Vintage Eyedropper Fountain Pen

This is a Black Chased Hard Rubber (BCHR) slip-cap, eyedropper filled fountain pen that I estimate as dating from about 1910. It is in amazingly good condition: no cracks, crisp chevron style chasing, the nib is in great shape, the threads that secure the section into the barrel are good, and there is no crack or chip in the lip of the cap. The black hard rubber is not as deep black colored as it was when new, but it is still shiny.

There is an imprint in the indicta that reads “THE SUNDAY SCHOOL TIMES” which is the name of a publication that began in 1859 and continued until 1966 – quite a record! I suppose this is an early example of an advertising pen.

The nib is marked WARRANTED 14K 2 and has considerable flex. I have no way of knowing whether it is original to the pen or not, but given the lack of wear in general, I think it may be.

The pen measures 5 3/8 inches long when capped.

I’m asking $150 for this pen. I will consider offers. If you are interested or have questions, please email me at BamaPen@jehubbard.com.

Click on any image to open the gallery for larger views.

For Sale: An Eagle blow-filler (?) fountain pen for parts

Here’s an Eagle fountain pen, made in the 1915-20 era, in poor condition, but with some good parts for someone interested.

The barrel and cap are made of brass. The barrel is covered in chased black enamel in quite good condition. The end of the barrel has an opening that must have been for use as a blow-filler, a type that was fairly common in that era.

The cap slips onto the barrel, covering the nib and section. It has the remains of a black coating, but there is no evidence of any chasing like the barrel. The cap bears this imprint: “Eagle Pencil Co. New York PAT JAN 28, 1913”

The nib appears to be gold and bears the imprint “1455.”

Inside the barrel there is the remains of what I assume was the ink sac. It is quite fragile, but several large pieces survive.

When capped, the pen measures about 5 1/4″ long.

I am open to offers. If you are interested, please contact me at BamaPen@jehubbard.com

Click on any image below to open the gallery for larger views:

For Sale: An eyedropper pen for parts

Here’s a very old fountain pen, a hard rubber eyedropper filler, with a patent date in 1899. It is in poor condition, but someone who is into these really old pens may find useful parts here.

The pen measures about 5 1/2″ long when capped. The cap is a slip cap and its very thin lip is cracked. Gentle pressure closes the crack and there are those who can repair cracks like this almost invisibly.

The cap is chased and bears an imprint reading, “Pat’d. Oct 3, 1899.” The barrel is smooth, so it and the cap may not have begun life together. There is no imprint on the barrel.

The nib is basically ruined, cracked from the breather hole to one side, although again, there are people who can repair worse damage than this. The nib bears an imprint that is surrounded by a shield outline. Inside the shield it reads, “14K.” I seem to have been unable to capture that imprint very well, but can try again if someone asks.

I am open to offers. Please contact me at BamaPen@jehubbard.com

Click on any image to open the gallery for larger views:

For Sale: Pilot Elite fountain pen Mint

The Pilot Elite was first produced in the 1970s, and has just been re-released as the Pilot Elite 95S. The pen I’m offering here is one of the original models and is an all plastic pen with a gold-plated steel nib. I have inked it once and it still has the original sticker showing that it has an EF nib.

This nib is very fine and wonderfully smooth, writing a bit on the wet side.

The pen fills from a bottle, using a squeeze type converter. The ink capacity is on the small side, but with an EF nib it is quite adequate.

The cap is quite long, fitting deeply and tight over the nib and much of the barrel. When capped, the pen is easily pocketable. When that long cap is posted, though, the pen is quite long and comfortable for long sessions of writing.

All in all, this is a very fine little fountain pen.

I’m asking $45 for it, including mailing in the USA. If you are interested, please contact me at BamaPen@jehubbard.com

Click on any image to open the gallery for larger views:

MGB and MGC Laycock LH Overdrive Service and Maintenance Manual

This Laycock LH Overdrive Service and Maintenance Manual was an internal document used in training mechanics at dealer sites. It was never offered for sale to the general public. I happened to find a copy for sale by a former MG service department employee at a “boot sale” in England in 2000.

The 23 page manual contains key information that is not found in the popular Shop Manual.

I owned a 1968 MGB-GT and found a used and broken LH overdrive for sale. Even though I knew nothing about the internal workings of the overdrive, I decided to take a chance on being able to repair it. I quickly discovered that no mechanics in my area knew anything beyond the basic maintenance items. When I stumbled upon this typewritten service training manual, I realized that I was in luck.  Subsequently I was able to disassemble, repair, and install the overdrive in my car – and what a wonderful difference that made in the overall drivability!

I highly recommend this manual to anyone contemplating work on a LH overdrive in a MGB Mk II or MGC.

I have scanned the original manual and am offering it in both MS Word format and PDF on a DVD.  I am also including three photos that I took myself: exploded views of the Pump, Relief Valve, and Solenoid. Clear versions of these pictures do not appear in any publication that I’ve found, and I took them as I disassembled my overdrive so that I could figure out the correct order and orientation of all of those tiny parts.

I can mail the DVD by USPS Priority Mail or International First Class Package. I can also provide a link to a Dropbox location so that you can download the files without any mailing cost.

The files for easy download are priced at $15. NEW DISCOUNTED PRICE $10 with optional DVD and mailing at actual cost.

If you are interested, please email me at BamaPen@jehubbard.com

Click any image below to open the gallery for larger views of sample pages, including  the front cover, a typical diagram, and one of my photos.

For Sale: Italian Pen Reference Book

Fountain Pens. Penne Stilografiche. Bella Cosa Series, by Fortis and Vannucchi
ISBN 10: 0811810836 / ISBN 13: 9780811810838
Published by Chronicle Books, San Francisco, 1995

142pages, color illustrations throughout. Captions in English and Italian. Pictorial card covers with flaps. The book showcases more than 100 examples of exquisite craftsmanship, featuring outstanding pens designed between 1870 and 1960 by renowned manufacturers.

This book is quite well done and in excellent condition.  A very interesting addition to any pen lover’s library.  Includes more Italian pens than most pen reference books.

Asking $15 plus actual mailing cost.  Offers considered.