Patd Pens - What Are They?

August 20, 2018

Around six years ago "ogopogo" posted this question on the "It Writes But It Is Not A Fountain Pen" board here.

I am looking for anyone who can tell me about this PAT'D or "PATO" pens as I have seen them referred to lol.
There is no identification on the pen except a very poorly imprinted PATD on the top of the clip of the pen or pencil.
The fountain pens usually have a nib that is marked Durium XXX.
I have a number of these with no name mainly because I like their look - not much to write with. Can anyone tell me who made these pens? Where did they come from? Why no markings?

Thanks
Sarah

Predictably, she did not get much other than some comments suggesting that all PATD means is patented. But, with this as the only marking on an otherwise lovely pen this did not make total sense to her.

I'd like to re-visit this question now because I have just acquired one of these really lovely pens and, like the OP, I'd love to have more information on it.

Mine is a lovely "Nacre" appearing celluloid and it is hard to believe that it is only a cheap, no name, "throw-away!"

Thanks for any thoughts or insights which may have appeared over the intervening six years since Sarah's original post?

Thanks everyone!

August 20, 2018

Got any pictures?

August 20, 2018

Sorry for the poor quality photo but I think it gives you an idea of what I am describing. This is the only marking on the barrel, cap or clip.

August 21, 2018

"Durium" nibs are resold Hunt nibs, apparently so that narrows it down to something seriously X-brand and American.

Interesting that a lawsuit made them stop using that term. That attitude seems to have changed, what with "precious resin" and all.

[edit] Possibly Wearever?

[editing the edited edit] Wearever had plenty of patents.

Edited August 21, 2018 by Corona688

August 21, 2018

Interesting.....

FWIW, mine did not come with a "Durium" nib but who knows how many previous owners it has had!

Regardless, I agree, X-brand and American are where the smart money goes.

That said, I have found many of these "mongrels" to be far superior in terms of quality and craftsmanship to some of the so called "modern" pens.

But, let's face it, that's not a phenomenon unique to the pen industry.

August 21, 2018

They had to stop calling them "Durium" so that may be after that date.

But yes, what used to be the cheapest materials are now quite premium, and some modern cheap pens are surprisingly good as well.

August 24, 2018

I just randomly stumbled upon a very strong possibility - "Eclipse". They made some unmarked, low-end pens with the same generic Hunt nibs everyone used, and lots of them have ball-clips like yours. A few are near dead-ringers, and they were widely marketed under sub-brands.

The Fall of Eclipse

There's similar pens from other brands as well once you scroll past the magazine scans.

Edited August 24, 2018 by Corona688

August 24, 2018

To contradict myself a third time, it might be an Eagle. The clip is an absolutely perfect match, the rest of the pen not so much.

August 24, 2018

STRONG work Corona688! Take the clip off the Eagle and put it on to an Eclipse......... and you've got it.

Stranger things have happened!

August 26, 2018

It would make sense if PAT'D referred to a patent relating to that clip. I've seen that clip on everything from Parker Parkettes to no names. As per the article on Chilton it probably refers to the system of attachment.

August 26, 2018

All these manufacturers had their own clips though, Maybe none of the no-name PATD clips are originals, just a widely-used spare part. Did anyone make those in the day? We know Hunt made nibs for everyone, maybe they made clips too.

August 26, 2018

I just saw the exact same PATD clip on a Majestic Pen. Makes Corona688's theory even more plausible.........

August 27, 2018

All these manufacturers had their own clips though, Maybe none of the no-name PATD clips are originals, just a widely-used spare part. Did anyone make those in the day? We know Hunt made nibs for everyone, maybe they made clips too.

There were lots and lots and lots of small job lot fountain pen makers that bought all of the pieces parts and simply assembled the final product. Often they were sold through the mail; clip a coupon and tape on a quarter and send it off.

January 19, 2019

As far as I know, the PATD clips were mostly used by the Parkette company (Canada). I have some examples of that.

January 20, 2019

I had had some pre and after War second tier Wearevers, .... good pens. Esterbrook level.

Of course the 'gold' nib was a joke.....a sliver of gold in a steel nib.

Wearever of course made third and 4th tier pens for themselves and made such pens for everybody else.

They were the largest pen manufacture in the world before and right after the War.

They too couldn't beat the ball point in the end.

Were better than Venus of the late '50-early '60's.

Pat'd................the big pen companies patented or bought the better patents. So in order to get around the big boys, one had to patent ones different way. Swan had to make the most convoluted button, Vac or what ever outside the old fashioned lever, and those were less filling sac units than better patents, to be 'modern' and up to date.

I eventually decided not to get one of Swan's real complicated pre'war filling systems, instead the return to the lever pen of 1950-55 offered me a fine Swan nib and a pen I could repair with out buying tools..........never did get it.

But just because a patent was or had been applied for did not mean it was actually better...............often just different and more complicated. Something to get around the big boys patent.

Edited January 20, 2019 by Bo Bo Olson