28 replies to this topic

[Paul M]

Whilst a personalised pen is usually considered a devalued item, the own brand variant is usually purchased at a premium to one of the base model versions. I have a number of Summit pens with matching Lang produced twins (National Security, Regent, Stephens, to name a few). Conway Stewart also produced their share (The Seal, The Grenville, etc), and I know Swan also produced a few including a K&J Super Pen, and a massive Whiteley Super Pen in my collection. 

 

 

Occasionally one pops up that really is a bit out of the ordinary, and provides a chuckle - I once had a "Ogdens Lung Tonic" example but that is long gone. I would be interested to see what  examples  others possess, but will start by showing a "Twilfit Corset" pen which is associated with the old Portsmouth based company that seems to have been in existance since 1915. I guess this example is from the mid 1920's and might be of Lang or Mentmore origin:

 

 

 

Edited by Paul M, 28 August 2014 - 05:49 PM.

[Peterg]

Picture of the nib Paul?

[AZuniga]

I have a company pen like the one you show, but no idea which manufacturer did it....

 

 

[Paul M]

Picture of the nib Paul?

 

Not a great shot, but ....

 

 

 

 

Hi AZuniga

 

The Typhoo pen comes up quite frequently on these shores, and there has been some debate as to who manufactured them. They are good quality pens!

 

The lever differs in style to the Twilfit item, and the cap is quite different (easier to see when in the hand).

[Deb]

On a similar note, here's an advertising pen for the Cooperative Society's Desbeau Corsets.

 

 

And here is the dread garment:

 

[AndyR]

Steady on with the pictures of the scantily clad young ladies, Paul - I believe Dr I has a bit of a track record with such images!

 

Andy

[marcshiman]

Of all the things that would cause me concern when it came to corsets, rust wasn't one of the things that immediately jumped to mind.

[sloegin]

[Cob]

On a similar note, here's an advertising pen for the Cooperative Society's Desbeau Corsets.

 

 

And here is the dread garment:

 

That clip is really very distinctive - any idea who made the pen?

 

I have nothing to say about the stays!

 

Cob

Edited by Cob, 29 August 2014 - 09:50 PM.

[Peterg]

I would say that is a Lang's nib Paul. The question is whether it is original.

 

Incidentally I received a NOS Palladium pen with a tiny Lang's nib. From the price band of 2/6p I assume it is pre war, but not of a style I would associate with Unique. Intriguing.Did they make it or buy in?

[Widget]

I've got a Sheaffer TD TM that says MACNIVEN SCOTCH WHISKEY.  Does that count?  Not quite the same era but the Scotch is very old.

[Cob]

I'm becoming rather interested in these pens; in fact I am currently bidding on one (secret until tomorrow evening!) which I hope I win because apart from having a bizarre name on it, it is rather attractive.

 

Best wishes

 

Cob

[Deb]

 

That clip is really very distinctive - any idea who made the pen?

 

Cob

 

The clip is the same as the one in the Typhoo pen.  Find out who made that one and you'll know who made the Desbeau pen.  Maybe. :-)

Edited by Deb, 30 August 2014 - 04:05 PM.

[Cob]

Not properly belonging to "British Pens" nevertheless it is sort of "on topic"

 

How could I resist a pen bearing the title Gargoyle Marine Oils?

 

The nib is marked 'Hayes Co'  all information gratefully received.

 

 

Cob

[Cob]

Could this be a clue to the makers of the Typhoo and CWS pens?  Look at the clip!

 

Cob

[Deb]

It could well be, but that type of inserted clip appears on a lot of different pens.  That's a superb Unique by the way!

[Cob]

It could well be, but that type of inserted clip appears on a lot of different pens.  That's a superb Unique by the way!

You are correct as usual: I am just looking at the Bayard I bought recently!

 

And yes, that Unique is a corker isn't it?

 

Cob

[Paul M]

For everyone of a certain age this ebay item will strike a cord:

 

ebay Ref No :  141387726693

 

More familiar in pencil format, but I cannot imagine the claimed rarity justifies the asking price 

[AndyR]

Think 'collectors of children's TV memorabilia', Paul, not us sad old pen collectors. Priceless to some of them, I guess.

 

My memories of the programme are rather earlier than that 1977 pen - I'm more from the Eamonn Andrews/Leslie Crowther/Peter Glaze/Pip Hinton era! I'm also very much in the Christopher Trace/Valerie Singleton (and eventually John Noakes) era of Blue Peter which I think largely pre-dated the advent of sticky-backed plastic. Though I still have my Blue Peter badge (vintage c.1962) - somewhere -.........

 

Andy

[Cob]

 "[...]sat proudly on the music stand of the family piano for nearly 40 years"

 

Oh really?

 

Yawn.

 

Cob