16
Introductions / Re: Hello from North Carolina!
« on: February 23, 2021, 07:41:31 PM »
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17
Tools & Supplies / Re: Is walnut ink really that special
« on: October 27, 2020, 11:39:39 AM »
For me, walnut is the best practice ink just because, as others have pointed out, it's fairly well-behaved, and it's really, really cheap.
I get the crystals and mix them up directly in a jumbo Dinky Dip. Just enough to cover about 2/3-3/4 of the bottom with a single layer of crystals, pour in water and shake. Leave it for 20 minutes, shake again, and you have ink.
I get my crystals from John Neal books and not sure if they're any different than the big bag used for staining wood. And I've never had a problem just using tap water. I've let it in jars for over a year and no mold, slime or anything.
No, if you're like @JanisTX and don't like brown, then you will not like it. I happen to like the color (and you can make it darker or lighter just by adding crystals or water). I particularly like it with a stub dip pen, like an Esterbrook Relief, on 100% cotton cream paper. I can't use pointed pens on 100% cotton as it picks up too many threads, but a nice stub slides like butter. And the brown on the cream looks quite nice to my eyes for a letter.
I get the crystals and mix them up directly in a jumbo Dinky Dip. Just enough to cover about 2/3-3/4 of the bottom with a single layer of crystals, pour in water and shake. Leave it for 20 minutes, shake again, and you have ink.
I get my crystals from John Neal books and not sure if they're any different than the big bag used for staining wood. And I've never had a problem just using tap water. I've let it in jars for over a year and no mold, slime or anything.
No, if you're like @JanisTX and don't like brown, then you will not like it. I happen to like the color (and you can make it darker or lighter just by adding crystals or water). I particularly like it with a stub dip pen, like an Esterbrook Relief, on 100% cotton cream paper. I can't use pointed pens on 100% cotton as it picks up too many threads, but a nice stub slides like butter. And the brown on the cream looks quite nice to my eyes for a letter.
18
Open Flourish | General Discussion / Re: We have a new SUPERHERO!
« on: October 25, 2020, 06:46:39 PM »
Aw, shucks. Y’all are too kind.
19
Open Flourish | General Discussion / Re: An amazing work from 1683
« on: October 23, 2020, 07:49:01 AM »
If you count each compartment, each figure, each decoration individually, there are 47 of them. And that’s not including the border. It is a masterpiece.
20
Open Flourish | General Discussion / Re: An amazing work from 1683
« on: October 22, 2020, 04:22:36 PM »
I think I'm on the right trail.
21
Open Flourish | General Discussion / Re: We have a new SUPERHERO!
« on: October 21, 2020, 02:46:05 PM »
Thank you all for being so supportive of my odd tidbits of history and obsession with steel pens.
Y'all are the greatest!
Y'all are the greatest!
22
Open Flourish | General Discussion / Re: An amazing work from 1683
« on: October 21, 2020, 10:04:33 AM »
I thought you all might find it interesting. 
I had no idea it was going to be my 1000's post. How fortuitous!
The print says that it was "Printed for and Sold by William Hull, at the Signe of the Angel in Fleet-street near St. Dunstans Church London."
It was engraved by John Sturt in Kinshead Court in Gutter Lane, London.
If I had to speculate on how it was made, based on how steel pens were made a century later, it was most likely a barrel pen. You would take a sheet of thin steel and bend it into a tube. You would then shape a nib out of one end with saws and files. Some slit the pen, some used the seam between the two ends of the steel sheet as the slit.
He obviously used both pointed as well as broad-point pens for this. If he used a steel pen, then his pens were of good quality, better than others would be for quite a while. (early metallic pens were always criticized for being stiff and inflexible)
It's an amazing work for both the quality of the writing as well as the flourishing and decoration.
Here's another of the figures.
There's quite a bit of research work to be done on this one sheet. Will share what I find out.
Anyone want to help me identify the various hands represented on it?
I had no idea it was going to be my 1000's post. How fortuitous!The print says that it was "Printed for and Sold by William Hull, at the Signe of the Angel in Fleet-street near St. Dunstans Church London."
It was engraved by John Sturt in Kinshead Court in Gutter Lane, London.
If I had to speculate on how it was made, based on how steel pens were made a century later, it was most likely a barrel pen. You would take a sheet of thin steel and bend it into a tube. You would then shape a nib out of one end with saws and files. Some slit the pen, some used the seam between the two ends of the steel sheet as the slit.
He obviously used both pointed as well as broad-point pens for this. If he used a steel pen, then his pens were of good quality, better than others would be for quite a while. (early metallic pens were always criticized for being stiff and inflexible)
It's an amazing work for both the quality of the writing as well as the flourishing and decoration.
Here's another of the figures.
There's quite a bit of research work to be done on this one sheet. Will share what I find out.
Anyone want to help me identify the various hands represented on it?
23
Open Flourish | General Discussion / An amazing work from 1683
« on: October 20, 2020, 09:35:05 PM »
This is an advertisement for a writing master in London, published in 1683.
John Smith was a writing master in Christ's Hospital in London. He advertises that he makes his own steel pens, "curiously made to write any hand..." they were "invented and sold by the Author." He also advertises "Writing inks of several sorts," ink glasses (bottles?), pen knives, slates, rulers, etc...
He states that this large advertisement (61 x 47 cm.) includes "a small specimen of all the usual hands of England." It does include several different writing styles as well as numerous flourishes, figures and designs, all made, presumably, with his steel pens.
I saw a low-resolution image tweeted out by the Newberry Library, the owner of this particular print. I reached out to them and paid to have it photographed and it is so much better than I had hoped. I originally paid for it because it's, by far, the earliest advertisement for steel pens I've ever found. I'm hoping to do a more full analysis of the script styles and will share more as I take a closer look.
John Smith was a writing master in Christ's Hospital in London. He advertises that he makes his own steel pens, "curiously made to write any hand..." they were "invented and sold by the Author." He also advertises "Writing inks of several sorts," ink glasses (bottles?), pen knives, slates, rulers, etc...
He states that this large advertisement (61 x 47 cm.) includes "a small specimen of all the usual hands of England." It does include several different writing styles as well as numerous flourishes, figures and designs, all made, presumably, with his steel pens.
I saw a low-resolution image tweeted out by the Newberry Library, the owner of this particular print. I reached out to them and paid to have it photographed and it is so much better than I had hoped. I originally paid for it because it's, by far, the earliest advertisement for steel pens I've ever found. I'm hoping to do a more full analysis of the script styles and will share more as I take a closer look.
24
Tools & Supplies / Re: Drawers or Organizer for Pens, Paper, etc. non plastic
« on: October 18, 2020, 10:38:02 PM »
One hack I can recommend is for dividers for pens. I have a wooden chest often called a Machinist's Chest as they are often used to hold the small, delicate tools used by machinists, to store my fountain pens. Instead of plastic dividers in the drawers, I took stiff, good paper and folded it accordion style and put the pens into the valley folds.
I like this soooo much better than plastic. They are easily replaced, don't damage the pens, and you can even label what goes into each valley.
The machinist chests can be very expensive. I ran across one at Costco that was quite reasonable, relatively. It's called the TRINITY TWM-3501 Wood Toolbox if you can find it somewhere else. The drawers are fine for fountain pens, but several are not quite long enough for dip pen holders.
If money was no object, my dream cabinet is the Tennsco 2085 steel letter-size thirty-drawer cabinet. Perfect size to store my large steel pen collection, plus different papers, pens, etc... It's also over $500 delivered. It's a commercial-grade cabinet that would way outlast me.
Andrew
I like this soooo much better than plastic. They are easily replaced, don't damage the pens, and you can even label what goes into each valley.
The machinist chests can be very expensive. I ran across one at Costco that was quite reasonable, relatively. It's called the TRINITY TWM-3501 Wood Toolbox if you can find it somewhere else. The drawers are fine for fountain pens, but several are not quite long enough for dip pen holders.
If money was no object, my dream cabinet is the Tennsco 2085 steel letter-size thirty-drawer cabinet. Perfect size to store my large steel pen collection, plus different papers, pens, etc... It's also over $500 delivered. It's a commercial-grade cabinet that would way outlast me.
Andrew
25
Open Flourish | General Discussion / Re: 19thC Shorthand?
« on: September 30, 2020, 01:33:41 PM »
Not an hour after writing this response, I'm searching for another text in the Univ. of Michigan's Early English Books collection and come across an advertisement from 1680 from a writing master. One of the services he offers is to teach you a form of shorthand he's modified to make his own.
Not directly related to your question, but I thought it was interesting.
"Short-hand also he Teacheth with great expedition, he having abreviated, corrected, and amended the same, to make it the more facile, easy, and plain to the Learner."
https://quod.lib.umich.edu/e/eebo/a26120.0001.001?rgn=main;view=fulltext;q1=Penmanship+--++Study+and+teaching
Not directly related to your question, but I thought it was interesting.
"Short-hand also he Teacheth with great expedition, he having abreviated, corrected, and amended the same, to make it the more facile, easy, and plain to the Learner."
https://quod.lib.umich.edu/e/eebo/a26120.0001.001?rgn=main;view=fulltext;q1=Penmanship+--++Study+and+teaching
26
Spencerian Script / Re: How to Find /Acquire Examples of Everyday Handwriting by Year
« on: September 30, 2020, 10:56:51 AM »
Excellent method for a more focused search! It is fascinating to see how established schools of penmanship end up "translated" into everyday writing. I know my script looking little like the Palmer I was taught in school.
Andrew
Andrew
27
Open Flourish | General Discussion / Re: 19thC Shorthand?
« on: September 30, 2020, 10:53:28 AM »
My knowledge is not deep, nor terribly specific. I do know that the idea of shorthand goes back quite a long way, probably from whenever there were scribes taking dictation. In the 19th-c there were several different schools of shorthand. Some were better suited to writing with a pencil, some with a flexible steel pen, like Gregg.
In 1841, the reporters would have been writing with a pencil in a notebook. In that year, it would most likely have been Taylor (?). I think Pitman introduced his style right around that time (1830's, 40's?), so reporters in 1841 who were proficient had most likely learned Taylor.
Of course, some developed their own version of an established style, and some developed their own shorthand altogether. I've seen examples where people are trying to decipher an example of obvious shorthand, though it conforms to no known school.
I'm sure you can find more details around. There are still people who like to learn shorthand. I wish I would have learned it before college, it would have made taking notes that much more efficient.
Andrew
In 1841, the reporters would have been writing with a pencil in a notebook. In that year, it would most likely have been Taylor (?). I think Pitman introduced his style right around that time (1830's, 40's?), so reporters in 1841 who were proficient had most likely learned Taylor.
Of course, some developed their own version of an established style, and some developed their own shorthand altogether. I've seen examples where people are trying to decipher an example of obvious shorthand, though it conforms to no known school.
I'm sure you can find more details around. There are still people who like to learn shorthand. I wish I would have learned it before college, it would have made taking notes that much more efficient.
Andrew
28
Flourishing / Flourished animals - Balderic van Horicke
« on: September 30, 2020, 09:46:35 AM »
Jill Gage, a curator from the Newberry Library in Chicago just tweeted out a series of images from a book by Balderic van Horicke (Brussels, 1633) in their collection. I just had to share these with you all.
A lion, a camel and stork, a reclining man, wonderful owls, and what I think is an otter.
Andrew
A lion, a camel and stork, a reclining man, wonderful owls, and what I think is an otter.
Andrew
29
Introductions / Re: Hello from Coastal North Carolina
« on: July 06, 2020, 07:53:22 PM »
Welcome from the Piedmont! Nice intro script!
30
Open Flourish | General Discussion / Modest musings on the term "oblique"
« on: July 06, 2020, 10:48:40 AM »
As some of you know, I've been researching the history of steel pens and writing implements in general in the 19th-century.
One thing that confused me when I first started was the term "oblique" when referring to a nib. I came from the fountain pen world, where an "oblique nib" is a type of stub that is cut at an angle. I've always kind of wondered about the difference between fountain pen and dip pen usage of the same term.
I recently wrote a short article for the Pennant, the magazine of the Pen Collectors of America (the US equivalent of the WES in the UK) on this topic. It's more of an introduction for those, like me when I first started, who have only heard of it related to fountain pen nibs. It's coming out later this month and I received a low-res version.
I thought some here might find it interesting, though I'm sure little of it will be new to you. If nothing else, Christopher Yoke was kind enough to donate some images both from his collection of antique oblique holders, as well as some of his recent creations.
The magazine is quite well done, and worth the membership dues required to receive it. The PCA also has an impressive library of materials available for your perusal. https://pencollectorsofamerica.org/
Full disclosure, I've also been publishing my histories of early US steel pen makers in the Pennant. My latest, on Myer Phineas in NYC c. 1840's-50's, is also in this same issue.
Andrew
One thing that confused me when I first started was the term "oblique" when referring to a nib. I came from the fountain pen world, where an "oblique nib" is a type of stub that is cut at an angle. I've always kind of wondered about the difference between fountain pen and dip pen usage of the same term.
I recently wrote a short article for the Pennant, the magazine of the Pen Collectors of America (the US equivalent of the WES in the UK) on this topic. It's more of an introduction for those, like me when I first started, who have only heard of it related to fountain pen nibs. It's coming out later this month and I received a low-res version.
I thought some here might find it interesting, though I'm sure little of it will be new to you. If nothing else, Christopher Yoke was kind enough to donate some images both from his collection of antique oblique holders, as well as some of his recent creations.
The magazine is quite well done, and worth the membership dues required to receive it. The PCA also has an impressive library of materials available for your perusal. https://pencollectorsofamerica.org/
Full disclosure, I've also been publishing my histories of early US steel pen makers in the Pennant. My latest, on Myer Phineas in NYC c. 1840's-50's, is also in this same issue.
Andrew