The pen used for German text, old English, engrossing, and other black hands as they are called, differs in make, but still more in application, from that employed for ordinary writing. The nib is made as broad as the intended thick or down stroke of the writing ; and in using it no pressure is required to open the nibs, as in making a ,thick stroke by .the common pen. The only use of the slit is to give gmater elasticity to the point, and to form a channel for the iuk. For very large writing two other slits are sometimes made, one in each shoulder ; a pen made in this manner works more freely, and does not tire the hand so much as if made with one alit only. The fine or up strokes aro produced by throwing the pen to one of the angles of its nib, generally that to the left of the hand in writing, by a turn of the wrist, and a practised hand can pro duce in this manner the finest hair-stroke. These pens are made of the Turkey quill, the goose quill being too weak for the purpose. In making the slit, in all quills, but more particularly in these, it is necessary that they should be well scraped, as the upper surface, being formed of fibres lying in rings around the quill, will otherwise cause the alit to be ragged.
Bono pens are now made to some extent in France ; or rather bone nibs, requiring to be fixed Into some kind of handle.
Stec/ Pens.—Owing to the constant necessity for mending quill pens, the loss of time consequent thereon, and the inequality of the writing, an immense amount of labour and ingenuity has -been employed to produce some more durable substitute. The only ono, however, which haa attained to anything like general use Is the steel pen. These pens aro manufactured to an amount in quantity, and at a cost so small, as hardly to be credible. Different makers have different modes of operation, but the following will Ore a general idea of the method employed. In the first place flat pieces of steel are cut out, of the shape required, by a stamping-pries; they are then placed under another prima, which pierces the holes and cuts the alibi ; and they aro struck into their convex shape by a third prose. They are then polished and tempered. The polishing is managed in rather a curious manner : a quantity of pens are shut up in an iron cylinder, leaving a considerable space unoccupied ; this cylinder is attached at each end to a crank, the axes of which are connected by a wheel and set in motion by a handle or by machinery. Thus by being rubbed against each other the pens come out well polished, and with all the burrs or sharp angles left by the cutting-presses rubbed smooth. It is impos sible to follow with anything liko accuracy the amazing spread of this manufacture. Steel pens fell in price from sixpence each to sixpence
a dozen ; then by degrees to sixpence a gross; and they can now be purchased at fourpenco a gross, box included. Some of the largest and finest establishments in Birmingham are for the manu facture of steel pens. Before the general introduction of steel for this purpose, silver was occasionally used, when intended for presents; and brass when intended to accompany cheap brass inkstands, that wero made some years ago. Sometimes quill pens were armed with metallic nibs, but this plan was not found to answer; nor was the substitution of tortoiseshell for quill much better. It has been found more practicable, although necessarily costly, to employ small fragments of precious gems for the nibs, and to imbed these in pens made of gold; the gold resists the corrosive action of the ink, while the gem will bear a largo amount of work without wearing away. Diamond and ruby havo been thus employed. There are also certain rare metals, especially rhodium, occasionally employed for this purpose, on account of their great hardness and durability. Gold pens with rhodium nibs are now made in the following way :—Sheet or plate gold, about And of an inch in thickness, is cut by means of a die into stubs, or small pieces, each piece having a point at one end. A machine then indents the point for the reception of the nib. Small particles of rhodium, as obtained from platinum ores, sometimes sell at prices varying from 10/. to 20/. per ounce ; and one such particle is fastened to the golden point with gold solder. The gold is then rolled to the proper length and thickness, care being taken to have dents in the rollers to accommodate the hard bit of rhodium. The gold, after being hammered to give it elasticity, is cut to the proper shape with a die, stamped with the maker's name and any other device, and turned up to the rounded quill-like form. The rhodium is then split into a nib by a rapidly-revolving copper disc ; and another machine extends the slit into the gold. The point is ground on a revolving copper wheel; the gold is made elastic by being rubbed with a small hard stone and water ; and tho finished pen is finally polished.
Fountain Pen is a pen made with a reservoir in its stem or holder, to supply ink for seine time without replenishing. The nib is in most cases supplied by a small valve, which may be closed when not in use. The varieties are very numerous; but it cannot be said that the plan is successful, for no one variety has obtained an extensive and permanent sale.