The Gold-Pen Protector Inkstand: A Rubber Rim for Careless Dipping

A pen thrust quickly into an inkwell strikes its point on the glass or brass edge of the mouth, and a costly diamond-pointed gold pen is spoiled. Andrew Fife of Philadelphia received US 6,664, dated 21 August 1849, for an improvement in inkstands called a "Gold-Pen Protector": "forming the top, or surface surrounding and partially covering the mouth of the reservoir of the inkstand, of gum elastic, or other similar soft elastic substance, or composition", with its hole smaller than the mouth, so that the edge of the reservoir is covered. This rung works out the force on the point with and without the rubber, then fits a rubber ring to a jar and dips two nibs, one on each, and compares them under a lens.