The Pen of the Baskervilles

[Sailor Kenshin]

Come, Watson! The pen's afoot!

As I am currently on a Holmes kick, and a Baskerville jag in particular, I began wondering when the first dip nibs with a modern, Speedball-type ink reservoir on the top of the nib appeared, for I spotted one in a Hollywood production of Hound of the Baskervilles (perhaps the best-known of all the adaptations), in which Watson writes to Holmes and I said, 'Hey! I have that nib!')

Would these Speedball lettering pens, I asked, have been in common use in Victorian England? The answer was 'no.'

Yet there is more to this Pen of the Baskervilles mystery than meets the eye. There is one other point in particular which is of interest.

In the BBC Peter Cushing Baskerville production, 1964, Dr. Watson appears to be writing with a fountain pen....posted! Even though he dips it into an inkwell.Yes! It's a FOUNTAIN PEN!!! (Screen shot coming)





Now, in 'Sherlock Who,' with Tom Baker, 1982, different production, different era, different cast....it's the VERY SAME EXACT FOUNTAIN PEN!!!! Have we unearthed...'The BBC Fountain Pen Prop?' A modern, clip-style fountain pen which posts would certainly not be in use at that time.



Finally: The 1939 Rathbone film is the guilty Speedball party!




Therefore, I throw the Shenanigans flag on all three productions.

[TSherbs]

You are sleuthtastic yourself!

[JIGM]

Pretty funny! Never did I see such a great investigation, MrKenshin

[SIR]

You need to see Jeremy Brett's interpretation of Sherlock, it is the definitive - no argument.

http://www.itv.com/hub/sherlock-holmes/1a1125a0040

[Sailor Kenshin]

Of course I have seen it. And I agree. Also... Hardwicke is the best Watson, ever.

And the Granada production of 'Baskervilles' rated no mention here because they GOT THE PEN RIGHT.

[Marsilius]

When I was a kid I was in a local production of Anouilh's play Becket. In one scene Becket's mistress plays a harp, which in our production was a modern Autoharp. At a climatic moment she says, "I shall give my Lord my harp." One night she blundered and said, "I shall give my Lord my Autoharp." Never forgot that one.

[Sailor Kenshin]

Sailor Kenshin...actually...owns...an autoharp.

[Marsilius]

Sailor Kenshin...actually...owns...an autoharp.

. . . . because Sailor Kenshin is no doubt seriously cool. But does Sailor Kenshin listen to "The New Adventures Sherlock Holmes" on vintage radio? I have yet to see a fountain pen on those, but have enjoyed them.

[Sailor Kenshin]

Sailor Kenshin...actually...owns...an autoharp.

. . . . because Sailor Kenshin is no doubt seriously cool. But does Sailor Kenshin listen to "The New Adventures Sherlock Holmes" on vintage radio? I have yet to see a fountain pen on those, but have enjoyed them.

Maybe after Sailor catches up with InCo.