Help Identify Pen / Nib Brand Please

[dadshed]

hi all, i have recently acquired two fountain pens in a box of goodies from my late father, one i have managed to identify as a burnham chatsworth but the other i am struglling with and wondered if anyone could help? the cap clip has an entwined "Tdr" mark and the nib is marked with a stylised J&K, the main body is black with two gold bands either side of the lever, i do have photos but am struggling with focus on my old phone.

many thanks

[jar]

Welcome home. Pull up a stump and set a spell. Sounds like you may have found some genuine frankenpens.

[mitto]

We are waiting for the photos.

[eachan]

TDR is Thomas De La Rue, maker of the Onoto and De La Rue pens. A photo will make things clearer.

[jar]

TDR is Thomas De La Rue, maker of the Onoto and De La Rue pens. A photo will make things clearer.

Correct, however the nib is marked J&K.

[dadshed]

thanks for the replies so far will work on the photos and post tomo,

[eachan]

Correct, however the nib is marked J&K.

 

Quite so, and I might be able to do something with that when I see a photo.

[stavanger]

Your nib possibly started it's life in a Kenrick & Jefferson pen.

[eachan]

Your nib possibly started it's life in a Kenrick & Jefferson pen.

 

That does seem likely. They're very rigid nibs, intended for use with their multipart forms.

[PaulS]

Why are we reversing the letters J & K as mentioned by the op? Kenrick & Jefferson nibs have a unique logo of a very stylized, almost Japanese calligraphic form, where the two letters are in a non-standard font appearance - the strokes are very curved and wide, and they sit within a arched oval cartouche - although there may of course have been more than one style of nib imprint.

I was going to suggest J. Kearney & Co., who were based in the Liverpool area, but there's not a & between those letters.

In Steve Hull's book 'The English Fountain Pen Industry 1875 - 1975' - page 133 - there is mention of linking Kearney to TDLR - but since thinking of this possible connection, I think I'm on a wild goose chase. We need photos

Edited December 9, 2017 by PaulS

[eachan]

Why are we reversing the letters J & K as mentioned by the op? Kenrick & Jefferson nibs have a unique logo of a very stylized, almost Japanese calligraphic form, where the two letters are in a non-standard font appearance - the strokes are very curved and wide, and they sit within a arched oval cartouche - although there may of course have been more than one style of nib imprint.

I was going to suggest J. Kearney & Co., who were based in the Liverpool area, but there's not a & between those letters.

In Steve Hull's book 'The English Fountain Pen Industry 1875 - 1975' - page 133 - there is mention of linking Kearney to TDLR - but since thinking of this possible connection, I think I'm on a wild goose chase. We need photos

 

So far as I'm aware, Kearney sold rebadged stylos and pens made by others, such as De La Rue and Conway Stewart. From the few I've seen, the rebadging didn't go as far as stamping nibs with the company's initials. They went with warranted nibs.

[PaulS]

thanks - wasn't aware of that.

[dadshed]

sorry for the delay i hope these are clear, best i can do on my old phone im afraid

[eachan]

Yes, that's a Kenrick & Jefferson nib. From what I can see of it, that's a very nice pen. The nib is almost certainly a replacement because the pen does not appear to be a K&J "Supa" pen. Is there any writing on the barrel? Someone more familiar with De La Rue pens may be able to identify the pen.

Edited December 10, 2017 by eachan

[dadshed]

also apologies it is K&J, and definately looks japanese in style, as mentioned Kenrick &Jefferson

[dadshed]

thanks for that, there is nothing written on the barrel, would there be any value to it as proceeds going to headstone.

once again thanks for all your help

[PaulS]

thanks for the pix - good to see, and most definitely K & J. My one and only example does have a very firm nib, and although it doesn't say Manifold, or similar, it may well have been used for taking multiple copies. Yes, the nib imprint does have an oriental look.

A black hard rubber pen, and the barrel imprint may have simply been worn to the point of extinction - but the nib looks good, the Vulcanite is restorable to black especially as there isn't any chasing to worry about - so yes there is some value in the whole thing - especially with the gold bands. best of luck.

[jar]

Also it's possible that the clip is not original to the pen. The TdLr pens were most often plunger fillers.

[eachan]

Also it's possible that the clip is not original to the pen. The TdLr pens were most often plunger fillers.

 

Some were, others were lever fillers. That's not to dispute that the clip may be a replacement. I'm not familiar with the full De La Rue range but the use of woodgrain inserts is something that they did.