PORTRAITS ON PEN NIBS

New Zealand Mail, 27 August 1902, Page 64 (Supplement)

PORTRAITS ON PEN NIBS

SPECIAL PENS FOR SPECIAL USES A large firm of pen manufacturers some ti-me ago received au order frnmvr® James B. Duke, President of * % caa Tobacco C^S, S "' ,lh a c„?to,a n “'po“ “.hS "S’ “••• Uncommon. mV j. quite recently given a similar ofd’r tn an American firm, while a certain French variety actress, who } s well-known ; London, has for years been in the habit of distributing among her friends pretty souvenir boxes, containing a dozen or so pen mbs, each one of which presents a charming pen-model of herself. The late Mr. Barnato, of Kimberley tame, used at one time to have hi s monogram stamped on all tho pens ordered for ms private use; while at the present time an Austrian firm has standine orders to supply pens for the use of another South Afiioan plutocrat, which are engraved with that gentleman s motto and coat of arris —neither of which, it may be added, caa he said to err on the side of modesty. A curious pen that is much bettor known is a black “J” which bears iu marker s monogram. As this is embossed in self colour, the silver letter " which springs from its middle gives to the pen a very curious appearance.

In 1892 an enterprising firm of pen manufacturers produced a b-rauViluPy executed pen nib. modelled like irtlc to celebrate Fullerton's fourth successive victory in the Waterloo Cup. A microscopic inscription set forth a list of the champion’s achievements and the nania of liis lucky owner. Whether or no the ‘Fullerton’’ pen had any public sale it is impossible to say, but Colonei North certainly ordered several hundred gross boxes, for which he paid a “fancy" figure.

To commemorate Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee, Messrs. William Mitchell, Ren makers to His Majesty's Government offices, manufactured a unique “J pointed quill pen,”' known as “Ye Royal Ladye’s.’’ Inset in the barrel of the pen was an artistic gilt medallion of Queen Victoria, surmounted by a crown and the dates “1837-1897,’’ while below the royal portrait appeared a diamond con. taining the word “Jubilee.”

In the course of a recent conversation, Mr William Mitchell told the writer about a few freak pens that are manufactured by his firm. Tho “Royal Mail" peu presents a picture of an old-fashion-ed hanging clock, tho hands of which point to 1.23. The inside pierces of tua pen form the weights of the clock, while the ceutre pierce forms a realistic pendulum. ,

Au extraordinary-looking object is the ‘Central flexion” peu, the mere existence of which one would instinctively ascribe to “a screw loose” in the machine that manufactured it. Despite the fact that this pen presents the appearance i f having been turned inside out, it yet enjoys unbounded popularity in Sweden, Norway, and Russia.

Another pen that appears to have gone wrong in the making (resembling somewhat a sickle with the handle turned inside out), is manufactured especially for Arabio and similar writings, while a bloated frog-looking pen, appropriately enough, meets with great favour iu France.

! Messrs Win, Mitchell were the original makers of the “J” pen, which was invented to imitate as nearly as possible the popular quill pen of the period. Since that time other embossed letter pens have from time to time made their appearance, until now* a complete range of letter pens exists, each pen of the series possessing its own peculiar uses. For example the “W” pen has two slits and is thus three-nibbed, fulfilling the necessary qualifications for a popular peu in Japan and China. Few realise the number of different suetals employed in the manufacture of i pen-nibs. The steel and the gold pea aie well enough known, but many pens (es- ! pecially those used by ladies) are believed ; to be of steel wnen they are Teally made i of rhodium—a very hard, white metal, • similar to aluminium. | According to an authority* oa the subi jeet, not only may a man’s nationality i often be arrived at from the pen he ccsj tomarily uses, but a shrewd guess may I also be hazarded as to the maimer of his I employment. I Americans, as a nation, are particularly j partial to a short stub pen. In Canada I a “cup-pointed” peu is very popular. ! Barristers like a round pointed pen. the man in the city prefers a pen with a strong “shoulder.” while to the law writer a pen with an extra broad point is in- | dispensable.