Inkograph Hooded Nib Pens c1945-1949

by Jim Mamoulides, November 30, 2002, updated January 5, 2012 and January 11, 2020

Inkograph fountain pen in blue marbled celluloid c. 1945-1950

Inkograph's lesser known hoodie

Inkograph is most associated with making stylographic pens. A stylograph is a pen with a nib made from a hollow tube with a fine wire inside that moves up and down with pressure from the tip, allowing ink flow onto the paper. This is a nib design that dates to the mid 1800s, with possibly the earliest "ink pencil" being that of Elizah Jordan, patented in the USA in 1849. This design was later improved on repeatedly until it became the modern stylographic pen.

Inkograph fountain pen in green marbled celluloid c. 1945-1950

The Inkograph company was organized somewhere between 1914 and 1918, depending on which version of the company origin one wishes to believe, with the 1928 catalog saying "a little less than ten years ago" and a 1947 advertisement saying "been working for 33 years." Whichever the story, Inkograph would be a latecomer to the stylographic pen market, entering certainly at a time when traditional nib pens were clearly leading the market. Inkograph marketed their pen as a major improvement with many of the best qualities of a pen and pencil combined.

By the 1940s, Inkograph was secure in this niche market and pretty much had it to itself. Most of its advertising focused on its stylographic pens, but the company also made traditional nib pens and mechanical pencils, likely to keep their customers in the fold. The open nib pens of the 1920s were marketed under the Wallace name, as can be seen in a 1928 company sales brochure, while pencils were sold under the Leadograph banner. Inkograph designs appear to follow prevailing styles with their products. Sometime in the 1930s, Inkograph began marketing open nib pens with an ink-view window in the section under the Ink-D-Cator brand, as can be seen in 1935 dated flyers, including a Mickey Mouse pen line offered in 1935.

When Parker introduced the hooded nibbed 51 in 1941, it changed the landscape of pen design. Hooded nibs were now "in", and with very few exceptions, most manufacturers created a hooded nib model as part of their main line. Inkograph was on the bandwagon and created this hooded nib model to keep up.

This Inkograph hooded nib pen is traditional lever-fill pen, as was the rest of the line, and was appointed in the same manner - heavy chrome plated metal fittings including the front mounted clip stamped with "Inkograph" down the length, spiral stamped cap band, and round end lever stamped "Made in USA" and with the Inkograph logo. All metal parts are highly detailed. A generally high quality, well-made pen at a very reasonable price: Inkograph stylographic pens were heavily advertised in the 1940s as US $2.00 pens, much less than pens by the leading makers. It is fitted with a very smooth writing unmarked nib.

Inkograph fountain pen in green marbled celluloid c. 1945-1950 with two Parker Challengers

Identification guide and features:

These Inkograph hooded nib fountain pens copy the long tapered section and small nib from the Waterman Taperite pens introduced in 1945. They are about 4 7/8 inches long with a short gold plated stainless steel nib. The clips are stamped INKOGRAPH and the lever is stamped MADE IN U.S.A. and with the Inkograph logo on the tab. The trim appears to be chrome plated. The barrel is stamped INKOGRAPH.

• Celluloid cap and barrel in a variety of colors
• Blunt and balance shaped examples exist, as shown
• Silver color, probably chrome plated clip stamped INKOGRAPH
• Single cap band with a banded design
• Screw off cap
• Gold plated stainless steel hooded nib with no markings
• Total nib grades unknown, but fine and medium are observed
• Lever filler
• About 4 7/8 inches long capped

Inkograph fountain pen in green marbled celluloid c. 1945-1950 with a Waterman Taperite Crusader and a Parker 51

These unusual Inkograph pens are an interesting find next to the common stylographic models. They are well made but not particularly valuable.

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References

Fountain Pens of the World, Andreas Lambrou, Copyright © 1995, Zwemmer, London, England

Inkograph Mickey Mouse Promotional Material, Copyright © 1935, Inkograph Company Inc., New York, NY

The Inkograph Story, Copyright © 1928, Inkograph Company Inc., New York, NY