Typed on a Olympia SM4, which really needs its type slugs scrubbed. I’m also not too crazy about the tiny font size. What’s worse, I’m internet illiterate, so no matter how large an image I upload, the largest display size is still too small, making the already small font size illegible enough to require a microscope to read. My apologies for my ignorance. I’ll eventually figure out how to get this right.
Streamlines DeLuxe 
Wow! I used to have one of those. I don’t recall what became of it, it may still be packed up in a box. I never used it much, but it is a gorgeous streamlined design. If you hurl this inkwell at someone’s head, it will slip through the air at maximum speed.
I don’t know about WordPress, but on Blogspot you can check the HTML of your post before posting. The site automatically restricts the width of certain images, but you can get around that. Just delete the “width=400” (for instance) and the image wil show up with its original width.
Ha! That’s funny. Yeah, it is a very streamline design. For a minute I thought you were going to say that it was so solid you could kill someone with it — a lethal feature common to most vintage items. (In fact, I’m still shaking my head after watching “Misery”. The notion that ANYONE could get back up after getting a Royal 10 dropped on their noggin is incredible. NO WAY! — I’m going to have to mention this again when I blog about the Royal 10).
Did you not use your inkwell much because it didn’t perform well, or because you just had little use for it? I’m working in my studio all day, so I would get a lot of use out of it. And since these things were often used in public or commercial areas (e.g., banks, etc.), I’m assuming they were well built and meant to withstand constant use. I’ll find out as soon as I get a chance to use it.
Thanks for the tip on the image issue. I used to edit very simple things in HTML when I had an eBlogger blog, but I haven’t figured out how to do it in WordPress yet. As I mentioned, I’m web illiterate.
Thanks for the tip Richard.
I honestly just wasn’t very good at dealing with fountain pens and ink. I finally found a fountain pen that works for a klutz like me, a Pilot Namiki “vanishing point” pen that is my favorite. I use cartridges with it.
I use the Esterbrook 407 inkwell regularly but intermittently. If you’re not going to use it for awhile, I’d empty and rinse it out – otherwise the ink can thicken and/or dry out. Recall that the original purpose for these was daily, regular use in post offices, banks, and the like. They were the then version of the ballpoint pens on chains you see now. I also use a small rubber stopper in the dip hole when I am not using it.
You might want to locate an Esterbrook “Dip-Less” pen, They have interchangeable nibs with different writing points. This site lists the nib styles: http://www.esterbrook.net/nibs.shtml
Oh, and the ink I use in my 407 is Higgins Eternal Black. (You don’t want to use India Ink as that will dry and clog. Use a fountain pen ink.)
p.s. Did you win the eBay auction for the 407?
Yes, I won the auction! The 407 is unused, still with its box and papers,, and it apparently originally came with a dip-less pen, which is included in the set I purchased. I’ll have to check out the different nibs (thanks you for you for the resource for more nibs).
Since I intend to keep this on my desk and reach for it when I need a pen, I’m hoping that will be sufficient use to keep it filled. We’ll see. If not, I’ll try the rubber stopper as you suggested.
Thanks for the tip as to what kind of ink to use! (I have some permanent black carbon ink which, to my horror, I accidentally put into my Snorkel pen. When I realized my error, I filled and emptied out the Snorkel over and over with water, hoping it would clean it out enough to prevent any clogging.)