posted on March 20, 2006 11:02:51 AM
The only thing I know about this pen is that it's ivory and old. The pen part is long gone (a piece of the bottom of the pen is broken off). There's a view finder at the top and when you look through it, it says Souvenier of Washington and there are pictures of the White House, US Capitol, War & Navy Dept., and the Treasury Building. Anyone have any ideas as to how old this might be? The pics are B&W. There are no cars or anything in the pics to give any sort of a clue.
Thanks loads for any help.
Cheryl
"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter." - Martin Luther King, Jr.
posted on March 20, 2006 11:29:24 AM
Heres a stanhope pen almost just like yours ,different pictures but same style.Don't know if this is much help but maybe someone else will come along that can give you a better way to date it.
posted on March 20, 2006 11:44:28 AM
From what I found - late 1800s to early 1900s. they then fell out of popularirty and later came back but this time with color pics.
Sounds like an interesting piece.
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posted on March 20, 2006 11:48:36 AM
Is there a pen in it, or is it just a pen holder?
You might be able to date it by the views of the capital buildings--shrubbery, trees, cars or horses, people's clothing if they're in the pictures, renovations to buildings. . . .
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posted on March 20, 2006 01:20:08 PM
Cheryl, I never knew those were pens! lol ... we had one at the old antique shop, but you see about 2 in. up from the bottom, there is a seam on yours? well, that's where mine ended (no bottom nib holder area), so i thought it was an old cigarette holder LOL ...
I never thought to look in any of the holes to see if there were pictures inside.
posted on March 20, 2006 01:49:57 PM
Cheryl: A hot pin in an unobtrusive spot should tell you. Ivory smells like burning hair.
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posted on March 20, 2006 02:13:52 PM
That's the problem, roadsmith. There really isn't a place to stick a hot pin without it showing.
Edited to add: I suspect it is ivory because there is graining.
Cheryl
"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter." - Martin Luther King, Jr.
[ edited by cblev65252 on Mar 20, 2006 02:20 PM ]
posted on March 20, 2006 03:47:31 PM
Cheryl, all you need is the point of a pin or nail. I'd stick it inside the broken end; it can't be any worse there than it is now.
Yes, it certainly looks like ivory, from the graining. The hot pin or nail point-test is a safeguard, though.
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