Early Paul E. Wirt Eyedropper Filler

[Goudy]

 

The Feb. ’85 date is for patent #311,554, an early over-feed.

You can see it here:

 

http://pdfpiw.uspto.gov/.piw?PageNum=0&docid=00311554&IDKey=B989C422410F%0D%0A&HomeUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fpatft.uspto.gov%2Fnetacgi%2Fnph-Parser%3FSect1%3DPTO1%2526Sect2%3DHITOFF%2526d%3DPALL%2526p%3D1%2526u%3D%25252Fnetahtml%25252FPTO%25252Fsrchnum.htm%2526r%3D1%2526f%3DG%2526l%3D50%2526s1%3D0311554.PN.%2526OS%3DPN%2F0311554%2526RS%3DPN%2F0311554

 

You’re right, that collector sticking out of the back of the section

is a complete mismatch. As you noticed, it’s too wide for the

section; the feed does not overlay the nib enough, and extends

too far on the barrel end of the section. The cap however, is similar

to the cap shown in Wirt's patent application.

 

Sitting-out that dance was a wise move.

 

Ah, eBay.

Ah, Wilderness.

 

The cap seems a little too short for that particular nib and section. Also more sunned than the rest of the pen.

 

http://i.imgur.com/bMbMCUJ.jpg

 

http://i.imgur.com/TLJUg3J.jpg

[Alex2014]

Cap and barrel could be dated 1885-1888. The overfeed is 1901-1902. Not sure about the nib.

[DanDeM]

Goudy:

I think you’re right. The cap, while similar in shape to the patent illustration, does appear to be

too short. The slender pen, shown here with a full size model, does appear to have a longer cap.

 

 

And just to keep things confusing, the full size pen has an under feed.

 

[Alex2014]

The cap for this (very early) Wirt ED is 36 mm long.

Edited August 12, 2015 by Alex2014

[DanDeM]

Am enjoying this conversation. Been a while since I gave The Wirts a good hard look. Thanks.

These slender, often called Secretary models in catalogs, carry imprints on the barrel, or on

the cap, or both. The banded examples all have 36mm caps, while the longer, un-banded

specimen has a 39mm cap. Interesting to note, but difficult to see in this snap, all the bands

are different. Also the chasing differs, with the second pen from the left having no chasing at all.

 

[Lazard 20]

Am enjoying this conversation.

 

Two more:

 

http://s11.postimg.org/6sdyzyl77/WIRT_LEAF_CLOVER_BARREL_AND_CAP.jpg

http://s21.postimg.org/cosj1y2wn/1_WIRT_LEAF_CLOVER_AND_BILL_YEARS_AGO.jpghttp://s1.postimg.org/hfg5bct9b/1_WIRT_LEAF_CLOVER_NIB.jpg

http://s15.postimg.org/6t5up54mj/1_WIRT_LEAF_CLOVER_BARREL_IMPRINT.jpg

http://s23.postimg.org/np4206qsb/1_WIRT_CLIP_LEAF_CLOVER.jpg

http://s11.postimg.org/fl8psvahf/1_CLIP_DURYEA_EN_WIRT.jpg

http://s28.postimg.org/jvm1pq871/LETRERO_WIRT.jpg

http://s16.postimg.org/jhl9f07ph/PIC_1013.jpg

http://s14.postimg.org/y1xh4btxd/PIC_1010.jpg

http://s4.postimg.org/v2slsi525/PIC_1012.jpg

http://s10.postimg.org/yatt184kp/014_EVA000000000_U07475_V00_SVC2.jpg

http://s10.postimg.org/5y2woi889/1888.jpg

Edited August 13, 2015 by Lazard 20

[DanDeM]

Lazard;

Outstanding documentation.

The Duryea accommodation clip is fascinating. Brings to mind other efforts to

secure a pen from Holland (a patented “Grip Clip”) and Levi Van Valkenburg’s

1896 patent #560,872.

Running late. More later.

[Greenie]

Dan,

 

I have a very nice Holland Hatchet fill with "grip clip". Perhaps I bring all my old random fillers and random "Black Pen Society" stuff to the next So Cal Pen Club meeting? Love to see you there. Informal topic could be either Wirts or Random Fillers.

[Lazard 20]

Lazard;

Outstanding documentation.

The Duryea accommodation clip is fascinating. Brings to mind other efforts to

secure a pen from Holland (a patented “Grip Clip”) and Levi Van Valkenburg’s

1896 patent #560,872.

 

Running late. More later.

 

Ah! by the way, talking about clips, if you like this matter could to be appropriate to put to your reach my little chronological clips patents collection. I open a topic:

 

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/295319-clips-patents-chronological-recopilation/

Edited August 14, 2015 by Lazard 20

[DanDeM]

Dan,

 

I have a very nice Holland Hatchet fill with "grip clip". Perhaps I bring all my old random fillers and random "Black Pen Society" stuff to the next So Cal Pen Club meeting? Love to see you there. Informal topic could be either Wirts or Random Fillers.

 

Matt:

 

I usually remove accommodation clips, especially on BHR pens. The rust and corrosion

that builds up under them can really mar the finish.

 

For the heckovit, here’s a hew of Hatchets I had with me when we last met.

 

Edited August 14, 2015 by DanDeM

[Greenie]

Interesting. I never thought about removing the accommodation clips. I was afraid of either damaging the clip or the cap in the process.

 

Great. Now I will start learning about clips and clip patents and who used which ones. Is there any end to the madness?

[kirchh]

[8] The American Stationer, vol. XXXIX, No 1 (1071), January 2, 1896, p.56 – not January 9^, as G.K. mentioned in his article.

 

Note that George Kovalenko's January 9 citation is correct; the pagination does not reset with each issue within the volume.

 

--Daniel

[kirchh]

Heath was one of many jewelers located in what is now considered lower

Manhattan (it was uptown in 1910) who provided pen makers with overlays

and filigrees. Makers bought them by the gross. Some, like John Holland,

worked with these jobbers to customize designs. He sent his son to live in

New York for exactly that purpose.

 

Heath was one of the few to hallmark some, but not all of his work. Some

of his overlays were offered in what might be called “limited editions”,

simply because they were done by hand and took much time to complete

— Tree Trunk, Aztec, Snake patterns.

 

Heath indeed was responsible for a great many overlays, but I'm not aware of any specific evidence that his firm produced the so-called Tree Trunk products.

 

--Daniel

[Alex2014]

My oldest Wirt eyedropper, the left one in the picture bellow. It is 128 mm long capped and can be dated 1887-88 accordingly to the imprint on the cap.

 

WIRT'S PAT FEBY .3, 1885

& PAT'S APP'D FOR

 

The Wirt eyedropper from the right side is from the 1890s and has a different pattern chasing.

 

Edited November 8, 2015 by Alex2014

[sidthecat]

I've just picked up a Wirt ringtop - they are very pretty pens and I'm looking forward to working with it.

[rwilsonedn]

All of this variety makes me wonder just what was going on inside the Wirt factory. Were they making short runs of pens on a production line, and then when they ran out of materials for one style they started making something else? Were individual craftsmen each making a complete pen themselves, so that everyone in the plant might be working on a different kind of pen on a give day? Did they have individual craftsmen doing separate jobs, like turning, drilling, chasing, nib work, and fitting the furniture, and then they just assembled pens out of the finished parts on hand? Must have been a fascinating place.

ron

[sidthecat]

My ringtop just arrived: very well cared-for, the characteristic repoussé band and underfeed nib. Not very flexy, but a very nice, wet line.

Here's a picture: