Help With Burnham Pen Identification

[PenHero]

Hi, Folks,

 

Found this small Burnham pen in an antique store. Looked at several references but cant completely ID the pen and would appreciate some help.

 

This is a Burnham fountain pen, probably model 49, in black and gray marbled celluloid c. early 1950s. It's a 4 5/16 inches long lever fill fountain pen with a cap and barrel made from a black and gray marbled casein and fitted with a gold plated stainless steel nib stamped BURNHAM over MEDIUM over S20 over ENGLAND. Instead of tipping material, the nib tines are bent over to provide a writing tip. The clip face is stamped BURNHAM. The trim is lightly gold plated. The section screws into the barrel. There are no imprints on the cap or barrel. H. Burnham and Sons was a pen and pencil manufacturer in London, England established in the 1920s and lasting into the 1950s.

 

 

Thanks!

[Fermata]

Not sure that I can tell you more than you already know, there is/was a strong Burnham collector in Israel who wrote up a lot of his work, darned if I can find it. Others may know.

 

A Burnham was a great lesson to me in learning to respect cassein. A Burnham nib was blocked, I stood the pen in 0.5 inches of water, no more, and well away from the section, within an hour or two the cassein had become swollen and fat, and useless.

 

The Writing Equipment Society has a Burnham link.

 

http://burnham.wesonline.org.uk/Basics_of_Burnhamography.html

Edited April 12, 2018 by Parkette

[PenHero]

Not sure that I can tell you more than you already know, there is/was a strong Burnham collector in Israel who wrote up a lot of his work, darned if I can find it. Others may know.

 

A Burnham was a great lesson to me in learning to respect cassein. A Burnham nib was blocked, I stood the pen in 0.5 inches of water, no more, and well away from the section, within an hour or two the cassein had become swollen and fat, and useless.

 

The Writing Equipment Society has a Burnham link.

 

http://burnham.wesonline.org.uk/Basics_of_Burnhamography.html

Thanks much!

 

I did use that link to get to where I am now, but hoped for more detail.

 

Thanks!

[northlodge]

The collector referred to was Akiva, who passed on a couple of years back. The WES hosted material is about the most comprehensive history available.

 

There are those who complain about the Swan 'numbers man' who had a habit of taking a coffee break at the critical time, but he was lightweight compared to his Burnham equivalent - who seems to have gone AWOL with some regularity.

 

Model numbers 44, 47, and 49 regularly turn up minus the barrel markings. I think you are pretty close with your No49 guess

[peterg]

I sold a very similar 47 (the number stamper wasn't on a tea break!) recently which I believe to date to 1953/4ish

[PenHero]

Thanks to all for the help!!