01/22/2006 | 28m 29s | Video has closed captioning.
Huell meets a group of fountain pen collectors at their annual meeting.
Aired: 01/22/06
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Announcer: VISITING WITH HUELL HOWSER IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH A GENEROUS GRANT FROM... Huell Howser: WELL, HELLO, EVERYBODY.
I'M HUELL HOWSER, AND HERE WE ARE IN THE CITY OF COVINA IN THE SAN GABRIEL VALLEY.
WE'RE STANDING RIGHT OUTSIDE THE TRINITY LUTHERAN CHURCH.
AND EVEN THOUGH IT'S A BEAUTIFUL DAY AND WE'RE ALWAYS IN A SPIRITUAL MOOD, WE HAVE NOT COME HERE TO LITERALLY GO TO CHURCH.
WE HAVE COME HERE TO ATTEND A MEETING.
AND, FRED, YOU HAVE INVITED US TO ATTEND--IS THIS AN ANNUAL MEETING, A QUARTERLY MEETING?
>> BASICALLY, THIS IS A QUARTERLY MEETING.
Huell: A QUARTERLY MEETING OF... >> THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA PEN COLLECTORS CLUB.
Huell: THE PEN COLLECTORS CLUB, AND, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE SEVERAL LEVELS TO PEOPLE'S CONSCIOUSNESS ABOUT PENS.
NOW, WE ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT THE KIND OF PENS THAT YOU'VE GOT AROUND YOUR NECK, ARE WE?
>> NO, WE'RE NOT.
Huell: WE'RE TALKING ABOUT--UH!
DON'T GIVE IT AWAY.
THAT'S WHAT THE SHOW'S ALL ABOUT.
WE'RE GONNA GO INSIDE AND FIND OUT WHAT THIS PEN CLUB IS ALL ABOUT.
COME ON, LET'S GO INSIDE.
[CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY KCET PUBLIC TELEVISION AND FRIENDS OF NCI] OK. WE'RE INSIDE THE FELLOWSHIP HALL, AND NOW, FRED, WE CAN GIVE AWAY EXACTLY WHAT KIND OF A PEN CLUB THIS IS.
SHARE THE SECRET.
>> THESE ARE WRITING INSTRUMENTS.
FOUNTAIN PENS--IT COULD BE BALL PENS, IT COULD BE PENCILS.
IT COULD BE--YOU NAME IT.
ANYTHING THAT YOU CAN WRITE WITH, WE HAVE A COLLECTOR HERE.
Huell: BUT YOU START OFF--THE TOP OF THE LIST IS FOUNTAIN-- >> FOUNTAIN PENS.
ABSOLUTELY.
Huell: ALL RIGHT.
NOW, WE'RE STANDING RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOUR TABLE RIGHT HERE.
YOU INVITED US, SO WE STARTED OFF AT YOUR TABLE.
THE FOUNTAIN PEN SHOP.
YOU HAVE YOUR OWN SHOP THAT SELLS FOUNTAIN PENS.
>> YES, WE DO.
WE'RE LOCATED-- Huell: IS IT A BIG BUSINESS THESE DAYS?
>> WE'RE LOCATED IN MONROVIA, AND WE'RE KINDA ON A SEMI-RETIRED SITUATION, SO IT'S A LITTLE BIT LESS THAN WHAT IT WAS 10, 20 YEARS AGO.
Huell: WELL, BUT WE'RE GONNA TALK ABOUT THIS IN A MINUTE.
THE WHOLE APPEAL OF FOUNTAIN PENS IS NOT QUITE WHAT IT USED TO BE.
I CAN REMEMBER FOUNTAIN PENS WERE A BIG DEAL.
>> THEY WERE A BIG DEAL.
EVERY TIME YOU GRADUATED, YOU GOT A FOUNTAIN PEN.
Huell: I GOT A FOUNTAIN PEN FOR CHRISTMAS ONE YEAR, AND IT WAS A BIG GIFT.
>> IT WAS A GREAT GIFT.
Huell: WELL, WE STILL GOT A LOT OF GIFTS HERE TO GIVE.
RIGHT HERE.
GIVE US A GIFT OF A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY BECAUSE I HAVE A FEELING THAT WHEN YOU LOOK OUT HERE, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A LOT OF PEOPLE WITH A LOT OF OLD AND VERY IMPORTANT PENS.
COLLECTOR'S ITEMS.
>> VERY MUCH SO.
Huell: GET US EXCITED ABOUT WHAT YOU'VE GOT RIGHT HERE IN FRONT OF YOU, 'CAUSE YOU'VE GOT A WHOLE TABLE FULL OF PENS.
>> THIS IS ONE OF MY FAVORITES.
THIS IS A WATERMAN PEN MADE IN THE 1920s.
Huell: A WATERMAN PEN.
LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT THIS AND TELL ME WHY YOU'RE SO EXCITED ABOUT THIS PEN.
>> THIS PARTICULAR PEN IS CALLED THE TREE TRUNK.
AND IT REPRESENTS SIMILAR TO A TREE.
Huell: LOOKS LIKE THE BARK ON A TREE.
>> ONE RECENTLY SOLD ON eBAY FOR OVER $1,700.
Huell: OH, MY GOSH, NOW, IS THIS--SO THE WAY THE PEN LOOKS ON THE OUTSIDE IS PART OF WHAT MAKES IT-- >> ABSOLUTELY.
Huell: I THOUGHT IT WAS ALWAYS THE POINT OF THE PEN THAT MADE IT SO IMPORTANT.
>> WELL, THE POINT IS IMPORTANT IN THAT YOU DO HAVE TO WRITE WITH IT.
Huell: THAT'S WHAT YOU WRITE WITH.
>> UM, MOST COLLECTORS DON'T WRITE WITH THEIR PENS.
THEY JUST ADMIRE THEM.
Huell: DID I BREAK THIS?
WHAT DID I JUST DO?
HOW IS IT SUPPOSED TO... >> DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT.
Huell: OH, YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO SCREW IT ON THERE.
>> WE GOT IT.
OK. Huell: $1,600.
I DON'T WANT TO BREAK IT.
NOW, THERE'S A BEAUTIFUL PEN RIGHT THERE.
AND IT'S CALLED THE... >> THAT IS THE WATERMAN TREE TRUNK.
Huell: NOW, IS WATERMAN THE NAME OF A PEN COMPANY?
>> WATERMAN--THE ORIGINAL WATERMAN WAS ONE OF THE BIG 4 PEN COMPANIES IN THE 1920s AND '30s.
Huell: WHICH WERE WATERMAN... >> PARKER, SHEAFFER, AND WAHL-EVERSHARP.
Huell: NOW, THERE'S A PARKER CALENDAR RIGHT THERE.
LOOK AT THIS.
"BUY THE PARKER FOUNTAIN PEN BECAUSE IT'S A GOOD PEN.
PARKER PEN."
>> ABSOLUTELY.
THIS HAPPENS TO BE A REPRODUCTION OF ONE OF THEIR FAMOUS ADS OF THE EARLY 1900s, AND WE'RE OFFERING THIS TODAY AS A DOOR PRIZE FOR THE MEMBERS THAT ARE ASSEMBLED.
Huell: RIGHT, SO THESE ARE ALL MEMBERS OF THE PEN CLUB HERE.
>> JUST IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, RIGHT.
Huell: CAN WE WALK OVER, AND I GUESS WE CAN TALK WITH SOME OF THESE... HOWDY.
HOW ARE YOU DOING?
HUELL HOWSER.
WHAT ARE Y'ALL STANDING AROUND HERE TALKING ABOUT TODAY?
>> WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PENS.
[LAUGHS] Huell: AND WHAT KIND OF CONVERSATION DO YOU HAVE ABOUT FOUNTAIN PENS?
WHAT KIND OF-- OR DO YOU SHARE NEW FINDS, NEW PURCHASES?
>> I WAS LOOKING AT A NEW ONE.
Huell: LOOK AT THIS.
>> IT'S NOT REAL NEW, BUT... Huell: NOW, WHOSE PEN IS THIS?
>> IT'S MINE.
THAT'S CALLED A SHEAFFER INTRIGUE.
IT WAS DISCONTINUED A FEW YEARS AGO, BUT IT'S A VERY INNOVATIVE DESIGN.
IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE ANY TYPICAL PEN THAT YOU'D SEE.
Huell: IT LOOKS KIND OF SPACE AGE.
>> WELL, IT'S CALLED THE WHALESKIN COVERING ON THE PEN, ALTHOUGH IT'S NOT REAL WHALE SKIN, BUT IT GIVES YOU THAT IMPRESSION OF SOME SORT OF WILD ANIMAL.
Huell: SO, WAIT A MINUTE.
I'M GETTING THE IDEA VERY QUICKLY.
IT'S THE LOOK OF THE PEN, NOT JUST THE WAY THE PEN WRITES.
IS THAT RIGHT?
>> I THINK IT'S A COMBINATION, BUT TYPICALLY COLLECTORS, WHO LIKE THE MORE VINTAGE PENS, GO FOR THINGS THAT HAVE INTERESTING COMBINATIONS OF COLOR.
THE CELLULOIDS THAT WERE MADE IN THE TWENTIES THROUGH THE FORTIES ARE TYPICALLY VERY INTERESTING.
Huell: WOW.
LOOK AT ALL OF THESE PENS.
NOW, I JUST DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW YOU BEGIN TO--WHOSE PENS ARE THESE?
>> THEY'RE MINE.
Huell: WELL, GET ME EXCITED ABOUT THESE THINGS.
THESE ARE BEAUTIFUL PENS.
>> WELL, THANK YOU.
HERE'S A PARKER PEN FROM THE 1930s CALLED A CHALLENGER.
VERY PRETTY CELLULOID.
Huell: THE CHALLENGER.
>> CHALLENGER, YEAH.
Huell: SO WHAT IS CHALLENGER?
DID PEN COMPANIES COMPETE TO TRY TO SEE WHO COULD COME UP WITH THE MOST ATTRACTIVE--YOU CALL THEM BODIES, OR WHAT DO YOU CALL THEM?
>> UH, WELL, THE BOTTOM PART'S CALLED THE BARREL, AND THIS IS CALLED THE CAP.
Huell: THE BARREL AND THE CAP.
>> RIGHT.
Huell: SO THEY WOULD HAVE COMPETED TO--THE IDEA WAS TO CATCH YOUR EYE WHEN YOU WALKED IN A STORE, SOMETHING THAT WOULD JUMP OUT AT YOU AND WANT YOU TO HAVE THAT PEN.
>> RIGHT.
AND ALSO WITH THE NIBS.
WATERMAN HAD VERY FLEXIBLE NIBS.
SOME PEOPLE LIKE THAT.
Huell: FLEXIBLE WHAT?
>> FLEXIBLE NIBS.
THAT'S THE WRITING SURFACE HERE.
Huell: SEE, WE'RE LEARNING ABOUT THIS.
THAT'S A REAL SMALL NIB, BUT I THINK WE CAN SEE IT.
THIS LITTLE PIECE OF METAL UP HERE IS CALLED THE NIB.
>> RIGHT.
14-KARAT GOLD.
Huell: THAT'S GOLD?
>> RIGHT.
ON THE BETTER PENS THEY WERE GOLD.
Huell: WHAT WERE THEY ON THE CHEAPER PENS?
>> STEEL.
[BOTH LAUGH] Huell: WELL, LET'S LOOK AT SOME OF THESE OTHERS.
OHH, LOOK.
>> HUELL, I'D LIKE TO SHOW YOU THIS.
THIS IS A VERY SPECIAL-- IT'S CALLED THE PENCIL PEN.
AND IT WAS MADE BY A MAN NAMED JOSEPH SCHNELL, AND IF YOU LOOK CLOSELY AT THE CLIP, IT'S SHAPED LIKE A LITTLE AIRPLANE.
AND THIS WAS MADE-- Huell: OH, GOSH, I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHETHER OUR CAMERA CAN GET THERE, BUT THERE'S THE TOP OF THE AIRPLANE RIGHT THERE.
>> RIGHT.
AND THIS WAS ACTUALLY MADE IN COMMEMORATION OF LINDBERGH'S 1927 TRANSATLANTIC FLIGHT.
AND THERE'S A FEW OF THESE AROUND, BUT WHAT MAKES THIS ONE UNIQUE IS THAT THERE'S ACTUALLY A PENCIL ON ONE END AND A PEN ON THE OTHER.
Huell: OHH, LOOK.
NOW WE'RE LOOKING AT NED BASSEN'S PENS.
THIS IS A PEN AND PENCIL SET.
>> YES.
PEN AND PENCIL SET.
MECHANICAL PENCIL, AND IT'S A PARKER 51 SET.
Huell: A PARKER 51.
NOW, THAT MEANS IT WAS PUT OUT IN 1951.
>> NO.
THE MODEL WAS A 51.
Huell: AHH.
>> IT WAS MADE IN THE FORTIES AND FIFTIES.
Huell: LOOK AT THIS.
THIS IS A VERY ATTRACTIVE--NOW, WHAT MAKES THIS SO--I MEAN, IT'S A BEAUTIFUL COLOR.
>> WHAT MAKES IT SPECIAL IS THE COLOR.
IT'S CALLED MUSTARD, AND THEY WERE MADE IN VERY SMALL NUMBERS IN THAT PARTICULAR COLOR.
THE COLOR WASN'T STABLE IN PRODUCTION, SO THEY DISCONTINUED THE COLOR.
YOU NOTICE THAT THIS WAS A PEN AND A PENCIL, CAME OUT THEY WEREN'T QUITE THE SAME.
Huell: THEY'RE NOT QUITE THE SAME.
>> BUT IT IS A MATCHED SET, AND PARKER DISCONTINUED IT BECAUSE OF THAT.
THE COLOR WASN'T STABLE, SO THEY'RE HIGHLY COLLECTIBLE.
Huell: SO YOU COLLECT THE MISTAKES THE SAME WAY STAMP COLLECTORS COLLECT SOMETHING THAT DIDN'T COME OUT QUITE RIGHT.
THIS MAKES IT EVEN MORE VALUABLE.
>> YES.
THE RARER--THE LOWER THE PRODUCTION, THE RARER THE PEN.
Huell: OK, WE'RE HOOKING UP WITH--YOU'RE ONE OF THE MEMBERS.
YOU'VE PROBABLY BEEN A MEMBER AROUND HERE FOR A WHILE.
>> YES.
YES.
I THINK I STARTED WITH THE S.P.C.C.
Huell: S.P.C.C.
>> S.P.C.C.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA PEN COLLECTORS CLUB.
Huell: ALL RIGHT, I'M LEARNING AS WE GO ALONG.
YOU GOT--ARE THESE ALL YOUR PENS?
>> YES.
THESE ARE THE ONES THAT I HAVE FOR SALE.
Huell: SO YOU'VE GOT MORE AT HOME?
>> UH, I'M AFRAID SO.
[LAUGHS] Huell: YOU GET ADDICTED TO THESE THINGS, JUST LIKE ANYBODY DOES, DON'T YOU?
>> YEAH.
Huell: NOW GET ME--SHOW ME SOMETHING HERE, 'CAUSE YOU'VE GOT SO MANY WONDERFUL PENS HERE.
>> THE COLLECTION IS--THOSE ARE ALL SHEAFFER PENS.
Huell: OK. LOOK AT THIS.
THESE ARE ALL SHEAFFERS.
>> ALL SHEAFFERS.
THESE ARE ALL PARKERS.
Huell: THESE ARE ALL PARKERS.
>> THESE ARE MIXED EVERSHARP AND WATERMAN.
Huell: EVERSHARP, WATERMAN.
>> AND THOSE ARE OTHER BRANDS.
Huell: OH, THOSE ARE THE--THAT'S KINDA THE HEINZ 57 OVER THERE.
>> I PULLED OUT A COUPLE OF SPECIALS I WANT YOU TO SEE.
THIS IS MADE--A GERMAN SILVER FROM THE 1920s, 4 COLORS.
Huell: OH, LOOK AT THIS.
I HOPE THE CAMERA PICKS THESE UP BECAUSE THEY'RE SO BEAUTIFUL, AND THEY WERE MADE WELL BACK THEN, WEREN'T THEY?
>> OH, YEAH.
THOSE GERMANS...
IN OTHER WORDS, BY PICKING THE COLOR AND THEN SLIDING THE BARREL DOWN, THE POINTS OF THE EDGE CLOSE.
YOU PULL THEM BACK, AND YOU ROTATE IT TO THE NEXT POSITION, AND IT COMES OUT A DIFFERENT COLOR.
I'M OUT OF INK THERE Huell: WELL, ISN'T THAT SOMETHING.
THAT'S THE TROUBLE, WASN'T IT?
YOU KEPT RUNNING OUT OF INK.
>> WELL, SEE THIS WAS 4 COLORED PENCILS IN ONE.
IT WAS PROBABLY USED BY DRAFTSMEN, GERMAN DRAFTSMEN BACK THEN.
Huell: WOW.
>> THE OTHER UNIQUE THING I PULLED OUT: THAT'S A LADIES' PURSE PEN.
Huell: LOOK AT THIS.
A LADIES' PURSE PEN.
>> THEY CARRIED THOSE--I MEAN, A PENCIL.
THEY CARRIED THOSE IN THEIR PURSES.
Huell: OK, SO WAIT A MINUTE.
THIS WASN'T A FOUNTAIN PEN.
THIS WAS A LADIES' PURSE PENCIL.
>> IF YOU NOTICE, IT FOLDS UP.
Huell: OH, LOOK AT THAT.
IT GOES DOWN THAT SMALL.
NOW, I HATE TO BE CRASS AND ASK, BUT HOW MUCH WOULD SOMETHING LIKE THIS GO FOR?
>> I GOT A TAG ON IT FOR $30.
Huell: WELL, THAT'S A GOOD DEAL.
>> WELL, IT DEPENDS ON THE COLLECTOR.
SOME THINKS IT'S TOO MUCH, SOME THINKS IT'S TOO LITTLE.
[LAUGHS] Huell: NOW, HERE'S A GUY WHO OBVIOUSLY SPECIALIZES IN... >> INKWELLS.
Huell: INKWELLS.
IS THERE A BIG MARKET, A BIG INTEREST ABOUT-- IN INKWELLS?
>> WELL, I'LL TELL YOU, HUELL, NOT AS BIG AS FOUNTAIN PENS, BUT WE ARE A SPECIALIZED GROUP, AND WE'RE VERY GUNG-HO, AS YOU MIGHT SAY.
Huell: SO YOU'RE A SUBSET OF THE FOUNTAIN PEN CLUB.
>> I WOULD SAY SO.
Huell: THE INKWELL PEOPLE.
>> A SUBSET, BUT A VERY IMPORTANT PART OF IT.
Huell: WELL, TELL ME WHY THESE ARE IMPORTANT.
>> WELL, THEY'RE IMPORTANT BECAUSE BASICALLY WITH THE INKWELL, YOU GO AHEAD AND THE BOTTLES, OF COURSE, ARE INSIDE.
Huell: THIS IS SO INTERESTING TO SEE HOW THE BOTTLES WOULD JUST FIT RIGHT IN.
>> EXACTLY.
RIGHT IN THERE.
Huell: OK, WE JUST SAW ONE WHERE THEY KEEP REFILLING BY BEING... >> EXACTLY.
IT'S THE SAME PRINCIPLE.
THE THING IS THE INK FLOWS IN, ALL YOU GOTTA DO IS DIP THE PEN IN, AND YOU'RE READY TO WRITE, AND IT'LL WRITE FOR HUNDREDS OF WORDS.
Huell: AND ISN'T THIS INTERESTING.
AT ONE POINT IN OUR HISTORY IN THIS COUNTRY--IN THE WORLD--EVERY SINGLE DESK IN EVERY SINGLE OFFICE WOULD HAVE AN INKWELL ON IT.
>> EXACTLY.
IT WAS THE WAY TO WRITE.
Huell: I MEAN, THIS WAS PART OF THE LANDSCAPE.
THAT'S WHAT PEOPLE WERE USED TO SEEING.
>> WELL, THE THING IS THE INKWELLS REALLY WERE IN USE UP UNTIL THE EARLY SIXTIES.
EVEN PRESIDENT KENNEDY, WHEN HE SIGNED BILLS, HE WOULD USE AN INKWELL.
IN FACT, ONE JUST LIKE THIS.
Huell: SO SOMETHING LIKE THIS WOULD'VE BEEN ON KENNEDY'S DESK.
>> EXACTLY.
THIS IS AN ESTERBROOK.
ESTERBROOK WAS VERY POPULAR IN THE U.S. Huell: PUT THAT PEN BACK IN THERE, AND LET'S SEE HOW THAT-- OH, WOW.
IT'S GOT AN ELEGANT LOOK TO IT.
>> IT DOES.
DEFINITELY.
DEFINITELY IT DOES.
Huell: SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AS AN INKWELL HAS BECOME A COLLECTOR'S ITEM.
>> NO DOUBT ABOUT IT.
Huell: IT'S VERY INTERESTING.
>> YES, IT IS.
Huell: NOW, THIS LOOKS LIKE IT GOES BACK TO THE--BOY, THIS IS A BEAUT RIGHT HERE.
LOOK AT THIS.
>> FROM THE 1940s.
AND IT WAS POPULAR AT ONE TIME TO PUT CERTAIN MOTIFS ON TOP OF INKWELLS.
THAT WAS PRODUCED BY FOUNT O INK.
FOUNT O INK WAS LOCATED RIGHT HERE IN LOS ANGELES.
IN FACT, IT WAS IN GLASSELL PARK, CYPRESS PARK AREA, WHERE I LIVE.
AND THEY EXISTED FOR QUITE A FEW YEARS, VERY POPULAR COMPANY.
Huell: HERE'S ONE WITH A SAILING SHIP.
HERE'S ONE... >> WITH A HORSE.
VERY POPULAR MOTIF.
Huell: SO THEY CAME OUT WITH A WHOLE SERIES OF THESE, DIFFERENT ANIMALS AND OTHER THINGS.
>> YES.
EXACTLY.
VERY POPULAR AT ONE TIME.
Huell: FRED'S TAKING US AROUND AND INTRODUCING US TO ALL THE RIGHT PEOPLE, AREN'T YOU?
>> ABSOLUTELY, YEAH.
I'D LIKE YOU TO MEET CHRIS ODGERS.
HE'S PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST KNOWLEDGEABLE PEN PEOPLE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA--AFTER ME.
Huell: NICE TO MEET YOU.
AND THIS IS YOUR FAMILY HERE, SO YOU GOT THE WHOLE FAMILY IN THIS THING.
>> A FAMILY THING, RIGHT.
Huell: TELL US ABOUT THIS.
WELL, HOW DO PEOPLE GET STARTED?
HOW DO YOU GET BIT BY THE FOUNTAIN PEN BUG?
>> WELL, I'VE ALWAYS LIKE WRITING INSTRUMENTS.
I STUDIED ARCHITECTURE IN SCHOOL, SO I USED TO HANDLE PENS AND PENCILS A LOT, SO IT'S NICE TO HAVE A NICE PEN OR PENCIL.
Huell: AND HOW MANY OF THESE ARE STILL OUT THERE?
>> THERE'S STILL A SURPRISING NUMBER STUCK IN DRAWERS.
THEY'RE STILL TURNING UP, WHICH MAKES IT FUN.
Huell: IS THAT HOW PEOPLE FIND OUT ABOUT THEM?
IS THAT HOW THE COLLECTORS GET HOLD OF THEM?
>> I TELL FRIENDS.
THEY FIND THEM IN DRAWERS, BUY THEM ON eBAY, GO TO FLEA MARKETS.
I'VE BEEN TO--GET UP AT 5:00 A.M. AND POUND THE FLEA MARKETS.
THAT'S HOW YOU FIND IT.
Huell: ALL RIGHT.
GIVE US YOUR--OHH, LOOK AT THIS.
HERE'S A WHOLE COLLECTION OF THESE BEAUTIFUL--THE OUTER CASINGS OF SOME OF THEM ARE SO BEAUTIFUL.
>> THOSE ARE ALL FOUNTAIN PENS, AND THOSE ARE FROM MY COLLECTION.
I BOTH SELL PENS AND COLLECT PENS.
Huell: LOOK AT THIS.
SO THESE ARE NOT FOR SALE?
>> NO, THOSE AREN'T FOR SALE.
Huell: THEY'RE JUST BEAUTIFUL.
THIS IS KIND OF THE BEST OF EVERYTHING WE'VE SEEN SO FAR.
THESE ARE THE ONES WITH THE KIND OF THE WOODY--WOODY KIND OF-- >> WELL, THESE ARE CALLED OVERLAYS.
THEY'RE PRECIOUS METAL.
THEY'RE EITHER IN STERLING SILVER OR GOLD OR GOLD-FILL.
Huell: WAIT A MINUTE.
THIS IS GOLD?
>> YES.
HAND-ENGRAVED GOLD.
Huell: AND THIS IS SILVER.
LOOK AT THIS.
>> AND THEY'RE ALSO COVERED WITH PEARL.
THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN THE SORT OF GILDED AGE, HIGH END WRITING INSTRUMENT ABOUT 1905.
Huell: NOW, WAIT A MINUTE.
CAN I PICK THIS UP?
>> SURE.
IT'S MADE OF AGATE.
AND THAT'S ABOUT 1830.
THAT'S NOT A FOUNTAIN PEN.
THAT WAS PRETTY MUCH PRE-FOUNTAIN PEN.
FOUNTAIN PENS DIDN'T REALLY COME IN TILL THE 1880s WHEN LEWIS WATERMAN INVENTED THE FIRST PRACTICAL FOUNTAIN PEN.
Huell: SO WHAT IS THIS?
>> THIS IS A DIP PEN.
AND THE WAY THIS WORKED, THERE WAS A LITTLE END ON IT, AND YOU WOULD TAKE A CUT GOOSE QUILL, WHICH I HAPPEN TO HAVE.
Huell: OHH, THE GOOSE QUILL.
>> RIGHT.
YOU'D PUT THAT IN THERE LIKE THIS, AND THEN YOU WOULD CLOSE THE PEN DOWN ON IT, AND YOU WOULD DIP IT INTO THE INK.
Huell: THE GOOSE QUILL.
THE QUILL PEN.
THAT'S WHY THEY WERE USED--BECAUSE THEY WERE HOLLOW AND THEY WOULD HOLD INK.
>> RIGHT.
RIGHT.
Huell: WELL, WHAT KEPT LOTS OF INK FROM KIND OF MESSING THINGS UP?
>> WELL, IT OFTEN DID MESS THINGS UP, WHICH IS WHY PEOPLE WANTED A FOUNTAIN PEN THAT FLOWED SMOOTHLY, SO THE LEGEND IS THAT'S WHAT--NECESSITY WAS THE MOTHER OF INVENTION.
LEWIS WATERMAN WAS AN INSURANCE SALESMAN, SUPPOSEDLY HAD A DIP PEN BLOT ON A CONTRACT AND THE GUY WOULDN'T SIGN IT, SO HE DECIDED TO INVENT A FOUNTAIN PEN.
Huell: SO WATERMAN INVENTED THE FOUNTAIN PEN.
>> THE FIRST PRACTICAL FOUNTAIN PEN, YEAH.
Huell: THAT WAS DONE IN... >> 1883.
Huell: SEE, I'VE NEVER HEARD ANY OF THIS BEFORE.
I'VE HEARD OF WATERMAN PENS.
I HAD NO IDEA HE WAS THE GUY WHO STARTED IT ALL.
>> PRETTY MUCH.
I MEAN, HE MADE MILLIONS OFF OF IT.
BUT BEFORE THAT, FOR EXAMPLE WE HAVE A PEN HERE.
THIS WAS DESCRIBED BY THE INSTRUMENT MAKER TO LOUIS XIV.
THIS IS CALLED A VILLON PEN.
IT DATES FROM ABOUT 1700.
IT ALSO TOOK A GOOSE QUILL ON THE BACK, AND YOU'D FILL IT IN THE BACK END WITH INK, AND THIS WAS A FOUNTAIN PEN, AND YOU COULD ALSO USE THE BACK END AS A SEAL.
Huell: AND THIS GOES BACK TO... >> ABOUT 1700.
1710.
SOMEWHERE IN THERE.
Huell: SEE, THIS IS ALL SO FASCINATING.
IT'S EASY TO UNDERSTAND HOW YOU DO GET HOOKED.
>> YEAH.
WELL, IT'S HISTORY.
THEY'RE BEAUTIFUL OBJECTS.
THERE'S A WHOLE LOT OF FACETS TO PEN COLLECTING THAT AREN'T OBVIOUS TO BEGIN WITH.
Huell: YEAH, BECAUSE WE'RE NOT JUST TALKING ABOUT THE PEN.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HISTORY.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT LIFE.
>> HERE'S SOMETHING THAT'S KIND OF A HOLLYWOOD ITEM.
THIS IS ANOTHER PARKER 51 SET, AND IT'S A VERY RARE SET IN AND OF ITSELF, BUT THE THING THAT MAKES THIS INTERESTING IS, IF YOU FLIP IT OVER, YOU'LL FIND THAT IT WAS GIVEN BY GREER GARSON TO A HOLLYWOOD AGENT ABOUT 1941, SHE HAD THIS SET ENGRAVED WITH HER HANDWRITING AND THEN GIVEN TO HIM AS A GIFT.
Huell: AND THOSE ARE THE DAYS.
YOUNG PEOPLE WON'T REALLY REMEMBER THIS, BUT THERE WAS A TIME IN OUR HISTORY NOT THAT LONG AGO WHEN PEOPLE--THAT WAS A WONDERFUL GIFT TO GIVE SOMEONE, WAS A FOUNTAIN PEN.
>> FOUNTAIN PENS WERE TREMENDOUS GIFTS.
THEY WERE HIGHLY PROMOTED BY THE PEN COMPANIES AS THE GREAT ALL-AROUND GIFT.
Huell: WELL, I'VE ALREADY MENTIONED IT, BUT I REMEMBER ONE CHRISTMAS--I WAS--IT WAS MY MAIN CHRISTMAS GIFT, AND IT WAS A BIG DEAL.
I WAS GOING ALL AROUND SHOWING EVERYBODY MY NEW FOUNTAIN PEN.
>> YUP.
THEY WERE AN EXPENSIVE ITEM, AND THEY WERE AN IMPORTANT ITEM, AND THEY MADE GREAT GIFTS.
Huell: DOES THAT SOUND OLD-TIMEY TO YOU, TO HEAR PEOPLE LIKE US TALK ABOUT FOUNTAIN PENS?
>> NO.
Huell: WELL, YOU HEAR IT ALL THE TIME, DON'T YOU?
>> YEAH.
HE DOES HEAR IT ALL THE TIME.
Huell: IT JUST KEEPS GETTING MORE INTERESTING AND KINDA BIZARRE IN A WAY BECAUSE I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT HERE, GARY, BUT OBVIOUSLY IT'S COLLECTIBLE.
>> THESE ARE PEN WIPERS.
Huell: WAIT A MINUTE.
PEN WIPERS.
>> YES.
IT EVEN SAYS SO ON THE FRONT OF ONE OF THESE.
RIGHT THERE.
PEN WIPER.
Huell: WELL, WHAT DO YOU DO WITH--OH, OK, YOU'VE GOT ONE OVER HERE.
>> WELL, WHEN YOU HAVE TOO MUCH INK ON YOUR PEN, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE A PLACE TO WIPE IT BESIDES YOUR FINGERS.
AND SO, YOU COULD--EVENTUALLY THESE--THESE HAVE NOT BEEN USED.
EVENTUALLY, WHEN THEY GET ALL USED UP, THEY END UP BEING THROWN AWAY.
Huell: YOU THROW THEM AWAY AND GET A NEW PEN WIPER.
>> AND GET A NEW PEN WIPER.
Huell: AND WOULD PEN STORES GIVE THESE AWAY WHEN YOU WOULD PURCHASE A PEN?
WOULD YOU GET A COUPLE OF PEN WIPERS WITH THEM?
>> SOMETIMES, YEAH.
Huell: 'CAUSE I NEVER GOT A PEN WIPER.
I WAS SHOPPING IN THE WRONG PLACE.
>> SOME OF THESE ARE SOUVENIRS FROM PLACES, UH, TOURIST PLACES.
YOU CAN SEE THEM IMPRINTED ON-- Huell: SO YOU'VE GOT A WHOLE--LOOK AT THIS--YOU'VE GOT A WHOLE COLLECTION.
>> YEAH, IF YOU'VE GOT ONE WITH YOUR PEN, IT WAS MORE LIKELY THIS KIND, THE REALLY SMALL ONE-PIECE, ONE-USE ONE.
Huell: BUT THEY WERE VERY PRACTICAL, BECAUSE IT WAS A WAY TO GET THAT EXCESS INK OFF YOUR PEN.
>> YES.
YOU HAD TO HAVE ONE IF YOU WERE GOING TO DO IT THAT WAY.
Huell: NOW, IS THERE MUCH OF A MARKET FOR PEN WIPERS?
>> NOT THAT I KNOW OF.
[BOTH LAUGH] Huell: PENS FROM AROUND THE WORLD.
>> YEAH, THIS IS A MIKAYA.
THESE ARE MADE IN A SMALL WORKSHOP IN TOKYO BY A SMALL GROUP OF CRAFTSMEN WHO ARE RETIRED FROM PLATINUM, ONE OF THE BIG JAPANESE PEN COMPANIES.
Huell: SO WHEN WAS THIS MADE?
>> THIS WAS MADE IN 2003.
Huell: SO IT'S A NEW PEN.
>> YEAH.
THIS IS A NEW PEN.
I HAPPENED TO BE IN TOKYO ON A BUSINESS TRIP, AND I HAD HEARD ABOUT THE COMPANY, AND I CARVED OUT A HOLE IN MY SCHEDULE, WENT AND VISITED THEM.
Huell: CAN WE TAKE THAT OUT AND SEE WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE?
>> SURE.
Huell: OH, THIS IS-- OH, IT'S BEAUTIFUL.
>> YEAH.
THIS IS--UNDERNEATH ALL THESE MANY COATS OF PURPLE LACQUER IS EBONITE, THE SAME MATERIAL THAT BOWLING BALLS USED TO BE MADE OF, SO IT'S REALLY LIGHTWEIGHT.
AND DESPITE HOW BIG IT IS, IT'S INCREDIBLY COMFORTABLE.
YOU CAN WRITE WITH THIS ALL DAY.
Huell: SEE, THE JAPANESE KNOW WHAT THEY'RE DOING, DON'T THEY?
>> YEAH, YEAH.
THE JAPANESE-- PILOT, ONE OF THE OTHER BIG JAPANESE PEN COMPANIES, HAS COME UP WITH THE ULTIMATE MODERN PEN.
Huell: UH-OH.
HERE IT IS.
>> THIS IS CALLED THE VANISHING POINT.
THEY'VE MADE THESE FOR ABOUT 40 YEARS.
THIS IS, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, A RETRACTABLE FOUNTAIN PEN.
Huell: A RETRACTABLE FOUNTAIN PEN.
I'VE NEVER SEEN ONE OF THOSE.
>> THESE ARE FANTASTIC FOR MEETINGS.
I'M A LAWYER.
WHEN I USED TO TRY CASES, THESE ARE SO CONVENIENT WHEN YOU'RE SITTING IN A COURTROOM TAKING NOTES.
BOOM--TAKE A QUICK NOTE.
Huell: OH, MY GOSH.
DO THEY HAVE A PATENT ON THIS?
>> I BELIEVE THEY DO.
Huell: WHAT CATCHES YOUR EYE?
WHAT CATCHES YOUR EYE?
THERE'S SO MUCH HERE.
>> YEAH, BUT FOR A LADY, I'M LOOKING FOR SOMETHING THAT'S SLENDER AND THAT FITS IN MY HAND, BECAUSE I HAVE A TINY HAND.
Huell: NOW, DO YOU STILL USE A FOUNTAIN PEN?
>> YES, I DO.
I'VE GONE BACK TO A FOUNTAIN PEN.
Huell: SEE, I THINK THAT'S PROBABLY HAPPENING.
>> YES.
I THINK A LOT OF FOLKS ARE GOING BACK TO FOUNTAIN PENS.
Huell: FRED.
FRED, SHE'S GOING BACK TO FOUNTAIN PENS.
>> HOW ARE YOU, FRED?
Huell: IS THAT HAPPENING?
ARE PEOPLE GOING BACK?
>> BELIEVE IT OR NOT, YES, A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE GOING BACK TO WRITING WITH FOUNTAIN PENS.
Huell: AND WHY ARE YOU GOING BACK?
>> WELL, BECAUSE IT'S NICE TO BE ABLE TO SIT AND WRITE A LETTER.
LIKE, I HAVE AUNTS AND UNCLES WHO LIVE IN DIFFERENT STATES, AND INSTEAD OF GETTING ON THE COMPUTER ALL THE TIME AND DOING EMAILS, 'CAUSE YOU DO THAT ALL DAY LONG AT WORK, IT'S NICE TO SIT DOWN AND RELAX, YOU KNOW, GET YOUR THOUGHTS AND WRITE-- WRITE AN ACTUAL LETTER.
YOU KNOW, WE DON'T DO THAT ANYMORE.
SO I ENJOY WRITING LETTERS AGAIN.
Huell: NOW WE'RE GETTING DOWN TO PRACTICALITIES BECAUSE MICHAEL IS ACTUALLY GOING TO WRITE WITH ONE OF THESE PENS.
THAT'S WHAT THEY WERE FOR.
THEY WEREN'T HERE JUST TO LOOK AT.
>> EXACTLY.
AND THERE WERE ALL KINDS OF BEAUTIFUL NIBS.
THIS IS ONE.
THIS IS CALLED A FINE FLEX, WHICH MEANS IT PUTS OUT A VERY FINE LINE, BUT YOU CAN MAKE EXPRESSION WITH IT.
YOU CAN WIDEN IT OR THIN IT OUT.
Huell: SO THE NIBS WERE VERY IMPORTANT.
I'M LEARNING NOW, THE NIBS WERE THE POINTS.
LET'S TALK FOR JUST A MINUTE ABOUT THE PENMANSHIP BECAUSE YOU GOT THIS WONDERFUL BOOK.
I'VE NEVER HEARD OF SPENCERIAN PENMANSHIP BEFORE.
>> THERE WAS A WHOLE FAMILY, THE SPENCERS, AND THEY WERE BASED IN WASHINGTON D.C., MR. P.R.
SPENCER.
AND THIS WAS REALLY THE CLASSIC HANDWRITING THAT YOU WERE TO LEARN IN THE LATE 1800s.
Huell: NOW, WOULD THIS HAVE BEEN LEARNED IN SCHOOL?
>> GRAMMAR SCHOOL, ABSOLUTELY.
AGE 4.
Huell: PENMANSHIP.
>> AGE 7, 8, 9.
ABSOLUTELY.
Huell: PENMANSHIP.
>> PENMANSHIP WAS A CRITICAL INDICATOR OF YOUR LIKELIHOOD FOR SUCCESS IN LIFE.
IT WAS REALLY CRITICAL.
AND SO YOU LEARNED THIS, AND LEARNED WELL.
AND IF YOU HAD POOR PENMANSHIP, IT WAS A REFLECTION ON YOU AND... Huell: AND YOUR BACKGROUND.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
AND YOUR PROWESS AT YOUR BUSINESS THAT YOU'RE INTENDING TO HAVE.
Huell: ALL RIGHT.
LET'S WRITE SOMETHING HERE.
THIS IS--ARE YOU USING THE SPENCERIAN METHOD?
WHAT ARE YOU-- >> YEAH.
THIS IS THE BEST PEN TO USE: FINE-FLEXIBLE.
ALSO, IN THE OLD DAYS, YOU DID NOT PUT YOUR FIST DOWN AND WRITE LIKE THAT.
THAT WAS CONSIDERED A NO-NO.
YOU'D GET YOUR HAND SLAPPED WITH A RULER FOR THAT ONE.
Huell: WHAT WOULD YOU DO?
>> FULL ARM MOVEMENT.
PEN OVER THERE, WITH HIS NIB, AND JOHN IS STANDING HERE.
I'M GETTING YOUR BUSINESS CARD BECAUSE THIS IS NICHE BUSINESS AT ITS BEST, JOHN.
WHAT IS IT YOU DO?
WHAT IS IT YOU SPECIALIZE IN?
>> WELL, I CUSTOMIZE FOUNTAIN PEN POINTS.
I WORK ON THE IRRIDIUM.
I STARTED OUT IN FINE ART AS A SCULPTOR, AND I GOT DRAGOONED INTO FOUNTAIN PENS BECAUSE OF MY LOVE FOR THEM, MUCH TO MY WIFE'S DISMAY.
Huell: I'VE NEVER HEARD ANYONE SAY THEY WERE DRAGOONED INTO SOMETHING.
>> WELL, I JUST GOT SUCKED IN.
I MEAN, IT WAS JUST--I WAS PULLED RIGHT INTO THIS WHOLE THING.
Huell: AND SO YOU REPAIR THE NIBS, THE POINTS, ON FOUNTAIN PENS.
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
Huell: AND HOW LUCRATIVE A BUSINESS IS THAT?
>> I GOT 3 PEOPLE--THERE ARE 3 OF US WORKING IN OUR SHOP, AND WE'RE BACKED UP 6 MONTHS.
Huell: YOU'RE KIDDING.
>> NO, I'M NOT.
Huell: JOHN'S GOT A SPECIAL PEN CALLED A... >> CHILTON PEN.
Huell: A CHILTON.
SHOW US WHAT'S-- >> WELL, IT'S FROM THE EARLY 1920s.
IT'S MADE OUT OF HARD RUBBER, LIKE A COMB IS TODAY.
AND IT HOLDS A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF INK.
INSIDE HERE IS A SAC, A RUBBER SAC, AND YOU PUT YOUR FINGER OVER THE BACK OF THE PEN HERE, PUT IT IN INK, COMPRESS IT, AND THE ENTIRE BARREL FILLS WITH INK.
SO... Huell: AND THERE'S A RUBBER SAC IN THERE.
>> RIGHT, RIGHT.
Huell: AND THIS IS FROM... >> EARLY 1920s, MADE, I THINK, IN BOSTON.
I BELIEVE, IN BOSTON.
Huell: AND WHEN YOU COME ACROSS SOMETHING LIKE THIS, YOU MUST JUST-- >> IT'S LIKE A KID IN A CANDY STORE.
Huell: WELL, THAT'S IT.
THAT'S BEEN OUR DAY HERE AT THE... >> SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA PEN COLLECTORS CLUB.
Huell: PEN COLLECTORS CLUB.
AND WHAT A WONDERFUL CLUB THIS IS.
YOU'VE GOTTEN ME HOOKED ON IT.
>> WELL, WE, UH, HAVE A GREAT TIME.
WE'LL HAVE TO MAKE YOU AN HONORARY MEMBER OF THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA PEN COLLECTORS CLUB.
Huell: I'M BEING PINNED.
>> YOU'RE BEING PINNED WITH A PEN.
Huell: ABSOLUTELY.
AND I'M GONNA BE LOOKING FOR ONE OF THOSE OLD PARKER PENS THAT I SAW OVER THERE THAT I HAD AS A YOUNG BOY.
>> WE'RE GONNA FIND ONE FOR YOU.
Huell: ISN'T IT INTERESTING THAT SOMETHING--WELL, THEY'D BEEN WRITING WITH QUILL PENS FOR HUNDREDS OF YEARS--BUT WATERMAN, ACCORDING TO CHRIS, 1883.
>> THAT'S RIGHT, 1883.
Huell: AND IT'S STILL GOING, EVEN IN THIS COMPUTER AGE, PEOPLE ARE INTERESTED, AND SOME PEOPLE ARE GOING BACK TO FOUNTAIN PENS.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
THEY'RE LEARNING ABOUT FOUNTAIN PENS AND HOW MUCH FUN IT IS TO WRITE WITH A FOUNTAIN PEN.
Huell: WELL, THEY'RE PART OF OUR HISTORY, AND HOPEFULLY THEY'RE ALWAYS GONNA BE A PART OF OUR FUTURE AS WELL.
>> WELL, WE CERTAINLY HOPE SO, TOO.
Huell: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH.
WE'VE HAD A WONDERFUL DAY LEARNING ABOUT THOSE WONDERFUL, HISTORIC, AND VERY USEFUL PENS.
GOOD-BYE, EVERYBODY.
>> BYE.
THANK YOU.
[CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY KCET PUBLIC TELEVISION AND FRIENDS OF NCI] [CAPTIONED BY THE NATIONAL CAPTIONING INSTITUTE --www.ncicap.org--] Huell: "CATS SCRATCH, BUT LUCKY CURVE PARKER PENS DO NOT."
Announcer: VISITING WITH HUELL HOWSER IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH A GENEROUS GRANT FROM...
