1857 Hicks Patent Elastic Ink Stand CIVIL War Soldiers Goodyear Rubber Ink Well

See my other auctions for more great related historic & collectible items! 1857 HICKS PATENT ELASTIC INK STAND CIVIL WAR SOLDIERS GOODYEAR RUBBER INK WELL. THIS IS THE ONLY EXAMPLE ON THE ENTIRE INTERNET & LIKELY THE ONLY KNOWN EXTANT EXAMPLE.

Here is a very RARE-TO-FIND antique Good Year rubber Civil War era ink well of the type that was commonly used by soldiers in the battle field theaters during the War between the States (1861-65). This one is the most special, scarce, & unusual Civil War rubber ink well that we have ever seen or found. It appears to be an early 1857 prototype of the Hicks model that was patented in 1858 (see attached photos for a reference copy of the original 1858 patent). This one has all the company markings & directions stamped in to the all-rubber base in big clear letters. It shows that this early 1857 model was made using the Good Year Rubber Company patent of 1844 & 1849. Hick's (of Boston) applied for his own patent on this unusual ink well a year later in 1858.... Thus cutting Good Year out of sales proceeds.

However, he still would have used Good Year's rubber to make them. I could find no other examples of this rare model on the entire internet or reference books!! May be the only known extant surviving example. This Civil War era rubber ink stand is in a remarkably good state of preservation considering the age & fragility. As is common for old rubber, it is somewhat misshapen & out-of-round, but still completely intact & sturdy with no serious cracks, breaks, or repairs - other than a small shallow crack in the threads of top hole opening.

The original threads at center reveal that the tube stem piece is missing & it can be seen in the attached Patent Diagram. It is a miracle that this rare beauty survived in one piece & is not broken or damaged.... Usually the old rubber is cracked & shattered.

Offering as-found with no restorations. Really does not need anything done to it.

Originally the rubber would have been elastic & pliable, but now as expected from the age, it is rigid. HICKS PATENT ELASTIC INK STAND. MANUFACTURED BY C&M, NEW YORK. PATENTED JUNE, 1857 UNDER GOODYEAR'S PATENT of 1844 & 1849.

A SUPPLY OF INK IS BROUGHT FORTH TO THE. FUNNEL BY THE SAME PRESSURE AND THAT REMOVED. SEE ORIGINAL PATENT INFO BELOW. Round fluted & ribbed relief pattern. Measures about 4" (inches) in diameter X 2 1/4" tall.

Please see my other listings for more great related vintage & historical items. Please see attached pics & make all inquiries prior to purchasing. TRANSCRIPTION OF ORIGINAL PATENT INFO. HICKS, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO DAVID C. FIELD, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 19,613, dated March 9, 1858. To all whom it may concern. Be it known that I, LUCIEN E. Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State which Figure 1 is a section; Fig. 2 is a plan, and Fig. 3 is a representation of the funnel removed. The same letters refer to like parts in all the figures. My improvement in ink stands consists in constructing them of a material and in such a manner, that the bottom of the stand shall form a flexible valve for a ready entrance of ink into and its exit from the pen tube (or fountain as it is sometimes called) Without the necessity of turning screws, or opening stoppers, &c. Incident to inkstands now in use.

I have also greatly simplified it, thus rendering it more durable and efficient by its not being liable to be out of order besides materially reducing its cost of construction. To enable others to make and use it I would describe it as follows: I usually employ gum elastic vulcanized as the flexible material although I do not confine myself to that article and for the purpose of rendering it free to act under the pressure of the hand when filling the pen tube, and to allow of the change of position of said tube in discharging it. Or returning the ink to the body of the stand, I give the sides and top a corrugated surface thereby combining usefulness and ornament. A, is the top; a, the sides or cylindrical body and Z the bottom, all formed or molded together. In the center of the top I form a female screw or nut, for the reception of the screw (6) on the tube (cl).

0, is the basin or bowl united to tube (d) it is formed of metal or glass and provided with a considerable shoulder or flange, for the purpose of making a good air joint, when screwed home in the nut. In giving the requisite length to the tube (2) it should be sufficient to reach and press upon the flexible bottom (1) to insure the closing of said tube when in contact.

In the opening of the tube it is-efl'ected by the lifting thereof by the elongation of the stand when pressed between the finger and thumb, thereby liftingthe end of the tube from the bottom (1). Its employment is as follows: To fill the stand with ink, withdraw the screw (6) from the nut leaving it in the opening to serve the purpose of a funnel, when sufficiently (or even wholly) filled return the screw to its place, making an air joint between the tube and stand; when. They ink is desired in the bowl or fountain, grasp the body of the stand with the finger and thumb and give it a degree. Of compression to elongate the stand, to lift the tube and by reduction of the space within, the fluid is raised in the tube and bowl, then withdraw the grasp, and by the contact of the bottom of the tube with the flexible bottom of the stand, the column of ink is retained; when desirable to return the ink to the body of the stand, the bowlor basin is grasped with the finger and thumb and canted to one side, sufliciently to open the tube by releasing it from the pressure of the bottom (1) and thus allow of the inks return. Having described my improvement what I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is The employment of the bottom (7) of a flexible ink stand constructed substantially in the manner set forth, for the purpose of serving as a valve in its use with the tube (cl) operating in the manner and for the purposes set forth in the foregoing specification. The item "1857 HICKS PATENT ELASTIC INK STAND CIVIL WAR SOLDIERS GOODYEAR RUBBER INK WELL" is in sale since Tuesday, April 10, 2018. This item is in the category "Collectibles\Pens & Writing Instruments\Inkwells".

The seller is "seb9" and is located in Mentor, Ohio. This item can be shipped worldwide.

Country/Region of Manufacture: United States
Material: 1850's Good Year Rubber