American Lead Pencil Company pen holder c. 1914

by Jim Mamoulides, February 28, 2022

American Lead Pencil Company pen holder c. 1914

Well, it wasn't what I thought it was...

When I first saw this metal tube at the antique store, I really couldn't figure out what it was. I liked the silver color and elaborate stamped logo and shield of the American Lead Pencil Company on the barrel. Pulling it open and seeing how empty it was, I thought it might be a lead holder for mechanical pencils or a holder for a wooden pencil that covered the point when not in use. Using a flashlight and looking into both the cap and barrel I noticed in the cap a metal tab and wondered what it was for. Pulling it out a bit I saw that it had a pair of "ears" and it dawned on me that this was a pen holder, designed to hold a pen nib in the cap and store it point down in the barrel when not in use.

American Lead Pencil Company pen holder c. 1914

Figuring that out led me to do some research in older publications, advertisements and catalogs. This is an American Lead Pencil Company pen holder possibly the one shown in the 1914 catalog as the All-Nickel Pen holder No. 820 Large, Plain Barrel, Reversible Tip. This 4 3/4 inch dip pen holder is designed to house the nib unit safely in the barrel when not in use and reversed and inserted into the barrel when needed, making the pen holder convenient for pockets and purses. The barrel is stamped AMERICAN over LEAD PENCIL CO. over the company logo over NEW YORK. These were sold by the gross to dealers for $3.23 in 1914. I found and installed an R. Esterbrook & Co. 048 Falcon Pen medium flexible stainless steel nib so I could try it out.

American Lead Pencil Company pen holder c. 1914

Identification guide and features:

Shown in the 1914 American Lead Pencil Company Catalogue as the All-Nickel Pen holder, number 820, large, plain barrel, reversible tip. Sold in lots of one-half gross to a box and priced at $3.23 per gross.

• Probably nickel cap and barrel
• American Lead Pencil Company logo stamped on the barrel
• Decorative stop band on writing section
• Has a tab holder for pen nibs in the writing section
• Larger decorative band on barrel
• About 4 3/4 inches long capped

Performance

American Lead Pencil Company pen holder c. 1914

This went from a curiosity to a fun find. I have a few steel pen nibs and was very happy to try them out in this pen holder It may only be 4 3/4 inches long capped, but reversing the nib section makes it a comfortable 6 1/16 inches long from point tip to barrel end. It's about the same diameter as a number 2 pencil and very light weight. Take care where you put this down because there is no clip to stop it rolling off the table!

If you like FLEXIBLE nibs, then definitely try out some the the flexible offerings in early steel pens. Yes, you will have to repeatedly dip and write as you go, but what winds up on the paper is so expressive it will make you reconsider doing calligraphy. Overall, this is a really fun pen holder in a convenient small and light weight package.

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References

American Lead Pencil Company Catalogue 1914, 220 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York, page 42

Numerical Index and Price List to Ready Reference Catalogue and Supplement of the American Lead Pencil Co., 220 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York, page 9