Drawing Pen

Description:

This 5-1/16" steel, German silver, and ivory drawing pen has no identifying marks. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, many makers of mathematical instruments in the United States and Europe sold drawing pens with ivory handles to draftsmen and other people who made engineering and architectural drawings. For instance, Keuffel & Esser and Dietzgen advertised similar pens for $1.80. The screw allowed users to adjust the width of the point and thus the width of a line made by dipping the pen in ink and then writing on paper.

References: Catalog of Eugene Dietzgen Co., 7th ed. (Chicago, 1904), 56; Catalogue of Keuffel & Esser Co., 33rd ed. (New York, 1909), 72.

Date Made: ca 1900

Location: Currently not on view

Subject: MathematicsDrawing InstrumentsDrafting, Engineering

Subject:

See more items in: Medicine and Science: Mathematics, Pens and Pencils, Science & Mathematics

Exhibition:

Exhibition Location:

Credit Line: Gift of Ruth A. Ming

Data Source: National Museum of American History

Id Number: 1978.2110.08Accession Number: 1978.2110Catalog Number: 336734

Object Name: pen

Physical Description: steel (overall material)ivory (overall material)german silver (overall material)Measurements: overall: 1 cm x 12.8 cm x 1 cm; 13/32 in x 5 1/32 in x 13/32 in

Guid: http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746a7-58c1-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa

Record Id: nmah_904291

Our collection database is a work in progress. We may update this record based on further research and review. Learn more about our approach to sharing our collection online.

If you would like to know how you can use content on this page, see the Smithsonian's Terms of Use. If you need to request an image for publication or other use, please visit Rights and Reproductions.