This Twofold was made by Wyvern in, I believe, the nineteen twenties. It’s a combination pencil and pen. The pen part is a perfectly normal lever filler. In this case it’s fitted with a steel nib. I’ve seen others with gold nibs. The pencil is housed in the cap and you simply unscrew the end to make use of it. The pen has a fixed clip.
This is clearly the economy model and there are rather better ones around. They are uncommon but not rare. Considering their age and the fact that none of the models was very expensive, they have survived rather well. Dual purpose pens are not very common in Britain – they are much more of an American thing. This one seems to be the exception.
I don’t think that this sort of pen would have been seen lying around on desks very much. It was more likely to be found in a tradesman’s pocket so that he could sign cheques and contracts with the pen and use the pencil for marking out and drafting.
It looks a little peculiar to the modern eye but it’s eminently practical. It’s not entirely without decoration – there is a nice milled pattern here and there. I often see these described as hard rubber but I think it’s some form of plastic. There may be hard rubber ones but I’ve yet to see one.
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Hi
I have a Twofold no 1 very similar to yours but mine has a removable clip and these models were certainly made in the 1920s. Mine has the patent no 283677 on barrel I wonder if yours has this no. on it.I also have a Wyvern Combination No 65 which is eyedropper filled but the pencil is of the propelling type so is thi pen earlier or later but the box that it came in indicates the 1920s To add to the mystery I also have a Combina which is lever fill and pencil like the Combiation and I have always assumed that this was from the 1930s.Can you shed any light on this.
Regards Alan
Hi Alan,
Thanks for letting me know about the various versions that you have, but unfortunately I don’t know any more than I have said in the blog post.
Hi,
I’ve just bought a Twofold No.2 which I am restoring. It looks almost the same as the one shown except it has a broad steel band around the base of the cap.
It has the same patent No. as Alan’s and the same wording on the nib, which is steel, as shown.
At the pencil end the cap has a hole in it at the top, presumably so you can use it as pencil without unscrewing the cap.
It feels quite light and I am surprised it has survived intact. Bought it more as a novelty than anything else.
Regards
Jim
The Twofold comes in several slightly differing models. I agree with you, it’s a curiosity more than anything else.