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By Bill Riepl We've all seen them... And just as often, passed them by, turning up our noses as we go. The humble ringtop pen. "No respect" as Rodney Dangerfield would have said!
The lack of demand for ringtop versions of common vintage pens is due to the age old market bias among collectors towards large pens. Given two examples of the same model, the larger will almost always fetch the higher price. A Duofold Senior is more desireable than a Duofold Junior, a Waterman Patrician more sought after than a Lady Patricia. Nowhere is this more pronounced than when it comes to ringtop pens. Give most folks the choice between the Watermans pictured above, and which one do think gets picked first?
Ringtops were made by most every manufacturer, and in versions from simple hard rubber through the fanciest gold and silver overlays. As celluloid came into use, the world of ringtops expanded along with the new colors and materials available to manufacturers. While the ringtop seems to have died out in the 1940s, with "ladies" pens gradually coming to be seen as slimmer but still full length versions of the regular models, we were able to find one example of a modern ringtop pen, the Kane Boutry custom overlay shown here. Built on a Pelikan M300 model, this little gem features a heavy lost wax cast overlay in sterling silver. The design is called Basket of Lilies and consists of calla lilies running full length along both the cap and barrel. Instead of a small ring discreetly perched at the top of the cap, there is a large "handle" incorporated into the cap overlay. It's this feature that gives the pen it's name, it looks like a basket handle, and the design was inspired by a basket full of freshly picked white lillies.
We've managed to photograph a few examples of the ringtop pen, presented here in no particular order. Some might look simple at first glance, like the Swan above. But at the time this pen was made, aluminum wasn't the common everyday metal it is today, but a rare precious metal, rarely used. Hence the aluminum cap on this pen sets it aside as something special in it's day. Special today as a rare example of this brand. Others are more common, but all are interesting in their own way. Perhaps the next time you see a little ringtop sitting unnoticed on the penshow table... So, without further ado, we present a look into the world of ringtops!
This pair of pens represent one of the more commonly found brands of ringtops, Waterman. These are rather special, in that they are hand engraved versions of the overlays. The silver is a 452 1/2 V, the gold filled is a 0552 1/2 V. These models are quite commonly found today, although the hand engraved versions are harder to come by than the simpler overlay patterns. The lever fill mechanisms are simple enough to repair, and the #2 Waterman nibs are often quite flexible, making these pens wonderful writers if you don't mind an undersized pen.
Wahl Eversharp ringtops are also fairly commonly found, and also offer a great introduction to the world of ringtops. This pair, like one of the Watermans above, is gold filled. Two different machine engraved patterns, one a Greek key pattern, the other a series of fine lines running the length of the cap and barrel.
Smooth gold fill cap and barrel, set off with milled rings at the cap top, barrel ends, and the blind cap.
Another pair of Watermans, this time both in sterling silver, and both hand engraved patterns. On the left a 452 1/2 V, and on the right a 442 1/2 V. The pen on the right is a safety pen, with a retractable nib, filled via an eyedropper. Less practical in terms of everyday use, but a bit more desireable from a collectability standpoint. Both pens are fitted with Waterman #2 nibs.
The pattern is simple enough, justa plain heavy barley pattern in engine turned engraving. Simple, but amazingly beautiful in person. It's almost enough to make me, even as a confirmed large pen guy, consider seeking out a ringtop if that's what it takes to get this overlay pattern!
copyright 2005 William Riepl |
But
why? Take a closer look, and quite often, those diminutive pens are
every bit as nice as their larger counterparts. And, thanks to that
lack of respect, often much more affordable as well.
The
idea of the ringtop pen came about along with the introduction of the
screw on cap for the fountain pen. Once a "secure" cap was
designed, the idea of carrying the pen by a chain or ribbon secured
through a small ring in the cap top wasn't far behind. The chain might
have been worn around the neck, or secured to a vest in the manner of
a pocketwatch chain for gentlemen.
Parker
was also present in teh ringtop market, although not to the same degree
as Waterman and Wahl when it came to metal overlays. Finding a gold
fill or sterling silver (not to mention solid gold!) Parker is a bit
tougher than the equivalent Waterman model. This Jack-knife safety ringtop
in gold fill is a very nice example of Parker's contribution to the
world of ringtops.
One
more Waterman, again a safety pen, this 442 1/2 V is one of my favorite
overlay patterns made by Waterman. I've only ever seen it on the ringtop
size safety pens, I'm not sure if it was ever made on the larger pens.