Doctor's Pens -- Rant

[jmccarty3]

Please indulge me while I rant a little about so-called Doctor's Pens.

 

These usually are put out by the luxury pen companies. I suspect that more of them are given as gifts to physicians than are purchased by doctors themselves. We don't really need a pen to remind us of our profession. Personally, I don't volunteer my occupation unless I have to, because I'm trying to avoid the hate of those who think I'm a lot wealthier than I am and the demands for free medical advice. When asked what I do, I just say I'm in "health care."

 

To get back to the pens, most companies who issue these are using the wrong symbol for the medical profession, namely the Cadeucus, which has two intertwined snakes. Here is Montegrappa's version--there are many others:

 

 

The correct symbol is the Staff of Asclepius, which has one snake. Here is an example from Bespoke British Pens:

 

 

The late Delta also made a correct pen with the Staff of Asclepius--I think Bryant at Chatterley might still have some.

 

So if you're set on getting a Doctor's Pen, at least get a proper one.

 

Here endeth the Rant.

[KellyMcJ]

The two intertwined snakes is used on doctor's office signs here as well. So I suppose even doctors are misusing it.

 

That Montegrappa pen doesn't look very useable. Maybe the gold overlay makes it look clunkier than it actually is but I can't imagine writing with it or carrying it with me. The Bespoke British Pens version looks much more serviceable.

[Bo Bo Olson]

I saw a Montegrappa pen and it's wooden Temple on sale at a live auction....start bid E2,500....

One needs one when one finally gets a 300 + foot yacht and a strong servant to carry it on a silk pillow to sign something.

It was there two months later and didn't get a E1,800 bid either.

The Montegrappa pen shown in this thread is a 'simple' model compared to the one that came with it's very own wooden Temple.

 

The push button Vanishing point Pilot seems to be a working Doctor's pen....but the world of free ball points more than likely there too, in if lost, one of twenty free ones are at hand.

 

Ah, Ha....when a Doctor retires he needs a Doctor's pen.

Edited December 9, 2017 by Bo Bo Olson

[Zookie]

When you purchase a "Doctors" pen, does that mean that whatever is written with it will be unintelligible?

[ParkerDuofold]

When you purchase a "Doctors" pen, does that mean that whatever is written with it will be unintelligible?

 

 

Hi all,

 

All my life, I thought this symbol had its roots in the Book of Numbers; in which God directs Moses to make a bronze serpent to wrap around his staff, (2 Kings 18:4), to heal and protect the Israelites from the venomous bites of the serpents of the desert on their trek to the Promised Land.

 

 

- Anthony

[jmccarty3]

When you purchase a "Doctors" pen, does that mean that whatever is written with it will be unintelligible?

 

Not at all. I get compliments on my handwriting all the time, and, to the consternation of the right-handers in my class, I won best handwriting awards all through elementary school. I attribute a lot of this to using fountain pens exclusively.

 

No, I don't play golf, have a vacation home, or own a Mercedes, either.

[C-J]

Is that Montegrappa really intended for doctors?

 

It's covered in occult/hermetic/alchemical symbols: the top cap is Cagliostro's seal, the caduceus is appropriate as a symbol of Hermes, zodiac symbols are engraved along the bottom of the cap, and the overlay is the Tree of Life as portrayed in Judaic/Hermetic mysticism (e.g. "Hermetic Kaballah").

 

I could see how random people who are neither doctors or occultists might purchase it for doctors, but that symbolism is all very internally consistent and I'd be shocked if Montegrappa did that accidentally.

Edited December 9, 2017 by C-J

[ISW_Kaputnik]

After looking up the meaning of the caduceus, I now see that it would be appropriate for anyone I might know who was a herald. Or, I suppose, for someone named Hermes, if I knew such a person.

 

If I should grow close enough to a physician to want to give him or her a gift, I now know a gaffe to avoid.

[adamselene]

I thought the topic "Doctor's pen" would refer to function.!

 

I am searching for a solution.

[chromantic]

I thought that was a $ sign on the top of the Montgrappa at first glance.

[vikrmbedi]

 

I could see how random people who are neither doctors or occultists might purchase it for doctors, but that symbolism is all very internally consistent and I'd be shocked if Montegrappa did that accidentally.

 

very nice catch...it is montegrappa count Cagliostro pen...link 1 , link 2

 

AFAIK the " doctors" pen comes in surgical grade gold nibs...which are sharp enough, to be used as scalpels in the case of emergency.

[akrohn2010]

 

 

Hi all,

 

All my life, I thought this symbol had its roots in the Book of Numbers; in which God directs Moses to make a bronze serpent to wrap around his staff, (2 Kings 18:4), to heal and protect the Israelites from the venomous bites of the serpents of the desert on their trek to the Promised Land.

 

 

- Anthony

Anthony - some theories claim that the Greeks inherited or assimilated this symbol from the Jews. The events in the Old Testament certainly predate the Greek use of the Rod of Asclepius. In 2 Kings there is also a recounting that the Jews began to worship the symbol as a separate idol of healing (called the Nehushtan), causing King Hezekiah to have to make reforms by destroying them.

 

So your suspicion may not be far off. As to the original topic (sorry for the rabbit trail), those doctors pens look clunky and impractical - love the idea that a Pilot VP is a true doctors best friend in the FP world.

[Pickwick]

 

 

Hi all,

 

All my life, I thought this symbol had its roots in the Book of Numbers; in which God directs Moses to make a bronze serpent to wrap around his staff, (2 Kings 18:4), to heal and protect the Israelites from the venomous bites of the serpents of the desert on their trek to the Promised Land.

 

 

- Anthony

 

My dear Anthony, your thought is the correct interpretation, and is used by the medical profession as their symbol.

[gandalf11]

Is that Montegrappa really intended for doctors?

 

It's covered in occult/hermetic/alchemical symbols: the top cap is Cagliostro's seal, the caduceus is appropriate as a symbol of Hermes, zodiac symbols are engraved along the bottom of the cap, and the overlay is the Tree of Life as portrayed in Judaic/Hermetic mysticism (e.g. "Hermetic Kaballah").

 

I could see how random people who are neither doctors or occultists might purchase it for doctors, but that symbolism is all very internally consistent and I'd be shocked if Montegrappa did that accidentally.

i agree with you, there in that pen, are many hermetic simbols. nothing to do with medical profession.......

pace

[ISW_Kaputnik]

By the way, when I read the term "doctor's pen" in the thread title, my mental image was of a nurse's pen, but perhaps a bit more upscale, that is to say an all white pen which would encourage one to keep it clean by showing any dirt very clearly.

Edited December 9, 2017 by ISW_Kaputnik

[ParkerDuofold]

Anthony - some theories claim that the Greeks inherited or assimilated this symbol from the Jews. The events in the Old Testament certainly predate the Greek use of the Rod of Asclepius. In 2 Kings there is also a recounting that the Jews began to worship the symbol as a separate idol of healing (called the Nehushtan), causing King Hezekiah to have to make reforms by destroying them.

 

So your suspicion may not be far off. As to the original topic (sorry for the rabbit trail), those doctors pens look clunky and impractical - love the idea that a Pilot VP is a true doctors best friend in the FP world.

 

 

My dear Anthony, your thought is the correct interpretation, and is used by the medical profession as their symbol.

 

Thank you, fellas, for the corroboration and clarification... at least now I know my brain hasn't slipped all its gears.

 

 

- Anthony

[TSherbs]

I thought this thread was about the 616 jumbo 😊

[ParkerDuofold]

By the way, when I read the term "doctor's pen" in the thread title, my mental image was of a nurse's pen...

I think I can beat that... my initial thought was of a Hero 616 Doctor.

 

 

- Anthony

[ParkerDuofold]

I thought this thread was about the 616 jumbo 😊

Mercy me, TS... at least we think alike about something...

 

 

- Anthony

[OMASsimo]

OMAS made a true doctor's pen in the 1930s with a real function for doctors. It was a lever filler holding a thermometer. It wasn't decorative or fancy otherwise. So, today we probably would call it a nurse's pen.