"Non Spill" inkwell question

[EHLawyer]

I have a few vintage "non spill" inkwells, some of which were manufactured for the Navy. You can actually turn them upside down, and the ink will not spill out.Anyone familiar with them that knows what kind of pens can be used with them? Will any dip pen fit into the top? Any help is appreciated. Steven

[Chris]

Do they work?

 

And where can I get one?

 

This sounds like something I need

 

I have never heard of them before, so I look forward to hearing more.

 

Chris

[Kalessin]

Probably any "regular sized" dip-pen nib and holder will work. Nothing outlandish like one of those offset spencerian nibs or anything.

[feather craft]

Hi I'm in the market for one of those non-spill inkwells. What web-site can I find them on, and what are they technically called?

[feather craft]

They work very well for feather quills.

[Paddler]

I have one made by Krol in Chicago. A large falcon nib fits it, but some nib holders don't. It is a moot point for this one, though, because a standard nib bottoms out before the holder hits the opening.

 

Paddler

[welch]

I have a few vintage "non spill" inkwells, some of which were manufactured for the Navy. You can actually turn them upside down, and the ink will not spill out.Anyone familiar with them that knows what kind of pens can be used with them? Will any dip pen fit into the top? Any help is appreciated. Steven

 

I have one that Pendemonium sold a few months ago. They had several. It was specialty made for the US Navy duing WW 2, so not for quill pens or dip pens. Very wide base, round base, and short. It is a set of concentric circles, each higher circle getting smaller, intil the top, which is a red cover with a nib-sized, slitted, holder that runs almost to tyhe bottom of the inkwell. Nib holder is shaped like those on Parker Penman bottles.

 

If you see an old movie ("Submarines in the Pacific!" to make up a title) you'll see that the officers write on a desk with rims around the sides. This Navy inkwell would have slid to the edge of the desk top, but would not have rolled over or spilled unless the ship capsized. '

 

I don't know if Sam and Frank are still selling them, but they are well-made.

 

(Incidentally: I looked up the manufacturer, and they appear to have been a Washington, DC, company that made all sorts of gadgets and do-dads. A Google search shows them active into the mid-90s...although not making ink-wells!)

[M.C.]

Levenger used to have an inkwell that was supposed to keep the grip clean and be spill proof. I haven't seen it in their catalogs recently.

[welch]

Look for "The Non -Spill Ink Well", Navy Contract No. NXsx37423 Lot No. 1 Item No 2 Stock No. 53-1-5232 (whatever that means!).

 

"Manufactured by Preferred Products, 1723 N. 12th Street, Toledo, Ohio".

 

"Contractor Chas. G. Stott Co., Inc., Washington, DC"

 

"Important Instructions"

 

"To fill Non-Spill Inkwell, unscrew the top. Fiull only to the shoulder and screw top on tight.

 

"If the ink does not flow into the glass bulb freely, unscrew the top slightly, then tighten it. This forces fresh ink into the bulb. Atmospheric conditions sometimes make this procedure necessary".

 

I happen to like the "important instructions", because they actually explain the procedure, and explain why it might be needed...something computer documentation usually ignores.

 

Try Pendemondium's "vintage inkwells" section. In fact, I just noticed: "Madison Inkwell Desk Set, ca. late 1940s-early 1950s, Madison Inkwell Desk Set made by the Preferred Products Co. in Toledo, Ohio. Styron (Dow plastic) desk set in army green, the black lid unscrews and you can refill the clear glass inkwell below."

 

Same company that made the Navy inkwell.

 

Also take a look at their "common sense" inkwells. "Hard to tip over and hard to spill"

 

[and, of course, I have no connection to Pendemonium other than being an admirer...but so is everyone, right?]

[Anne-Sophie]

Very interesting!

[welch]

Checked google for curiosity, and found my Navy No-Spill Inkwell for $10. It's on a military antiques website, and you will have fun scrolling down past US Navy WW2 caps, divers pants, signal flags, aviators' chin-straps, a boat-anchor (only $250), and other great stuff, but there it is. Same manufacturer, same box: everything.

 

This inkwell was designed to go through storms at sea, so it doesn't tip over easily!

[penspouse]

Interesting revival of an old thread. Hubby and I found this in antique store in Northern Arizona a couple weeks ago.

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_vZY4ZZFBoFU/TMrtOT39llI/AAAAAAAAGJs/6UAawcibWIs/s400/Dipless-Inkwell-Box.jpghttp://lh6.ggpht.com/_vZY4ZZFBoFU/TMrtO6XQocI/AAAAAAAAGJw/AGhwmWOKaTE/s400/Dipless-Inwell-Box-Inside.jpghttp://lh5.ggpht.com/_vZY4ZZFBoFU/TMrtPSd5pjI/AAAAAAAAGJ0/6mReeMrtNFQ/s400/Box-left.jpghttp://lh5.ggpht.com/_vZY4ZZFBoFU/TMrtQHQqbuI/AAAAAAAAGJ4/E62DCM5dQT4/s400/Box-Right.jpghttp://lh6.ggpht.com/_vZY4ZZFBoFU/TMrtQSLWBbI/AAAAAAAAGJ8/g9wKlUdLy6w/s400/Inkwell-%26-Pen.jpghttp://lh5.ggpht.com/_vZY4ZZFBoFU/TMrtq43ncqI/AAAAAAAAGKA/WdgYcF4eONw/s400/Ink-Well.jpghttp://lh6.ggpht.com/_vZY4ZZFBoFU/TMrtrXgqIeI/AAAAAAAAGKE/DQcO_RxLeEs/s400/Inkwell-Uncapped.jpg

[Spinnnr]

Another revival of this thread. :-)

 

I have this set - ink well and holder, but it came without a nib (nor a box) and I haven't been able to find a nib that fits at all.

 

Would someone be so kind as to tell me what nib will fit in this holder with the feed?

Thank you so much!

Edited January 31, 2015 by Spinnnr

[inkstainedruth]

I have one of these that I got on Ebay a couple of years ago (my box is different from the photos that pen spouse posted, because mine is specifically one of the US Navy ones), but have never used. I was concerned that it would not seal tightly enough over the long haul. At the time I got it I couldn't get a lot of information about them when I posted photos, and somehow couldn't find this thread. Nice to see it's been resurrected because I got more information that way (now if I could just remember where I stashed the thing in my house... ).

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[penspouse]

The nib on the pen we have says Preferred Pen 8 (centered on 3 lines) on the nib. I haven't tried to remove the nib to see if anything else will fit. It is not an easy screw out nib. I'm sure Hubby could remove it, but he's not available.

[Spinnnr]

The nib on the pen we have says Preferred Pen 8 (centered on 3 lines) on the nib. I haven't tried to remove the nib to see if anything else will fit. It is not an easy screw out nib. I'm sure Hubby could remove it, but he's not available.

 

Thank you! I don't have any of those but I'll keep my eyes peeled. I think the part that inserts into the holder needs to be super thin, as I can't get some in at all, others won't 'lay flat' on the feed.

[Spinnnr]

... (now if I could just remember where I stashed the thing in my house... ).

 

 

I bought a writing desk to keep it all in mostly one spot.

[Gorpy]

Very interesting items aren't they? If anyone minds just answering a quick question, how exactly do these work?

Edited February 2, 2015 by Gorpy

[jdllizard]

Well dang, another Navy related item I now suddenly must have.

[penspouse]

Very interesting items aren't they? If anyone minds just answering a quick question, how exactly do these work?

It is a dip pen.