Is this Fountain Pen?

[EYECOLLECTVINTAGE]

Needing some opinions. Is this fountain pen invented in 1896?

[vintagesportscollector]

I know little about fountain pens, but it doesn't look like it was written with a fountain pen. What are you trying to determine? If it is an authentic ball that could have been hit by Collins?

Eddie Collins with Chicago WS would put it 1915 to 1926. Are there any signs of this being a Reach OAL ball from that period? any markings left on the ball?

[irv]

I know squat about baseballs and signatures but if I were to come across this and someone were trying to pass this off as being signed/written a 100+ years ago, I'd walk away.

Maybe that would be a big mistake, but going with my gut, I'd be happy with my decision.

[Michael B]

This looks like a Flair pen written within the last few months and scuffed to look old. Fountain pen would have aged along with the ball. I would guess that if you put this under a UV light the writing would glow showing the ink is post WWII/atomic bomb era. Also, if the person who wrote this lived in Chicago it is not very likely they would misspell the name of the city - 'Chicogo'.

[EYECOLLECTVINTAGE]

Originally Posted by Michael B

This looks like a Flair pen written within the last few months and scuffed to look old. Fountain pen would have aged along with the ball. I would guess that if you put this under a UV light the writing would glow showing the ink is post WWII/atomic bomb era. Also, if the person who wrote this lived in Chicago it is not very likely they would misspell the name of the city - 'Chicogo'.

THANKS! would a black light work? I am gonan do this now and let you know the results.

[drcy]

As is my saying, "It's your money."

[EYECOLLECTVINTAGE]

Originally Posted by vintagesportscollector

I know little about fountain pens, but it doesn't look like it was written with a fountain pen. What are you trying to determine? If it is an authentic ball that could have been hit by Collins?

Eddie Collins with Chicago WS would put it 1915 to 1926. Are there any signs of this being a Reach OAL ball from that period? any markings left on the ball?

Yes Correct.

From what I see I believe it matches the http://keymancollectibles.com/balls/...uebaseball.htm

Based on font and font size of official.

Below the Official looks like the Top part of L in league. That font was not used past the 1925 Reach Ban Johnson
Official American League Baseball

The markings that I can see are as follows.

[drcy]

All I have to ask is, irrelevant to pen type, how would the writing be in such good condition on such a worn ball, unless it was written recently?

[EYECOLLECTVINTAGE]

Originally Posted by drcy

All I have to ask is, irrelevant to pen type, how would the writing be in such good condition on such a worn ball, unless it was written recently?

If it helps, the O is A it was just scraped at the tail. Also, Could it have been written after the ball was retired permanently?

[vintagesportscollector]

Do you have the ball already? where did you get? was there any story or provenance behind the ball?

[EYECOLLECTVINTAGE]

Originally Posted by vintagesportscollector

Do you have the ball already? where did you get? was there any story or provenance behind the ball?

Yes I do. I got it off ebay. The auction stated "This ball was looked at by an individual who works for Leland's Auction Company and it was in his opinion that this is a real game used ball from the 1920's"

Guess he lied.

The Eddie Collins part didn't really bother me if someone made it up but it was relative to that time period (kids lieing etc) however the fact that this now seems to be a doctored ball made to look old pisses me off.

The ball matched the period, but I did not realize how bold this writing was until I saw it in person. Looked like marker, but I am not a expert so wanted opinions before I contacted the seller.

[vintagesportscollector]

Originally Posted by EYECOLLECTVINTAGE

Yes I do. I got it off ebay. The auction stated "This ball was looked at by an individual who works for Leland's Auction Company and it was in his opinion that this is a real game used ball from the 1920's"

Guess he lied.

The Eddie Collins part didn't really bother me if someone made it up but it was relative to that time period (kids lieing etc) however the fact that this now seems to be a doctored ball made to look old pisses me off.

The ball matched the period, but I did not realize how bold this writing was until I saw it in person. Looked like marker, but I am not a expert so wanted opinions before I contacted the seller.

Here is the ebay listing, with addition pics of the ball, in case it helps anyone provide additional or a differing opinion to Stephen.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1920-039-s-o...p2047675.l2557

good luck