Edward Todd Plastic Pens - Other Examples?

[AAAndrew]

I collected pens in a short burst about 15 years ago, gathered a nice little group of regular writers and some interesting ones, then the late 90's frenzy made collecting too expensive and I moved on. Recently I opened up my box of non-daily pens and had fun seeing what I had found way back then.

 

One pen puzzles me as I've tried to look up information about it. It's clearly imprinted with Edward Todd on the nib as well as on the barrel. It's a combo pen/pencil and the imprint says

"Todd's Duplex" [the quotation marks are in the original imprint]

Edward Todd & Co. Makers N.Y.

It's black and perl and is a flat-top-style ring-top with the ring missing. it's got double narrow gold bands around the end of the cap and a nice Edward Todd N.Y. 2 nib

Capped, it's 5.25" long, lever filler and in generally good condition except some discoloration of the barrel where the sac was, and the missing ring at the top.

I've tried to attached a pretty lousy picture, but I keep getting an error (upload skipped (Error500)). So, here is a link to where you can see it. https://plus.google.com/photos/108032537372976719434/albums/6009491603561496849?authkey=CMGziYbAmO2QnAE

As I look up Edward Todd I read about only metal or overlay pens, nothing like this classic 30's-style flat-top celluloid.

Anyone have any further information or examples of an Edward Todd plastic pen? I suspect they're not common, and I suspect the Todd's Duplex is even less common since I contacted a couple of well-known online vintage pen experts and none had heard of one before.

Any info would be of great interest.

Thanks!

Edited May 4, 2014 by AAAndrew

[Roger W.]

I dabble in Edward Todd which was actually ran by Edward Todd, Jr. for fountain pens since the company didn't really run as one guy from the 1860's to 1930. I'm more aware of the metal pens that they made though they did make some hard rubber pens as well. Any plastic pens you would be talking no earlier than 1926 and the company folded in 1930 so a very short window of possibility.

 

Roger W.

 

http://www.sheafferflattops.com/images/EdwardTodds.jpg

All Edward Todds

[AAAndrew]

Thanks, that at least gives me a time period. I was thinking it looked more 20's than 30's, but I'm sure it is very late 20's. I wonder if it was one of the last gasps of the company trying to stay relevant when everyone else was going to plastics over rubber or metal? Any clues of why they went out of business? Was it just financial, or was it personal (personnel)?

[Roger W.]

Probably both the depression - lots of pen manufacturers didn't make it - and I think Edward Todd, Jr. would have been near retirement and I don't know if there was anyone to succeed him. Going off of my records (better than my mind) Edward Todd went out of business in 1932. Edward Todd, Jr. died Christmas Eve 1937.

 

Roger W.

[pen2paper]

http://books.google.com/books?id=tFUcAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA184&lpg=PA184&dq=Edward+Todd,+Jr.&source=bl&ots=MUqY0Rf6fQ&sig=ar_S1kQCeUD9-JPwfLVd8LVIcTA&hl=en&sa=X&ei=EbtmU6udGIOuyASi2oCQBw&ved=0CBsQ6AEwADgK#v=onepage&q=Edward%20Todd%2C%20Jr.&f=false

see "The Jeweler's Circle" February 5, 1919 page 184 top right column. For the transfer to Jr.

Also read on to find another writing instrument name.

 

There may be another trade journal, (jewelry, or later stationer), that will fill in some details of Jr's exit from the business, since the origin of the business was long standing.

 

Fun read for me too since this included later history of early manufacturers of "golden-age gilts" 1830's Jacksonian era+ garment fasteners.

 

rats, lost a link, tried to get closer to the depression era/conclusion, lost a year might have detailed E JR., here's an earlier year

http://books.google.com/books?id=wHIoAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA773&dq=Jewelers+Circle+1927&source=gbs_selected_pages&cad=3#v=onepage&q&f=false

Edited May 5, 2014 by pen2paper

[AAAndrew]

Have some better pictures

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Roger W.]

Thanks for the pics. Ever since you posted about a plastic Edward Todd I've given it considerable thought and I don't think I've ever seen one. I've actively searched EBay for years on Edward Todd and can only conclude that they are very unusual.

 

Roger W.

[AAAndrew]

I have found exactly one reference to a Todd's Duplex out there, it was sold on eBay back in I think 2007 and sounds like it was in slightly worse condition. The reference was on Worthpoint and I don't have a subscription to find out how much it went for or see any pictures.

 

I have to agree, I think it's quite rare. Imagine that!