Quill

The quill is the middle part (bridge) a bird's feather. The upper part of the keel is called spring shaft ( rachis ), the lower spring coil ( Calamus ) or spindle. At the coil, there are two openings: an upper navel (umbilicus superior) and a lower navel (umbilicus inferior). The belonging to the contour feathers coverts are found in many species of birds above the upper navel also has a so secondary spring ( Hypopenna ).

The quill pen as writing instrument

Quills than nibs replaced in Europe since the 4th century AD, the reed ( calamus ) as a writing device. They are the forerunners of the pens made ​​of metal, usually steel or gold, as commonly used in fountain pens. Since most springs were used by geese, they are also called goose quill or ( older) Gantenbein Kiel. For writing, the five outermost feathers of one wing were usually taken. Who wants to write with a quill pen, you should use because of the shape of the keel as a left-handed the feathers of the right wing than right-handers, the feathers of the left wing, because the slightly curved shape of the feathers on the wings is a mirror image, and affects the maneuverability when letter from. To write the disturbing fletching of the keel was mostly removed.

If you want to cut a keel, so you have to cure it first. For this purpose, the keel is cut obliquely and the marrow removed or pushed back. Then we soaked the quills in a glass of water in until they appear completely white. The soaked Kiel is now plugged into a container with hot sand, which must be so hot that the keels hiss, but not tear. It leaves them as long as in it until they are transparent at their tips. Finally, the located on the keel skin is scraped off with a sharp knife and wiped. Subsequently, the blank can be carried.

Only at the end of the 18th century developed the steel spring, which was in a holder, the spring holder, recessed. Previously, the quills were common and were gradually displaced.

Other uses

• In the Alpine- quill embroidery is embroidered with peacock quills leather.
• Quills were used in Renaissance music as picks.
• Strong quills such as the ravens were used as " tangents " for the clavichord.