Total Pageviews

Monday, May 30, 2016

   Here we have a couple nice French mechanical pencils. They likely date from the mid 1920's thru mid 1930's. The top pencil is a Waterman's Jif ring top, featuring a green guilloche body with gold filled trim. Waterman's Jif was Waterman's French subsidiary in the early years of Waterman. The pencil on the bottom is a French hallmarked, sterling, military clip model. The maker hallmarks are washed out. The chasing on the  body of this pencil is stunning! The Jif pencil is 3 1/2" long. The military clip  pencil is 4 1/8" long.


  




Friday, May 27, 2016

Shown here are two Parker Streamline mechanical pencils from the late 1920's - early 1930's. These color patterns were never made available in production.




Tuesday, May 24, 2016

I'm showing here a grouping of Victorian pencils. Among other pieces shown is a bicycle wheel and pump. The pump is a pencil and the tire is an eraser. Also included is a whistle with 3 colored slide out pencils. There is a dropper pencil top left. One presses the top button to drop down the working end. Seen also is the gold carpenters pencil. The working end slides into the the holder part when not in use. Shown also is a magic pencil. One pulls out the rear extension and simultaneously the working end is pushed out the other end. Last piece is a simple stick slider mechanism pencil. Enjoy!



Saturday, May 21, 2016

A nice 1840 G.W. Helfer figural rifle pencil with toothpick. The piece is just under 3 inches long. Made in England.




Wednesday, May 18, 2016

A good haul from the 2015 Washington D.C. Pen show. All are mechanical pencils with the exception of a fountain pen and a couple ink pencils.


Sunday, May 15, 2016

A nice metal figural rifle - sporting slide out dip pen, pencil and toothpick. Circa mid 1840's. Very probably made by Baker in England. Approximately 3 3/4" long.














Thursday, May 12, 2016

A nice grouping of early Eagle pencils circa 1880 - 1915. Fourth from the right is the exception. It's an Eagle gravity based vanishing nib dip pen.



Monday, May 9, 2016

Eagle Pencil Company and American Lead Pencil Company were both founded in the mid 19th century. They were giants in the production of wooden pencils. Each company also produced other items such as erasures, dip pen holders and steel nibs, mechanical pencils and even fountain pens. Eagle's early mechanical pencils are particularly fascinating. Both prospered well into the 20th century. Seen here are a tiny metal coin bank (American Lead Pencil Co.) and a collapsible metal cup (Eagle Pencil Co.). I'd date each to thereabouts the year 1910. The cup is approximately 2 1/4" tall by 2" in diameter.




Friday, May 6, 2016

Traveling inkwells in one form or another have been produced for well over 100 years. Here's a couple examples of early ones.




Tuesday, May 3, 2016

Here we go with a figural umbrella stand about 3 1/2 inches tall. Lets just say it's older than I am. The umbrellas seen in the picture are actually sheathed wooden pencils. Not very practical but very Victorian.