Silverplated Inkstand – Patented 1899

This antique inkstand is an example of late 19th-century desk hardware manufactured by William Schimper & Company.

Description

This silver-plated inkstand features a lobed, tray-like base that serves as a pen rest. The base is heavily decorated with embossed floral scrolls and shell-like motifs. In the center, the stand holds a square, clear glass inkwell with a hinged, dome-shaped metal lid. The glass reservoir is secured by decorative metal corner mounts that feature a fanned leaf design.

The underside of the base bears the stamped marking:

1. SCH. & CO. PAT. JULY, 1899 HOBOKEN N. J.

Patent No. 629,088: The Innovation

The inkstand utilizes U.S. Patent No. 629,088, granted to Ernest Oldenbusch on July 18, 1899. Oldenbusch assigned this patent to William Schimper & Co..

• The Problem: Traditional inkstands often struggled to hold inkwells of varying shapes securely, or the inkwells were prone to unintentional removal.
• The Solution: The patent describes a stand featuring double-walled spring-clips.
• Functionality: These clips are “struck up” from a single piece of sheet metal to form a seat. The inner walls of the clips project upward and inward, creating a tension that “embraces” the sides of the inkwell. This allows the stand to snugly retain inkwells of different sizes and prevents them from falling out or shifting during use.

The Manufacturer and Inventor

William Schimper & Co.

Based in Hoboken, New Jersey, William Schimper & Co. was a prolific manufacturer active from the late 1800s through the early 20th century. They specialized in “art metal goods” and silver-plated desk sets, often incorporating intricate Victorian and Art Nouveau designs. Their factory was located at the corner of Ferry and Clinton Streets in Hoboken.

Ernest Oldenbusch

Ernest Oldenbusch was a resident of Hoboken and a frequent collaborator or employee of the Schimper firm. He was a prolific inventor in the field of metal housewares and desk accessories. His name appears on numerous patents for inkstands, picture frames, and metal trays, many of which were assigned to Schimper & Co. for mass production.