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Thread: Rocker blotters

  1. #1
    Senior Member FredRydr's Avatar
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    Default Rocker blotters

    Quote Originally Posted by Chrissy View Post
    I want a rocker blotter and have been looking at some but haven't bought one yet
    I used to collect rocker blotters, but like pens, I've pared down the collection.

    There is a company that makes new wooden rocker blotters, but they are small and the bottom surface is too convex and short for anything more than a short signature. I've found that antiques are better sized for real use. I suggest a minimum bottom blotting surface of 2x6in/5x15cm. Another aspect that is often overlooked is how it fits in the hand. Little knobs are uncomfortable. My favorite rocker blotter that stays on my desk has a round wooden knob that's 1 1/2inches across.

    Good traveler - comes apart to be flat, but knob too small for regular use.

    rockerblotter.jpeg

    Cool set from Sheaffer. Nice heft and knob size.

    IMG_4627.jpeg

    My personal favorite. Not fancy but comfortable to grasp and rock. Not too heavy.

    IMG_0885.jpeg

    I saw this antique German BIG rocker blotter in a flea market and was tempted, but as practical as it might be for dealing with major blotting tasks, it was too industrial looking for me. Nice knob, though.

    IMG_4792.jpeg

    https://fpgeeks.com/forum/showthread...er-blotter-set
    Last edited by FredRydr; December 1st, 2020 at 01:47 PM.

  2. The Following 7 Users Say Thank You to FredRydr For This Useful Post:

    Baisao (December 4th, 2020), Chrissy (December 1st, 2020), Detman101 (March 11th, 2021), Jon Szanto (December 1st, 2020), NibsForScript (December 13th, 2020), penwash (December 2nd, 2020), Yazeh (March 2nd, 2021)

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    Member Inkflow's Avatar
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    Default Re: Rocker blotters

    I thank you for the minimum acceptable dimensions you gave. These should be ISO standards. Do you use J. Herbin paper refills?
    Last edited by Inkflow; March 10th, 2021 at 11:56 PM.

  4. #3
    Senior Member FredRydr's Avatar
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    Default Rocker blotters

    Quote Originally Posted by Inkflow View Post
    I thank you for the dimensions you gave for the minimum acceptable dimensions. These should be ISO standards. Do you use J. Herbin paper refills?
    No. I use old desk blotter paper or old photographic print-drying paper cut to size. New blotter paper isn’t very absorbent.

    For more detail on best blotting paper and cushioning it on a rocker with felt, see: https://fpgeeks.com/forum/showthread...ocker-blotters
    Last edited by FredRydr; March 2nd, 2021 at 06:58 PM.

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    guyy (October 18th, 2021)

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    Senior Member jar's Avatar
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    Default Re: Rocker blotters

    I need to get a rocker blotter but Sam is totally out of them.

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    Member Inkflow's Avatar
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    Default Re: Rocker blotters

    Quote Originally Posted by jar View Post
    I need to get a rocker blotter but Sam is totally out of them.
    Well, if you’re saying what I think you’re saying, it would be a case of blotters, not just one!

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    Senior Member christof's Avatar
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    Default Re: Rocker blotters

    [QUOTE=FredRydr;310070]
    Quote Originally Posted by Chrissy View Post

    My personal favorite. Not fancy but comfortable to grasp and rock. Not too heavy.

    IMG_0885.jpeg



    https://fpgeeks.com/forum/showthread...er-blotter-set
    Fred, the Edelweiss carving could be German, or even Swiss.
    C.

  9. #7
    Senior Member FredRydr's Avatar
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    Default Re: Rocker blotters

    Quote Originally Posted by christof View Post
    Fred, the Edelweiss carving could be German, or even Swiss.
    C.
    A Swiss connection! Stands to reason with my Swiss surname.

  10. #8
    Senior Member penwash's Avatar
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    Default Re: Rocker blotters

    Fred, rocking blotters are too cutting edge, you should use pounce powders.

    - Will
    Unique and restored vintage pens: Redeem Pens

  11. #9
    Senior Member FredRydr's Avatar
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    Default Re: Rocker blotters

    Quote Originally Posted by penwash View Post
    Fred, rocking blotters are too cutting edge, you should use pounce powders.
    Aaaa...choo!!

  12. #10
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    Default Re: Rocker blotters

    I've a few old ones, some went with the inkwell set. Some I've been lucky to get most of the set....If one goes to flea markets long enough one can gather paraphernalia.





    Art Decco, black glass fire gilded...

    French Art Decco @ 1925Birds eye maple veneer.

    Just a single...
    One roller was too plain to take a picture of....


    Gathered mostly at flea markets...Actually I'm not looking for marble ink wells anymore.
    The Black Glass inkwell set and the wooden French one. In antique shops, the French one in a going out of business sale.

    looking at it, actually less than I expected before adding to this thread.
    Last edited by BoBo Olson; October 12th, 2021 at 10:10 AM.

  13. #11
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    Default Re: Rocker blotters

    Had gathered up my fountain pen books, to add them by name to a different thread, and I ran across French rocking blotters from the 1850's. So they were around that far back.

    Why Montgomery Ward didn't offer them in the US in 1895 I don't know or Sears didn't in 1900 or 1902 catalogs.

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    Default Re: Rocker blotters

    You can see this in 'Early Office Museum' A grand site for folks that like history....and just found out Marbie Tod/Swan had been making some sort of pen since 1843.
    OK it's been 30-35 years since I worked in an American office, and that museum shows some of the office supplies I used were originally made well over a hundred years before............well worth a meander through history.

    Some things in Germany are also of that age...just different ones, that didn't stay in US offices.

    Rocking blotter

    In 1857, U.S. Patent No. 17,477 was awarded to Reuben G. Allerton for the following rocking blotter:

    1857_Blotter_R.G._Allerton_Pat_No._17477_June_9.jp g (70127 bytes)
    In 1865, U.S. Patent No. 51,337 was awarded to Charles C Moore for another rocking blotter:

    1865_Blotter_C_C_Moore_Pat_No_51337_Dec_5.jpg (152531 bytes)
    The Hagley Museum and Library has an 1878 ad for Moore's cushioned rocker blotters.

    1880_Excelsior_Blotter_1883_ad.jpg (210922 bytes)
    Excelsior Blotter, patented 1880, advertised 1883
    Last edited by BoBo Olson; October 14th, 2021 at 12:53 PM.

  15. #13
    Senior Member FredRydr's Avatar
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    Default Re: Rocker blotters

    BoBo,

    You may be interested in this BIG German-made rocker blotter. It was for sale at my favorite outdoor antiques market, but it was just too "industrial" for my taste.

    IMG_4792.jpegIMG_4793.jpeg

  16. #14
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    Default Re: Rocker blotters

    Thanks a wee bit far away.....from Germany.
    Looks very Bauhaus and even made where Bauhaus started.

    I am more into inkwells than rocker blotters, but with my fuller inkwell sets are rocker blotters, along with a letter holder and full would also be a flat paper weight.

    Actually I don't think I have a full set....either missing the paper weight or the letter holder.
    Somewhere near by is my marble ones, ...... not yet done are my crematic or porcelain ones; silver or silver topped ones.
    I have 32 inkwells; single and double or inkwell sets.

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