Huh!Courtenay wrote:Or the tea thread.
Pen Cap, Lid or Top?
- Daisy
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Re: Pen Cap, Lid or Top?
'Tis loving and giving that makes life worth living.
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Re: Pen Cap, Lid or Top?
As I said earlier, the best feedback for any product is the number of sales. When sales don't justify cost of production, then it's time to put up the shutters.Julie2owlsdene wrote:I think a lot of the people who take the Journal don't visit the forums Rob, so therefore you won't get any feedback from these people.Rob Houghton wrote: Now we just need as many people to comment on the Journal thread or the Teachers World thread!!
I can't believe this question has run into 5 pages! I gave the correct answer on page 2, yet it still ran on for another 3 pages.Rob Houghton wrote: I want to ask you all a bit of a silly question, for research purposes, as I'm not sure what to call - this -
It may be so in your experience, but cap is the correct and official name for a lid/top/end/screwy-thingy........Sue Bell wrote:Always lid or later top, used the term since 1946! We had to have fountain pens at school in 1946 and they were always refered to as "your pen lid"..... never used cap. Lid is term I still use and most widely used too.
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- Daisy
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Re: Pen Cap, Lid or Top?
It seems there may not be one "correct" answer, but if Enid used "cap" in the 1940s I think we should assume that it was the accepted term then.
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Re: Pen Cap, Lid or Top?
I've no doubt that cap is correct for a fountain pen but what evidence do you have for the terminology of biros?
"It's the ash! It's falling!" yelled Julian, almost startling Dick out of his wits...
"Listen to its terrible groans and creaks!" yelled Julian, almost beside himself with impatience.
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"Listen to its terrible groans and creaks!" yelled Julian, almost beside himself with impatience.
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Re: Pen Cap, Lid or Top?
The Biro - or ballpoint pen, to give it its correct name) was invented by Laszlo Biro in 1938 - due to the RAF requiring pens that could be used at high altitudes as fountain pens tended to leak.
Such was the success of this product (as with Hoover, Google etc) the name stuck and became the general word for the product. It has always grated on me that ballpoint pens are often called 'Biros'. I remember customers asking me for a Sheaffer Biro refill - I did try to educate them if i was in the right (or wrong) mood!
I have quite a geekish knowledge of writing instruments, for as well as training staff, I went on to work for a pen manufacturer for six years and saw each stage of production carried out.
Such was the success of this product (as with Hoover, Google etc) the name stuck and became the general word for the product. It has always grated on me that ballpoint pens are often called 'Biros'. I remember customers asking me for a Sheaffer Biro refill - I did try to educate them if i was in the right (or wrong) mood!
I have quite a geekish knowledge of writing instruments, for as well as training staff, I went on to work for a pen manufacturer for six years and saw each stage of production carried out.
I give up.Daisy wrote:It seems there may not be one "correct" answer
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- IceMaiden
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Re: Pen Cap, Lid or Top?
I call it a lid or a top. Incidentally, does anyone else chew on them while writing?
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Re: Pen Cap, Lid or Top?
I don't, but I know some who do!
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- Machupicchu14
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Re: Pen Cap, Lid or Top?
I do!IceMaiden wrote:I call it a lid or a top. Incidentally, does anyone else chew on them while writing?
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(все, что я понимаю, я понимаю только потому, что люблю)
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(все, что я понимаю, я понимаю только потому, что люблю)
Lev Tolstoy
You can call me Machupicchu14 or María Esther
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- Rob Houghton
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Re: Pen Cap, Lid or Top?
I used to, but not so much nowadays - then again, I don't write long enough with a pen to chew on it!
At school (Junior school) we used pencils until we were 11 and then if our writing was neat enough we were allowed to use ink pens. I used to chew my pencil a lot back then - to the extent that the end got soggy, the paint flaked off, and sometimes bits of wood ended up in my mouth! Those were the days - no health and safety back then!
At school (Junior school) we used pencils until we were 11 and then if our writing was neat enough we were allowed to use ink pens. I used to chew my pencil a lot back then - to the extent that the end got soggy, the paint flaked off, and sometimes bits of wood ended up in my mouth! Those were the days - no health and safety back then!
'Oh voice of Spring of Youth
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Sing on, sing on, and when the sun is gone
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hearts mad delight,
Sing on, sing on, and when the sun is gone
I'll warm me with your echoes
through the night.'
(E. Blyton, Sunday Times, 1951)
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- Rob Houghton
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Re: Pen Cap, Lid or Top?
I've now altered all mentions of it in my story to 'cap' as per your advice, Nigel - and backed up by what ENid wrote in Secret Room.Moonraker wrote: I can't believe this question has run into 5 pages! I gave the correct answer on page 2, yet it still ran on for another 3 pages.
It is actually a propelling pencil that has a cap in this instance though - rather than a fountain pen.
'Oh voice of Spring of Youth
hearts mad delight,
Sing on, sing on, and when the sun is gone
I'll warm me with your echoes
through the night.'
(E. Blyton, Sunday Times, 1951)
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hearts mad delight,
Sing on, sing on, and when the sun is gone
I'll warm me with your echoes
through the night.'
(E. Blyton, Sunday Times, 1951)
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- Carlotta King
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Re: Pen Cap, Lid or Top?
I've always called them lids, but then what do I know - I call dustwrappers 'covers'
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- Rob Houghton
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Re: Pen Cap, Lid or Top?
i think we discussed this somewhere before. I always call them dust-wrappers...but I know most people say 'jackets'
'Oh voice of Spring of Youth
hearts mad delight,
Sing on, sing on, and when the sun is gone
I'll warm me with your echoes
through the night.'
(E. Blyton, Sunday Times, 1951)
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hearts mad delight,
Sing on, sing on, and when the sun is gone
I'll warm me with your echoes
through the night.'
(E. Blyton, Sunday Times, 1951)
Society Member
Re: Pen Cap, Lid or Top?
Good man! I don't think I have ever seen a propelling pencil with a separate cap. You usually turn it around at the top to release the 'lead'. Clutch pencils became quite popular, too. Pressing a button at the top released the 'lead', then it would hold firmly when you released the button.Rob Houghton wrote: I've now altered all mentions of it in my story to 'cap' as per your advice, Nigel - and backed up by what ENid wrote in Secret Room. It is actually a propelling pencil that has a cap in this instance though - rather than a fountain pen.
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- Daisy
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Re: Pen Cap, Lid or Top?
At least that was the theory!Moonraker wrote: Clutch pencils became quite popular, too. Pressing a button at the top released the 'lead', then it would hold firmly when you released the button.
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- Rob Houghton
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Re: Pen Cap, Lid or Top?
hmmm...yeah - people keep telling me they've never seen a propelling pencil with a cap. I have, and I actually own one, but as they are so unusual maybe I'll change it to a fountain pen!!Moonraker wrote:Good man! I don't think I have ever seen a propelling pencil with a separate cap. You usually turn it around at the top to release the 'lead'. Clutch pencils became quite popular, too. Pressing a button at the top released the 'lead', then it would hold firmly when you released the button.Rob Houghton wrote: I've now altered all mentions of it in my story to 'cap' as per your advice, Nigel - and backed up by what ENid wrote in Secret Room. It is actually a propelling pencil that has a cap in this instance though - rather than a fountain pen.
'Oh voice of Spring of Youth
hearts mad delight,
Sing on, sing on, and when the sun is gone
I'll warm me with your echoes
through the night.'
(E. Blyton, Sunday Times, 1951)
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hearts mad delight,
Sing on, sing on, and when the sun is gone
I'll warm me with your echoes
through the night.'
(E. Blyton, Sunday Times, 1951)
Society Member