11 replies to this topic

[marcshiman]

Here's my modest collection of Camels:



Camel Pens were located on Central Avenue in Orange NJ until they were purchased by Wearever. My grandfather also had a factory in that area (Shiman Jewelers) and I'd like to think that the two owners might have known each other and might have done business together.

At first, I really didn't find a whole lot of beauty in the pens, it felt more like an interest born out of some sense of family connection. However, as I've found cleaner and nicer camels, I've begun to appreciate them for their quality and beauty of the celluloids.

At one point, the prices really spiked on Ebay - they were selling for $350 and more! My last win I took for $120 which is much more palatable.

I might even think about restoring them now into button fillers (they used to use ink pellets that were supposed to mix with water allowing soldiers to bring ink with them to the front lines).

Marc

[David Nishimura]

Nice collection, especially with the family connection!

Camel restoration is straightforward but can be a little more of a pain than other button-fillers, which is one big reason I too thought some of the eBay prices were excessive for unrestored examples. Instead of using a standard button-filler pressure bar assembly, there's a bar-and-spring mechanism where the spring is inevitably rusted and broken. It has to be remade from flat spring stock, and a "T" ground into each end. Then there is the button, which in most cases is also an ink reservoir that screws apart. Getting the threads free can be delicate work, though, especially on the red hard rubber buttons.

By the way, not all ink-pellet pens (or the ink pellets themselves, for that matter) were marketed for military use. This was particularly the case for the Camel, which was produced when America was still firmly isolationist and its military a tiny fraction of what it would be only several years later. I've never seen a Camel with a military clip, either!

[sloegin]

Has anyone seen a demonstrator?

 

Edit 7-7-15: I was flipping through the F&S blue book today and there is a demo there.

Edited by sloegin, 07 July 2015 - 11:12 PM.

[david i]

I have never seen a demonstrator from this brand. I would like to see a demonstrator from this brand.

[JonSzanto]

They do present well, don't they? Nice.

[sloegin]

The sac and pressure bar had turned to dust so the pen is currently without.

 

[david i]

Possibly very nice. I have limited view on my iPhone. Are you sure that fountain pen started out clear? If so it would indeed be the only camel demonstrator I've ever seen.

[sloegin]

Quite sure that it started out clear....

[david i]

Excellent. Worth having cleaned up properly. Perhaps even plating the trim

[david i]

Or is that just tarnish?

[david i]

On second thought even if not tarnish but actual loss of plating I'd just let it be

[sloegin]

Is probably both tarnish and wear to the trim.   The pen is rough, missing parts, and if it weren't so unique would be a parts pen.