{"product_id":"estatefreshaustincom-1266","title":"c1880 Robbins Clark \u0026 Biddle 14k gold retractable pendant physician's pencil","description":"c1880 Robbins Clark \u0026amp; Biddle 14k gold retractable pendant physician's pencil,\u0026lt;br\u0026gt;just over 3.5\" closed with jump ring, 4 7\/8\" fully extended with jump ring.\u0026lt;br\u0026gt;Fully functional with no issues. Unmarked but acid tested by me in multiple\u0026lt;br\u0026gt;places by me to be 14k gold with no signs or evidence of it being plated.\u0026lt;br\u0026gt;Retailer's Name on one side and engraved Doctor's name on the other. 18.6 grams.\u0026lt;br\u0026gt;Without damaging this I cannot be 100% sure that it is not gold filled but as I\u0026lt;br\u0026gt;stated there is no evidence that it's plated, no wear, and it tests strong for\u0026lt;br\u0026gt;14k in multiple places but fades at 18k, typically gold filled items were more\u0026lt;br\u0026gt;often 12k so wouldn't test at 14k so I believe it's solid gold. Some of the\u0026lt;br\u0026gt;inner mechanisms will be another metal as they are durable than gold. I have\u0026lt;br\u0026gt;disassembled different models of these from the same era before and they are\u0026lt;br\u0026gt;typically 50-75% gold with a small amount of steel or brass items for the\u0026lt;br\u0026gt;mechanism. As shown in the last pic, the inner shaft that holds the pencil is\u0026lt;br\u0026gt;brass.\u0026lt;br\u0026gt;\u0026lt;br\u0026gt;Robbins, Clark \u0026amp; Biddle of 1124 Chestnut Street in Philadelphia. It was a\u0026lt;br\u0026gt;jewelry store that also sold sterling and plated wares, imported items, clocks,\u0026lt;br\u0026gt;watches, bronzes, \"fancy goods in gilt, leather wood and crystal\", which\u0026lt;br\u0026gt;included jardiniers, ink stands, vases, jewel cases, work boxes and baskets,\u0026lt;br\u0026gt;thermometers and barometers, vinaigrettes and card cases.\u0026lt;br\u0026gt;\u0026lt;br\u0026gt;Samuel Biddle is the Biddle of Bailey, Banks \u0026amp; Biddle. He apprenticed with\u0026lt;br\u0026gt;Thomas C. Garrett 1857, took over his business at some point after 1860 as Clark\u0026lt;br\u0026gt;\u0026amp; Biddle. That became Robbins, Clark \u0026amp; Biddle (at least by 1876; they're in the\u0026lt;br\u0026gt;catalog for the Centennial exhibition) and then in 1878 the Bailey, Banks \u0026amp;\u0026lt;br\u0026gt;Biddle we know today. I've seen items by other makers (including Krider)\u0026lt;br\u0026gt;retailed by Clark \u0026amp; Biddle, but it seems likely they also made some items, at\u0026lt;br\u0026gt;least early on.","brand":"sale - www.estatefreshaustin.com Estate Fresh Austin","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":49313480147160,"sku":"16340585125_ADAC","price":795.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0677\/6284\/7960\/files\/c1880-robbins-clark-biddle-14k-gold-retractable-pendant-physicians-pencilestate-fresh-austin-612895.png?v=1757923657","url":"https:\/\/estatefreshaustin.com\/products\/estatefreshaustincom-1266","provider":"Estate Fresh Austin","version":"1.0","type":"link"}