Double Inkwell

[jbb]

I just bought this small-sized (3" wide by 2" high) double inkwell on ebay and thought I'd photograph it with only the first side polished to show the contrast. All the other inkwells I'm using are single ones. Do you like double inkwells? Do you polish your antiques? Well, I guess I'll go polish the other half.

 

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2509/5813589524_bedc7ddff6_b.jpg

[bigstick]

I do and I do. Nice set!!

[Shangas]

I've seen paired sets of inkwells (like inkstands) but never one like this. At least, not of this style. Very nice! What are the caps made of?

[jbb]

I've seen paired sets of inkwells (like inkstands) but never one like this. At least, not of this style. Very nice! What are the caps made of?

I've never quite seen an inkwell like this one either. I don't know what the caps are made of but they polished up super-easily.

[D Armstrong]

I've seen paired sets of inkwells (like inkstands) but never one like this. At least, not of this style. Very nice! What are the caps made of?

I've never quite seen an inkwell like this one either. I don't know what the caps are made of but they polished up super-easily.

 

If there is no mark on them, they are likely silver-plated brass. And silver is meant to be polished!

 

A very nice little inkwell.

[WOBentley]

Is the color slightly yellower than other silverplate? If so it could be what is referred to as "German Silver" in the antique car world or Nickel silver elsewhere. It is essentially a copper alloy but was designed to have the look of silver. It does polish very easily and looks wonderful.

You can read a small wikipedia "blurb" here.

[RMN]

Well, the difference in caps is curious.

 

Nice inkwell. None like that in my collection.

 

D.ick

[DanielCoffey]

The caps are different because JBB polished one.

[jbb]

Here's the inkwell all polished but a bit inky.

 

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2613/5837437759_8f1f7ec6c2_b.jpg

[Shangas]

Very smart!! That must look absolutely beautiful on your desk! What is the pen-holder made of? I'm guessing it's silver?

[jbb]

Very smart!! That must look absolutely beautiful on your desk! What is the pen-holder made of? I'm guessing it's silver?

The holder is stamped "Alpacca." Does that mean anything in silver terms? :ph34r: See below... I looked it up myself.

Edited June 16, 2011 by jbb

[Shangas]

The only thing I know is that an Alpaca is an animal (like a llama).

 

...it doesn't spit ink at you if you mistreat it, does it!? :roflmho:

[jbb]

The only thing I know is that an Alpaca is an animal (like a llama).

 

...it doesn't spit ink at you if you mistreat it, does it!? :roflmho:

 

It only spits when the nib gets rusty.

 

About Alpacca silver from Wikipedia:

Nickel silver, also known as German silver,[1] Argentann,[1] paktong,[2] new silver,[1] nickel brass,[3] or alpacca (or alpaca),[citation needed] is a copper alloy with nickel and often zinc.

[WOBentley]

That is what I suggested as a possibility for the inkwell caps, however it seems to be slightly different in color from the pen so probably not. German Silver (or any of its other names) is really nice stuff and polishes nicely with little effort and stays untarnished for much longer periods of time...

Some of my antique cars have this as an accent metal (or in one case a Chassis plate...think VIN number from the 30's)

[CatBookMom]

Here's the inkwell all polished but a bit inky.

 

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2613/5837437759_8f1f7ec6c2_b.jpg

 

There's a similar, slightly wider one at Pendemonium, down near the bottom of their list of inkwells. The glass base is wider, the caps are approximately the same, rather like classic s&p shakers. Yours is so nice.

[ticoun]

are the lids screw-on or hinged?

[jbb]

are the lids screw-on or hinged?

Hinged.

[Leftytoo]

I wonder if this inkwell set was made for accountants: one pot for black ink (good news); one for red ink (bad news)?

 

Bob

[jbb]

I wonder if this inkwell set was made for accountants: one pot for black ink (good news); one for red ink (bad news)?

 

Bob

That makes perfect sense. I wonder too.

[Shangas]

It could belong to anyone. A teacher perhaps? Black/blue ink for general notes, red for corrections?