| Odd & Unusual |
Some other pens with unusual mechanisms:
A.A. Waterman (twist-fillers, middle-joint eyedroppers), Chilton (pneumatic-fillers), Conklin
(crescent-fillers), and John Holland (hatchet & pull-fillers)
5428: American Pencil Co. pencil case: wooden holder, 28.3 cm long, in the form of a giant pencil with a screw-on nickeled brass end cap; faux woodgrained finish, real lead inset into end; marked with number "32" and "PATENT/APPL'D FOR".
DATE: c. 1890 • CONDITION: exc • $100 
4307: American Pencil Co. No. 19 giant dip pen: oversize display piece, 30 cm long; brass plated ferrule, wooden taper w swirled paint decoration (some minor flaking -- see picture); matching "MIDGET" steel nib.
DATE: c.
1900 • CONDITION: VG • NIB: fine semiflex • $150
7150: Bolles Standard: smooth black hard rubber screw-cap patent self-filler, 14.8 cm long, made in Toledo, Ohio; correct #2 Standard nib missing iridium on one side. Rare and historically significant in preserving its original squeeze-bulb sac petrified but intact, the sac appearing to incorporate internal metal pressure bars on either side, as specified in William Bolles' patent 737,697 of 1903. Note that barrel unscrews with reverse (left-hand) threads.
DATE: c. 1912 • CONDITION: fine-exc* • $295
7615: Caw's safety: rare early pen, black chased hard rubber, 11.1 cm long, barrel bands marked "DOUBLÉ/18K", crisp imprint, lists patent dates from 1895 to 1904; pristine surfaces, original seal has not been replaced and is not ink-tight, replacement Parker nib.
DATE: c. 1905 • CONDITION: exc* • NIB:
fine • $585
7165: Chameleon Four-Way: unusual jade green double-nibbed combination, 14.2 cm long, chrome plated trim; two-part barrel, inlaid color bands, some discoloration; can be assembled to expose both nibs or just one; each unit squeeze-filled, gold plated nibs.
DATE: c. 1930 • CONDITION: VG • NIB: fine • $385
6864: Conklin demonstrator: rare black chased hard rubber cutaway #20 crescent-filler, 13.6 cm long, gold filled trim, crisp and glossy, hole for clip on back of cap, but appears never to have been installed (ditto for the nib and feed, as is typical for this sort of demonstrator pen); original hardened sac has been left intact.
DATE: c. 1924 • CONDITION: exc-near mint • $500
3431: Corona click-filler: scarce jade green oversize model, 14.2 cm long, gold filled trim, made in Janesville, Wisconsin; end knob turns clockwise to compress and release the sac (similar to system used by Matador); moderate discoloration and wear, name lightly impressed in barrel; large Corona nib.
DATE: c. 1928 •
CONDITION: VG • NIB: medium flex • $525
7659: Cross stylographic pen: black chased hard rubber eyedropper-filler, 11.9 cm long, thick model with unusual chased cap; crisp and glossy, bold section imprint without patent date, has been converted to a scribing tool -- probably as a means to recycle unused but obsolete old stock (not usable as a pen).
DATE: c. 1885
• CONDITION: mint* • $125
7058: De La Rue Onoto demonstrator: classic British plunger-filler, 13.9 cm long, transparent celluloid barrel with cutaways to show filler piston and ink shutoff; gold plated dummy nib; acquired from an old Australian pen shop.
DATE: c. 1939 • CONDITION: mint • $850
6502: Dunn pump-filler: black chased hard rubber, 11.6 cm long, gold filled trim, red casein filler knob somewhat chipped (see detail); otherwise quite clean, with freshly-replaced seals.
DATE: c. 1923 • CONDITION:
fine* • NIB: extra-fine flex • $165
6913: Eagle glass cartridge pen: black lacquered brass, 12 cm long, one of the earliest cartridge pens made; barrel is fully imprinted, stating "PATENTED" but unlike later examples no citation of patent date of 1890; though japanned finish is worn, the pen appears unused: the nib's plating is almost perfect, while the cartridge retains its original cork stopper; the rubber section seal is also intact, though it is now hardened.
DATE: c. 1889 • CONDITION: fine-exc • NIB: extra-fine • $165
5563: Eagle novelty pencil: giant "Zep" 263, red lead, picture of zeppelin in silver on side; 23.4 cm long including brass end loop.
DATE: c. 1930 • CONDITION: VG-fine • $80
6273: Eagle (?) Pepsi-Cola advertising pen: colorful lever-filler, 12.1 cm long, gold plated trim, wear to metal clip in form of Pepsi bottle, but still one of the better specimens we've had; section with ink window, slight gaping around level opening (see detail).
DATE: c. 1939 • CONDITION: fine • NIB: fine
• $225
6982: Evans hump-filler: vest-pocket sized, black chased hard rubber with nickel plated trim, 10.6 cm long, red cap top (probably casein); crisp chasing and imprints, Evans nib opens up with only slight pressure; hairline from rear of filler slot (see detail).
DATE: c. 1920 • CONDITION: VG-fine* • NIB:
extra-fine flex • $90
7092: Eversharp Skyline injector pencil: unusual wartime example in burgundy, 13.1 cm long, gold filled over silver trim with characteristic vermeil tarnish (can be easily polished off if desired), original barrel stickers; not only does this pencil have the typical wartime plastic nose cone, the barrel of the internal mechanism is also plastic, while the front bushing has been turned from pearlescent orange-brown celluloid stock originally used for mid- to late 1930s Dorics; mechanism can be easily removed by unscrewing nose cone, but at present is too sticky when inside the barrel to be considered functional.
DATE: c. 1942 •
CONDITION: near mint* • $85
7133: Fairchild retracting dip pen: uncommon twist-action model, 15.6 cm extended, 11.6 cm long retracted, gold filled checkerboard pattern ferrule, wooden taper is turned to extend and retract the nib. Clean, fully marked, with a #5 Fairchild nib (iridium intact, but quite scratchy; light scratch marks over imprint).
DATE: c. 1880 • CONDITION: fine • NIB: extra-fine superflex • $285
5812: Hicks figural pencil: gold filled ringtop, 5 cm long retracted, in the form of a cannon; back end turns to extend pencil, mechanism good, scattered light dings to the surface, marked "W.S. HICKS"; a scarce American-made novelty.
DATE: c. 1890 • CONDITION: G • $250
7054: Hicks combination pencil lighter: sterling silver, 13.4 cm long, uses 2.5 mm lead, lighter insert marked "Realite", with patent information, pencil fully marked with Hicks logo and name of New York jewelers Udall and Ballou; initials on indicia and scattered dings, overall appearance still handsome, size and weight impressive.
DATE: c. 1930 • CONDITION: VG • $125
7370: Hicks sleeve-filler: unusual gold filled ringtop, 10.2 cm long, grouped parallel lines pattern; monogram "E.Y.S" on indicia, typical erosion to front lip of section overlay (see detail), otherwise quite clean, with robust and smooth-writing Hicks nib.
DATE: c. 1932 • CONDITION: fine* • NIB: medium fine semiflex
• $145
7402: Kaweco (?) combination pen and pencil: unusual gold filled lever-filler with extending pencil end, 12.5 cm long, pencil mechanism like that of a magic pencil, this type of combination typically German, though enameled perpetual calendar's letters indicate for French market; small blue cabochon in end of lever, clip rather clumsily soft-soldered in place. Scratchy warranted nib, incipient hairline from vent hole, abrasion to top; corrosion to overlay on section (see detail). Dents to ends, plating wear, but mechanically sound. Pencil uses 1.5 mm lead.
DATE: c. 1925 • CONDITION: G* • NIB: medium flex • $350
6168: Laughlin doctor's pen: black chased hard rubber eyedropper-filler, thermometer in compartment at end of barrel; 16.3 cm long, crisp and glossy, new old stock, never filled; came to us without a nib -- we have fitted it with a Laughlin nib of the correct size and era, which does however have an axial hairline crack from the vent hole; an outstanding example of a very rare design.
DATE: c. 1905 • CONDITION: mint*
• NIB: fine stub flex • $1650
6197: Mabie Todd Swan Safety: rare black hard rubber desk-style clipless screw-cap eyedropper-filler, 17.3 cm long, marked "MADE FOR/SINGER PEN & GIFT SHOP/PITTSBURGH, PA." and "MANIFOLD"; imprints heavily worn; a few similar #2-size pens are known, all apparently specially made for Singer, but this is the only #5-size example we have seen.
DATE: c. 1914 • CONDITION: G • NIB: fine stub firm • $385
6048: Mabie Todd Swan Military Safety: rare screw-cap black chased hard rubber ink-tablet eyedropper-filler, 14.5 cm long, nickel-plated trim; New York production, imprints and chasing crisp, sealed hairline at edge of ink pellet compartment recess (see detail).
DATE: c. 1918 • CONDITION: fine-exc* • NIB:
extra-fine flex • $365
7665: Mabie Todd Longshort Stylo: black chased hard rubber vest-pocket eyedropper-filler, 7.75 cm closed, 11.6 cm open; gold spring-loaded needle intact, imprints and chasing strong; made in England.
DATE: c. 1920 •
CONDITION: fine-exc • NIB: medium fine • $150
7032: Mabie Todd Swan Safety Propelling Pen: rare black chased hard rubber English-made retracting-nib safety, 12.2 cm long; barrel imprints strong, chasing good, "SWAN"-imprinted feed, smooth-writing #2 Swan nib; cap's surface is rough, may have been chemically reblackened; seals replaced, Mabie Todd safeties are seldom seen.
DATE: c. 1925 • CONDITION: VG • NIB: medium semiflex • SOLD
6000: Mabie Todd Swallow combination in box: black-veined red and amber pearl bulb-filler, 15 cm long, gold filled trim; late New York production, very flexible Mabie Todd New York nib, uses 1.1 mm lead, pencil mechanism propels and retracts; no brassing, barrel transparency like new, upper cap band shows crimp marks (from original manufacture); original petrified filler bulb has been left in place, to date we have only heard of one other bulb-filling Mabie Todd combo in collectors' hands.
DATE: c. 1932 •
CONDITION: near mint • NIB: fine flex • $650
7540: Montblanc (?) button-filler: black French-made pen, 13.7 cm long, gold plated trim, bears star on cap top and Montblanc imprint on barrel, but plated nib is marked "C. J. R./IRIDIUM/FRANCE/16" and overall styling and quality very unlike Montblanc; other examples are known, but for the present their parentage is a mystery: were they made under license in the immediate aftermath of the war, or do they represent a brazen and unauthorized appropriation of the Montblanc name?.
DATE: c. 1946 • CONDITION: fine •
NIB: fine flex • $350
6550: Mordan eyedropper-filler: black chased hard rubber straight-cap, 13.9 cm long, unusually thick barrel with equally unusual wavy-line chasing, imprinted "MORDAN/LONDON"; ventless nib missing tipping material from underpart of one tine (not apparent from above), cap faded less than barrel (probably because smooth, and could be polished without weakening chasing); Mordan fountain pens are rare -- this is only the second we have handled.
DATE: c. 1905 • CONDITION: VG-fine* • NIB: medium stub • $385
7634: Mordan drop-action pencil: sterling silver, line and dot pattern, London hallmarks, scarce variant with patented "doors" closure, keeps dust and dirt out of the mechanism when closed; 8.5 cm long closed, 10.8 cm extended, name and date on indicia, fine working order, uses 1.5 mm "VS" lead.
DATE: 1922 • CONDITION:
fine-exc • $325
7401: Parker 20 Jack-Knife Safety: scarce and desirable screw-cap eyedropper-filler, black hard rubber with transparent Bakelite barrel; 12.6 cm long, good imprints, "BAKELITE" on barrel however mostly polished away, probably in an attempt to reduce the prominence of the small personalized imprint directly below (see details). Tiny incipient hairline from vent hole of Lucky Curve nib; Lucky Curve feed is fully intact.
DATE: c.
1913 • CONDITION: VG-fine* • NIB: fine flex • $650
6218: Parker Jack-Knife Safety: rare baby Bakelite-barreled ringtop eyedropper-filler, black hard rubber, 7.75 cm long, gold filled trim; good barrel transparency, cap imprint light but legible, tight stable hairline in cap lip (see detail), Lucky Curve feed intact, #2 Lucky Curve nib has longitudinal hairline from base up to "C" in imprint.
DATE: c. 1913 • CONDITION: VG* • NIB: medium fine flex •
$625
7676: Pelikan 60 pencil: dark green, 11.8 cm long, gold filled trim; singular "Knickbein" mechanism advances lead when pencil is "bent" between the fingers; a real conversation piece, quite scarce and desirable, uses 1.1 mm lead.
DATE: c. 1955 • CONDITION: fine-exc • $465
7078: Pelikan 60 pencil: dark green, 11.9 cm long, gold filled trim; singular "Knickbein" mechanism advances lead when pencil is "bent" between the fingers; a real conversation piece, quite scarce and desirable; uses 1.1 mm lead, of additional interest in bearing the KLM airline logo.
DATE: c. 1955 • CONDITION: exc
• $500
6800: Reynolds Rocket ballpoint: unusual two-color model, 13.7 cm long, sliding aluminum tip cover, reversible red-anodized insert; some tool marks to insert end, both cartridges present but nonfunctional.
DATE: c. 1946
• CONDITION: VG* • $120
6136: Reynolds International ballpoint: aluminum, main barrel assembly anodized blue, 14.6 cm long; not working, tip missing its ball; a relic of the beginnings of the postwar ballpoint craze; original price was $12.50 -- as much as the top-line fountain pens of the era.
DATE: c. 1946 • CONDITION: VG-fine* •
$90
7735: Ronson Penciliter: combination pencil and lighter, 14.4 cm long, gold veined green pearl celluloid and rhodium plate; uses 1.1 mm lead.
DATE: c. 1938 • CONDITION: VG • $105
7076: Ronson Penciliter: combination pencil and lighter, 14.3 cm long, black and rhodium plate; uses 1.1 mm lead, pencil mechanism propels, but does not retract.
DATE: c. 1938 • CONDITION: fine* • $95
5511: S.M.B.(?) eyedropper-filler: unusual Japanese straight-cap miniature with end-knob ink shutoff valve; 9.1 cm long, engine-turned aluminum overlay, imprinted initials disposed radially around end knob (could be B.S.M. or M.B.S.); seals have not been replaced but have been vacuum-tested; scant but smooth iridium on 14K-marked nib.
DATE: c. 1925 • CONDITION: fine • NIB: fine flex • $145
7187: Schnell Penselpen: striking red and pearl pen-pencil ringtop combination, 14 cm long, gold filled trim, distinctive sliding bar filler, pencil end uses 1.1 mm lead; correct original nib and patent feed; sac removed to preserve near-perfect color.
DATE: c. 1930 • CONDITION: exc-near mint • NIB: fine semiflex
• $800
7152: Sheaffer combination: black lever-filler, 15.5 cm long, gold filled trim, #3 Sheaffer nib on one end, 1.1 mm pencil on the other, barrel unscrews in middle to reveal eraser; flat-bottomed comb feed.
DATE: c. 1935
• CONDITION: fine • NIB: fine semiflex • $200
3974: Sheaffer Balance loaner: rare cherry-red lever-filler, 13.8 cm long, chrome plated trim, section with ink window, #3 nib; marked "SERVICE PEN LOANED BY/WHITE CROSS PHARMACY"; Sheaffer used this color almost exclusively for loaner pens, most of which survive in a heavily worn state; in excellent condition save for internal hairlines at extreme ends (no hint of crystallization, but rather typical age shrinkage).
DATE: c.
1936 • CONDITION: fine* • NIB: fine semiflex • $265
7213: Snapfil chatelaine pen: unusual gold-plated overlay ringtop, 14 cm long, distinctive two-part reverse lever filler (the hinged part pivots out to press upon the pressure bar; when the main lever is then pressed, it closes with a "snap"), lever appears to have been plated but now worn to silver; a few very light dings to cap, original chain and characteristic lyre-shaped pin clasp; #2 Snapfil nib opens up with light pressure.
DATE: c. 1920 • CONDITION: fine-exc • NIB: extra-fine superflex • $685
6714: Towle ballpoint telephone dialer: sterling silver, 12.2 cm long, some tarnish, no dents, initials and date lightly engraved on side; appears to use standard stick-pen cut-to-fit refills.
DATE: c. 1965 • CONDITION:
fine-exc • $65
5757: United States Fountain Pen Co. Victor: gold filled ringtop telescoping lever-filler, 10.9 cm long, extends to 15.9 cm uncapped; high quality pen, made in New York City, end cap unscrews, patented design specifies compartment was for smelling salts; usual dings to end cap, otherwise very clean; responsive, slightly toothy Victor #2 nib.
DATE: c. 1920 • CONDITION: fine • NIB: extra-fine flex • $400
6520: Waterman Remex Self-Filler No. 101: one of Waterman's earliest self-fillers, and so rare that most advanced collectors have never seen a complete example; construction is all-aluminum, with a hard rubber press-fit section assembly, sleeve rotates rather than slides to expose filler bar; this example is new old stock, and the hardened sac is preserved with the pressure bar laced in place exactly according to the William Ferris patent 799,897 of 1905 (Ferris' patent 950,817 of 1910 is the one covering the usual Waterman sleeve-filler design); 14 cm long, superficial shop wear, "PAT. APPL'D FOR" imprint.
DATE: c. 1905 •
CONDITION: near mint • NIB: fine flex • $1650
3779: Waterman 12P: rare black chased hard rubber pump-filler, 14.8 cm long, good imprints w 1897 & 1900 patent dates; moderate, even fading, a nice clean example of one of Waterman's earliest & least successful self-fillers.
DATE: c. 1910 • CONDITION: fine • NIB: extra-fine flex • $675
5520: Waterman 14P: rare black chased hard rubber clipless pump-filler, 14.3 cm long, crisp imprints with 1897 & 1900 patent dates on filler knob; slight fading, mostly to cap; a must-have for any serious Waterman collector.
DATE: c. 1914 • CONDITION: fine-exc • NIB: fine flex • $850
4243: Waterman pencil: black chased hard rubber with a most unusual left-handed mechanism; 13.2 cm long, gold filled trim, clip with large rivets, marked "18KT FILLED"; hard rubber chasing worn, but no brassing to metal, imprints all strong.
DATE: c. 1921 • CONDITION: fine • $300
1947: Waterman Signagraph eyedropper-filler: black hard rubber, 11.3 cm long, unique design made specifically for use in Waterman's Signagraph check-writing machine -- a pantograph-based device that enabled the user to sign multiple checks at once, or to make multiple copies of a handwritten document; no separate section, end of barrel unscrews to fill, middle-joint type construction not found in any other Waterman pen; some fading, good imprints, #4 nib.
DATE: c. 1924 •
CONDITION: G • NIB: medium-fine flex • $150
5635: Waterman JiF four-color pencil: chrome plated brass, 13.7 cm long, uses 1.1 mm lead; new old stock; French-made for the French market, very solid construction, from a long-established Paris pen shop.
DATE: c. 1948
• CONDITION: near mint • $125
7668: Weidlich Star stylographic pen: black hard rubber screw-cap coin-filler, 12.4 cm long, imprint reads "GUARANTEED 3 YEARS", weighted needle intact.
DATE: c. 1910 • CONDITION: fine • NIB: medium fine •
$145
5106: unmarked novelty pencil: high quality silver ringtop in the form of a robed Japanese figure carrying a sword and a fan; 6.8 cm long extended, nozzle retracts when top part is twisted; solidly made, even wear, no damage, uses VS 1.5 mm lead.
DATE: c. 1885 • CONDITION: G • SOLD
7764: unmarked doctor's pen: black chased hard rubber eyedropper-filler, 16.1 cm long, recess for thermometer at end of barrel; marked "OPPENHEIMER SON & CO. LTD." and "PALATINOIDS/THE IDEAL FORM OF MEDICATION"; Oppenheimer was a prominent London pharmaceuticals firm, whose patented "palatinoids" were a form of soluble capsule (reference here); the original thermometer is present and Oppenheimer-marked, but the bulb has been broken and the mercury drained; the warranted nib is English, and is probably somewhat later than the pen; there is also a hard-to-find 5mm crack in the barrel which has been sealed (see detail).
DATE: c. 1905 • CONDITION: fine* • NIB: fine flex • $350
7189: unmarked dummy display pen: heavy solid rubber, 13.9 cm long, looks like slip-cap eyedropper-filler but does not open.
DATE: c. 1910 • CONDITION: exc • $75
7013: unmarked double-ended marking pencil: .900 hallmarked hexagonal silver body, red and navy blue cones at either end, 16 cm long; lead size appears to be around 2.9 or 3 mm, mechanisms propel and retract; no dings or wear to the engine turning pattern, but some chips to the very edges of the silver at either end (see details).
DATE: c. 1930 • CONDITION: fine* • $205
7123: unmarked safety demonstrator: French retracting-nib pen in black with a transparent celluloid grid-patterned barrel, 12 cm long, gold filled trim, 18K nib, made in Toulouse; seals appear sound, but we have not replaced them and they are not guaranteed. Some shrinkage to the cap, slight swelling to the end of the barrel, otherwise like new.
DATE: c. 1935 • CONDITION: fine* • NIB: fine semiflex •
$485
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