 1920s, with big color catalogs full of choices in solid gold, gold filled and sterling silver. Some of the more interesting pens were vermeil finishes, or in their terms, Gold-On-Silver, a base sterling silver pen with 12 karat gold fill. Part of the gold fill is then cut away and a design is engine turned in the "windows" cut into the pen. Some models had the windows filled with translucent enamel.

http://penhero.com/Temp/WahlBrain_1280_01.jpg

This particular ringtop pen does not appear in any catalog I have, but the pattern is known as niagara and is very uncommon. Some collectors amusingly refer to the pattern as brain or coral. This Gold-On-Silver pattern was likely on a matching large size pen. It also appears on sterling silver (no gold overlay) pens and matching pencils. I'm dating it as c1928 based on the appearance of Gold-On-Silver pens in the 1928 catalog.

I'd like to know if any of you have a catalog or price sheet that shows the coral pattern so I can correctly date it. I know and have seen Gold-On-Silver and plain sterling silver versions of this pen in ringtop, large fountain pen and pencil. Are there any other versions?

Thanks!

[Wahlnut]

Here's a picture from one of the 3 of the 1927-8 catalogs I have here:

 

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a75/wahlnut/Wedge%20wood%20and%20niagara%201927-8_zpsmwsgbwl5.jpeg

[PenHero]

Syd,

 

Thanks much!!