John Eggens and William Hambler both worked for Waterman. John
Eggens worked various jobs such as stenographer and house builder
before landing a job with Waterman between 1911 and 1916. He worked
his way up to the head of a department and later became the manager
of Waterman's Newark plant. William Hambler is listed as a fountain
pen jobber in 1910 and became a salesman for Waterman between 1911
and 1916. He even traveled to Cuba to hand deliver Waterman fountain
pens [it must have been a large order]. In the early 1920s
they started the Eggens-Hambler Co with the sales office at 180
Broadway. The manufacturing was done in Elizabeth NJ. Most of their
pens are medium quality lever fillers with the nibs and sometimes
the clips signed Ehco [for Eggens Hambler Co]. I wish I had a gold
nib for every time someone spelled the name Echo. Most of their pens
have signed nibs and barrel imprints. They made typical flattop pens
in the 1920s and then moved onto slightly streamlined pens in the
late 20s and early 30s. Their line was mostly standard size pens and
ladies pens. They did make some Peter Pan sized pens in the 1920s.
They did sell some sterling and gold filled overlays in the 1920s.
They made pens for other small companies on order and some of these
pens will carry a different imprint but may still have Ehco nibs [so
don't discount the Ehco nib as wrong until you check into it]. At
some point Hambler must have left because the later pens are only
marked Eggens Pen Elizabeth NJ. The Eggens marked pens are actually
better quality.
Photos Coming Soon
Our Other Web Site: NOS Vintage Benrus Watch Dials -
1000s of factory original dials for Benrus watches of the 1940s,
50s, 60s & 70s Paul Wirt Fountain Pens
-History & Information about this early "Father of Fountain Pens"
