As I was going through a cabinet, I ran across an old tin with Dixie Mix on the lid. This was a tin that my father had and contained some items that were from my Grandfather. In it was a pocket watch, two small mother of pearl pocket knives, an assortment of vintage mechanical pencils with red lead, boxes of extra lead and a fountain pen.
After doing a little digging on the internet, I found that the pencils are called propelling pencils and they are from the 1930’s. And red lead was used in carpentry. This makes a lot of sense because I have a small chest of drawers and little cabinet that my Grandfather had made for me when I was a baby. Unfortunately he passed when I was three years old so I don’t remember him at all. I was thrilled to find the fountain pen and that it was in such great shape.
The fountain pen is a Conklin Endura fountain pen made in Toledo Ohio. On the clip, it says Pat May 28 1918 and on the filler mechanism Pat Nov 17 1925. The pen is black and pearl and also from the late 1920’s and early 1930’s. After doing some research, I found that only certain types of modern ink can be used with them and ordered some!
In my artwork, I have been using drawing and illustration pens but now, I think I will switch and use my Grandfather’s fountain pen!