This 1920 Mabie Todd is a “Jackdaw” Toledo lever-filler in Damascened-inlay overlay on Woodgrain Hard Rubber. Damascening is the art of hand inlaying different metals into one another, typically, 24K gold or fine silver hammered into a darkly oxidized steel background, to produce intricate patterns and designs. The English term comes from a perceived resemblance to the rich tapestry patterns of damask silk. Often called “Toledo” because much of the art comes from Toledo, Spain, a …
What do I do about a crack in the threads of my vintage Waterman pen? Vintage pens (and modern pens) can develop cracks in their lifetime of use. With a vintage pen, It depends where the crack is and how large it is. Assuming it’s on the thread of the section, you may be able to glue it closed and that might help it last a little longer. It may also be possible to have it …
Currently Inked – August 5, 2017 Pilot Custom Heritage 92 – Broad – Caran d’Ache Caribbean Sea Visconti Opera Master – Double Broad – Montblanc Toffee Brown Omas Paragon – Triple Broad – Diamine SBREBrown Pelikan M1000 – Double Broad – Robert Oster Fire & Ice
This 1900 Aikin Lambert is the “Poinsettia” #2 eyedropper-fill straight-sided in repousse gold-filled “Poinsettia on hand hammered background” pattern (very rare). Aiken Lambert was a NYC based manufacturer founded in 1864. They started making pens in the late 1880s, all high quality. They supplied gold nibs to Waterman who, in 1915 acquired the company to ensure their continued supply. A wonderful example, with an unengraved barrel indicia and no brassing evident anywhere. Extra-fine, semi-flexible nib. Tiny …
The gold color seems to be wearing off the ring on the cap of my vintage pen. Can I polish it to bring it back? This is called brassing. It’s not tarnished but is actually the gold plating wearing off, as you notice, and showing the brass underneath. It cannot really be fixed easily unless you want to have the part replaced or restored by a professional.
Currently Inked – July 29, 2017 Aurora 88 Satin – Stub – Diamine Cerise Visconti Carbon Dream – OS – Montblanc Blue Hour Aurora Optima – Italic – Diamine Wild Strawberry Pelikan Souverän M400 – BB Stub – Toucan Aqua
This 1928 Security #5 is Twist-fill in Red Mottled Hard Rubber. Inside the light yellow Bakelite cap-top is the check protector with it’s rotating blades used to perforate the check so it could not be altered. GFT, including the spring loaded clip. Medium, extra-flexible nib. New-old-stock. Mint. Shown with cap on top of cap removed so you can see the check protector mechanism. Item #148 in Catalog #82
How did my vintage pen get clogged?? A pen’s feed can get clogged either by using the wrong type of ink (such as India ink, where the particles clog the channels) or by not cleaning your fountain pen and letting the (fountain pen) ink dry out. A good cleaning is the best next step!
Currently Inked – July 22, 2017 Namiki Emperor – B. CI – Pilot Iroshizuku Tsutsuji Classic Pens LB5 – Cross Point – Kaweco Ruby Red Classic Pens LM1 – Italic – Pelikan Edelstein Mandarin OMAS 360 Magnum – Medium – Pilot Iroshizuku Ama-iro Sheaffer No Nonsense – Fine Italic – Sheaffer Emerald Green Lamy LX – Medium – Pilot Iroshizuku Kosumosu
This 1920 Parker 25 Jack Knife Safety BF in Black Smooth Hard Rubber. Before the button-fill, the 25 was sold as both as a “click-fill” pen and an eyedropper-fill “Trench Pen” with a compartment on the bottom for ink tablets. A larger, hard to find size. Fine, flexible nib (rare to find a flexible nib). Some imprint wear (almost all readable), otherwise near mint. Item #162 in Catalog #82
