Wirt end joint dropper filler, “self filler” and “ruling pen”

This pen is interesting.

Possible known tie-in to Eagle: The contents of the Wirt factory were bought by a collector and later sold to another collector. My Eagle Correspondent pen was found in the pens left over at the Wirt factory. It is pristine and appears to have never been used.

Later I acquired a Wirt pen that utilizes a full length rear end joint set up, similar to the Eagle Correspondent pen. According to a Wirt 1901 catalog, this was meant to be a “self filling” mechanism, unlike the Eagle pen that was clearly described as a dropper filled pen per the patent.

The Wirt pen has a number of other unusual features. First, the section has extra knurled bands. It attaches almost in reverse with the “male” portion of the threads on the barrel. Second, it has a small cap like a straight cap, but it is threaded. Thirdly, it has a tubular over and under feed, likely patent 358,525 March 1, 1887, but this feed is not seen on other production Wirt pens. It appears to be the “ruling pen” from the 1901 catalog.