Step into the absolute dawn of the electrical age with an exceedingly rare, museum-grade 1876 Thomas Edison Electric Pen outfit. Invented in 1875 at Edison’s famed Menlo Park laboratory and patented in August 1876, this revolutionary document duplicating system is globally celebrated as the first commercially sold, electric-motor-driven appliance in United States history.
Unlike the more common nickel-plated domestic models, this offering is the highly elusive, brass-shafted European variant, distinguished by distinct engineering flourishes, casting details, and a larger overall scale. Experts estimate that only approximately 35 authentic examples of the pen—combining both US and European variants—survive globally.
This is the exact, documented pen famously featured on the History Channel’s television series American Pickers (Season 14, Episode 3, "The Superfan").
Acquired on-screen from art historian Mark Osdene by hosts Mike Wolfe and Frank Fritz, this museum-grade artifact later left Antique Archaeology's inventory in Nashville, Tennessee, and comes straight to us from that historical private collection, accompanied by its media provenance. Owning the exact piece from the episode elevates this set into a blue-chip historical asset of the highest caliber.
The set has undergone professional, museum-grade conservation and stabilization by the renowned Mumford’s Restoration in Raleigh, North Carolina:
The Pen: The delicate brass-shafted pen mechanics, period wiring, and glass battery flasks have been painstakingly cleaned and conserved while rigorously preserving their historical character and untouched patina.
The Mechanics: Highly responsive. When the flywheel is spun manually, the internal needle raises and lowers precisely to perforate stencil paper.
The Power Source: Includes a pair of exceptionally scarce, period-correct Grenet-style wet-cell battery flasks (complete with carbon and zinc elements), representing the proper operating configuration for this international variant.
Custom Display: Comes beautifully presented on a custom-crafted solid walnut and archival-grade acrylic display stand. The bottom of the walnut base is felt-lined and features precision-milled insets lined with black velvety fabric to lock the heavy glass battery flasks securely in place.
Inventor: Thomas Alva Edison (Patented August 8, 1876)
Patent Number: U.S. Patent 180,857
Variant: Ultra-rare brass-shafted European export model
Provenance: Featured on American Pickers (S14, E3) / Ex-collection Antique Archaeology
Conservation: Completed by Mumford’s Restoration (Raleigh, NC)
Condition: Museum-grade, stable, conserved antique condition with all mechanical parts responding precisely to manual rotation.
Due to the extreme historical significance, fragility, and high value of this Edison duplicate set, it is prepared for transit within a custom-constructed, shock-absorbing wood crate. Fully insured domestic white-glove freight shipping is arranged post-acquisition from our North Carolina vault. Local collection is available by appointment near Wilmington, NC.
Step into the absolute dawn of the electrical age with an exceedingly rare, museum-grade 1876 Thomas Edison Electric Pen outfit. Invented in 1875 at Edison’s famed Menlo Park laboratory and patented in August 1876, this revolutionary document duplicating system is globally celebrated as the first commercially sold, electric-motor-driven appliance in United States history.
Unlike the more common nickel-plated domestic models, this offering is the highly elusive, brass-shafted European variant, distinguished by distinct engineering flourishes, casting details, and a larger overall scale. Experts estimate that only approximately 35 authentic examples of the pen—combining both US and European variants—survive globally.
This is the exact, documented pen famously featured on the History Channel’s television series American Pickers (Season 14, Episode 3, "The Superfan").
Acquired on-screen from art historian Mark Osdene by hosts Mike Wolfe and Frank Fritz, this museum-grade artifact later left Antique Archaeology's inventory in Nashville, Tennessee, and comes straight to us from that historical private collection, accompanied by its media provenance. Owning the exact piece from the episode elevates this set into a blue-chip historical asset of the highest caliber.
The set has undergone professional, museum-grade conservation and stabilization by the renowned Mumford’s Restoration in Raleigh, North Carolina:
The Pen: The delicate brass-shafted pen mechanics, period wiring, and glass battery flasks have been painstakingly cleaned and conserved while rigorously preserving their historical character and untouched patina.
The Mechanics: Highly responsive. When the flywheel is spun manually, the internal needle raises and lowers precisely to perforate stencil paper.
The Power Source: Includes a pair of exceptionally scarce, period-correct Grenet-style wet-cell battery flasks (complete with carbon and zinc elements), representing the proper operating configuration for this international variant.
Custom Display: Comes beautifully presented on a custom-crafted solid walnut and archival-grade acrylic display stand. The bottom of the walnut base is felt-lined and features precision-milled insets lined with black velvety fabric to lock the heavy glass battery flasks securely in place.
Inventor: Thomas Alva Edison (Patented August 8, 1876)
Patent Number: U.S. Patent 180,857
Variant: Ultra-rare brass-shafted European export model
Provenance: Featured on American Pickers (S14, E3) / Ex-collection Antique Archaeology
Conservation: Completed by Mumford’s Restoration (Raleigh, NC)
Condition: Museum-grade, stable, conserved antique condition with all mechanical parts responding precisely to manual rotation.
Due to the extreme historical significance, fragility, and high value of this Edison duplicate set, it is prepared for transit within a custom-constructed, shock-absorbing wood crate. Fully insured domestic white-glove freight shipping is arranged post-acquisition from our North Carolina vault. Local collection is available by appointment near Wilmington, NC.
