1800's writing utensils

[Rube Burrows]

Hello. I enjoy reading old journals of western and Civil War times. Some of the things they say and the way its said really makes you feel a connection with that person and what he/she was going through at the time.

I have been thinking about doing some writing of my own and thought it would be neat to put pen to paper in such a way like they done then.

Does anyone know of a place that sells writing utensils that would have been common for that period?
Im talking about blank page leather journals and the style of pens that would have been used then.

I am thinking they used feather pens and ink bottles as seen on movies.
As far as the journals go.....any place that sells them made like they would have been made then? Same type of paper and all?


Thanks,
Rube

[Delmonico]

The only used a quill when they cound not get pens with steel nips, any drafting supplier will have what you need, in fact most any art supply place shoud.  Not sure the exact dates but fountian pens were common late in te period.

[Rube Burrows]

The only used a quill when they cound not get pens with steel nips, any drafting supplier will have what you need, in fact most any art supply place shoud.  Not sure the exact dates but fountian pens were common late in te period.

Thanks, Maybe I will try Hobby Lobby or something. That is about the only place that would have art supplies around here.

[River City John]

They had dip pens like you see available in art stores today. (The quill pen was old-fashioned by then.)
A long shank, which would usually be tapered to rest in the hand better, and the end with a circular collar or cut, anything that holds the nib. Could be wood, mother-of-pearl, gutta percha, metal, bone, etc. Ink bottles were much as you see today, in glass or porcelain, except a cork stopper instead of a squeezable dropper-top. Inks often available as powders that were mixed with vinegar and allowed to 'age' a bit before use.

Pencils were common, too. Both wood-cased graphite or a mechanical type that took a lead and held it with a sliding ring that tightened the tips to hold the lead tight.

One thing about paper, much of the paper had a certain "rag" content, bleached fibers from pulped cloth added that made for stronger paper. If you go to a stationary store it is sometimes referred to as 'linen' content. Unfortunately today, this type of paper is now the premium paper available and more expensive than common paper that yellows with age and turns brittle.

RCJ

[Rube Burrows]

Thanks for the info.

One site that I just came across for those who may be interested is.

http://www.ushist.com/19th-century_props_f.shtml

They seem to have a bit of everything. They do offer journals as well as ink and pens.

I will try Hobby Lobby first to see if I can get it local and if not I may order something from that site unless someone else has a better one.

Rube

[Deadeye Dick]

Rube,
What a cool site. Thanks for posting.

Deadeye Dick

[Rube Burrows]

Rube,
What a cool site. Thanks for posting.

Deadeye Dick

No problem.

I also found this one and think its pretty neat.

http://www.sullivanpress.com/

It has several items of interest to folks like us. Civil War paper and forms such as discharge papers and other War forms that would have had to been filled out.

[Forty Rod]

Look at Leffinger's site.  We used steel and brass nibs in wooden holders with Scrip blue-black ink (remember the neat bottles with a filling well in the inside edge?) well into the '50s in Logan, Utah public schools.  They were only used in penmanship classes using the Palmer script, other wise we used Eberhard Faber #2 pencils.

Handles, almost always black, were two for three cents and nibs were available in extra fine, fine , medium, and broad tips at four for a quarter in a nifty round tin box at Timm's store across the street from the school.