What make of pen did J. R. R. Tolkien use?

[debraji]

I noticed the date of the original posts, but enjoyed the topic just the same. Some things are ageless!

[orfew]

http://brandonvogt.com/wp-content/uploads/23-Tolkien-pen.jpg

That is very cool. Thanks for the photo.

[Sasha Royale]

He was a writer of inspired genius ! I choose to believe that he used a Parker 51. What else ?

[Runnin_Ute]

The man was truly gifted.

 

We would be much poorer as a society without his contribution.

[MizzouCowboy]

I absolutely love Tolkien. For Christmas my wonder and cherished youngest daughter purchased for me a large handmade leather journal in the spirt of the Bilbo's book that he was writing. I have procured a dip pen and some Old World iron gall ink is on its way to me so that I may use this wonderful treasure. it is pictured below.

 

http://i1058.photobucket.com/albums/t412/MizzouScotsman/CHUCKS_LAPTOP/Pictures/713CC73A-9EFB-4E45-8E2B-CF0F68420A90_zpsnpouvw7i.jpg

[sandy101]

OK, so I'm reviving an old thread, but I've just been to the Bodelian library to see the Tolkien exhibition.

 

In the exhibition, there's Tolkien's desk - one of those ones with a pull down writing slope.

 

On the desk was a box of pastel (colour) pencils - but on the top of the desk, in a Toby jug there were two fountain pens. Black pens with a double gold line cap band and unbranded clip. Couldn't see a brand on the clip - and I wasn't allowed to take pictures. However, I'm thinking possible a Parker Duofold, or Lucky Curve, perhaps? There was the tiny hole drilled in the side of the cap. There was a box of poster paints too - no sign of any dip nibs, but a range of shaw exercise books in which Tolkien completed his drafts.

 

Tolkien would start with a pencil, and then go over the pencil with blue ink. He did use biro or pencil for crosswords and illustrations. No sign of a typewriter.

[AAAndrew]

Just knowing the time, I suspect he used all of the above (except typewriter). The 314 Relief was a common pen made for long, smooth and rapid writing sessions. It was also the most popular Esterbrook style in England in the 20's-40's.

 

I'm sure before he got his first fountain pen, he used dip pens. Now, when that was, is not clear. But it's quite possible that he used 314 Relief dip pens before fountain pens, so probably both are correct, over time.

 

I wonder if he continued and used one of the English-made Esterbrook 314 Relief fountain pens? Some of them have unbranded clips, but I don't know of any with double bands, but there are so many variations. http://www.esterbrook.net/relief.shtml

[sandy101]

I'm not trying to suggest that Tolkien didn't use dip pens, just that there are no dip pens evident in the exhibition.

 

There are some documents written using caligraphy - such as the elvish and some of the poems that looks really nice - and was probably achieved with dip nibs - and some with different types of nib.

[mwpannell]

As I recall in reading about the Esterbrook nibs and Tolkien, a main factor re his preferance/use was that they were free, given by the college to professors, not terribly well paid professors. Tolkien was a bit of a spendthrift and liked what worked and was cheap -- or free. I think this was a likely factor in many of his writing implement choices.

[inkstainedruth]

Fascinating thread. I'm glad it got resurrected (not sure how I missed it before now). And to sandy101 -- I am TOTALLY jealous (not just for the special exhibit part, but just getting to go to the Bodelian in general).

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[mcorso]

Ok I was in the Tolkien: Maker of Middle-Earth exhibit today and took a good hard look at the pens in the holder on the desk. I think I figured it out, but the next person in needs to check my answer. I think it was a Mabie Todd Swan Calligraph.

 

The first clue is the 1-2-1 gold banding. Not every Swan has that, but some do. Next: Note the clip. There is a little bump out at the top. At first I thought it was a repair, but now I am thinking it is a very worn Swan clip. The challenge here is that most Swan clips end in a little ball and the clip on the pen in the jar does not. BUT there are a few images of Swan pens that has a clip that ends in the small half moon. So here is the best picture I found online. Now the next person in the exhibit needs to compare this pic to that pen.

 

Check if there is anything left of the swan at the top. Or even try to see if it points down a bit (I recall the "bump" being more straight across...but the guy wrote a LOT). And I don't recall if the very top of the cap had a button like this. If I recall anything, the top was a resin cap, not like the one pictured. Good luck!

 

[welch]

Thanks, mcorso. I have seen a Youtube of Tolkien writing Elvish. Seems to have a flexible nib, although not as flexible as an early-50's German (Senator?) I once had. From the style, I guessed an English pen, probably Conway Stewart or Mabie Todd. The original film focused on the letters more than on Tolkien's pen, but the grip was similar to the one you picture above.

Edited July 4, 2018 by welch

[bongo47]

Thanks, mcorso. I have seen a Youtube of Tolkien writing Elvish. Seems to have a flexible nib, although not as flexible as an early-50's German (Senator?) I once had. From the style, I guessed an English pen, probably Conway Stewart or Mabie Todd. The original film focused on the letters more than on Tolkien's pen, but the grip was similar to the one you picture above.

 

I was wondering why Original didn’t just youtube it, then saw the date of post. Hah, less than a year into google’s ownership of it. Way before everything was on it and you’d just look it up. Blast from the past.

[mcorso]

Here is a detailed description on in eBay. Note the ribbed end cap. No memory of that from the exhibit.

Edited July 4, 2018 by mcorso

[Astronymus]

As he was so much against technology he should have used rocks.

Edited July 4, 2018 by Astron

[sidthecat]

Well, I was over on the Movies And TV thread and chanced upon a clip from the BBC-via Gizmodo that shows the master operating what might be a Parker Jotter:

 

Identify the pen?

 

https://io9.gizmodo.com/j-r-r-tolkien-on-building-languages-elvish-is-too-com-1824211114

 

 

Tolkien uses a fountain pen.

Edited July 4, 2018 by sidthecat

[welch]

Well, I was over on the Movies And TV thread and chanced upon a clip from the BBC-via Gizmodo that shows the master operating what might be a Parker Jotter:

 

 

Yes, that's the video I saw. The grip looks like the Mabie Todd or maybe an old Parker Duofold. Seems like a medium nib.

[mwpannell]

Not sure how this display is set up, but just to say and caution I remember one a while back where some of the artifacts were unreliable. Like, "We had the authentic furniture, and then we just threw some old pens on it for realism."

 

Certainly may not necessarily the case here, but we "historians/researchers" have to watch out for such things. : )

[AAAndrew]

I'm always looking at this "minor props" in historical homes, etc... Anything before 1850's they tend to just stick a quill in an inkwell and be done with it. A big city businessman was much more likely to be using a steel or gold pen in 1850's than a quill. By 1850, British steel pens were much cheaper than quills, so became quite widespread where available, which was most everywhere. Some did choose to remain with quills, but that would have been a choice for most people, especially if they were significant enough to have a historical house exhibit.

 

So, you're right. Look for specific notes saying "this was so-and-so's pen" before jumping to conclusions.

[peterg]

The two pens that strike a chord with me as having a similar section are the pre aerometric Newhaven Duofold/ Victory and Conway Stewarts. As it was recorded in 1968 I would tend towards it being a Conway