Fairchild Dip Pen Question

[ElRitzGato]

Hello,

So I've gotten this Fairchild dip pen (I think, I cant say I'm too experienced but there is a Fairchild imprint) and I was wondering what the use for this little triangular blade like thing is. It twists out on the opposite side of the pencil end. It is located in the last photo.Thanks!

[Cryptos]

This is just a guess, but it could be an ink eraser. That is, you would use it to scrape dried ink off the paper you were writing on.

 

Or it is a miniature tea stirrer.

[Goudy]

A toothpick, maybe?

 

The shape looks similar to this one, that one, and this other one.

 

Though why anyone would want to pick their teeth with their gold dip pen is another question.

[Cryptos]

Is there any documentary evidence that those other things are indeed toothpicks? EoC suspects they were called that because nobody could recall what they were actually used for.

 

Now, here's an idea. It could be a tool for linocut. There are linocut tools around that look a bit like spade shaped dip nibs, and do indeed fit onto a dip pen holder when in use. Though the gold one in the OP seems a tad fragile for this. Not that EoC has ever done any linocut, just another guess.

 

Like this Brause version, although note this one has clearly defined cutting edges.

 

 

It makes little sense, at least to EoC, that a toothpick would be a useful accessory to include with a pen and pencil, but there may have been a social fad for it at one time.

 

Perhaps it is an earwax remover?

[Goudy]

Well, you could get gold plated ear picks, too, but they were less pointy, more spoon-shaped:

 

http://i.imgur.com/CPfzB1L.jpg

[snowbear]

I'll go with using the blade to scrape (erase) ink off of parchment.

[Cryptos]

How 'bout that? Toothpicks after all. Wonder why the diamond shape though.

[ElRitzGato]

Well, I guess I'd rather be picking my teeth with something fancy....