By Ron Dutcher
[ Main Project Page | Reference Info Index ]
In my 12 years of pen collecting, I have come across just one Stockmann pen; an early stylographic pen. I imagine this company was quickly absorbed by one of the major pen makers or sued out of business for patent infringements.
The 1884 patent in question was issued to Henry Stockmann of Brooklyn. In 1886 several other patents for pens are issued to Christopher Stockmann also of Brooklyn. Interestingly, they share the same witnesses on the patents, so it would seem that Christopher was either a son or brother of Henry. In the last Christopher Stockmann patent, A. Faber is also a witness. If we care to speculate, Stockmann may have been asorbed by the Faber pen company at some time after 1885.
In 1888, Christopher Stockmann is listed in the Brooklyn City Directory as a Pen Mannufacturer, living at 227 16th, but there is no listing for Henry Stockmann. Apparently something happened to him.
The July 1885 issue of the Manufacturer and Industrial Gazette had a short article about the Governor Fountain pen and Stylographic pen: it is copied for you below:
The Governor Fountain Pen
This fountain pen is the latest production in this line, and as the inventor has taken care to guard against obstacles that have rendered other pens of this character inoperative and has added improvements of real value, we have considered it worthy of illustrations in these columns. It is composed of four pieces, the handle, the cap, the filling joint, and the feeder, the latter being also a governor which prevents the ink from flowing too fast and, when closed tight, prevents ink from running out, no matter in what position the pen is placed. Overflow from warmth of fingers, air in the barrel, etc., is also prevented by the governor. In the cone of the filling joint is a hole through which ink passes to the pen.
Whenever there is undue pressure in the reservoir, and an overflow from any of the causes mentioned, all it is necessary to do is to restrain it by partly closing the shut-off, which thereby reduces the size of the feed opening, and consequently the amount of ink which can pass through it. This is accomplished to a greater or less degree by the extent to which the flat surfaces on the filling joint and shut-off are turned away from each other. For instance, if the pressure requires half feed only, the flat surfaces should be turned half way round and so forth, which is done in an instant. When the pen is not in use, the flat surfaces should be entirely away from each other, which tightly closes the feed opening and prevents the ink from flowing at all. After closing the governor or shut off, the ink that is already in the pen point should be shaken out to prevent its getting into the cap. None can come from the barrel.
This article is part of the Manhattan Pen Makers Project, originated by Ron L. Dutcher. Except for typographical corrections, the text is as Ron published it. Ron wanted to include photos of advertisements or pens from each maker; he had some photos, but the gallery was far from complete. Photos here are a mixture of what Ron had and what I have been able to add from my own photo library. As with other reference articles on this site, you should not take this information as absolutely authoritative or complete.
|
|
