The Story of the Invention of Steel Pens | Page 5

mean not the modern steel nib for ordinary penmanship, but the ancient steel pen for drawing lines or ruling circles, such as is contained in every box of mathematical instruments. This would explain (to some extent) the great price fetched for a good one of Churchill's; a mere old steel nib would scarcely enter into a sale at all. It would explain, too, why a special process of hardening should be applied to a quill, in order to make it do duty for the steel instrument. One would scarcely think of hardening a quill in order to enable it to compete with a steel nib in some of the least desirable qualities, though one often wishes one could accomplish the reverse process, and soften or supple a steel 'stick frog,' so as to give it the elasticity of the grey goose quill. "--V. H. I. L. L. C. IV. (iv., 37, 5th S., London Notes and Queries.)
Mr. R. Prosser, author of "Birmingham Inventors and Inventions," in writing to the compiler of this work, says:
"It has often occurred to me that some of the very early references to metallic pens may perhaps mean the draughtsman's 'ruling pen,' and not an instrument made after the fashion of a quill pen with a slit in it. That it is possible to write with such an instrument this paragraph will show, but I must admit that it is not equal to one of Perry's J's."
From an entry in "Pepys' Diary," October 24, 1660, drawing pens appear to have been in use in London, at the time of the Restoration:
"To Mr. Lilly's, where, not finding Mr. Spong, I went to Mr. Greatorex, where I met him, and where I bought a drawing pen."
In London Notes and Queries (4th S., xi., 440), the Rev. E. Smedley, editor of the Encyclopoedia Metropolitana, writing to his friend, Mr. H. Hawkins, April 10, 1833, says:
"The process of nibbing and shaving is one which I always abominated, and for years past I have taken refuge under the Perryian pens. The one with which I now write has been in use daily, and all day long, for more than a fortnight, and I consider that it still owes me quite as much worth as it has already furnished. Every packet contains nine pens, and on an average two out of that number fail to suit my hand, but the remaining seven are faithful servants, and their price is 2s."
In London Notes and Queries (4th S., xii., 57) a writer says:
"I bought my first steel pen from Bramah, Piccadilly, in 1825. The price was 1s. 6d. It was very thick and hard, with very little elasticity. In 1829 I read advertised in the Times, steel pens, with holder, 3s. per dozen, at Kendal's, in Holborn. They were hand made, and much easier to write with than Bramah's. Soon after the price fell, and steel pens became common."
In _London Notes and Queries (4th S., x., 309), October 19, 1872, Mr. William Bates, speaking of a visit he paid to an old lady, at Studley (Worcestershire) about 1825, says that he saw an exquisitely-finished inkstand of pure gold, the gift of one of the Earls of Plymouth to her father, 100 years before. The inkstand was provided with a jointed gold penholder, terminating in a barrel (one slit) pen, resembling the metallic pen of the present day, except that he found that it would not write.
In "Local Notes and Queries," published in the _Birmingham Journal and Weekly Post,_ there have appeared a number of contributions relating to the early manufacture of steel pens. We reproduce them here. A correspondent writing on June 22, 1869, says: "Daniel Fellows, of Sedgley, made steel pens about 1800."
Another writer, on the same date, says, "The first makers of steel pens were John Edwards, Hill Street, and Francis Heeley, Mount Street, Birmingham."
Respecting, the former of these, in _Wrightson's Birmingham Directory, 1823, the following advertisement appears: "John Edwards, manufacturer of improved gold, silver, and elastic sleel pens, mounted in all kinds of cases, and desk handles, No. 40 Hill Street. N.B.--The pens are warranted to write exceedingly fine and free."
This advertisement contained engravings of a barrel and "nibbed" or "slip" pen.
J. Sargent, writing from Tettenhall, June 28, 1869, says:
"A journeyman blacksmith, named Fellows, of Sedgley, was the first originator of steel pens. I resided at Sedgley in 1822, when Sheldon, Fellows's apprentice, made some of these pens. He made two for me. I wrote very well with them. Sheldon himself told me that Mr. Gillott commenced making the pen from seeing some of his (Sheldon's) make."
Some one writing under the nom de plume of "Un Qui Sait," says:
"I distinctly recollect, about the year 1806, being at Fellows's home in Sedgley, and there seeing Thomas Sheldon, his apprentice, making steel pens.