E Hotchkiss Co Vintage Stapler

[Madjik Man]

Slightly different tool... a desk stapler.

I inherited this from my grandfather after his passing. He was a medic in WWII and an eye doctor after his service. This stapler was on his desk for 40 years, in use.

I finally looked it up on the internet.

It's an E. Hotchkiss Stapler Model 2A, circe 1918. The funny thing is, I always thought the "H" on the side of the stapler was a custom engraving for his last name.

Additionally I am still trying to find more info on the desk inkwell that he also used for 40 years. As much as I can find out it's a B Altman & Co (former department store in New York City). I can't make out the (maybe) "Made in ? Slovania(?)"

 

[Madjik Man]

 

[gahrajmahal]

wow cool stuff! I'd buy those if I found those at an antique store just for the stories the'd tell. So, write those stories down as the next generation to inherit them will keep them and not just sell them for nothing at a garage sale. Too bad Antiques Roadshow isn't coming to your town. You could also be a TV star!

 

[four.cycle]

The "B. Altman Co." was a large department store in New York City. My best guess would be that they imported that item and sold it through their store. It is a rather interesting piece, somewhat evocative of some early Aronson designs.

Not having much luck on "Hotchkiss" other than finding their plant caught on fire in 1909 (or 1919?) and caused $35,000 worth of damage.
There's a gray area between "mechanics hand tools" and "household appliances" that I try to avoid venturing into, because it takes me down rabbit holes full of corkscrews, can openers and bottle openers, but I have no doubt there's a "Stapler Collector Club of America" out there somewhere.

 

[RTM]

I find the inkwell a bit gaudy for today's office, but that stapler..... It might be a bear to find staples for it tho. Take your time, the vintage guys will have a source.

But the inkwell on your home desk...Yeah, I will blow your problems into the next room.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Made in ? Slovania(?)"

Although several of the letters are obscured, that mark is likely "Czecho-Slovakia". An alternative formulation to the more common Czechoslovakia. Known for fine porcelain, pottery, and metalwork. It existed from 1918 to 1992, except for WWII. That inkwell is almost certainly prewar.

 

[Madjik Man]

Although several of the letters are obscured, that mark is likely "Czecho-Slovakia". An alternative formulation to the more common Czechoslovakia. Known for fine porcelain, pottery, and metalwork. It existed from 1918 to 1992, except for WWII. That inkwell is almost certainly prewar.

Once again I owe you a debt of gratitude for your wealth of knowledge.

I was going to bust out my geology loupe to figure out what that says.

 

[Madjik Man]

B. Altman & Co. bronzed scrolled inkwell | Tom Hall Auctions, Inc

B. Altman & Co. bronzed scrolled inkwell for auction. Scrolled and reticulated inkwell with floral vine design and face, marked B. Altman & Co. Made in Czechoslovakia on bottom. 6 inches tall, 10.25 inches wide, has insert. Damage to hinge on inkwell. Also is a B. Altman & Co. letter opener...

tomhallauctions.hibid.com

85: BRONZE DOUBLE INKWELL, CZECH, B. ALTMAN, NEW YORK - Oct 23, 2011 | Austin Auction Gallery in TEXAS

Bronze patinated double inkwell, Czechoslovakia, 1920's, shaped reticulated form with North Wind mask, retailed by B.... on Oct 23, 2011

www.liveauctioneers.com

Nothing about era (granted I can't access the info in the second link)

 

[four.cycle]

Old.
There was no reason to have an inkwell (especially a double-potted model) on your desk after they finally figured out how to keep the ink in the "bladder type" fountain pens in the early part of the 20th century. (Wikipedia is kinda-sorta crediting Sheaffer's 1912 lever-type filler for that paradigm change.) Early models were incredibly messy, necessitating the use and manufacture of "blotter paper", which was an industry unto itself.
(I still have a box full of old Esterbrooks and NOS nibs in boxes if somebody here is a collector.)

So... very old.... most likely 1920s or earlier.

 

[Madjik Man]

Old.
There was no reason to have an inkwell (especially a double-potted model) on your desk after they finally figured out how to keep the ink in the "bladder type" fountain pens in the early part of the 20th century. (Wikipedia is kinda-sorta crediting Sheaffer's 1912 lever-type filler for that paradigm change.) Early models were incredibly messy, necessitating the use and manufacture of "blotter paper", which was an industry unto itself.
(I still have a box full of old Esterbrooks and NOS nibs in boxes if somebody here is a collector.)

So... very old.... most likely 1920s or earlier.

I remember going to my grandfather's office as a kid in the 70s and distinctly remember him using ink out of the wells. I don't know if he did it just to write me something or if he continued to use this inkwell and dipping pen(?) throughout his practice.

Either way, it's cool to have his desk pieces on my work desk 80 years or so later.

 

[four.cycle]

^ My father was still using a fountain pen in the early 1960s. Somebody found an entire un-opened case of Sheaffer's "Scrip" fountain pen ink upstairs in the hubcap room and he sent it home with me, which was the catalyst for my fascination with all things fountain pen.
If I had to guess, I'd say he liked the old one for nostalgic reasons and perhaps he was as disgusted with the notoriously leaky early versions of the modern-day ball-point pen as my old man was.
It would certainly not be because of reliability or function - fountain pens are a pain in the *** and a mess. They are, however, indispensable for calligraphy work.

 

[RTM]

I use them for most of "my" writing at work. It forces me to slow down so that its neat. I have 2 vintage ones that were Dad;s, and a bunch of newer one.

The new ones are much less messy than the ones I was forced to use in grade school, or the lettering pens (Leroy) that I used inmy first job as a draftsman.