Victor Victapen Convertible c. 1933-1936

by Jim Mamoulides, July 31, 2019

Victapen Convertible fountain pen in rust marble c. 1933-1936

It's Convertible!

The U. S. Victor Fountain Pen Company, Inc. was incorporated in 1919 for $30,000 by Henri Pressprich, George Foulk, and Nicolas Pecora at 38 Park Row, New York, NY. The factory was at 115 Worth Street. When it took over the United States Fountain Pen Company in 1922 the business moved to 109 Lafayette Street, New York, NY. Right from the beginning, in addition to making standard self-filling pens and mechanical pencils, the new company made a line of small pens that could be converted to full length ones.

Advertisement from Office Appliances, May 1920

The Victor Vest Pocket Fountain Pen is a collapsible telescopic metal ringtop fountain pen that extends from 3 1/2 inches closed to 6 1/2 inches open and was available in sterling silver or 18 karat rolled gold for $12.00 and solid gold for $42.00. The Vest Pocket Fountain Pen was advertised through at least 1922. The Victor brand was advertised at least through 1945, the latest showing a $6.00 gold plated cap pen with a 14 karat gold nib. The last advertising showing Victor pens are for closeouts in 1948.

U. S. patent 1918844 awarded July 18, 1933

The Vest Pocket Fountain Pen was invented by Edward Hugetz and U.S. patent 1392569 was granted October 4, 1921. On May 11, 1932 Hugetz applied for a patent on a bulb filling fountain pen with an ink sac designed to fill the entire barrel, tapering onto the section nipple. The sac has a narrowed middle neck designed to fit through the threaded end of the barrel, ending with a bulb that fills the end cap.

Advertisement from the New York Daily News, December 22, 1936

The pen is operated by unscrewing the end cap and squeezing the bulb to fill. The design included a breather tube extending from the feed into the ink sac all the way to the thread. The breather tube allowed for a more complete filling, expelling air as ink enters the ink sac. Hugetz was awarded U. S. patent 1918844 on July 18, 1933.

Advertisement from Boys' Life, May 1936

This patent became the basis for the Victapen Convertible fountain pen. These 3 13/16 and 4 inch long pens were sold as a pen and pencil set by mail order for $1.00 plus ten cents postage, including a personalized leather pen case. Advertised as a men’s vest pocket or ladies pen set, the pen’s end cap and pencil’s clip top could be unscrewed and the pen and pencil could be reassembled into a 5 ½ inch long pen and pencil combo. These small pens came in a variety of celluloids, including stripes similar to the Conklin Glider, marbled colors, and dashed stripes. At least three clip designs are observed.

Victapen Convertible fountain pen in gray green swirled marble c. 1933-1936

Identification guide and features:

The barrel is stamped NEW YORK over VICTAPEN next to MADE IN over U. S. A. all over U. S. PAT. JULY 18 '33. Celluloids offered included striped, marbled and dashed stripes. Very similar pens were made under the Victor brand.

• Celluloid cap and barrel in a variety of colors
• Silver color plated clip, with at least three designs
• Single cap band in a variety of designs
• Screw off cap
• Gold plated stainless steel nib with a V design stamped and patent marking
• Total nib grades unknown, but fine and medium are observed
• Bulb filler
• Two sizes, 3 13/16 inches and 4 inches long capped
• Retail price for the fountain pen and matching pencil set was $1.00 in 1936

Victapen Convertible fountain pen in pearl marble c. 1933-1936

The Victapen is a well made and interesting pen, especially with the matching pencil. They come in a variety of finishes and clip and cap band styles. They are not common so building a collection may take time. Consider the Victapen if you like collecting unusual small pens!

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References

Boys' Life - May 1936, page 42

Editor & Publisher - Volume 52, Part 1, December 18, 1919, page 29

New York Daily News - December 22, 1936, page 5

Office Appliances - May 1920, page 209

The Modern Stationer and Bookseller - Volume 4, Number 12, March 10, 1922, page 46

The New York Tribune - June 5, 1919, page 19

The New York Tribune - December 21, 1919, page 9

U. S. patent 1392569, October 4, 1921

U. S. patent 1918844, July 18, 1933