Any historians out there? Every year I re-read _A Christmas Carol_ and this year when I read the following sentence I wondered "what KIND of pen?" Would someone in 1843 London have an early fountain pen? Would he have used Scrooge's pen and inkwell (surely not!)

'At this festive season of the year, Mr. Scrooge,” said the gentleman, taking up a pen, “it is more than usually desirable that we should make some slight provision for the poor and destitute, who suffer greatly at the present time.'