Victorian Era Pen?

[kudzu]

I cannot quite make out the cursive text on this very old pen. It looks like it could be either Thillaber or Shillaber. Is that a pen name? Former owner's name? The nib slides in and out. Nice decorative work on the various facets of the body - different designs on the different sides. Nice red jewel on the end. There's a ring for hanging the pen around one's neck (I'm guessing). One of the tines on the nib is broken. The nib just slides out - I'd like to get another one. The nib says "Bard & Willcutt". Anyone know anything about a pen like this? Age? Maker? Value?

 

 

I could only upload 2 photos - files too large and I've max'ed out the available space? (Even after resizing the pics.)

 

Edited to try to make the photos smaller

Edited June 4, 2007 by kudzu

[kudzu]

Well, even if you don't know what pen this is, do you know someone who might? Have you ever seen one like it?

Thanks.

[Richard]

The Bard would probably be J. Sprague Bard, who later joined with John Mabie and Edward Todd to create the Mabie, Todd & Bard company. Willcutt I don't know, but I can infer that the pen was made in New York. (The name on the side is that of the owner.) The pen was probably made in the 1860s or 1870s.

Edited June 5, 2007 by Richard

[dlmoak]

The Bard may be J. Sprague Bard, but could just as easily been one of the other five Bards involved in pen making at this time. Very many pencil and penholders of this time are not marked as to maker, so this could have been made by anyone.

[EventHorizon]

In regards to the nib "sliding in and out" I have one from Eagle Pencil Co. that has a patent of 1886. I am not sure if that is the actual number or the patent date. It sort of goes with Richards date range of 1860 or 1870 and maybe was the style in this time frame. Nice pen BTW

Edited June 5, 2007 by EventHorizon

[kudzu]

 

 

Here's a photo of the nib (broken that it is) slid out. Thanks so much for your replies Richard (can you make this a stub nib, or do I just need to replace it?), dlmoak, and eventhorizons. For some reason, I'm not being alerted about posts to this thread or others that I've marked to track so I just now saw your very helpful comments. The pen is a beauty and I'd like to get it to a workable condition.

 

Edited to add: Eventhorizon: is that a bell on your pen!? Does that interfere or bother you if you use your antique pen for writing?

Edited June 15, 2007 by kudzu