Tiny Pens

[Scrawler]

From time to time manufacturers produces some very small pens. here besides an Esterbrook SJ for comparison is an Eclipse Mary Jane and a Salz Bros Peter Pan.

 

http://i751.photobucket.com/albums/xx153/FPWriter/threepens_zps4067ed73.jpg

 

Popular history of the Eclipse brand tells us that the founder made pens named for his children, and this 1933 Mary Jane was intended for a small girl to use. It has tipped steel nib.

 

The Peter Pan pen had an entirely different focus. The pan in inscribed with "The Green Room". It came from a 1935 New York hotel bar and would have been intended for signing bar bills. It has a spoon nib.

 

[Sasha Royale]

Have you seen the Pilot Petit 1 ? It comes with a fine nib or brush tip.

I consider it delightful serendipity, as it is uselessly small, unless TSA

bans fountain pens on airline flights.

 

.

[Scrawler]

  On 9/13/2013 at 6:24 PM, Sasha Royale said:

Have you seen the Pilot Petit 1 ? It comes with a fine nib or brush tip.

I consider it delightful serendipity, as it is uselessly small, unless TSA

bans fountain pens on airline flights.

 

.

The Pilot is a bit fatter than these antique celluloid items. There was a race on in the early 1930s for companies to produce smaller and smaller practical fountain pens. I think they reached the limits of the physics that made pens work, at about the same time they reach the limits of what a hand could hold and control.

[DanDeM]

Here's a Peter Pan ED that I actually inked and used. Fun, full flex nib.

2¼ inches capped, it's shown with a pretzel for reference.

 

 

I have another one in the same size and material, but lever fill. Needs

a #10 sac and as far as I can tell, they're not made anymore.

 

The gold Dingle-dangle slips over your belt and the pen hangs from the chain

into your trouser pocket.

Edited September 15, 2013 by Blotto

[Scrawler]

  On 9/15/2013 at 10:47 PM, Blotto said:

Here's a Peter Pan ED that I actually inked and used. Fun, full flex nib.

2¼ inches capped, it's shown with a pretzel for reference.

 

 

I have another one in the same size and material, but lever fill. Needs

a #10 sac and as far as I can tell, they're not made anymore.

 

The gold Dingle-dangle slips over your belt and the pen hangs from the chain

into your trouser pocket.

That is a very pretty old piece of celluloid. There must be some supplies of #10 sac left, because I acquired one a couple months ago to get that Peter Pan writing. I hope there are more because that Mary Jane also needs the same sac.

[applejade]

I have an eensy-beensy dip pen. 1¼" capped. =)

[jar]

CS Dinkies...

 

http://www.fototime.com/7720A65DE92CF1D/large.jpg

 

a couple Waterman 562½V ringtops ...

 

http://www.fototime.com/67978177D7F4B5F/large.jpg

Yard-o-Led Pocket Viceroy Victorian ...

http://www.fototime.com/A208A139EE48EAA/standard.jpg

 

 

[DanDeM]

Here's an ED from the Edison Pen Co that starts out at 3¼ inches, but grows on you.

 

And a Moore Holstein...calf

 

Edited September 16, 2013 by Blotto

[Scrawler]

That telescoping Edison is a mighty cool pen, and very long when extended. How does it feel to write?

[pen2paper]

just peeking in here.. totally satisfied with my small collection of tiny ring tops..

 

and, T h e n, I see that Edison

 

jaw drop < didn't think there was a pen left to do that

 

wow.

[DanDeM]

  On 9/16/2013 at 7:32 PM, Scrawler said:

That telescoping Edison is a mighty cool pen, and very long when extended. How does it feel to write?

 

That pen is a real conversation starter at PCA meetings and pen shows.

 

Just under six inches when extended and a little top heavy for my hand. It's better

with a full tank of ink, which gives you an idea of how delicate the balance is.

 

Like many RT's from that time, the cap does not post, and that's just as well.

It would bring a new meaning to "Over the top."

[mbankirer]

[Scrawler]

  On 9/16/2013 at 11:40 PM, mbankirer said:

image.jpg

OO nice. I like that swirly red and orange one. What is it?

[balson]

i love small pens, this is my collection

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xVxGL_Adi74/UjeOmV86z2I/AAAAAAAAAos/l7brgmXfEpw/s1600/SmallPens1.jpg

 

 

 

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OMoA4tP4j84/UjeOmnZRqgI/AAAAAAAAAo8/Ch-Q5iOfaE0/s1600/SmallPens2.jpg

1 & 2 New Diamond Point Pen Co. new york, "midget pen" gold filled eyedropper fill pen and pencil pair. 6.1cm capped[/size][/background]

3 "flapper" M ratner and son pen co inc, eyedropper fill, hard rubber, casine topped. 6.2 cm capped[/size][/background]

4 unknown eyedropper with ribbon, hard rubber, casine topped. 6.15 cm capped[/size][/background]

5 unknown heavy gold filled eyedropper. nib says "junior 4" 6.35 cm capped[/size][/background]

6 "pony" eyedropper, hard rubber with gold filled band 6.5 cm capped[/size][/background]

7 ever-rite, gold plated, lever fill. 6.9 cm capped[/size][/background]

8 ever-rite, silver plated, lever fill. 6.9 cm capped[/size][/background]

9 unknown sterling silver eyedropper 7.3 cm capped[/size][/background]

10 unknown lever filler, possibly ingersol, silver plated, 7.35 cm capped[/size][/background]

11 wirt "infant pen" gold plated, eyedropper, 7.4 cm capped[/size][/background]

12 wirt "infant pen" hard rubber, eyedropper, 7.5 cm capped[/size][/background]

13 unknown eyedropper "midget 14k" marked on nib, 7.5 cm capped[/size][/background]

14 whal, gold filled lever filler, #6 nib 7.9 cm capped[/size][/background]

15 salz brothers, "peter pan", bakelite?, lever filler, 8.3 cm capped[/size][/background]

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Hg16eKJywTc/UjeOmUJPCcI/AAAAAAAAAow/3-Nqj40brao/s1600/SmallPens3.jpg

16 salz brothers, "peter pan" celluloid, lever filler, 8.3 cm capped

17 unknown lever filler, celluloid, 8.6 cm capped

18 unknown eyedropper, hard rubber, 8.35 cm capped

19 "cutey" iridum point pen co ny, lever fill, hard rubber with gold filled band, 8.8 cm capped

20 & 21 conklin, #2, lever filler, gold filled pen and pencil set, 9 cm capped

22 "cutey" iridum point pen co ny, lever fill, hard rubber with gold filled band, 9 cm capped

23 whal #2, hard rubber, lever fill, 9.5 cm capped

24 whal #2, gold filled, lever fill, 9.15 cm capped

25 &26 waterman 52 1/2v, stirling silver gothic overlay, lever fill, 9.2 cm capped

27 Da Vies, stirling silver overlay, lever fill, 9.4 cm capped

28 sheaffer, ladies pen, gold filled overlay, lever fill, 9.8 cm capped

[Vintagepens]

Your #9 is also a Salz product. They are never marked, but I've had them in their original packaging so there's no doubt about the maker (I don't recall if they were called Peter Pans -- I'm inclined to think not, but would have to dig out a reference photo to be 100% certain). I'm also guessing that you mistyped the nib size on #14, which is probably "0".

 

best

 

David

[DanDeM]

Balson:

Wonderful array. Can you post a close-up of:

 

11 wirt "infant pen" gold plated, eyedropper, 7.4 cm capped[/size][/background]

 

Would really like to see more detail for that pen.

 

Meanwhile, here's a John Holland 52-R Basket-weave overlay RT that comes in at

3.4 inches, capped.

 

 

Looks like we're moving from Tiny to Small.

Edited September 17, 2013 by Blotto

[balson]

 

  Quote

Your #9 is also a Salz product. They are never marked, but I've had them in their original packaging so there's no doubt about the maker (I don't recall if they were called Peter Pans -- I'm inclined to think not, but would have to dig out a reference photo to be 100% certain). I'm also guessing that you mistyped the nib size on #14, which is probably "0".

 

best

 

David

awesome, thanks for the info! to clarify the nib is just marked 14k, not #14. it seems like a lot of the tiny pens were never labeled. the diamond point was only marked on the box and the wirt's were only identifiable by the feeds and perhaps by the inscribed V

 

  On 9/17/2013 at 6:02 PM, Blotto said:

Balson:

Wonderful array. Can you post a close-up of:

 

11 wirt "infant pen" gold plated, eyedropper, 7.4 cm capped[/size][/background]

 

Would really like to see more detail for that pen.

 

Meanwhile, here's a John Holland 52-R Basket-weave overlay RT that comes in at

3.4 inches, capped.

 

 

Looks like we're moving from Tiny to Small.

thanks Blotto, you have some cool pens as well, i especially love that edison mini eyedropper. that has been on my wish list ever since i saw one at a fountain pen exhibit over at the morse museum.

 

i have some more pictures of it on my blog but i will take a new one too. both of the pens seem to be inscribed with a V, anyone know what that is about?

 

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sSW3RoweO5w/UjjDdlo6s9I/AAAAAAAAApM/lh7M5uCIP1c/s1600/twowirtss.jpg

 

http://sumgaispens.blogspot.com/2013/02/wirt-infant-pen.html

Edited September 17, 2013 by balson

[DanDeM]

  On 9/17/2013 at 9:19 PM, balson said:

 

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sSW3RoweO5w/UjjDdlo6s9I/AAAAAAAAApM/lh7M5uCIP1c/s1600/twowirtss.jpg

 

 

 

That Wirt Overlay is a stunner. When you get bored with it, give me a PM

 

[mbankirer]

  On 9/16/2013 at 11:45 PM, Scrawler said:

OO nice. I like that swirly red and orange one. What is it?

It is a Jean Pierre Lepine. Model:Indigo. The cap screws on to post, making it very comfortable to write with!

[DanDeM]

Here's a Morrison RT Filigree set. Pen is 3.6 inches and in fairly nice

condition, considering how skimpy Morrison was with their plating.