journeyman
Posted 15 April 2014 - 01:38 PM
Although I don't collect these early dip pen/pencil combinations I thought this 1 very pretty. It also has a rather interesting inscription..
Although I have no concrete proof my research leads me to believe the pen was owned by Alfred Ingham author of 'A History of Altrincham and Bowden (1879).
Can anyone tell me how to put a refill lead in pencil and the size of lead?
Edited by Widget, 15 April 2014 - 01:43 PM.
journeyman
Posted 15 April 2014 - 02:25 PM
As I understand it, Mordan leads were supplied in various grades, VH (very hard), H (hard), M (medium), S (soft) and VS (very soft). However, the lead diameter also changed with the grade, the softer leads being of greater diameter than the hard ones. The pencils normally have one of these grades marked on the nozzle so you know which replacement to use. I have measured some of our original M & VS leads, the M appear to be (effectively) 1mm dia and the VS 1.5mm dia.
The pencils are expel only, so to refill wind any old lead out until the metal part that expels the lead is visible in the nozzle, then wind it back in slightly. Press the new lead gently into the nozzle, and keep pressing as you wind the feed back in so the lead is drawn in until you have the desired length remaining outside the nozzle.
I'm not sure from your picture whether the end of your pencil removes or is fixed, but this is often the lead reservoir. If the pencil rattles a little when you shake it, there may be some usable leads remaining within the reservoir.
Andy
journeyman
Posted 15 April 2014 - 08:14 PM
Really nice pen there!
One of those cases of the personalisation adding to the interest....
It is so much better knowing a pen previously belonged to a million-seller author, the book being a must read for anyone who needs to know where Bowden is ;-)
journeyman
Posted 17 April 2014 - 07:08 AM
Well we can't all have a pen that was owned by J K Rawlings. I do beleive my forbears had spurious connections to Shakespere but not traced a quill yet.
Anyway I found some leads in the US and clicked on BIN and then realised when I got my confirmation E Mail that the seller is none other than my pen hero David N.
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