Questions about old drafting set
Vince Miller
It's made by Theodore Alteneder & Sons, Phila, USA
I have some questions about these and would like to talk to someone who
knows their intricacies: like what they're made of, when they were made,
what the many dift types of pen tips are for etc, and what a fair value for
them is.
Thanks,
Vince
Richard Burton
>From: vincent.j...@nd.edu (Vince Miller)
>Subject: Questions about old drafting set
>Date: Tue, 11 Apr 1995 00:07:53 GMT
My repro Sears 1897 catalogue has many pictures and descriptions of
these drawing sets and what each tool was called and it's use. If they have
a worn or plastic case or if any parts are missing they are worth less than
$10. Normally they sell for $15-35. If they have ivory handles, the value
jumps to $100 plus.
Richard
patrick fitzhorn
|> In article <vincent.j.miller...@nd.edu> vincent.j...@nd.edu (Vince Miller) writes:
|>
|> >I've just aquired one of those boxed sets of drafting pens and compasses.
|> >It's made by Theodore Alteneder & Sons, Phila, USA
|>
|> these drawing sets and what each tool was called and it's use. If they have
|> a worn or plastic case or if any parts are missing they are worth less than
|> $10. Normally they sell for $15-35. If they have ivory handles, the value
|> jumps to $100 plus.
Good advice, let's see if I can amplify it a little. First, the good news.
Alteneder & Sons was a manufacturer of high quality drawing instruments.
German-born Theo Alteneder was apprenticed to Clemens Riefler in Germany,
and set up shop in PA in 1850 or so if memory serves. Like most such
manufacturers however, their range of sets was pretty large. That means
you may have little, or you may have a lot depending on age and content.
If your set is old, we can tell if it is post-1871 or pre-1871 by
the joint style.
Like most antiques, the best way to evaluate it is to see it. That not
being the case: the most useful questions are the following. I've
included, as a reference, a magazine case of Riefler round pattern
instruments, from about 1920 or so, worth about $500.
- What is the case made of (plastic, leather-covered wood, finished
mahogony, something else)? The more exotic, the better. The Riefler
is maroon leather covered wood with gilded stampings.
- What are the external dimensions of the case? The larger, the better.
The Riefler is about 13" wide, 8" deep, and 1.5" thick.
- Does the case have more than one level? That is, are there pull-out
drawers or inserts of any kind? The more, the better! The Riefler has
only one level.
- How many ruling pens does it contain, and what do their handles appear
to be made of? The Riefler has 4 ruling pens of different kinds with
ebony handles.
- How many compasses are there (not counting all the little bits like
pen and pencil points, extensions and so on - just the devices with
both "arms" connected at some sort of joint no matter what size)?
The Riefler has about 9 compasses plus a beam compass (long arm with
various attachments).
- Does the set contain other things like curves, rulers, rules, paints,
and so on. The Riefler has a set of proportional dividers.
Materials didn't vary very much. If the instruments look like silver, they
are probably "electrum" or german silver, an alloy of zinc, copper, and
nickel which was widely used in fine drawing instruments. If they look like
brass, they are. If they are steel (magnetic), let your children play with
them - with one exception. Ruling pens will always have steel "nibs" or
ends (with the exception of some relatively new pens that use stainless steel).
These may be quite rusty due to the corrosive nature of the ink. Handles of
ruling pens (from old to new) would be ivory, ebony or other dense hardwood,
bakelite, and plastic. Expect a set with ivory handles to
be pre-1900 and very well made.
The more scrollwork or intricate and aesthetic machine/hand work, the more
expensive the set would be when new. In general, unless the set is
extensive, fine, complete, and relatively old, it will not be worth much.
And, just because it may not be worth much now, it might still bear holding
on to. Witness the growth of scientific and medical instrument shows and
collectors. Someone, somewhere, someday will want it. However, if it does
have these qualities, then you've found a gem! :-)
--
Patrick Fitzhorn !
Mechanical Engineering !
Colorado State University !