Sterling brand Eyedropper

[GlenV]

My most recent pen is a Sterling and I am having fun going down the rabbit hole learning about it. There are so many ties between pen companies of the Northeast around 1900, especially around Boston,  including this pen that enjoyed some following in its day. Davidson Rubber co made the pen as the owner of the company had quite an interest  in pens. Ties to AA Waterman with the middle joint eyedropper  but unique features also the way the cap secures to the section is very smart and no pressure on the cap lip , ect. Nib with ties to Crocker Dewitt Lafrance… lots of fun.  Does anyone out there have one of these to see?

[bsenn]

I have one, with the box and instructions. It measures 5-1/16" capped. The paper band says "N.S. $2.00 Med.". The barrel is marked "STERLING FOUNTAIN PEN CO. BOSTON MASS. The barrel also has a NS marking near the end. The cap is marked Pat. OCT 3, 1899 (barrel and cap markings are in opposite directions, which bothers me as a designer). Unfortunately the markings are not showing in the photo I have handy.

 

 

 

[bsenn]

The Oct 3, 1899 patent covers the way the cap fits with the tapered section. Inventor was Oliver Mitchell, and the Assignor was Rhodes Lockwood, "head of Davidson Rubber" according to an article on his death in 1905 from a car accident.

 

I do not find any US patents issued Oct 9, 1903 (if I am reading that right in Glen's picture).

 

Note that other fountain pen patents were assigned to Lockwood, including one by Arthur Waterman (who had been a salesman for L.E. Waterman according to this Blog: https://fountainpenhistory.blogspot.com/2014/08/waterman-v-waterman.html ) and Frederick Stevens on Sep 19, 1899. 

[bsenn]

And more info here: https://www.fountainpen.it/Sterling_Fountain_Pen

 

[GlenV]

That is super! Thanks for sharing your pen. Basically new and stickered wow. Can I see a couple more pictures of the box? I don’t recall seeing one before. The patents are very interesting, and it looks like some Sterling patents were obtained as part of a settlement from AA Waterman… one of the earlier lawsuits by LE Waterman, AA had offended LE greatly and really did use the popularity of the LE company to launch his own pens I am convinced. 

[bsenn]

Here is the box. There is nothing on the ends or sides, only the top. in addition to the instruction sheet posted above, there was an insert in the bottom of the box. Yes, it makes sense that AA Waterman cashed in on having the same last name as LE Waterman.

 

 

 

[GlenV]

Thank you !  that is an amazing survivor of the last 120 years, carboard and paper and all. Remarkable.  Sterling pens were well liked in their day, although not produced for that many years.  

[GlenV]

This patent was granted 8/7/1900 so not the date on the cap, but was assigned to Rhodes Lockwood and shows the way the section front fits tightly in the cap which is the one I have above, it is quite helpful as wouldn't crack the cap at least unless posting it.