It's A Pen, But It Doesn't Write, In A Sense. Dip Pen Compass

[AAAndrew]

Wasn't quite sure where to put this, but I figured this is as good a place as any.

 

It has a pen, and it's an Eagle 563 (no "E"), but it doesn't write in the traditional sense, but it does work quite well at drawing circles.

 

 

 

The pen side also flips around to expose another steel point to make this a divider, and the opposite steel point flips around and has a pencil lead holder.

 

This was made by Eagle Pencil Company probably in the 19-teens - to 1920's. I was surprised at how well it works. You can only turn it in one direction, but it takes no pressure at all to draw a line. The example behind the compass was drawn using registrar's iron gall ink.

 

And the detail of the decoration is fun. I like the grape vine design.

 

 

 

 

I also have one of the Esterbrook compasses, similar to the one Brian Anderson posted in this thread, but mine has Esterbrook on the compass itself. I've never had an inclination to use by Esterbrook, but I will use this Eagle. It's the difference between a pencil lead and a dip pen, I guess.