There’s a Chinese curse, “May you live in exciting times,” the suggestion being that exciting times are generally not a good thing. However, those of us who are interested in old British pens have an exciting future. The long anticipated book on the smaller and less well known pen makers isn’t far from publication. I haven’t seen it but I hear that it isn’t far away. I am sure that there are many new stories to be told and historical puzzles to be resolved. Exciting times indeed!
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Goodwriterspens's Blog 
I’m looking forward to this. I have books on Onoto and Conway Stewart but there are a multitude of lesser well known brands which are at least as good. I have a 1930’s Dart which is an absolute beauty but so far I’ve been unable to find any reference to this English maker anywhere. I use it most days. Lever fill, glass nib.
I’m vaguely aware of a Dart pencil but I don’t know the Dart pen.
Yes. I’ve had it a while now and looked everywhere for information. None whatsoever. It’s a really nice pen to use. I’d put a photo on if I can figure out how to.
Send me a photo at redripple@ btinternet.com and I’ll add it.
I replied with photos to the redripple address you supplied.
Many thanks. I’ll put something together shortly.
At the risk of losing a future sale, I have to say the book won’t help with identifying the Dart pen! I have checked, but it doesn’t appear anywhere in Steve Hull’s digitised archive of articles and advertisements from the trade press.
All being well, Smaller English Penmakers 1895-1930 will go to print around the end of this month, which would imply a publication date some time in April. I hope to put images of the contents pages online within the next week or so at https://www.englishpenbooks.co.uk
Sorry, of course the date range of the book is actually 1890-1930.
These dates are a bit -ish anyway – some of the companies we looked at started as far back as the 1820s, while we continued the stories of other companies up to WWII where it was appropriate.
You’re such a tease, Andy! 🙂
As I say, very exciting times! There will always be tiny pen makers for whom no information remains.
In case anybody is interested, there is a little more information and contents pages now available at
https://www.englishpenbooks.co.uk/home/smaller-english-pen-makers-1890-1930/