| 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
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
8685: Dunn Camel: oversize black hard rubber pump-filler, 15 cm long, red casein pump handle, gold filled trim; strong imprints, nib tipping scant but present, "CAMEL" imprint on nib.
DATE: c. 1923 • CONDITION: exc*
• NIB: extra-fine • $600
8686: Dunn Camel: oversize black hard rubber pump-filler, 14.8 cm long, red casein pump handle, gold filled trim; strong imprints, responsive nib, typical crizzling to end knob casein, thread partially missing and do not engage (does not affect function, as the friction of the cork seal is quite sufficient to keep the plunger in place).
DATE: c. 1923 • CONDITION: fine* • NIB: fine stub semiflex •
$525
8367: Eagle combination: black hard rubber eyedropper-filler, 15.5 cm long, pencil end uses standard 2mm drafting lead; introduced no later than 1913, this appears to have been the first mass-produced pen-pencil combo; some plating roughness to the Eagle slip-on nickel plated clip, but the hard rubber is crisp and glossy, with clean imprints including the "PAT. AUG.6.1901" on the cap, referring to US patent 680,117 (threaded cap with inner cap); pencil mechanism has been repaired and is now stronger than new.
DATE: c. 1915 •
CONDITION: fine-exc • NIB: extra-fine semiflex • $385
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
8001: Elliott demonstrator: unusual fully transparent Japanese ink-shutoff eyedropper-filler, 13.75 cm long, gold plated trim, stainless steel nib, appears to be new old stock, some internal stress marks visible on end knob, larger cap band cracked (see details), original seal has not been replaced and is not guaranteed ink-tight.
DATE: c. 1958 • CONDITION: exc* • NIB: medium flex • $265
8950: Eversharp Monitor: copper pearl bulb-filler, 13.7 cm long, gold plated trim; uncommon subbrand economy model, ink window transparency good, typical darkening to trim plating; steel Monitor #4 nib was originally plated, surface now ink-etched; a couple of spots of increased transparency at ends where the celluloid is showing its age.
DATE: c. 1938 • CONDITION: VG* • NIB: extra-fine • SOLD
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
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
8796: Indian combination: brightly colored lever-filler, 13.9 cm long, nickel plated trim, cap and barrel celluloid patterned in imitation of Native American weavings of the Southwest; not an expensively-made pen, possibly marketed as a souvenir item, plated nib is a new old stock replacement.
DATE: c. 1935 • CONDITION: G
• NIB: fine • $165
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
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
8669: Mabie Todd Blackbird safety: black chased hard rubber, English-made, 12.5 cm long, white casein roundel inlaid on cap top; good imprints, chasing worn but present, shadow of a slip-on clip visible on the cap, Blackbird nib is 14K; Mabie Todd safeties are hard to find.
DATE: c. 1925 • CONDITION: VG • NIB:
extra-fine flex • $465
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
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
8177: Parker 20: doubly unusual black hard rubber slip-cap button-filler with rare "disappearing" clip; 13.9 cm long, sound condition with all imprints legible, steel clip with 1907 patent date, #2 Lucky Curve nib might be a few years later than the pen, lively line but limited width variation.
DATE: c. 1913 • CONDITION: VG
• NIB: extra-fine flex • $685
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
8490: Parker VP holy water sprinkler: black with gold filled cap, made in USA, filling unit intact; scarce special production item, appears unused.
DATE: c. 1962 • CONDITION: mint • $300
8370: Parker Jotter saccharine dispenser: hard to find pocketable sweetener carrier, 11.4 cm long, transparent barrel, brushed steel cap, chrome 45-style clip; new old stock, minimal shop wear.
DATE: c. 1965 •
CONDITION: exc-near mint • $85
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
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
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
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
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
8083: Waterman 12P: rare mottled hard rubber pump-filler, 14.3 cm long, good color, imprints worn but mostly legible, notched filler knob end a bit rough (see detail), cap lip slightly trimmed; mechanically sound and fully functional -- Waterman pump-fillers are hard to find, but are much less common in mottled.
DATE: c. 1910 • CONDITION: G-VG* • NIB: fine superflex •
$1400
8448: Waterman "World's Smallest" in box: rare and desirable miniature black hard rubber eyedropper-filler, just 4.2 cm long but fully functional, with an iridium-tipped gold nib and full imprints on both barrel and the tiny gold filled riveted clip; with its original box, itself in good condition with only moderate external wear.
DATE: c. 1914 • CONDITION: exc-near mint • NIB: extra-fine •
$2850
8439: Waterman Remex sleeve-filler: black chased hard rubber, 14.1 cm long, unusual Canadian-made subbrand version of Waterman's pre-lever self-filler, apparently assembled out of obsolete parts; no imprints, feed is square-sectioned Aikin Lambert style, nib is typical Canadian Remex, with "14 KT./R" in a diamond, "2" below, even the globe logo on the pressure bar has been effaced; originally clipless, comes with a contemporary nickel plated slip-on clip (easily removed, if desired).
DATE: c. 1918 • CONDITION: fine
• NIB: fine stub flex • $300
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
8413: Weidlich Simplofiller: rare oversize mottled hard rubber slip-cap matchstick-filler, 15.3 cm long, excellent color, crisp imprints, #8 Weidlich nib, in box with original instructions; filler rod at end of cap is hard rubber over metal, hard rubber has been restored using original material.
DATE: c. 1908 • CONDITION:
exc* • NIB: extra-fine firm • $1200
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
8097: Wirt Safety: mottled hard rubber clipless screw-cap eyedropper-filler, 12.7 cm long, unusual reciprocating ink shutoff valve actuated by a central post inside the cap (covered by US patent 978,419); Wirt ventless #2 nib with narrow gold underfeed, slightly toothy but very flexible; Wirt Safeties are uncommon, and most are found in the vest-pocket size.
DATE: c. 1908 • CONDITION: fine • NIB: fine flex •
$485
8933: unmarked dip pen pencil combination: unusual gold-plated sterling silver holder with propelling pencil in taper (appears to use .075" lead); scroll pattern, marked "STERLING" on bottom of ferrule, initials on top; small crack on right side (see detail), wear to gold plating and tiny pit marks overall, perhaps a result of the plating process; 15.9 cm long excluding steel nib.
DATE: c. 1890 • CONDITION: G-VG*
• $345
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
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