1846 Scientific Notices.
REPORT BY M. DE SILVESTRE, OF THE COMMITTEE OF ECONOMICAL ARTS, ON THE MANUFACTURE OF THE METALLIC PENS OF JEAN BENOIT MALLAT.
Translated from the " Bulletin de la Société d'Encouragement" for the London Journal of Arts, Sciences, and Manufactures, and Repertory of Patent Inventions:
Gentlemen, although the invention of metallic pens dates about fifty years back, it is only within the last fifteen years that these pens have come into very general use, and, consequently, that their manufacture has acquired a degree of importance; in practice, however, many serious inconveniences have been found to arise from the nature of the substance of which they are composed, as well as from the processes employed in their manufacture. Thus, in a given quantity of metallic pens, a very small number, only, are made to suit the purchaser; for, in general, they work badly on paper, and quickly deteriorate when used; in consequence also of the little importance attached to the temper of these pens, many of them bend from want of sufficient temper, whilst others break from being too much tempered.
The means hitherto adopted to avoid these inconveniences has been, to offer a large produce for consumption at a very low price, in order, as much as possible, to decrease the loss arising from the number of ill made and useless pens, a means which is evidently inefficacious.
M. Mallat has proposed to introduce into the manufacture of metallic pens certain improvements, which would certainly increase their cost, but at the same time make them infinitely better and more durable.
The nibs of M. Mallat's pens are not obtained by one stroke of the punch. Each pen is composed of several parts, which, from the nature of the substances employed in their composition, are equally invulnerable to exterior agents: these different parts are, the nibs, the stem or barrel, and the points.
The two nibs, manufactured separately by the machine, and then connected by means of the stem, are formed from an alloy of gold, platinum, silver, and copper, in such proportions that, though retaining the appearance of the gold, they combine, with the unchangeability of this metal, the most perfect elasticity.
The stem or barrel, on which the nibs are rivetted, is composed of platinum and silver.
M. Mallat employs, in the construction of the points of the nibs, the ruby, and another still harder substance, called osmiuret of iridium. This alloy, in the granular state as obtained from the platinum ore, is soldered to the extremity of each nib, and is ground to the desired form by means of emery and diamond dust. The osmiuret of iridium, on account of its extreme hardness, completely resists the action of the Turkey stone, which is commonly used among jewellers.
As regards the ruby points,they are firmly fixed to the extremity of each nib, and then ground by the ordinary process.
The assiduity with which M. Mallat has conducted his manufacture for several years,has led to the most satisfactory results; for, in addition to his pens being composed of inoxydizable substances, which assures them great durability, their points are always smooth, which facilitates their use on all sorts of paper; the consumer has therefore merely to choose a pen of a suitable degree of hardness.
Finally, the best testimony which the Committee of Economical Arts can furnish, in proof of the eulogium which they deem worthy to bestow on M. Mallat, is the number of orders and sales entered in his books.
These entries serve to show the progress of his manufacture,and consequently the estimation in which his productions are held.
During the first year, 1843, M. Mallat delivered for consumption nearly fifteen hundred pens ; the second year this number increased to about two thousand five hundred ; the third year arose to five thousand ; and in the present year, 1846, M. Mallat anticipates a demand for ten thousand pens, and yet each pen cannot be sold under six francs.
I may add that M. Mallat is the inventor of several machines which are essential to his manufacture, and which are highly creditable to his ingenuity.