Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1883-09-21
THE STEEL PEN.
Something about the Trade In the Use-
ful Article.

Something abou, the Trade In the Use.
fui Article.
[Frnm Bra1strcct's.l
The steel pen i'll the many types in
which ii is manufactured-and there are
more than | 900 different numbers-is
signal instance of triumph of mechanical
skill i'll combining and varying the quail
ties of the implement, involving extreme
nicetics of distinctions TO an extent that
few other industrial arts demand. Our
entire annual trade i'll steel pens, domestic
and imported, may be placed at 81 ,500,-
900, and is steadily progressive one.
The larger proportion Of those sold are
American pens. 1t is n matter of difficult
ty to ascertain the relative amount dis
posed OF in different sections of the couu-
try, pens being mainly distributed by
large Wholesale houses who make ship
ments from the East The chief retailers
of pens throughout the country are in the
stationery, publishing, notions, dry goods
and hardware trades. Our own manufac-
turcss are reticent as to their annual pro-
duction, but taking the ascertained out
put Of Birmingham, which supplies be-
tween 1j,00OOO0 and Iii, 600 00O pens per
week, with that of the few manufactures
in France, the one i'll Germany, the one
in Austria, there being nouc iu the other
European states, and the leading Ameri-
can establishments, i'll Meriden, Conn.
Camden, n. j., and i'll Philadelphia, the
weekly production for this country and
Europe cannot be less than from - 000,-
600 to 23,0O0 600 pens.
Some British sheet steel made into roll
ed steel is, on account Of special quail
ties, employed for our domestic pens, but
the aggregate amount is small, American
steel being IN all respects suite,. for the
majority of pens. There is n peculiar
trait in the character of steel which en-
ablcs an adept to render it at will as plant
and obdurute as may be desired, which
alone renders possible the varieties of
steel pens produced The bulk Of i'm
ported steel pens is from England. Some
pens of extremely fine make come from
France. We also receive moderate sup
ply from Germany. Under the amended
tariff the duty on steel pens, formerly
based on price and quality, is specific,
being determined by quantity alone.
This duty is l. cents per gross for all
qualities, Practically there is n slight
reduction Of the duty on popular pens,
such as range from 80 cents to $l.50 per
gross. The obvious benefits of this SIM
plitication are that il allows of quicker
despatch of importers business mt the
Custom House, prevents frauds from un-
LIBERALIZATION and affords no scope for dis
putes.
That there are comparatively few man
ufacturers i'll this trade is due in part to
the great difficulties that attend manufac-
turing operations, to the scale on which
these must be undertaken to render the
business success, to the large capital re-
qulreu, and to the reputation secured by
those who early entered the field, and
whose constant endeavor is to maintain
their pre-cminence. An evidence that on
numerous classes of pens appreciuble
profits are only to be obtained by enor-
nous sales is that in Birmingham, Eng
land, where some fifteen tons of steel are
used per week i'll pen making, there are
steel pens made ut the wholesale price OF
cents per gross Favorite domestic pens
are sold here to users at less than | cent
apiece, II marvel of cheapness, consider.
ing their quality, and that the materia
undcrgoes from fifteen to twenty five dis
tinct pre- cesses. With such II diversity o.
steel pens the operations Of trade are fa
cilitated by numbers corresponding il
price lists to kinds, size and purpose. Ii
addition, some pens are marked with in
cised letters or devices, indicating tn
name Of the maker or the distinctive ap
pellation Of some particular pattern
others have ornaments embossed on then
in relief. These aid the general publ
i'll identifying pens when new supple
are wanted, and contribute to establish
reputation fOr given descriptions. Unde
the systematic arrangement Of number
the assortment of stock is simpliied an,
the possibility Of error III filling orders j
all but eliminated.
The practical and really useful steel pc
dates back little more than half a cen
tury. Steel pens were heard Of long be
fore, but could have few Of the admirabl
qualities of the modern implement, which
with all the ease and freedom of the time
honored goose-quill, has also iirmness an
precision besides saving time, rapidity G
writing being aided by ease of manipula
ton. The growth of the trade to its pre-
ent Dimensions is not only from advance
in mechanism, as in the powerful press,
in use, rendering production rapid, but
improvements in the various process,
from tempering to the fiual coloring an
vanishing. 1t is mark of progre'
that manufacturers 30 closely study til
wants OF the public. American manufa
turers have shown much ingenuity in d.
vising types suited to particular classe
of penmnnship business or otherwis
ami it may be said of the public that the
are exceedingly watchful of now desigl
and appreciatiye Of merit. The variei
OF pens might seem battling, hut it is otl
erwise' Pens Of oil degrees of hardnei
are now produced for light and hea,
hands for very thin and fine and I,
rough and strong paper, and for writil
on cardboard for correspondence, fl
bookkeeping, for round-hand and quit
writing, for autographic and calograph
work, for photographic and drawing pu
poses, for fine handwriting almost devo
Of shading, and even pens are made f
the Hebrew and Greek characters Thel
again, there are steel pens plated wi
copper and gold ; others are simply gil
ed. Even pens known by other nam
than steel are essentially of that metz