#epenco

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Another week and another pen mystery solved! This is a specialty OEM version of a late 1940s Eagle fountain pen for the A. N. Palmer company for use with the Palmer Method. It was probably only made in black and likely had no matching pencil. The emphasis on "hand ground" stamped on the nib indicates that it was likely a special nib grind which would account for the higher price over an ordinary Eagle fountain pen with a stainless steel nib.

Read the story about these interesting pens here:

[penhero]

This is an Epenco fountain pen in olive green c. mid 1930s. This 4 7/8 inch long lever-fill pen has gold plated trim including the clip, plain cap band and lever, each showing quite a lot of wear. The clip is stamped with EPENCO at the top. The gold plated stainless steel nib is stamped EPENCO over N.Y. There are no other markings on the pen. This pen is available for purchase on eBay: https://www.ebay.com/itm/224854670688 #pencollecting #fountainpen #eagle #eaglepencilcompany #epenco #penhero https://www.instagram.com/p/Caf6TC_vzu5/?utm_medium=tumblr

[penhero]

This is an Anpaco branded fountain pen in black plastic c. 1948-1949, probably made by Eagle as an OEM product for a retailer rather than as a sub-brand of Eagle. This 5 1/8 inch long pen features Eagle’s 1935 patented "Visehold" clip design by Benjamin W. Hanle with ANPACO stamped at the top. All the trim is chrome or rhodium plated. The stainless steel nib may have been gold plated and is stamped ANPACO over HAND over GROUND over MADE IN over U.S.A. There are no other markings on the pen. The Eagle version was offered for $1.00 in 1949 advertisements and came in black, blue, grey, maroon and aquamarine. There are very few advertisements mentioning Anpaco pens and all in the mid to late 1940s. #pencollecting #fountainpen #eagle #epenco #anpaco #penhero https://www.instagram.com/p/CLnGx3fDVZ3/?igshid=1msw53t4km088

[penhero]

This is an Epenco fountain pen in a gray marble spiral wrapped celluloid c. late 1930s. Epenco was an Eagle Pencil Company sub-brand. This 5 1/16 inch long lever fill pen has a gold plated clip, lever and cap band, and shows some light plating wear. The cap band has a painted black stripe to make it appear as two thin gold plated bands. The clip top stamped PATD, probably indicating an Eagle clip patent. The only Epenco markings are stamped on the gold plated stainless steel nib, with Epenco in script over NEW YORK over MADE IN over U.S.A. over PAT'D. The nib probably was originally gold plated. The box and matching pencil are shown along with an interesting and uncommon matching 3 1/16 inch long capped eraser holder, allowing the writer to use an eraser without having to pull the cap off the pencil. #fountainpen #pencollecting #eagle #eaglepencilcompany #epenco #celluloid #penhero https://www.instagram.com/p/B4S366YDbZQ/?igshid=1934vhmv7yrzv

[penhero]

This is an Epenco Gleam fountain pen in brown c. 1937.  This 4 7/8 inch long lever-fill pen is made from rolled sheet pyralin that has embedded metal stars and crescent moons.  The seam in the cap is evidenced by the cut star.  It originally had gold plated trim including the clip, cap band and lever.  This example shows warping and almost total plating loss, unfortunately very common with these pens.  The clip is stamped EPENCO at the top.  The gold plated stainless steel nib is stamped EPENCO over N.Y. over MADE IN over U.S.A.  The Gleam line was announced as new in the 1937 Eagle catalog with pens selling for 25 cents and offered in brown with gold stars and crescents and red, blue and green with silver stars and crescents.  An advertisement in 1938 shows these were still offered that year.  Matching pencils were 25 cents.  

[penhero]

This is an Eagle flat top lever fill fountain pen in red plastic c. 1926-1930.  This 5 7/16 inch long pen clearly was meant to compete with the big red Parker Duofold, even adding a black cap top and barrel end.  The pen dates to the late 1920s because of the patent clip, a design by Benjamin Hanle patented on March 29, 1927, but submitted the previous year.  There are not patent markings on the pen or clip.  The gold nib is stamped WARRANTED over 14K over 8, indicating the nib size.  All the trim is gold filled.  The clip is stamped EAGLE PENCIL CO. U.S.A.  The cap band is stamped 14K GOLD FILLED.  The lever is stamped EAGLE PENCIL CO. and EPCO on the tab.  Late 1920s newspaper advertisements suggest these pens retailed for $1.50. 

[penhero]

This is a Stratford ten sided faceted fountain pen in a spiral black and silver striped celluloid c. 1930s.  Stratford was a brand of Salz Brothers Inc.  It's a 4 3/4 inches long lever fill fountain pen that uses striped sheet celluloid that is rolled in a spiral to form a tube for the cap and barrel.  The seam can be seen in the barrel.  Interestingly, the cap and barrel were wound in opposite directions.  The material is discoloring to a green tone.  The clip is stamped STRATFORD and PATD indicating a patented design.  The clip and trim is similar to designs found on Eagle pens.  The trim is lightly gold plated and shows typical plating loss.  The nib was gold plated stainless steel and instead of tipping, the tine ends are stamped into a tipped shape.  Price is unknown, but probably sold  below $1.

[penhero]

This is a Stratford fountain pen and pencil combo in a gray snakeskin celluloid c. 1937.  Stratford was a brand of Salz Brothers Inc.  It's a 5 13/16 inches long vacuum fill fountain pen that uses a sheet celluloid that is rolled in a spiral to form a tube for the cap and barrel.  The pen probably was a syringe filler, but this example has no plunger installed.   The ink view window continues the pattern and has an ink gauge that shows how drops remaining starting from 40.  The seam can be seen in the barrel.  The clip is stamped STRATFORD and PATD indicating a patented design.  The clip and trim is similar to designs found on Eagle pens.  The trim is lightly gold plated and shows typical plating loss.  The nib was gold plated stainless steel but most of the plating has worn off.  Similar combos were advertised for 49 cents in 1937.