Vintage Find - What Is It? (Pen Stand?)

[Plume145]

Hi! I found this thing in my grandparents’ stuff (decluttering oh joy!) I’m not sure what it is - I think it’s a pen rack, maybe more for dip pens than for fountain pens. Does anyone know for sure?

 

 

The four corners are hinged - you can either position it so it’s a square (as above), or push the wavy sides together a little so it’s a diamond shape:

 

or even push them all the way so it’s closed:

 

Thoughts?

[Cerbervs]

Either way is works nicely as a pen rest. Maybe put some material on it so it does not scratch the pens.

Edited November 2, 2013 by Cerbervs

[MisterBoll]

Hot dog steamer.

[Sasha Royale]

I think it is a drying rack. May I ask the ethnic background of your grandparents ?

[GTOZack]

its for the hot plates to sit on back in the 1950s looking at the rivet and steel quality, its most definitely heavy duty for its scale and size.

back in the 1950s steel industry was booming and everyone had seriously dense household items *ahem, 600 pound refrigerators*

[Plume145]

I think it is a drying rack. May I ask the ethnic background of your grandparents ?

Greek, lived in Greece their whole lives but did have slightly more frequent than average contact with other cultures/traditions/etc due to my granddad's work.

 

 

 

Either way is works nicely as a pen rest. Maybe put some material on it so it does not scratch the pens.

It does, doesn't it? I don't have to worry about scratches - most of my pens are too cheap and sturdy for that

 

Hot dog steamer.

Haha, yeah, totally! It does look like a cooking accessory

[scrivelry]

Whatever it was, it's a fountain pen rack now!

 

It would be easy, if tedious, to choose a nice color of thread and just wrap it around all the bits that contact the pens, if you'd care to. But you could also just get a little piece of material and sort of throw it over the whole business. Or you could just use it the way it is - whatever makes you happy!!!

[Plume145]

its for the hot plates to sit on back in the 1950s looking at the rivet and steel quality, its most definitely heavy duty for its scale and size.

back in the 1950s steel industry was booming and everyone had seriously dense household items *ahem, 600 pound refrigerators*

oh wow, so completely unrelated to stationery etc then? Seems odd because we really haven't found anything like it, and this kind of thing comes in sets - also usually does not fold, but maybe the folding is to accomodate longer, narrower dishes as well as round ones or something? hmmm.

 

Whatever it was, it's a fountain pen rack now!

 

It would be easy, if tedious, to choose a nice color of thread and just wrap it around all the bits that contact the pens, if you'd care to. But you could also just get a little piece of material and sort of throw it over the whole business. Or you could just use it the way it is - whatever makes you happy!!!

Good point! I mean, it does work extraordinarily well. And if you use it in the diamond position, the pens are all set off so they're easier to grab. I don't know if it was a good plate warmer, but it will definitely make a good pen holder!

 

I like your idea of wrapping thread around some parts. Embroidery thread or floss might make for more visual impact as well as being quicker and less fiddly to work with. For now, I don't have the wherewithal to take it on, plus I'm not going to use this for now as a regular pen cup works better for the way my desk is currently set up, but I'm making a mental note of this for future reference. I generally do this kind of thing while watching police procedurals on the telly so it won't be as boring!

[PrintersDevil]

Hot dog steamer.

I vote for toast holder...