Edward Todd & Co.

Gold Pen nib Patent

Edward Todd & Co. used a novel approach to celebrating the Freer patent assigned to the company.

Depicted is an Edward Todd & Co. Gold Pen nib with the underside marked with the patent date , May 10, 1887.

Patent Assigned to Edward Todd

Patent No. 362,885 by Charles S. Freer, was assigned to Edward Todd & Co.:

”CHARLES S. FREER, OF NEW YORK, N.Y.,

ASSIGNOR TO EDWARD TODD & CO.”

Note the patent drawing image which depicts the use of sand blasting the front section of the underside of Gold Pen nibs to improve the ink retention capability.

Claim Language

Mr. Freer clarified that several other roughening techniques for the underside of Gold Pen nibs had been in use. Various methods were designed to increase the volume of ink on the Gold Pen nib thereby enabling a calligrapher to write longer between dips into the inkwell.

Freer described a tool called a “galley” or other suitable holder holding multiple Gold Pen nibs, as illustrated in the patent drawing, under ”propulsion”.

This may have been a further mechanization of the Gold Pen nib manufacturing process used to save time and increase profitability.

Edward Todd Pencils

Joseph Monaghan Pencil Patent

In Patent No. 185,562, awarded on December 19, 1876, Joseph Monaghan created a novel technique for the handling surface of magic pencils. Mr. Monaghan stated in his claim language: “What I claim is—

As a new article of manutacture, an orna-meutal pencil case or barrel, consisting of a natural mineral body in a single piece, bored through and through, and so as to expose a patterned exterior surface, substantially as described.”

Regarding his patent drawing he stated the following regarding his technique: “The drawings illustrate, in Fig. 1, a barrel or case, composed of blood-stone; and in Fig. 2, one made of agate; but the invention contemplates the use of any mineral substance whose composition presents contrasting surfaces.”

Patent Claim Language

Illustrated here.

Patent Drawing

Described as a pencil case, the patent is actually themed around the pencil case outer cover.

Entire Text of Patent

Readers may enjoy reviewing the actual text of the patent.

Magnified View of Patent Drawing

“The drawings illustrate, in Fig. 1, a barrel or case, composed of blood-stone; and in Fig. 2, one made of agate”. Figure 3 is simply a cross-section view.

Titus Patent No.6,795 Drawing

The H.B. Titus Patent no. 6,795, awarded August 5, 1873,, was assigned to Edward Todd. The patent drawing illustrates a sign for E.B. Smith & Co., Stationers, with an Edward Todd & Co. Gold Pen in the center.