The position in which a pen is usually held causes the wear to take place in an inclined direction, slightly rounded at the edges, and the right hand nib to be more worn than the left. When one nib becomes shorter than the other, the longer nib bears harder than the shorter upon the paper in the up-strokes, and produces thick and blotted writing. It was pro bably with a view of obviating these effects that the scribes of olden time wrote their letters either upright, or inclining to the left hand, both of which modes are retained by the lawyers. Makinallowance for the obsoleteness of many of the characters, we think it must be admitted that such writings possess more clearness and intelligibility of form than our modernised writing.
In order, however, that we may be able to incline our letters in the right direction, and yet save our pens from rapid destruction, Messrs. Mordan and Brockedon introduced, and patented in 1831, pens with inclined slits, which they very appropriately designated the " oblique pen." It has been stated, as a well-authenticated fact, that ninety-nine persons in every hundred fail to attain, permanently, the art of writing with a pen in the true position ; that is, with the hand removed a little to the right, and the tip of the pen pointing to the right shoulder, when the slit of the pen will be in the direction of the writing, and both of the nibs addressed fairly to the paper. /lg. 4 is a representation of Messrs. Mordan & Co.'s oblique pen. The direction of the slit in this pen being that in which the writing usually slopes at an angle of about thirty-five degrees, both nibs are brought equally down upon the paper—the writer is not confined to any particular position, but at liberty to use the pen freely, without the restraint of attitude, so strongly insisted upon by teachers of writing. The action of the oblique steel pen is altogether remarkably good, and, from the shape of the nibs immediately below the shoulder, it has a most excellent spring, producing a pleasing effect both in the up and down strokes of the writing; it glides smoothly over the paper, and is altogether free from the harshness so much complained of in steel pens. These oblique pens are made of the best steel, in a very thin and highly elastic state ; the arched form gives the requisite strength, where it is necessary they should be firm and un yielding, and also enables them to carry more ink than any previous pens. The advantageous property of this particular form, for holding a large quantity of ink, was at once perceived by other manufacturers, and led to the construc tion of the Lunar,' Gonidon, and some other similar pens. Messrs. Mordan & Co.'s specification describes a variety of modifications of pens and pen-holders, illus trated by numerous figures. In the first place are shown quill-pens and portable pens, (the latter implying short pieces,) having inclined slides, and metal pens similarly formed. To apply the principle to pens cut in the usual manner, with straight or longitudinal slits, handles are provided, which have at their lower ends curved metal arms, with clips or holders, which fix the pens at an angle, diverging from thirty to forty degrees out of the line formed by the handles. Some of these pen-holders are furnished with joints and set-screws, to enable the writer to place the pens at such an inclination, with respect to the handle, as will accord with the inclined position of the letters he is making. The latest
improvement in steel pens is one by Mr. Lowland, consisting in the introduction of an additional nib. The following engravings represent three pens of this description, as manufactured by Messrs. Mordan & Co., under a recent patent. lig. 5 are back and side views of Messrs. Mordan and Co.'s patent three-nibbed slip-pen. Fig. 6 are similar views of their patent three-nibbed fiat-spade, or, as the Birmingham manufacturers call it, the lunar pen. In each of these pens, the additional nib is formed by cutting it out of the stem or shank of the pen, where there is always a superfluity of metal, and turning it back over the other nibs. Fig. 7 are back and side views of Mordan & Co.'s patent three-nibbed counter-oblique pen. Many persons having been strongly prejudiced against the one-sided appearance of the original oblique pen, Messrs. Mordan & Co. 'Were induced to attempt an improvement in this respect, and they have fully succeeded. The improvement has been accomplished by the introduction of an additional shoulder, opposed to the former. This novel and curious pen has been very much admired, and it is as useful as curious; it has the advantage of holding a very considerable quantity of ink, and of retaining, from its obliquity, a position adapted to the slope of the writing, while to the eye a perfect equi librium is preserved. The effect of the third nib in metallic pens, is to enable the i pen to carry a larger quantity of ink, and to force it down in uniform and never failing succession to the paper. Every time such pens are pressed on the down strokes of the writing, the ink flows in a body towards the point from the effect of capillary attraction, at the precise time when it is most wanted. This result is produced by the third nib forming a conical tube with the other nibs of the pen, with its smallest end downward, and always causes the ink to flow equally, as much on the centre of the down-strokes as the two points of the pen itself. The capillary attraction, which is brought into operation in this ingenious con trivance, completely counteracts the defects existing in other pens, arising from the opening in the slip tapering in the opposite direction to that which is requi site, for the purpose of fairly the ink to the paper ; of this any one may convince himself by pressing the points of any ordinary pen on the thumb nail, until the slit opens wide enough for large-text writing, when the ink will instantly recede from the points towards the upper extremity or angle of the slit. Capillary attraction always causes fluids to flow towards the narrowest part or opening of every conical tube ; and, therefore, in three-nibbed pens, the ink is forced down upon the paper, and the thickest ink would be propelled downwards most effectually by the action of the three nibs. Another advantage of the third nib is, that it clears the slit of the pen, removing the fibres as they are gathered from the paper, thereby removing the greatest objection that has hitherto existed to the use of metallic pens.