Crittenden press. [volume] (Marion, Ky.) 1879-1907, 1906-12-20
The Story Of The Pen
Continued from First Page

Nv nrSt MI. w atcrman utlllIcu lV'
based on the split-rccd principle, b
later on so-called spoon feed w
invented by w. |. Ferris, an associa
of Mr.. Waterman, and this has replace
the old feed on the Waterman pens. II
spoon feed has cups in the side whic
when the ink flows down more quick
than it can be taken of by the pen ln Il
ordinary action of writing. catch u,
it can be retained there until the Ia
fraction of 4 drop is used by the write
The fountain pen OF to-day Is con
posed Of five parts. There is the 90
pen, the feed, the point section whi'
screws into the barrel, the barrel wm'
holds the ink, and the cap which cove
the gold pen when not in use. The Leaf
ing fountain pen concern OF the count
to-day has an annual output in excess
10000 pens, so the extent Of the 3
dustry can be judged.
OF all the divisions Of the industr
the manufacture Of the gold pens, tipp'
with iridium, is about the most int
esting. The gold pen is used for foui
tain pens because il is non corrosive al
non-oxidizable. Through the use OF 81
yer and copper alloy. and by hammeriI
and tempering during the process
manufacture. these gold pens are mac
to-day so they will duplicate the acu'
Of any steel pen ever manufactured. al
in addition they are not affected by q
acid in the ink and will not rust
In making gold pens the
metal is melted with the al
10y. made into ingots an .. ...s
inch thick, and then the in ~ /
gots are rolled out into rib "a y
bons OF a width and thick, 4
ness suitable for the partic-
ulaN kind Of pen 20 be made
from them. These ribbons, i.
sometimes eight feet long.
are fed into a hand press. n
which makes what are called W
pen blanks. The blanks then
are notched 10 receive the <
iridium points, a blowpipe E B
being utilized TO fuse the
cold around the metal.
which costs s. 900 a pound.
This gives the proper MA
hardness TO the point. iridi- N1(&
um being three times as hard
as a ruby and seooild only
TO the diamond. After this
the pen blank goes through
many other processes to "A
shape IL, improve It's elas-
ITCHY. 10 cut the heart
shaped hole In IL. and then
TO cut the slit from the point Il
TO the apex Of the heart
shaped hole. Then comes
the finishing and polishing.
Another interesting division
OF the industry is the manu-
facture Of the barrels. point
sections, caps and feeds out
Of the rubber. Several months
are required between the time
the raw rubber is received 49,
at a factory and the compile Xt
ton Of the finished product, ~
and during this time the
fountain pen goes through 4n4t
no less than forty distinct
operations.
The crude rubber is i'm
ported from Para, South M
America, and is gathered III
along the banks Of the Am
azon. When it reaches the
factory it is in Jumps the
size OF a football 1t is put through
tearing machine that separates the ru
Der into shreds, after which 1t IS wash'
and stored 20 dry and cure for SON
months. When sufficiently maturcd II
passed through huge rollers. which NAL
il into thin heets, when it is sprinkle
with powdered sulphur and again role
To make the barrel OF the pen q
rubber is turned over mandrel
spindle Of iron, the closed end OF Il
barrel being formed afterwards by well
ing thin rubber sheets over it, att
which the whole is vulcanized. Final
the barrel is turned down on a lath
after which an ash-buf IS used, an
again a lathe for rehnishing The pc
section is made from the rough rubb'
similar to the barrel and cap, while Il
feed IS made from a solid rod OF rub5c
After all these parts are ready the
are assembled to make the complete pet
holder. This work OF assembling r.
uuirPe the greatest skill aud care Il