General Information

Serial #

N/A

Part Number

1

Total Parts

1

AKA

N/A

Patents

N/A

General Description

leather? cover/ paper pages/ fabric padding/ metal pens/ wood and metal pen holders

Dimensions

Note: These reflect the general size for storage and are not necessarily representative of the object's true dimensions.

Length

27.7 cm

Width

21.0 cm

Height

N/A

Thickness

9.0 cm

Weight

N/A

Diameter

N/A

Volume

N/A

Lexicon

Group

Mathematics

Category

Drawing & measuring instruments

Sub-Category

N/A

Manufacturer

AKA

Mitchell

Country

England

State/Province

Unknown

City

Birmingham

Context

Country

Canada

State/Province

Unknown

Period

early 20th century +

Canada

An item from the collection of Mr Andrew Merrilees acquired between the 1950’s and his death in 1979. Mr. Merrilees was a noted collector of early railway and transportation material and was particularly interested in pre-1920 photography. The majority of Mr.Merrilees’ collection was sent to the National Archives circa 1980, his printed material to the National Library and the Ontario Archives. The material in this donation was retained by Andrew Merrilees Ltd., currently owned by Dr. Robert Stewart (Acquisition proposal for AK0114 archival material by D.Monaghan, in Supp. Info.).

Function

A book containing examples of steel pen nibs and pen holders from which a prospective purchaser could make a selection.

Technical

A sample book of pens manufactured by Birmingham, England, manufacturer William Mitchell. William Mitchell was the brother of John Mitchell, who is credited with having pioneered the mass manufacture of steel pens when, in 1822, he applied methods used in button making to the manufacture of steel pens, enabling them to be produced to a better quality and at a smaller cost than was possible before. After a couple of years of working for his brother, William Mitchell set up business on his own in Birmingham. In 1920 William Mitchell merged with Hinks Wells to form the company British Pens. John Mitchell's firm was taken over by British Pen in the 1960's, one of many companies acquired over the years. British Pens is still making pens in Oldbury, near Birmingham (Refs. 1-2).

Area Notes

Unknown

Details

Markings

Indented gold lettering on front cover and on spine reads 'WILLIAM MITCHELL'S/ STEEL PENS'/ Table of contents and individual pen identifications inscribed in black script

Missing

43 out of a possible 325 nibs, 8 of of a possible 13 holders

Finish

black exterior/ pink pages and padding/ black, gold and plated nibs

Decoration

gold lining on front and back cover and spine