Otis Singleton
The Edison Electric Pen, driven by a wet-cell battery, was designed to create stencils for manifold copies. It worked with a vibrating stylus that impressed minute perforations in wax-coated paper. The pen went on sale in 1876 and is believed to have sold in large numbers, although surviving examples are rare. In January 2023, a rare Edison electric pen with its original box and sharpening tool was sold at auction for $21,250.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number | 3497 on wheel |
| Box | Original box included |
| Wires | Included |
| Sharpening Tool | Stone sharpening tool included |
| Pen Length | appx. 7"l |
| Stand | Original cast-iron stand with gilt-line decoration on circular base |
| Pen Height | 5 1/2 |
| Stand Height | 4 in. |
| Shaft | Unengraved steel shaft with thread adjustment, shaft brassed |
| Stylus | Vibrating |
| Wheel | Perforating |
| Registry | One of the 52 pens in the Edison Electric Pen registry |
| Auction Price | $21,250 with premium |
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What You'll Learn
- The Edison Electric Pen was designed to create stencils for manifold copies
- The pen was driven by a wet-cell battery and worked with a vibrating stylus
- Surviving examples of the pen are rare, with only 52 known pens
- The development of the typewriter and a simple stylus with a perforating wheel rendered the pen obsolete
- A rare Edison Electric Pen with its original box and sharpening tool sold for $21,250 at auction
The Edison Electric Pen was designed to create stencils for manifold copies
The Edison Electric Pen was one of Thomas Edison's lesser-known inventions. It was the first high-speed copying system for documents. Edison was interested in stencil copying methods, where writing or drawings were produced on a sheet of paper not with ink but by making tiny pinpricks. The paper was then put in a press and inked on one side, and the ink would flow through the holes and reproduce the writing on a clean sheet. This process could be repeated to make multiple copies. Edison mechanized stencil-making with the electric pen. He developed a tiny electric motor, but instead of a rotating motor, he used an oscillating motor that moved up and down at high speed. The motor was connected to a hollow tube that the writer held, with a sharp stylus running through the tube. By tracing letters, the electric pen produced a stencil at high speed without tearing the sheet.
The Edison Electric Pen was put on the market in late 1875, with an "autographic press" kit including the pen, a small battery, a press, ink, and supplies costing $30. Edison also began selling the rights to make the pen system to Western Electric, reasoning that this would be more profitable than making the pens himself. Around 60,000 of these pens were sold over the years. The electric pen had a brief life, as it was soon bettered by other cheap and simple stencil-making technologies, which were eventually overtaken by the typewriter in the late 1880s.
Today, the Edison Electric Pen is a rare item. Of the 52 pens in the Edison Electric Pen registry, only two are known to have a complete box. Similar examples of the Edison Electric Pen can be seen in museums such as the Science Museum in London, the Smithsonian, and the Thomas Edison National Historical Park. The pen is occasionally sold at auctions, with prices varying depending on its condition and the availability of its original box and other accessories.
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The pen was driven by a wet-cell battery and worked with a vibrating stylus
The Edison Electric Pen was driven by a wet-cell battery and operated using a vibrating stylus. It was designed to create stencils for manifold copies, with the vibrating stylus impressing minute perforations into wax-coated paper. This process was inspired by the tattooist's needle, which also leaves marks on the skin.
The Edison Electric Pen first went on sale in 1876 and is believed to have sold well, although surviving examples are rare. The subsequent invention of the typewriter reduced demand for the pen, and Edison's later invention of a simple stylus with a perforating wheel rendered it obsolete for creating manuscript copies.
The Edison Electric Pen is considered a valuable antique today, with a rare example selling at auction in 2023 for $21,250. This particular pen came with its original box and sharpening tool, and it is one of only two known examples out of 52 to have a complete box. Other examples of the Edison Electric Pen can be seen in museums such as the Science Museum in London and the Smithsonian.
The value of an Edison Electric Pen depends on various factors, including its condition, completeness, and provenance. Given the rarity of the pen and its historical significance, it is likely that a well-preserved example with its original box and accessories would be highly valued by collectors and museums alike.
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Surviving examples of the pen are rare, with only 52 known pens
Surviving examples of the Edison Electric Pen are rare, with only 52 known pens. The pen was first sold in 1876 and is believed to have sold in large numbers. However, the development of the typewriter soon reduced demand for the Electric Pen, and Edison's invention of a simple stylus with a perforating wheel made it obsolete for creating manuscript copies.
The rarity of the Edison Electric Pen makes it a highly sought-after item for collectors. The pens are often sold at auctions, with one example fetching a price of $21,250. The pen in question came with its original box and sharpening tool, which are considered rare finds. Of the 52 known pens, only two are known to have a complete box.
The Edison Electric Pen is a significant invention in the history of writing and communication technology. It was driven by a wet-cell battery and designed to create manuscript stencils for multiple copies. The pen featured a vibrating stylus that impressed minute perforations on special wax-coated paper. This mechanism was inspired by the tattooist's needle, showcasing the innovative thinking of its inventor, Thomas Edison.
The Edison Electric Pen holds a place in the registries of renowned auction houses, including Nye & Company and Skinner Auctioneers. These auction houses have played a crucial role in preserving and valuing this rare artifact, connecting collectors with these historical gems. Similar examples of the pen can be found in prestigious museums, such as the Science Museum in London, the Smithsonian, and the Thomas Edison National Historical Park.
The limited number of surviving Edison Electric Pens underscores their historical significance and makes them valuable collectibles. The rarity and functionality of these pens continue to captivate collectors and enthusiasts, ensuring that even in the modern era of digital communication, the legacy of the Edison Electric Pen endures.
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The development of the typewriter and a simple stylus with a perforating wheel rendered the pen obsolete
The Edison Electric Pen, driven by a wet-cell battery, was designed to create stencils for manifold copies. The device featured a vibrating stylus, similar to a tattooist's needle, that perforated a special wax-coated paper. Edison's electric pen went on sale in 1876, and while it is believed to have sold in large numbers, surviving examples are rare. The pen was short-lived, however, as it was soon outcompeted by other cheap and simple stencil-making technologies, which were eventually superseded by the typewriter in the late 1880s.
The typewriter's arrival in the late 19th century revolutionized the way people created written documents. With its QWERTY keyboard and typebars that struck ink-coated types onto paper, it offered a faster and more efficient way of writing. The typewriter's ability to create neat and legible text directly on paper, without the need for stencils, made it a more attractive option than the Edison Electric Pen and other stencil-making technologies.
The development of a simple stylus with a perforating wheel also contributed to the obsolescence of the Edison Electric Pen. This stylus provided a more straightforward and user-friendly alternative to Edison's pen. It allowed users to create perforated marks on paper without the need for a complex electric motor or vibrating stylus. The simplicity and ease of use of this new stylus likely made it a more appealing option for those who needed to create stencils for manifold copies.
The combination of the typewriter's direct writing capability and the simplicity of the new stylus with a perforating wheel made the Edison Electric Pen obsolete. The pen's niche function of creating stencils was no longer in high demand, as these new innovations provided more versatile and accessible ways of producing written documents and copies. While the Edison Electric Pen was a remarkable invention for its time, it ultimately could not keep up with the rapid technological advancements in the field of writing and document creation.
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A rare Edison Electric Pen with its original box and sharpening tool sold for $21,250 at auction
A rare Edison Electric Pen, with its original box and sharpening tool, sold for a remarkable $21,250 at auction. This particular pen was one of only two known examples to have a complete box, out of 52 pens listed in the Edison Electric Pen registry. The auction, hosted by Nye & Co., featured nearly 1,000 lots of fine and decorative arts, antiques, and collectibles.
The Edison Electric Pen, driven by a wet-cell battery, was an innovative invention by Thomas Edison, designed to create manuscript stencils for multiple copies. It functioned through a vibrating stylus, similar to a tattooist's needle, which perforated special wax-coated paper. Despite its initial popularity when it was released in 1876, the pen eventually became obsolete with the advent of the typewriter and Edison's own invention of a simpler stylus with a perforating wheel.
The rarity of the complete set, including the original box and sharpening tool, likely contributed to the high auction price. The pen's historical significance, as a precursor to modern duplication technology, and its association with the renowned inventor Thomas Edison, further enhanced its value.
Similar examples of the Edison Electric Pen can be found in renowned museums, including the Science Museum in London, the Smithsonian, and the Thomas Edison National Historical Park, showcasing their cultural and technological importance. The auction price of $21,250 reflects the pen's rarity, historical significance, and its place in the evolution of writing and duplication technology.
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Frequently asked questions
The Edison Electric Pen, driven by a wet-cell battery, was designed to create manuscript stencils for multiple copies. It worked using a vibrating stylus that impressed minute perforations in a special wax-coated paper.
The value of an Edison Electric Pen depends on its condition and rarity. One rare Edison Electric Pen sold at auction for $21,250.
The lot includes the original box, wires, and a stone sharpening tool.
There are 52 Edison Electric Pens in the Edison Electric Pen registry, of which only two are known to have a complete box.
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