What is the most obscure FP brand that you can think of?

[penwash]

Let's expand our repertoire of FP lore/knowledge together.

Either vintage or modern pens, from time to time you'd hear about (or bought from ebay) a brand so obscure that you wonder if anyone else know about it. Share and tell us what you know (or don't know) about it. Not limited to one, of course, the more the merrier.

PS: Bonus point if you actually have the pen and can share a picture of it.

A Master List of the brands mentioned in this thread has been compiled by our own Jon Szanto, and you can now benefit from his effort by going HERE (https://fpgeeks.com/forum/showthread.php/25214-What-is-the-most-obscure-FP-brand-that-you-can-think-of?p=321199&viewfull=1#post321199). Thank, you Jon!

[Jon Szanto]

If one can think of it, doesn't that make it less obscure? :D

I'll think about this and get back to you later...

[penwash]

If one can think of it, doesn't that make it less obscure? :D

I'll think about this and get back to you later...

I was hoping that the question is clear enough (it is clear in my scatter-brain), but maybe not :)

For example, I can think of a few brands that I know not a whole lot of people have heard about.
That brand is still obscure, right? But at least I know it and I can tell others in this thread. Now, as the result of this thread, I hope that some brands will became less obscure.

The other motivation for this question is that I'm curious as to how widespread everyone's knowledge is (are?) regarding brands, maybe a lot of people here thought brand A is common, yet I never heard of it.

Anyways, just something to think about in these hot (as in blazing hot) days.

[Deb]

How about the Silver Arrow? Late forties, probably made in a machine shop that had been doing war work and was looking for a new product.

https://images44.fotki.com/v1644/photos/2/3815032/14358355/imgp6174-vi.jpg (https://private.fotki.com/sempilch/private/imgp6174.html)

Sadly, this was not it. I have seen just three in the last fifteen years.

[Jon Szanto]

Well, Deb caused me to think back on a pen I've wondered about a few times, never having seen one live. There were certainly variations over the years but the ones that make me curious are known by this moniker:

http://burnham.wesonline.org.uk/Oddies_files/page5image792.jpg

This was the unique nib style created by the Scottish pen company Macniven and Cameron (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macniven_and_Cameron). These days any upturned nib gets called a "Waverly" (even, retroactively, the Sheaffer Triumph conical nib), but there is a distinct style to the originals, which I believe began life as a dip nib product. Lovely things:

https://c1.staticflickr.com/4/3684/12689021063_1a7521c4d1_b.jpg

Well, these are just a side fascination I've never had any connection with save for reading about and a few photos.

[Waski_the_Squirrel]

I like pens from behind the Iron Curtain. Would any of those count? Or is this question limited to modern brands? Are we talking boutique or custom pens? Or are we talking standard manufacturing?

[penwash]

I like pens from behind the Iron Curtain. Would any of those count? Or is this question limited to modern brands? Are we talking boutique or custom pens? Or are we talking standard manufacturing?

As I already mentioned in my original post, either vintage or modern brands are welcome.

To expand that even further, any pens made anywhere in the world is welcome. Also not limited to mass-produced pens, I would like to know any custom pens (different than kit pens), limited run production pens, etc.

After all, the goal of this thread is for us to learn together about something we didn't know before, Deb and Jon already gave me education on two pens I've never heard before.

[top pen]

What about this a "Brecon Professional" fountain pen. This is mine at least bought it off fleebay 2 weeks ago it has a section like a Montblanc 622 and has a gold nib. I can only find one other mention of the brand (on FPN) someone wondering what they had bought.https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/DhYAAOSwjdpbPnEH/s-l1600.jpg

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Brecon-Proffesional-Fountain-Pen-14k-Fine-nib-/123233001558?_trksid=p2047675.l2557&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&nma=true&si=AO3XkJf0VgpvcFGmiuKx2HpSgLs%253D&orig_cvip=true&nordt=true&rt=nchttps://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Brecon-Proffesional-Fountain-Pen-14k-Fine-nib-/123233001558?_trksid=p2047675.l2557&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&nma=true&si=AO3XkJf0VgpvcFGmiuKx2HpSgLs%253D&orig_cvip=true&nordt=true&rt=nc

[Deb]

That Brecon Professional is a very interesting pen, top pen. I can't find anything useful about it.

Jon, that's a magnificent leaf-shaped M&C nib that you show. I've had many of them over the years; some flexible, others firm. some with the tilt to the tip, others without, They are very beautiful and practical nibs. I used to pick those pens up for a song, now they fetch serious money and rightly so.

Here's one I would like to know more about, if any of our Dutch members see it:

https://images52.fotki.com/v1552/photos/2/3815032/14358355/IMGP6446-vi.jpg (https://private.fotki.com/sempilch/private/imgp6446.html)

It's a Winstona and it's a Dutch piston filler. That's all I know about it.

[Sailor Kenshin]

The first pen we ever restored was a Federal, and ugggglyyyyy....yellowish-ivoryish beater, that had at least ten different ink colors stuck in it, and took a size NINETEEN sac.

I love it.

There are also a couple of well-beaten, clipless sac-filling no-namers (I did call the first one Jezebel). Penwash gave me the idea for fashioning a roll-stop on these: 'gemstone' chips.

Maybe I can get pics later.

Okay...they're bad, but, left to right: Federal, two no name red pens. One's a button-filler.

http://extras.ourpatioparty.com/files/8615/3261/5554/Unusual_Pen_Trio-640p.jpg

[penwash]

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/937/43586123272_93c1da8d4f_c.jpg

Biltwel is a brand from Chicago. Not a whole lot of info about them, so it's one of those obscure ones. This particular pen shed some light because there is extra inscription on the barrel other than the typical brand name "Biltwel" in beautiful script. Underneath it says Barrett - Tebbel Co. then CHICAGO.
So now we know that this pen was made in Chicago and the name Tebbel may have some connection with the man who gave the world: Parker Duofold.

[Jon Szanto]

Biltwel is a brand from Chicago...

Good detective work. BTW: work on a lathe - did you reduce the section diameter or bore out the barrel a bit?

[Cob]

I have or have had, various oddballs here: The Standard Pen, another simply called England, three cheap Empress pens - still here (!) Nothing special - all lever fillers, the lot of them. I have an unbranded BHR pen with lever box filler - clearly good quality, but who made it?

Then there are the odd models from well-known makers - I have a Platignum Capillary pen (no cap) for example, and also one of the rather rare Croxley "Silvern Cap" button fillers with two-tone nib.

Most obscure though is perhaps my Whitehall Pen - stamped "Mabie Todd & Co"41336

Cob

[FredRydr]

I posted this obscure vintage French "Old Chap" three months ago in the What-is-your-latest-pen-acquisition? (https://fpgeeks.com/forum/showthread.php/2378-What-is-your-latest-pen-acquisition?p=238153&viewfull=1#post238153) thread.

41337

[penwash]

Biltwel is a brand from Chicago...

Good detective work. BTW: work on a lathe - did you reduce the section diameter or bore out the barrel a bit?

I reduced the part of the section that should fit snugly into the barrel. Having done this several times, I really appreciate how careful I had to be. If I were not using a small metal lathe, I won't be able to do this.

[KrazyIvan]

I have not been able to find much on this Parker "wannabe". It's very well made. It's the "Lucas" by Texas Fountain Pen Company LTD. This post over at the other board makes me think this pen might be Japanese but it does not list the whole name of the company, just Texas, so I cannot be certain. http://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/52513-pen-manufacturers-current-and-past/

https://scontent-dfw5-1.cdninstagram.com/vp/7ca1f0268597001c9d0d6e38dd63bbbc/5C122EA2/t51.2885-15/e35/16123224_1022093754563535_6441641913895354368_n.jp g

[AzJon]

https://i.imgur.com/APktDRU.jpg

Found this little gal a while back. Golden Queen. Don't know much about it other than its a metal bodied pocket pen. Button filler with a gold-plated steel nib.

photographed here next to a Franklin-Christoph 45 for size comparison.

[Kulprit]

https://i.imgur.com/APktDRU.jpg

Found this little gal a while back. Golden Queen. Don't know much about it other than its a metal bodied pocket pen. Button filler with a gold-plated steel nib.

photographed here next to a Franklin-Christoph 45 for size comparison.

Does it have a blind cap or do you have to remove the barrel to fill it? I don't see a seam to indicate the former.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[calamus]

I had never heard of these before, but I stumbled across this fountain pen on eBay. It's called a Haro, and has a glass nib. They were made in Germany.

https://i.imgur.com/3sKh2NL.jpg

[AzJon]

Found this little gal a while back. Golden Queen. Don't know much about it other than its a metal bodied pocket pen. Button filler with a gold-plated steel nib.

photographed here next to a Franklin-Christoph 45 for size comparison.

Does it have a blind cap or do you have to remove the barrel to fill it? I don't see a seam to indicate the former.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Fully disassembled:

https://i.imgur.com/lXITRLY.jpg

The button filler mechanism is encased in the metal tubing that is then covered by the metal body. Kind of a shame the nib is plated steel because the pen itself is otherwise very well made.

[AzJon]

https://i.imgur.com/slRiFdK.jpg

Meant to add this oddity as well. I realized how poor of condition the original pen body was in after receiving it and one of the tines had lost its tipping material. However, I have never seen another reference to the Kendrick Bellamy company anywhere else. The best reference I can find is that Kenrick Bellamy was once a book seller in Denver Colorado. From what I could find, it was apparently a rather large company as well, supplying books and goods to many on the western frontier.

A shame about the nib. It's a beautifully flexible nib, but that missing tipping, plus the fineness of the gold, means that unless I want to fork out more than the value of the nib or pen to get it repaired, it will have to go on unusable for now.

[penwash]

A shame about the nib. It's a beautifully flexible nib, but that missing tipping, plus the fineness of the gold, means that unless I want to fork out more than the value of the nib or pen to get it repaired, it will have to go on unusable for now.

Jon, even though you just have to keep it as part of your collection, I think you have done this nib a good service. Thanks to you now it has a bit more exposure. Not until we see these obscure brands that we realized how much ingrained in societies all over the world fountain pens were in the past. And to me, it's endlessly fascinating.

Putting my restorer/geek hat on, that nib looks awfully like an old Conklin Toledo nib. Something about its proportion seems familiar to me.

[SIR]

Let's expand our repertoire of FP lore/knowledge together.

Either vintage or modern pens, from time to time you'd hear about (or bought from ebay) a brand so obscure that you wonder if anyone else know about it. Share and tell us what you know (or don't know) about it. Not limited to one, of course, the more the merrier.

PS: Bonus point if you actually have the pen and can share a picture of it.

To be fair, outside of our little enclave, i'd reckon that the majority of people only know one or two of the most well known pen brands...

[AzJon]

A shame about the nib. It's a beautifully flexible nib, but that missing tipping, plus the fineness of the gold, means that unless I want to fork out more than the value of the nib or pen to get it repaired, it will have to go on unusable for now.

Jon, even though you just have to keep it as part of your collection, I think you have done this nib a good service. Thanks to you now it has a bit more exposure. Not until we see these obscure brands that we realized how much ingrained in societies all over the world fountain pens were in the past. And to me, it's endlessly fascinating.

Putting my restorer/geek hat on, that nib looks awfully like an old Conklin Toledo nib. Something about its proportion seems familiar to me.

Hmmm...Interesting. Now that you mention it, it does look like a Conklin nib. I wonder if, at a time, Conklin might have produced nibs as a specialty sub-brand run for the Kendrick Bellamy book shop?

Now I want to find a Conklin to see if I can fit the nib into it. That would be compelling to get the nib retipped. :)

Edit: This was the original pen body that the nib came from:

https://i.imgur.com/764tlBy.jpg

[penwash]

Let's expand our repertoire of FP lore/knowledge together.

Either vintage or modern pens, from time to time you'd hear about (or bought from ebay) a brand so obscure that you wonder if anyone else know about it. Share and tell us what you know (or don't know) about it. Not limited to one, of course, the more the merrier.

PS: Bonus point if you actually have the pen and can share a picture of it.

To be fair, outside of our little enclave, i'd reckon that the majority of people only know one or two of the most well known pen brands...

But... we are inside of our enclave here at the FPGeeks, aren't we? :)

I agree that no one who is not into FP writing or collecting would even give a hoot about obscure brands, but it seems that this thread has grown into a very educational one. At least for me.

[SIR]

To be fair, outside of our little enclave, i'd reckon that the majority of people only know one or two of the most well known pen brands...

But... we are inside of our enclave here at the FPGeeks, aren't we? :)

I agree that no one who is not into FP writing or collecting would even give a hoot about obscure brands, but it seems that this thread has grown into a very educational one. At least for me.

Oh, no doubt... and i don't disagree with asking the question; but as Jon observed obscurity is very relative and beyond a certain threshold there are many equals in the field of gross obscurity.

Another question though, which is the most obscure pen - from both well known and obscure makers?

[amk]

Obscure French brands: Matcher Colombes, Stylochap (goes with Oldchap, but I'm never sure if they are the same company or not).

Brands from God knows where: Talisman, Acorn.

All four are 1930s / 1940s. I'd love to know more about them if anyone has any ideas!

[Deb]

I am really enjoying this thread. Some great and interesting pens I would never have seen otherwise.

[penwash]

Obscure French brands: Matcher Colombes, Stylochap (goes with Oldchap, but I'm never sure if they are the same company or not).

Brands from God knows where: Talisman, Acorn.

All four are 1930s / 1940s. I'd love to know more about them if anyone has any ideas!

I may have encountered a Stylochap, but not the other three.

Never heard of Acorn or Talisman, sounds like British pen brands, doesn't it?

[Deb]

Acorn pens and stylos were made by Jewel in London. I think the Talisman is Continental, maybe French. It's a quality piston filler, or at least the ones I've seen are.

[Scrawler]

Is there any way to directly upload an image without using a hosting site? I have pictures of The Wembley pen to post. This obscure little number was already way out of date and obsolete when it came on to the market. It is a slender BCHR eye dropper pen.

[KrazyIvan]

Is there any way to directly upload an image without using a hosting site? I have pictures of The Wembley pen to post. This obscure little number was already way out of date and obsolete when it came on to the market. It is a slender BCHR eye dropper pen.

Go to the advanced editor for uploading options. If you use the quick reply, hosting links are the only option. Use the manage attachments option under the "Additional Options" box that is below your reply box. Click "Add Files." When you see your image in the catalog. Drag the image you want to the lower attachments box. Click the insert Inline button at the bottom of the dialog box and you will see your picture files listed under the Manage Attachments button in your reply page.

[Scrawler]

41434

This is the Wembley Pen. This was the cheap Bic of its age and like Bic pens most were just thrown away so very few survived to be seen by modern people. These sold for one shilling when an Onoto cost 30 shillings.

[Jon Szanto]

This may step a little outside of the thread title if for no other reason that it's an example where the brand isn't just obscure but unknown! I've posted this set before, but I'm sure a lot of people have found pens from the golden eras that didn't have any branding or provenance, and this set is like that. Absolutely no markings anywhere that would indicate original manufacture, in spite of the fact that it is moderately high quality and a nice material. I may have show this here on FPG before; I got some good info in a now-defunct Facebook group and not certain if I can ever find it again, but it is a set worth including.

https://i.imgur.com/kDvlaAK.jpg

[calamus]

That is an absolutely gorgeous set! Just beautiful.

[amk]

Jon, that looks very similar to a celluloid used by Bayard in France. One of my favourite patterns! It's the thin white line that really makes it ping.

One day I must get round to doing a celluloid/brand matching exercise and trying to work out which factories were supplying which brands.

[amk]

Deb, thanks for the info on Acorn - I picked the pen up in France, like the Talisman, so either they exported, or someone bought it on a trip to London.

[penwash]

41434

This is the Wembley Pen. This was the cheap Bic of its age and like Bic pens most were just thrown away so very few survived to be seen by modern people. These sold for one shilling when an Onoto cost 30 shillings.

That is cool that you have a survivor in such a good condition.

[penwash]

This may step a little outside of the thread title if for no other reason that it's an example where the brand isn't just obscure but unknown! I've posted this set before, but I'm sure a lot of people have found pens from the golden eras that didn't have any branding or provenance, and this set is like that. Absolutely no markings anywhere that would indicate original manufacture, in spite of the fact that it is moderately high quality and a nice material. I may have show this here on FPG before; I got some good info in a now-defunct Facebook group and not certain if I can ever find it again, but it is a set worth including.

https://i.imgur.com/kDvlaAK.jpg

That is quite ... electric! :D

[FredRydr]

...Absolutely no markings anywhere that would indicate original manufacture, in spite of the fact that it is moderately high quality and a nice material....
Jon, I know for a fact that's a Szant-O-Matic pen and pencil set. Only two sets were made before the California company failed due to a mixup in celluloid ingredients causing the other set to spontaneously combust, in turn resulting in a fire that burned half the town to the ground. How's your set doing?

[Deb]

...Absolutely no markings anywhere that would indicate original manufacture, in spite of the fact that it is moderately high quality and a nice material....
Jon, I know for a fact that's a Szant-O-Matic pen and pencil set. Only two sets were made before the California company failed due to a mixup in celluloid ingredients causing the other set to spontaneously combust, in turn resulting in a fire that burned half the town to the ground. How's your set doing?

I hate when that happens.

[Jon Szanto]

...Absolutely no markings anywhere that would indicate original manufacture, in spite of the fact that it is moderately high quality and a nice material....
Jon, I know for a fact that's a Szant-O-Matic pen and pencil set. Only two sets were made before the California company failed due to a mixup in celluloid ingredients causing the other set to spontaneously combust, in turn resulting in a fire that burned half the town to the ground. How's your set doing?

Smokin'.

BTW, I finally did a deep FB search and found the thread where some of the pen cognoscenti weighed in on that set. There was no easy way to export the thread but I'll pull the images and salient text and repost here later.

[Jon Szanto]

Just a post-script on my image of the "No-name" and a response regarding why this can be so fun... and the value of having a wide net. When I got these a couple years back I posted in a couple places, people thought they were cool, but there was one Facebook pen forum that had just the right people to chime in. Took me a while to find the thread but I'll pair some images with the comments they made. It really takes the detective work to another level and make it interesting in new ways (and, of course, you can always just be owning a POS pen).

My friend Allan Goforth jumped in quickly to mention that the material looked like a pattern that Waterman had used called "mahogany Then the next person to respond was Luis Leite, who said (and offered a photo):


"A custom order and made by Swan . You have similar pens with same clip, lever ,shape and plastic, with Swan imprint and also with Monogram or Belmont imprint for the Rexall stores .On the left you have a Mogram set and on the right a Swan pen."

https://i.imgur.com/fb7KPr7.jpg

Then Rick Krantz mused aloud as to whether it was a material Conklin used. Jonathan Veley chimed in:


" The plastic is most often associated with Eagle - which made Monogram and Belmont pens for a time. I've got a Michael-George, a Belmont and an Eagle compared in this article."

The article includes this nice photo (which I rotated for this post):

https://i.imgur.com/tn1TfGw.jpg?1

Marc Shiman then offered the following:


"Mabie Todd towards the end used that same clip and plastic. I don't have any photos of Swans with two cap bands though. All that means very little, by the end of US Mabie Todd, I doubt they were making their own components and were probably buying them from the same place this company did. Camel also used this plastic"

As is often the case, we have to go and hunt down stuff. Later in the thread he posted this comment/photo:


"Conklin Nozac and Camel parts - I don't have a cap for the Conklin, so was thinking of trying to make one from the Camel. The Conklin cap pictured was for size. A lot more ambition than capability."

https://i.imgur.com/YU8Nd3v.jpg

One of our occasional contributors on FPG, Daniel Kirchheimer, offered up the following, a delightful addition:


"Color is not perfectly accurate but you get the idea..."

https://i.imgur.com/dN4rcNK.jpg

The rest of the thread involved somewhat tangential topics, mostly relating to the difficulty of pinning down exact names on colors/patterns. Some of these objects were originally termed by fairly vanilla labels, like "Brown", and various other names have come into play. The dedicated collectors know all these details... or keep at it as much as they can!

I hope this has been of interest, especially in furthering Will's initial reasons for posting: that objet obscur du désir can certainly be worth obtaining.

[Cob]

Is there any way to directly upload an image without using a hosting site? I have pictures of The Wembley pen to post. This obscure little number was already way out of date and obsolete when it came on to the market. It is a slender BCHR eye dropper pen.

Yes there is.

Click on "go advanced", then "Manage Attachments", Browse - select your file, upload and at the bottom of the box you will see add... I have just done it with this relatively obscure Swan - a silver split lever from 1919 - the only year that they were made.

41449

Cob

[Deb]

That's a wonderful pen with a glorious stub. Envy.

[Cob]

This curiosity is called "Stylus". Certainly strange and I suppose obscure. It came with a horrid steel nib - I fitted an Esterbrook Relief nib that I had by me:4145041451

Cob

[Fermata]

I had a one off pen made by a NY inventor.

This was a lever filled pen, early 50s. The pen and nib were quite short, the cap was in two parts, one sleeve had a glass container the idea being that you could fill the pen whilst travelling. I found the patent for the pen and later offered the pen to the descendants of the inventor, not interested.

The design fault was that you could not fit the nib into the narrow neck of the glass bottle, which in any case only held around 1-2ml.

[Braxfeld]

"They come as a boon and a blessing to men,
the Pickwick, the Owl and the Waverley Pen."

[Scrawler]

The Harris pen is fairly obscure. Or at least I do not come across them very often. This model is a 1927 Harris University pen. It was, as its name suggests, aimed at students. The cap jewel unscrews and can be replaced with a different to reflect what colour ink is in the pen. I rebuilt this pen with parts from two identical pens and have kept the scrap in my pieces box.

41523

[carlos.q]

The most obscure FP brand in my collection is this 1935 Edel Chromstahl that I bought from Lexaf some 5 years ago:

41525

[Scrawler]

Are Summit pens obscure? I never see anyone discuss them. The pen at the bottom is a lever filled 1940 model. The one at the top is a 1930s bulb filler. These pens are characterized by being heavily chaised.

41543

[Deb]

Are Summit pens obscure? I never see anyone discuss them. The pen at the bottom is a lever filled 1940 model. The one at the top is a 1930s bulb filler. These pens are characterized by being heavily chaised.



Summits are not at all obscure in the UK but are probably not well known elsewhere.

[penwash]

Are Summit pens obscure? I never see anyone discuss them. The pen at the bottom is a lever filled 1940 model. The one at the top is a 1930s bulb filler. These pens are characterized by being heavily chaised.

41543

I have seen one or two Summit pens, but I don't remember the chasing being their distinctive feature.

Love those two pens, btw.

[penwash]

Let's swing to Italian pens.

This is a vintage Lalex pen. I don't know if it has a specific model number, but it's marked Lam. Oro (Laminato Oro, or "gold-laminated" in English).
Look at the chasing pattern on the gold. I think it's very cool.

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/934/43892913251_b70f3424de_c.jpg

The interesting part is that, for a pen that looks like a C/C filler, it actually has a fully functioning (albeit small) piston filling system. I cleaned it up, put some silicone grease to improve the suction and the pen fills with water (and ink) once more.

[Spideysgirl]

Vue-All. It's my latest acquisition.https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180807/1426b251716b1b7fe4c760754788a1c2.jpg

Sent from my PH-1 using Tapatalk

[FredRydr]

Lighting isn't great, but here's an extremely rare Rex, a German pen, in excellent condition. I plucked this from a table at the DC pen show two days ago. I haven't tried writing with it yet.

41566

[catbert]

Not exactly obscure (they are school pens after all) but uncommon around here —

Above: LUS Giubileo Scuola with adjustable steel nib. Student version of the Giubileo 53.
Below: Lincoln Giubileo Esport. Very similar to the Scuola. Not sure if this was a sub-brand, OEM version, or a knock-off.
41567

[Cob]

Are Summit pens obscure? I never see anyone discuss them. The pen at the bottom is a lever filled 1940 model. The one at the top is a 1930s bulb filler. These pens are characterized by being heavily chaised.

41543

I have seen one or two Summit pens, but I don't remember the chasing being their distinctive feature.

Love those two pens, btw.

I have had a few Langs-made National Security pens that had the same chasing as yours.

Cob

[Scrawler]

I have had a few Langs-made National Security pens that had the same chasing as yours.

Cob

This kind of chasing is called Guilloché or "Engine Turning". It is unfortunate that I do not have a good camera/light set up so that I could show off just how pretty it is.

[Cob]

I have had a few Langs-made National Security pens that had the same chasing as yours.

Cob

This kind of chasing is called Guilloché or "Engine Turning". It is unfortunate that I do not have a good camera/light set up so that I could show off just how pretty it is.

Yes, it is attractive - very similar to the chasing found on post-war black Onotos - which is known as "barley corn"

Cob

[ethernautrix]

I'm more interested in modern pens, but I have had a few obscure-to-me fountain pens, such as a Hardtmuth (Koh-I-Noor) with a fantastic soft stub (probably flex) Artus nib (Lamy took over Artus, I think, not sure). Hardtmuth and Artus were Czechoslovakian.

Also Czechoslovakian is a Centropen that I do have. A Polish friend who lives in the Czech Republic gave it to me a coupla years ago. It's a pretty pen, but it leaks, so I don't use it.

[penwash]

I'm more interested in modern pens, but I have had a few obscure-to-me fountain pens, such as a Hardtmuth (Koh-I-Noor) with a fantastic soft stub (probably flex) Artus nib (Lamy took over Artus, I think, not sure). Hardtmuth and Artus were Czechoslovakian.

Also Czechoslovakian is a Centropen that I do have. A Polish friend who lives in the Czech Republic gave it to me a coupla years ago. It's a pretty pen, but it leaks, so I don't use it.

Actually Artus is the name of the (German) company that Josef Lamy founded after his employment with Parker ended with Parker leaving Germany.
The company changed the name to Lamy in the 1950's if I recall correctly.

I still have an odd pen, which incorporates both Lamy and Artus branding in one single pen. The nib is flexible and so nice probably just like yours.

[calamus]

"They come as a boon and a blessing to men,
the Pickwick, the Owl and the Waverley Pen."

I recently bought three Waverley dip pen nibs and the antique box they originally came in on eBay. Here are the pictures from the auction (I don't have a macro lens, so can't take as good ones myself):

https://i.imgur.com/E8h1HFo.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/hV00X4y.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/DgDHXib.jpg

[Deb]

https://images34.fotki.com/v1623/photos/2/3815032/14358355/IMGP6706-vi.jpg (https://private.fotki.com/sempilch/private/imgp6706.html)

Not a fountain pen but an American stylo stamped "The Veteran". I know nothing about it. The style suggests the end of the nineteenth century to me but a conservative manufacturer might have held on to it a few years longer. The BCHR is coal-black and the pattern is crisp.

The Macniven & Cameron packaging above is very evocative of its time.

[penwash]

Alright, here's a fun one that I just got recently.

Brause Iserlohn 3030 Cito piston filler. I assume this is the same Brause company who is famous for their dip-nibs.

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1811/43480415804_6632bdc960_c.jpg

Their logo is a rooster, very cool, also engraved on their nib:

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1836/43480445244_2e6824dd90_c.jpg

[penwash]

Another obscure brand: Standard AWB Tertia.

A nice but unusual German piston filler from the 50's. Unusual because it's not black, it's blue... the kind of blue that you'd associate with Sailor special editions :)

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1866/30499483068_7e3d2e5438_c.jpg

[penwash]

Let's revive this thread.
This time with a ringtop, a really pretty one with all the trims (quite a few of them) in excellent condition.
What stood out for me is the quality of the chasing. Very nice, complex and deep. I'll try to post another photo in a better light to show the chasing pattern.
The only marking I can find is on the barrel saying: Evans -100.

The nib simply says 14K, with long tines and ample flexibility.

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1908/44504356515_26323f19cd_c.jpg

[AzJon]

The Waldorf Pen. This is an example that I dropped a Waterman nib into. the original set would have included a pencil as well as a ballpoint/lighter combination were one side of the pen was the ballpoint and removing the cap on the other end was a wick and striker. A bygone era

http://i.imgur.com/ffyPhFe.jpg?1 (https://imgur.com/ffyPhFe)

http://i.imgur.com/MeoJ1TG.jpg?1 (https://imgur.com/MeoJ1TG)

[penwash]

This pen is the first one I've seen that was made in the former Czecho-Slovakia back before they became two countries in 1993 (thank you Wikipedia).

The brand name is "Ocean" which is strangely English (unless OCEAN means something else Czech or Slovak). It is very well made, it's a piston filler with long ink window which unfortunately has darkened. The celluloid pattern is elegantly beautiful red and black marble.

I like the style of the pen, and the nib is a European Warranted 14ct with that same "sun" logo as the one I see on Merlin and some other German -made nibs.

How does it write? Flexellently.

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4881/45365622924_0e4492550a_c.jpg
"OCEAN" made in CSR

[Eddie Southgate]

This Elster , so far I have found no one who has heard of this brand . That is a shame as it is a very fine pen. Pictures are auction pictures provided by the seller , my pictures suck .

Eddie

[Eddie Southgate]

Well, Deb caused me to think back on a pen I've wondered about a few times, never having seen one live. There were certainly variations over the years but the ones that make me curious are known by this moniker:

http://burnham.wesonline.org.uk/Oddies_files/page5image792.jpg

This was the unique nib style created by the Scottish pen company Macniven and Cameron (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macniven_and_Cameron). These days any upturned nib gets called a "Waverly" (even, retroactively, the Sheaffer Triumph conical nib), but there is a distinct style to the originals, which I believe began life as a dip nib product. Lovely things:

https://c1.staticflickr.com/4/3684/12689021063_1a7521c4d1_b.jpg

Well, these are just a side fascination I've never had any connection with save for reading about and a few photos.

Very beautiful nib and writing . Anyone would be proud to own such a nib ! What does the rest of the pen look like , is ir as remarkable as that nib ?

Eddie

[Eddie Southgate]

This pen is the first one I've seen that was made in the former Czecho-Slovakia back before they became two countries in 1993 (thank you Wikipedia).

The brand name is "Ocean" which is strangely English (unless OCEAN means something else Czech or Slovak). It is very well made, it's a piston filler with long ink window which unfortunately has darkened. The celluloid pattern is elegantly beautiful red and black marble.

I like the style of the pen, and the nib is a European Warranted 14ct with that same "sun" logo as the one I see on Merlin and some other German -made nibs.

How does it write? Flexellently.

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4881/45365622924_0e4492550a_c.jpg
"OCEAN" made in CSR


That is Excellent !! Beautiful !! Will be looking for one like it .

[FredRydr]

This Elster , so far I have found no one who has heard of this brand....
That's a typical German design clip. The nib may be a replacement. Did you buy the pen from a European source?

[aquafox]

Not sure if it was mentioned earlier, but I rarely see mentioned Lindauer or Cleo Skribent.

While I never had those, I have read people on Pelikan's own forum singing the praise of three pens - the former for being cheap piston fillers around 30EUR, the latter for being quality piston fillers priced cheaper than Pelikan

[aquafox]

Looks like I cannot edit my previous post from mobile, so here it goes: Gate City Pen - made by Bexley IIRC

[penwash]

Yet another installment of obscure FP brand that no one ever heard of:

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4810/40018422833_66271e4809_c.jpg

Even after 400+ vintage pens, I still find a brand that I never heard of, like this pen. On the barrel it says Newport Safety. K.C. MO. PATENTD. And on the clip, it has a patent date sometime in the 1919.

So this pen is very old, as in 100 years old at least and I'm guessing it's made in Kansas City, Missouri.
The nib is clearly a replacement, because it's a Salz Bros 14K which is from New York.

Now, here's the good news. This nib, must be from one of the earliest Salz Bros production, probably about as old as the pen itself. And it's flexible, and I mean very high-quality flexible.

I don't like to use the term 'wet-noodle' because it's more problematic than useful, but this nib is one notch above what I'd call superflex which is not just about line variation, but the total experience of using the nib for flex writing.

[penwash]

How about another obscure pen brand that only a few have heard of?

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48240848427_25ed3ae78f_c.jpg

This bulb filler is interesting in that it's built very nicely, even the threads that separates the body is made out of metal, which is unlike other celluloid pens.
And surprisingly, I have restored and sold three of this brand and model (with variation), and for an obscure brand, a lot of people like it. This one is flying to a new home already.

Also, this is the first time I've seen the accompanying pencil.
Plus the nib is... so... flexible in a very satisfying way.

[Zou]

Penwash, your drawings are a lot of fun.

[penwash]

Penwash, your drawings are a lot of fun.

Why thank you, Zou. I appreciate that.

[penwash]

A Canadian Marxton (an Eclipse sub-brand). Maybe not as obscure to some in this forum, but it's here for other others to learn about.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48709168718_b8950e6642_c.jpg

[penwash]

It's time for another obscure vintage brand. This time it's the Majestic.
At a glance it kinda resembles Diamond Point, but it has a more tubular shape. The grey stripe celluloid is very nice.

Some of you may have encountered a few pens from this brand, I have also,

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49113806812_4e59c1b990_c.jpg

but this is the first time I actually see a 14K nib with MAJESTIC engraved on it.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49113806877_3ffc0b0d7d_z.jpg

[AzJon]

Here's one for ya, Will: a Mercedes pen.

https://i.imgur.com/99Ro3ih.jpg

[penwash]

I'll rise AzJon's beautiful Mercedes with this Thompson.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49218022827_5ded3716bd_b.jpg

It looks like a SWAN pen (especially the clip design), and that massive GF cap band.

The original THOMPSON nib looks 14K and big. One of the tough-as-nail vintage nib I've ever encounter. Sadly the tipping has pretty much gone, so my dilemma is whether to keep the original nib or find a good replacement (another similarly-sized vintage nib with flex or stub).

[penwash]

Here's another episode of... vintage pens no one ever heard of.

Well, at least I never heard of this one, maybe Deb or our other members from the UK have.

This is a Parker Duofold Junior clone, and I mean real clone. Everything is identical to a genuine Parker Duofold Jr. except a few mm longer when capped, which, in vintage pens means nothing because I can get two genuine Parker Duofold Jr. and they will be a few mm off from each other.

The only branding is the white engraving on the barrel that seems to say "Velva Tip" and BRITISH MADE underneath it.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49953515143_4637834271_z.jpg

Overall a cool pen, and look at the flex from the nib. I adjusted it because it almost fell off when it came to me.

[Deb]

I have come across Velva Tip pens (and nibs) from time to time. I don't know anything about the manufacturer and it isn't mentioned in Stephen Hull's book on British pens. Those I've had have been cheap pens of no real interest but your one looks like a keeper, Will. Is there anything on the nib?

[penwash]

I have come across Velva Tip pens (and nibs) from time to time. I don't know anything about the manufacturer and it isn't mentioned in Stephen Hull's book on British pens. Those I've had have been cheap pens of no real interest but your one looks like a keeper, Will. Is there anything on the nib?

Ah, there you are. So it is somewhat of an obscure brand even among UK pens.
The pen seems to be quite nicely made (at least this one). The cap band is nice and thick (not just a super thin ring like in cheaper pens).

The nib is just Warranted 14ct, no branding, which is why I didn't try to feature it on the photo.

[Deb]

Even the warranted 14ct nib is exceptional for Velva Tip. The ones I've seen have had plated nibs. The thick cap ring may be in emulation of those on the Duofold, which stand proud of the cap. I've seen this sort of thing with other cheap brands, where they will produce the occasional superior pen - or, conversely, where a top rank manufacturer produces a poor economy pen. It goes against the idea that we can assign 1st, 2nd and 3rd tier labels to manufacturers. It's more complicated than that and we must judge the pen itself.

[Johnny_S]

I had a one - off pen, it was a foolish design which I shall come to. It was designed by a pan called Medel Fried in the early 1950s, I found the US patent 2,658,479 which was for a small lever filled pen with a small glass container inside a second barrel, The overall length was then around 6 inches. The pen didnt work as intended, being a pen that you could fill whilst travelling. The failure was because the nib would not fit into the neck of the bottle

I found what I thought was the family of Mr Freid and offered them this pen but heard nothing. I didn't feel comfortable about owning a one off US pen and gave the pen to a member of the New York Pen Club, I thought that they would give the pen a better home than I could.

Patent 2,658, 479

[penwash]

I had a one - off pen, it was a foolish design which I shall come to. It was designed by a pan called Medel Fried in the early 1950s, I found the US patent 2,658,479 which was for a small lever filled pen with a small glass container inside a second barrel, The overall length was then around 6 inches. The pen didnt work as intended, being a pen that you could fill whilst travelling. The failure was because the nib would not fit into the neck of the bottle

I found what I thought was the family of Mr Freid and offered them this pen but heard nothing. I didn't feel comfortable about owning a one off US pen and gave the pen to a member of the New York Pen Club, I thought that they would give the pen a better home than I could.

Patent 2,658, 479

Any photos?

I'm curious to see how a lever filler could work with a glass container.

[penwash]

Even the warranted 14ct nib is exceptional for Velva Tip. The ones I've seen have had plated nibs. The thick cap ring may be in emulation of those on the Duofold, which stand proud of the cap. I've seen this sort of thing with other cheap brands, where they will produce the occasional superior pen - or, conversely, where a top rank manufacturer produces a poor economy pen. It goes against the idea that we can assign 1st, 2nd and 3rd tier labels to manufacturers. It's more complicated than that and we must judge the pen itself.

Agree. I have long discovered that 1st, 2nd, 3rd tier monikers are generalizations and should be treated as such.

[Johnny_S]

I had a one - off pen, it was a foolish design which I shall come to. It was designed by a pan called Medel Fried in the early 1950s, I found the US patent 2,658,479 which was for a small lever filled pen with a small glass container inside a second barrel, The overall length was then around 6 inches. The pen didnt work as intended, being a pen that you could fill whilst travelling. The failure was because the nib would not fit into the neck of the bottle

I found what I thought was the family of Mr Freid and offered them this pen but heard nothing. I didn't feel comfortable about owning a one off US pen and gave the pen to a member of the New York Pen Club, I thought that they would give the pen a better home than I could.

Patent 2,658, 479

Any photos?

I'm curious to see how a lever filler could work with a glass container.

I don't have any photos but there is a drawing with the patent.

I will try to describe it.

Start with a small 4 inch long lever filled pen on to which fits another barrel. therefore you have a normal screw thread cap screwing on to the barrel and a second barrel. Inside that second barrel is a small glass bottle. The idea is that you could carry around your own ink supply. Perhaps the designer thought that you could empty the ink into another container so that you could fill your pen, but the problem with that is that the ink capacity would never have been enough and the neck of the bottle was so small that you could not fit your nib inside the neck.

I guess that what happened was that Mr Fried had a pen made from his drawing but saw that it could not work and never made another.

[penwash]

How about no brand at all?

This handsome (and well made) pen came to me in a batch of pens. It has no brand, no engraving on it anywhere. Look at that fascinating celluloid.

The issue was, it had this rather weird section design that is long, tapered and ended up in an unimpressive semi-hooded nib (steel, corroded) that just looked odd overall. Having worked on hundreds of vintage pens, I can spot a lost-cause when I see one. I don't even bother trying to get it to work.

But the cap and barrel are *very* nice, with the lever being strong and snug, I like it already.

What a pity to not use the cap and barrel to get a nice pen out of them. So I do what I usually do, find a section in my jumble of "parts" and being hopeful to find a feed that would fit nicely. Then, I opened my spare nibs box (which is difficult and expensive to stock up) and ... this Sheaffer 14K called out to me.

This nib, is ... precise. There is no other words that can describe it adequately. It's more precise than a Rotring Rapidograph, or the smallest Pigma Micron (I have both). It was scratchy too, so I worked on it for a while to smooth it.

And voila,

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50296032598_c73f78aa99_c.jpg

Delicate lines and hints of details. A sketcher's dream pen.

That's what this pen is now made for :)

[KBeezie]

One I haven't come across again was an Ero from the 50s, with a little semiflex steel nib that was a threaded unit

http://static.karlblessing.com/pens/ero/uncapped.jpg

Likewise this little "Ultra - Italy" syringe filler. Granted neither of these are nearly as obscure as some I'm seeing here, but I didn't really know what to make of them.

http://static.karlblessing.com/pens/ultra/disassembled.jpg

[KBeezie]

And... I just remembered one I recently got, and restored, that has no brand at all that I can't quite figure out and have no history at all on it.

Tiny little guy, very smooth steel nib, probably hard rubber.

https://i.imgur.com/gPKUZPD.jpg

Came in a lot of some miscellaneous pens (including an old "Reliance" that I would love to find a cap for, and a Parker Challenger that needs both a new nib and button)

https://i.imgur.com/d208fk7.jpg

[penwash]

Sometimes an unbranded pen can look very unique and actually is a good pen:

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50338289137_b793807617_c.jpg

[Scrawler]

And... I just remembered one I recently got, and restored, that has no brand at all that I can't quite figure out and have no history at all on it.

Tiny little guy, very smooth steel nib, probably hard rubber.
<snip>

Came in a lot of some miscellaneous pens (including an old "Reliance" that I would love to find a cap for, and a Parker Challenger that needs both a new nib and button)

https://i.imgur.com/d208fk7.jpg

Can you tell me anything about the second pen from the left (chrome overlay).

[KBeezie]

Can you tell me anything about the second pen from the left (chrome overlay).

Nothing that I can really think of really. It's a vintage "Peerless" pen, has a big "P" on the clip (though other examples say peerless), steel nib that has some corrosion on it, but otherwise seems still ok. I've cleaned off the old sac and the lever is quite responsive and springy against the pressure bar. I haven't attempted to put a new sac on it yet. Pretty sure the black part is plastic and not something like ebonite. It's cleaned up a bit better now, just haven't tried to sac or ink it yet.

[Scrawler]

Can you tell me anything about the second pen from the left (chrome overlay).

Nothing that I can really think of really. It's a vintage "Peerless" pen, has a big "P" on the clip (though other examples say peerless), steel nib that has some corrosion on it, but otherwise seems still ok. I've cleaned off the old sac and the lever is quite responsive and springy against the pressure bar. I haven't attempted to put a new sac on it yet. Pretty sure the black part is plastic and not something like ebonite. It's cleaned up a bit better now, just haven't tried to sac or ink it yet.

I have an identical one here and know nothing about it. Not overly sure how I came by it. It is plastic. It is trying to look like something it is not. The nib is uncorroded but stiff and scratchy.

[penwash]

First entry in 2021.

An unusual Ambassador.

Usually, I find pocket-sized pens with this brand. This one is bigger, a smidgen longer than 5-1/4 when capped. It still retains the overall shape including the round cap end, but it has a flat barrel end. I love the trims.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51016223236_b886a806da_z.jpg

[Yazeh]

A modern pen, a Mico, probably Greek in origin....

Very narrow... Not comfortable pen to write with:

59553
59555

59554

[Kismet]

Sassy. Don't you worry, Jon, I got you.

[Jon Szanto]

Okay... following on the heels of a spam message? Can't tell. Anyway, I've got a pen inbound so I'm posting sales photos. I originally thought to put it in the "what are you waiting for" thread but I like this old thread of Will's so here you go.

Who's up for a Packard? It popped up the other night when I pulled up ebay and the design and condition of the pen just shouted to me "HIT THAT BIN BUTTON!" So I did. Nib is not in good shape but it seems generic and I'll have a replacement, but for a lower pen, this one looks pretty cool.


https://i.imgur.com/fr99heqh.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/hpc6OCYh.jpg

[Roe D Hym]

I do not have any old or obscure pens so I cannot really post anything. I could go through one or more of Richard Binder's book to find an obscure pen but I think the pen in this photo might be the most obscure of them all--assuming it is not his Montblanc.

By the way, nice pens everyone who posted.

I would assume that if the brand name was revealed The Rocket Man might employ one of his better known "silencer" methods to make sure the brand name did not get circulated.59714

[penwash]

Okay... following on the heels of a spam message? Can't tell. Anyway, I've got a pen inbound so I'm posting sales photos. I originally thought to put it in the "what are you waiting for" thread but I like this old thread of Will's so here you go.

Who's up for a Packard? It popped up the other night when I pulled up ebay and the design and condition of the pen just shouted to me "HIT THAT BIN BUTTON!" So I did. Nib is not in good shape but it seems generic and I'll have a replacement, but for a lower pen, this one looks pretty cool.


That's a nice score, Jon. I really like the clip and the cap band. Packard pens usually are not that nice.

Looks like a typical 5 inches when capped I presume?

[Jon Szanto]

That's a nice score, Jon. I really like the clip and the cap band. Packard pens usually are not that nice.

Indeed, hence my surprise. Lots and lots of combo pen/pencils, too.


Looks like a typical 5 inches when capped I presume?

Boy, you are good.

59720

[FredRydr]

...I really like the clip and the cap band. Packard pens usually are not that nice....
Not to mention condition of the black and pearl celluloid. Oh, I yearn for that quality in a '29 long oversize Balance.

[penwash]

Alright, to keep the ball rolling...

A tall and slender banker. New Banker that is.

Typically you see this brand on combo pen and pencil or awkward-looking conical-tipped pens.

I have been paying attention to this brand for a while because, well, I like obscure branded pens.

Then this guy showed up, look at that nice trims and flat top with black bands in strategic places that makes the pen resemble a Waterman Patrician at a glance. The framed lever adds to the resemblance, while the lever does not look like Waterman's it does look like high-end Eclipse pens.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51077543756_c55e09c62b_c.jpg

The original nib was steel, and completely hopeless. All it's good for is to be an example of why 14K nibs are far, far superior against the ravages of time.

So I upgraded the nib with a deliciously flexy Eversharp 14K nib.

[Jon Szanto]

Veeery nicely done, Will. That nib looks superb with that pen and the entire package - at least visually - punches above it's pay grade.

The "Packard" pen came in and I'll take a shot or two after I put a new nib in. Here's the really odd part: absolutely ZERO identification on the pen. I have no idea if the seller actually knew this model or just took a guess. At the moment, it is only allegedly a Packard. When I take that photo, I'll do another pen or two to keep things moving.

[eachan]

https://images15.fotki.com/v1669/photos/2/3815032/14358355/imgp4095-vi.jpg (https://private.fotki.com/sempilch/private/imgp4096.html)

Here's the Jock Pen, a real rarity from times gone by. It’s a black hard rubber pen with engine chasing, made in the 1920s. It resembles the Mabie Todd Blackbird of the same period, but with a smaller, warranted 14 ct nib. It is in good condition apart from considerable fading. I considered waiting for a better example to write about but it's just as well I didn't; I had this pen four years ago and I haven't seen another since.

https://images15.fotki.com/v1669/photos/2/3815032/14358355/imgp4096-vi.jpg (https://private.fotki.com/sempilch/private/imgp4097.html)

As you might guess, this is a pen with a Scottish connection. I can’t tell who made it, but it was made for William Ritchie & Sons, a wholesale stationer with outlets in Edinburgh and Glasgow. They also sold a range of stylos: the Elderslie, the Bantam and the Accipol, as well as the Floeesie Valveless fountain pen*.

https://images46.fotki.com/v297/photos/2/3815032/14358355/imgp4100-vi.jpg (https://private.fotki.com/sempilch/private/imgp4101.html)

William Ritchie & Sons was a well established company, going back to 1892. Like many other stationers, they added photography to their products, bringing out postcards of Scottish scenes and eventually getting into publishing, producing ‘Picturesque and Romantic Edinburgh’, a book I wouldn’t mind getting my hands on.

https://images44.fotki.com/v447/photos/2/3815032/14358355/imgp4103-vi.jpg (https://private.fotki.com/sempilch/private/imgp4104.html)

They’re no longer around. Though I can’t find an exact date I think they closed down soon after World War II. The Jock Pen is a fine memento of this company and I would love to find a Floeesie Valveless pen. It sounds very interesting.

*Stephen Hull: The English Fountain Pen Industry 1875-1975

[FredRydr]

...Here's the Jock Pen...with a smaller, warranted 14 ct nib....
Was that Warranted nib manufactured in the UK or imported? Warranted nibs were originally installed in pens widely sold by several American pen companies.

[eachan]

...Here's the Jock Pen...with a smaller, warranted 14 ct nib....
Was that Warranted nib manufactured in the UK or imported? Warranted nibs were originally installed in pens widely sold by several American pen companies.

Same here, Fred. At the time that The Jock was made, those pen manufacturers which had nib-making capacity supplied smaller companies with warranted 14 carat nibs. These vary in quality like named nibs, some being very good indeed.

[Seattleite]

...Here's the Jock Pen...with a smaller, warranted 14 ct nib....
Was that Warranted nib manufactured in the UK or imported? Warranted nibs were originally installed in pens widely sold by several American pen companies.

Same here, Fred. At the time that The Jock was made, those pen manufacturers which had nib-making capacity supplied smaller companies with warranted 14 carat nibs. These vary in quality like named nibs, some being very good indeed.

In the States, our Warranted nibs mostly used "K" for gold purity. The "Ct" and "1st QUALITY" seem mostly to appear on English and some European pens.

Some US pen companies probably made their own warranted nibs along side their branded nibs for marketing purposes. Sheaffer, for example, put warranted nibs in it's economy "Craig" line of pens, with the higher line "Sheaffer" pens having company-marked nibs. I think that Wahl also did this with some of their sub-brands, like Olympic, where the warranted nibs have a distinctive flourish between the lines of text, which identifies them as a Wahl product. Even Montblanc used a Warranted nib with unique graphics in its entry-level 32x button fill pens of the 1930's. I don't know if MB was making its own nibs at this time, but the choice to mark the lower line in a generic fashion was no-doubt done to "elevate" the higher price point offerings.

Bob

[FredRydr]

You mean, "Warranted" was simply a generic name coined by pen companies used on some of their nibs?

I've been under the impression that Warranted nibs were the product of a nib manufacturer that produced nibs under that trade name, "Warranted," and sold them to companies that produced lesser-tier pens. I've never researched the issue, so I've basked in my ignorance all these years.

I've had some great pens with those nibs, such as a No. 8 Warranted nib in a huge faceted lever-filler in red and black mottled hard rubber and dual jewels in gold from the Bay State Pen Company.

[penwash]

You mean, "Warranted" was simply a generic name coined by pen companies used on some of their nibs?

I've been under the impression that Warranted nibs were the product of a nib manufacturer that produced nibs under that trade name, "Warranted," and sold them to companies that produced lesser-tier pens. I've never researched the issue, so I've basked in my ignorance all these years.

I've had some great pens with those nibs, such as a No. 8 Warranted nib in a huge faceted lever-filler in red and black mottled hard rubber and dual jewels in gold from the Bay State Pen Company.

When a Wahl-Eversharp collector came to our pen club and presented about the history of that brand. I asked him whether they produced Warranted nibs, and the answer is "yes".

Wahl engraved some of their nibs with "Warranted" to be used for repairs, replacements, etc. Not sure if they are also selling these "Warranted" nibs to other companies, but I wouldn't be surprised if they did.

If Wahl-Eversharp did this, it is not too big of a leap if we assume that the other nib manufacturers at that time (Parker, Waterman, Sheaffer, Moore, etc.) were also doing it. Of course until someone publish a found record that secure this assumption, all we can do is guess, but quite reasonably.

This assumption is corroborated in a way by our experience with some of these "Warranted" nibs. As Eachan pointed out, some of them are *very* good, and the quality variation resemble that of those brand-name ones.

[Jon Szanto]

MASTER LIST: Obscure Pens
Please note that pens obscure in one region/market may be more known in another.
Updated: March 28, 2022 - Post #284 (https://fpgeeks.com/forum/showthread.php/25214-What-is-the-most-obscure-FP-brand-that-you-can-think-of?p=359806&viewfull=1#post359806) contained last cataloged entry.

This post collates all of the obscure pen brands either shown or mentioned within the thread, in alphabetical order. I chose alphabetical rather than order of appearance simply to make it easy to see if a brand has already been included before you write up a post. Will and I will keep it periodically updated, likely after at least one new page of posts. A pen brand common to one area may be rare or obscure elsewhere, and it is the unusual pens we individually find or are made aware of that we celebrate.

Now go out and buy some obsure pens!



Acorn
Altura
Ambassador
Artus
Biltwell
Brause
Brecon
Camel
Cascade
Celtric
Centropen
Clio Skribent
Corona
Croxley
Dixie
Edel
Elster
Empress
England
Epenco
Essex
Evans
Federal
Gate City
Golden Queen
Golsil
Greif
Grieshaber
Hardtmuth
Haro
Harris
Inidian
Inkograph
Jock
LUS
Lalex
Le Merle Blanc
Liberty
Lifelong
Lincoln
Lindauer
Macniven & Cameron
Majestic
Marxton
Matcher Colombes
Mercedes
Mico
Morrell's
National Pen Products
New Banker
Newport
Ocean
Old Chap
Ora-Pen
Packard
Pento
Perry & Co.
Progress
Rex
Remington
Sliver Arrow
St. George
Standard
Standard AWB
Steiner
Stephen's
Stylochap
Stylos
Summit
Ta Tung
Talisman
Texas FPC
T. H. Payne Co.
The Veteran
Thompson
TOZ Penkala
Ultra
Underwood
Unic
Universal Pen Co.
Velva Tip
Victor
Vivapen
Vue-All
Waldorf
Wembley
Whitehall

[Radonactionservices]

I do not have any old or obscure pens so I cannot really post anything. I could go through one or more of Richard Binder's book to find an obscure pen but I think the pen in this photo might be the most obscure of them all--assuming it is not his Montblanc.

By the way, nice pens everyone who posted.

I would assume that if the brand name was revealed The Rocket Man might employ one of his better known "silencer" methods to make sure the brand name did not get circulated.59714

Isn’t that a Moonman M6?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[eachan]

WRT your list, Jon, some of these pens may appear obscure to a US audience but not at all in their country of production. For instance, Croxley, Macniven & Cameron and Summit were mass market pens and are common today. Waverley was not a manufacturer but a model produced by Macniven & Cameron.

"Warranted" is not a trade name, Fred. It's simply an assurance that the nib contains the stated purity of gold.

[Yazeh]

I'm not sure if this is a rare pen but here goes: Unic made in France, Wet Noodle with a flex going from fine to stub. It cannot handle wet ink as they will dribble out of the pen...

59925

As you can see it has no clip:

59926

Line variation:
59927

Close up of nib:
59928

Close up of very elegant lever:
59929
Close up of material:

59930

[Jon Szanto]

WRT your list, Jon, some of these pens may appear obscure to a US audience but not at all in their country of production. For instance, Croxley, Macniven & Cameron and Summit were mass market pens and are common today. Waverley was not a manufacturer but a model produced by Macniven & Cameron.

"Warranted" is not a trade name, Fred. It's simply an assurance that the nib contains the stated purity of gold.

Eachan, thanks for the suggestions. When I approached Will about doing this (he is linking to that post in the first post of the thread), I proposed to simply collate all pens mentioned in the thread. I'm well aware that regionalism will come into play, seeing the global nature of an internet forum. At this point, I'm hesitant to retroactively dismiss past offerings of pens - I had forgotten this thread was already a couple of years old. In a way, it is more about 'personal obscurity' than a global thing, as only the highest level collectors and scholars would have knowledge of the tens of thousands of pens over the ages.

That said, I'm open to either deleting pens common in a particular region, or putting a disclaimer in the post that "some of these may be familiar in your area", something like that. Yes, I was conflicted on "Weverly" (I originally knew it just as a nib) and thought I had seen mention of a pen, and I'll take that one out. Agreement on your take on "Warranted" as well.

I'm totally open to any of this, I just thought it would be a good thing to take inventory of what has been discussed in this long-running thread.

[eachan]

Yes, Jon, my comment was just for clarification. It's a good thread and there are many more "oddities" that could join it. Yazeh, Unik spelled that way is rare. I haven't seen one before. What a great pen!

[Yazeh]

. Yazeh, Unik spelled that way is rare. I haven't seen one before. What a great pen!
I'm starting to question the spelling. It's actually Unic. My bad :)

[FredRydr]

. Yazeh, Unik spelled that way is rare. I haven't seen one before. What a great pen!
I'm starting to question the spelling. It's actually Unic. My bad :)
And I thought it was Eunuch. Does it flex?

[penwash]

. Yazeh, Unik spelled that way is rare. I haven't seen one before. What a great pen!
I'm starting to question the spelling. It's actually Unic. My bad :)

Yep, I was about to suggest the UNIC spelling :)

https://live.staticflickr.com/4487/36903006363_4b613fa14c_z.jpg

[Yazeh]

I thought it was obvious in the sample text... I would say from a fine to stub 1.1...

[penwash]

. Yazeh, Unik spelled that way is rare. I haven't seen one before. What a great pen!
I'm starting to question the spelling. It's actually Unic. My bad :)
And I thought it was Eunuch. Does it flex?

It was spelled UNIX, but some folks at some labs in New Jersey didn't like it.

[adhoc]

Since it's not yet on the list, TOZ Penkala.

Penkala, the inventor, is very well known throughout the region, as he was the inventor of many things, some of which include the first solid ink fountain pen and "automatic" pencil. His name is in fact so well known here, that we simply call fountain pens "penkala".

The company TOZ Penkala from 1907 still exists. You can see their catalogue here:

http://www.toz-penkala.hr/proizvodi-garniture

[adhoc]

There's also vivapen from Slovenia - they're actually the largest ink cartridge producer in the world. They make also bottled ink for several large and well known brands, as well as their own pens. On our first Pelikan meetup in Slovenia, they showered us with free ink and fountain pens.

Which turned out kind of odd, as only 4 of us gathered and we were left with litres of ink and dozens of fountain pens :D

https://www.vivapen.com/index.html#section_4

[FredRydr]

There's also vivapen from Slovenia - they're actually the largest ink cartridge producer in the world. They make also bottled ink for several large and well known brands....
Sheaffer, by any chance?

[adhoc]

Yup.

[Yazeh]

https://live.staticflickr.com/4487/36903006363_4b613fa14c_z.jpg

Will that's such a beautiful pen. And that clip really becomes it. It's a lever filler I presume?
The nib looks like mine. Is it wet noodle with extra flex?

[FredRydr]

I’m such a sucker for red and black mottled vintage hard rubber that is matched with gold accoutrement.

[Yazeh]

I’m such a sucker for red and black mottled vintage hard rubber that is matched with gold accoutrement.
What is the difference between the black mottled vintage hard rubber and the BHCR? To the touch they feel quite different.

[FredRydr]

I’m such a sucker for red and black mottled vintage hard rubber that is matched with gold accoutrement.
What is the difference between the black mottled vintage hard rubber and the BHCR? To the touch they feel quite different.
The black hard rubber BHCR pens are, of course, chased, while most red and black hard rubber pens are not chased, leaving the surface smooth. In the dark, I doubt you could tell by feel alone an all-black smooth hard rubber pen from a red and black smooth hard rubber pen.

A quick snapshot. From left to right (with lingo): black hard rubber (BHR) smooth; mottled red and black hard rubber (MHR) smooth; black chased hard rubber (BCHR) chased:

59940

Keep in mind that chasing isn't for grip (though it may benefit), but enhances the appearance of a boring black rod. The mix of red and black hard rubber creates an interesting appearance without the need for chasing. For fun, look for the various patterns created by the old manufacturers, as well as the names collectors have since coined for them: mottled, woodgrain, ripple, rosewood and others.

[Yazeh]

I’m such a sucker for red and black mottled vintage hard rubber that is matched with gold accoutrement.
What is the difference between the black mottled vintage hard rubber and the BHCR? To the touch they feel quite different.
The black hard rubber BHCR pens are, of course, chased, while most red and black hard rubber pens are not chased, leaving the surface smooth. In the dark, I doubt you could tell by feel alone an all-black smooth hard rubber pen from a red and black smooth hard rubber pen.

THanks Fred, I'll do a blindfold test later :)

[penwash]

https://live.staticflickr.com/4487/36903006363_4b613fa14c_z.jpg

Will that's such a beautiful pen. And that clip really becomes it. It's a lever filler I presume?
The nib looks like mine. Is it wet noodle with extra flex?

Indeed, it's a lever filler.
The nib can produce some line variations, just a tad more than a semiflex. It's not a "wet-noodle". :)

[Yazeh]

Thanks so much for the photo Fred. Now I get it. My Conway Steward 330 is a BHR, which is quite smooth to the touch, compared to MHR.

Here is the flexing capabilities in a video I did for the Bible Ink review. (It's a dry Iron gall ink)


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=99_jXl7aBHM&t=2s

[Seattleite]

. Yazeh, Unik spelled that way is rare. I haven't seen one before. What a great pen!
I'm starting to question the spelling. It's actually Unic. My bad :)
And I thought it was Eunuch. Does it flex?

I think that on a Eunuch, the part that flexes has been removed. They are not even known for flexing their biceps, much.

I have a little Unic metal overlay with a hooded nib... Keeps things out of harms way, I guess.

Bob

[FredRydr]

I think that on a Eunuch, the part that flexes has been removed....
Depends which culture.

[Jon Szanto]

Ok, this is really sick: I just purchased a set: fp, pencil, and... one other object TBD. I did so because it specifically has the name "Pen Company Brand". As generic as it could ever be. Photos when it gets here.

[penwash]

While we're waiting for Jon's latest find, we'll visit this nice BCHR made by:

T.H PAYNE Co. from Chattanooga, TN, USA.

I would be very impressed if you have a pen from this company, or can tell me more info about them. :)

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51111159587_8258ae063b_c.jpg

And as you can see in the photo, the *chasing* (patterns engraved on the barrel and cap) is still clearly visible and complete. Also amazingly, all the trims (clip, cap band, lever) are still snug and show no signs of major wear. Either the owner of this pen took care of it, or this pen was never used much, which probably partly caused by the nib, which is so messed up.

Suffice to say that I spent quite some time to get it to write again, in a way that I like.
But the deed is done, and I'm happy enough to sketch this with the pen.

Interestingly, a letter G in a circle adorned both the top of the clip and the end of the lever. Wonder why? G. Payne is the founder perhaps?

[Jon Szanto]

Ok, this is really sick: I just purchased a set: fp, pencil, and... one other object TBD. I did so because it specifically has the name "Pen Company Brand". As generic as it could ever be. Photos when it gets here.

Annnnd... as it turns out, the seller was mistaken, and there is no branding whatsoever on the pen with that company name. However, the one marking at all is on the nib, which I believe is original, and I don't think the brand has come up yet: Epenco, the lower tier offerings from the more venerable Eagle Pencil Company. I haven't had time to shoot photos yet so this is one of the auction photos - guess what the small, 3rd item is?

https://i.imgur.com/E9htv25.jpg

[penwash]

Wow, Jon!

That Epenco set is super cool. I never seen a celluloid pattern like that.

And that mysterious tool. What can that be?
Sizing it up against the pen, it's quite small. Is it a thread puller/remover ?

[Scrawler]

- guess what the small, 3rd item is?


Toothpick or spare lead case.

[Jon Szanto]

And that mysterious tool. What can that be? Sizing it up against the pen, it's quite small. Is it a thread puller/remover ?


Toothpick or spare lead case.

Well, Scrawler is closest: it does appear to be a spare lead holder (none were inside) that also has the bonus of holding a spare eraser in place, which can be used.. for erasing.


https://i.imgur.com/FrjB7REl.jpg

[penwash]

Inkograph may not be an obscure brand for those who have in this hobby for a long time.

But one can certainly make an argument that it's not a brand that is popular or talked about often.

Partly is because this company/brand made only a few fountain pens compared to their stylo-pens (technical pen), a market that they seem to be more comfortable (successful?) in.

For me, all I care about is that their pens, ~100 years later still retain their charm, and their build quality is obviously above par.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51159641833_dc33233a35_c.jpg

This one began its life as a stylo pen, but I converted it into a fountain pen, the nib just arrived last week. A stub 14K which is not common for American vintage nibs. Needs a lot of tuning to write well, which it does now.

[penwash]

This one is a no-brainer to be in this thread. The red version of the striking "Indian" brand pen.
Probably one of the more elusive pens even for seasoned vintage pen fans.

EDIT: Forgot to mention the *obscure* brand... duh!

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51178488566_f073fb1286_c.jpg

[FredRydr]

I know the celluloid, but not the brand.

[Jon Szanto]

Looks like Will gathered himself a nice Indian.

[Radonactionservices]

Maybe Wancher? The Dream Pen is quite amazing in this rippled ebonite. They always send in a really nice box and pen kimono.


https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20210514/9f3ba4521b79d0fd6da48114637dbe99.jpg


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Jon Szanto]

Maybe Wancher?

I dunno about that, based on how hard it was to stop the steady stream of spammy emails I got from them after one visit to the website!

[penwash]

I know the celluloid, but not the brand.

I forgot to mention the brand. Hah!
Edited the post.

[Radonactionservices]

Maybe Wancher?

I dunno about that, based on how hard it was to stop the steady stream of spammy emails I got from them after one visit to the website!

Strange. I never received spam from them, although I have received an occasional email on new products, similar to Karas Kustom. They’ve been responsive to my emails, so you might just reach out to them.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Jon Szanto]

I forgot to mention the brand. Hah!
Edited the post.

I thought you were turning it into a quiz!


Strange. I never received spam from them, although I have received an occasional email on new products, similar to Karas Kustom. They’ve been responsive to my emails, so you might just reach out to them.

Oh, I eventually got them to stop the flow, no big deal. I'll let Will decide about the inclusion of the brand - I see it mentioned quite a bit in some of the forums I frequent and I thought most of this was about obscure brands of the past, but no reason to be pedantic. That's a handsome pen you posted, too.

[penwash]

Maybe Wancher? The Dream Pen is quite amazing in this rippled ebonite. They always send in a really nice box and pen kimono.



Just curious, why do you consider Wancher as an obscure brand?

They advertise quite heavily and I don't think there are too many people who never heard of them.

[calamus]

Let's revive this thread.
This time with a ringtop, a really pretty one with all the trims (quite a few of them) in excellent condition.
What stood out for me is the quality of the chasing. Very nice, complex and deep. I'll try to post another photo in a better light to show the chasing pattern.
The only marking I can find is on the barrel saying: Evans -100.

The nib simply says 14K, with long tines and ample flexibility.

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1908/44504356515_26323f19cd_c.jpg

I love your little drawings!

[penwash]

I love your little drawings!

You are too kind. Thank you for taking the time to let me know.

[Sailor Kenshin]

I love your little drawings!

You are too kind. Thank you for taking the time to let me know.

Have I mentioned this lately? 😉

[penwash]

I love your little drawings!

You are too kind. Thank you for taking the time to let me know.

Have I mentioned this lately? 😉

You always took the time, SK.

It is I who haven't thank you enough.

So, Thank you!

[MarcoA64]

I found these bundled, never heard of before them, at an auction I won:

The Croxley Pen by Dickinson
Stephen's Lever Filler
Altura

There is also a red ripple, broad stub nib, which only says 'Made in England' on the end of the barrell

All have gold nibs. Cheapos, in my opinion, that write very well now that I have replaced the sacs.

[eachan]

All very well known in the UK. All quality pens.

[Jon Szanto]

All very well known in the UK. All quality pens.

At some point we’ll have to have Will weigh in on what should go on the list. Regional branding may be tricky to sis’s out, but this is all casual, anyway.

[penwash]

All very well known in the UK. All quality pens.

At some point we’ll have to have Will weigh in on what should go on the list. Regional branding may be tricky to sis’s out, but this is all casual, anyway.

I think in the spirit of this thread, it's okay to have brands that are obscure to the poster, but are commonly known some others.

In the end, I hope we all learn something, and that's really what I envision this thread to be about.

[eachan]

Fair enough if that's how you want to go but I can't accept as obscure pens that had production runs in the thousands - rather more than most modern pens. The problem here is the limitation of people's knowledge of pens made in countries other than the US.

[penwash]

Fair enough if that's how you want to go but I can't accept as obscure pens that had production runs in the thousands - rather more than most modern pens. The problem here is the limitation of people's knowledge of pens made in countries other than the US.

Eachan, let's suppose a member from UK posted here that he found a neat little pen called WASP.

That brand may be obscure to him, but not to me, so I would tell him that WASP is a sub-brand from the mighty Sheaffer, and there are quite a bit of them produced back then. The result is that the member from UK learned about his new pen, and I am reminded that WASP may be an odd and obscure brand from someone who are not pen collector in the US. Which is totally fine with me.

That scenario is exactly what just happened here. A member posted about some pens whose brand is obscure *to him*. And you pointed out that those are actually quite common pens in the UK.

One of the outcomes is that even I (not the OP) learned a new brand called Altura that I wouldn't have known apart from this.
The other outcome is that everyone learned *from you* that those brands are quite common in the UK.

With this give-and-take approach, I think we all would continue to benefit from this thread.

And alluding to what Jon said earlier, this thread is not my "crusade", it's just a friendly chat among pen friends, that happens to be international in scope. I hope that you would consider this perspective and continue to have fun here :)

[eachan]

Nothing I was said was intended to be unfriendly or to spoil anyone's fun. I just made what I felt was a necessary clarification. Lets leave it at that.

[FredRydr]

Nothing I was said was intended to be unfriendly or to spoil anyone's fun. I just made what I felt was a necessary clarification. Lets leave it at that.
That's the way I read it.

[penwash]

Nothing I was said was intended to be unfriendly or to spoil anyone's fun. I just made what I felt was a necessary clarification. Lets leave it at that.

Then I am relieved.

Thank you :)

[Jon Szanto]

Nothing I was said was intended to be unfriendly or to spoil anyone's fun. I just made what I felt was a necessary clarification. Lets leave it at that.

That's my takeaway, too. I think we are just casually cataloging pen brands that we had not personally been aware of. IN that light, and in the thread of the discussion, we become enlightened by our colleagues with different and/or broader experience. The unknown becomes the known.

And it's among friends.

[penwash]

As per Jon's request, here's another look of the now christened "Gee Bee Steiner" pen :)

This old woodgrain ebonite pen of sizeable dimension (for vintage pens) is not only in a nice condition, but also has a unique name fit for this thread. On the barrel, the brand is Steiner None Finer.

I thought someone had a real sense of humor engraving that on a commercially marketed pen. It's catchy!
And probably that was exactly the response they were hoping for.

The only thing this pen was missing is its original clip, so I put a stop to it, a rollstop, that is.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51229111413_c0c94c6162_z.jpg

Yes, this pen is now working again. It came with a Warranted 14K which is really flexible. Deliciously so.

For more info on how the rollstop came to be, go to this thread (https://fpgeeks.com/forum/showthread.php/34565-A-high-flying-rollstop) which has a sketch of the airplane also.

[An old bloke]

I haven't suggested any make of pen because of suspect that if I know about it then I can't be obscure.

[penwash]

I haven't suggested any make of pen because of suspect that if I know about it then I can't be obscure.

This thread is about learning together about pens that are not known.

Whether it's not known to some of us, one of us, two hundreds of us, doesn't matter, as long as collectively we all learn something that enrich our enjoyment in this hobby.

If you want to be pedantic about the actual meaning of the word "obscure", then yeah, this thread probably won't be that useful for you.

But if you consider switching your perspective, and take this thread as it was intended, then for sure you can participate, and have fun with the rest of us.

Suggest any make that you think could inform or educate others.

Just leave Scheaeffer out of this... :D

[FredRydr]

There's the Rex Lady 100, my little piston-filler. Ever heard of that?

61404

[mizgeorge]

What a very pretty little pen :)

[An old bloke]

I haven't suggested any make of pen because of suspect that if I know about it then I can't be obscure.

This thread is about learning together about pens that are not known.

Whether it's not known to some of us, one of us, two hundreds of us, doesn't matter, as long as collectively we all learn something that enrich our enjoyment in this hobby.

If you want to be pedantic about the actual meaning of the word "obscure", then yeah, this thread probably won't be that useful for you.

But if you consider switching your perspective, and take this thread as it was intended, then for sure you can participate, and have fun with the rest of us.

Suggest any make that you think could inform or educate others.

Just leave Scheaeffer out of this... :D

Thank you for clarification.

I almost feel as though I've been scolded and should say, 'Yes Mother. I'll do better next time.' That aside, my comment was in response to the exchange above discussing one's awareness of only one pen of a brand that may have numbered in the thousands as one respondent put it. My comment was my ignorant attempt to express the sentiment that there, people like me, who despite a long life of fountain pen use -- seven decades in my case -- understand that our experience is in fact limited, and that we do not know it all, nor do we pretend to do.

You have my apologies for my ignorance.

[Sailor Kenshin]

I just enjoy these beautiful pen pictures!

Uncertain if the Federal I posted way upthread is considered obscure. The two accompanying NoNami probably are.

[Jon Szanto]

Uncertain if the Federal I posted way upthread is considered obscure.

Hey, it made the list! Obscure enough for me!


I almost feel as though I've been scolded and should say, 'Yes Mother. I'll do better next time.' ... You have my apologies for my ignorance.

Let's all just take a step back for a moment. This thread is not comprehensive nor rigorously academic and not meant to be exclusive. It is a light and casual attempt to survey anyone who wishes to contribute and answer a very simple question: "what is the most obscure pen you have come across?". There isn't any need to make it more or less than that, no one knows them all, many of us have slim knowledge compared to the great collectors of the hobby, and we're trying to have an enjoyable thread collecting pens that surprised us with their mysterious lineage.

Eachan brought up a good point about regional brands, and I think we've addressed this. Please, please: there isn't any need for defensiveness or any other grievances. Chalk it all up to the inability, at times, for the written language to adequately convey our meanings. I can state, without any hesitation, that neither Will nor I have a desire for anything but for people to have a good time looking at lesser-known pens. Nothing more. Take the thread for what it is and let it give you a bit of respite from the difficulties of our world at large.

[penwash]

I almost feel as though I've been scolded and should say, 'Yes Mother. I'll do better next time.' That aside, my comment was in response to the exchange above discussing one's awareness of only one pen of a brand that may have numbered in the thousands as one respondent put it. My comment was my ignorant attempt to express the sentiment that there, people like me, who despite a long life of fountain pen use -- seven decades in my case -- understand that our experience is in fact limited, and that we do not know it all, nor do we pretend to do.

You have my apologies for my ignorance.

That part I am highlighting above is not a fair statement.

I have *always* been very careful in crafting the sentences that I put out in a public forum.
Yet somehow my statements seem to reached you in a way that I *never* intended.

Nowhere in my attempt to appeal for the purpose of this thread, have I not being respectful of your perspective. By inviting you to *consider*, I am leaving the choices to you -- out of courtesy.

How that can be implied in any shape or form that I am "scolding" you, is beyond my comprehension.

Also, you don't have to apologize for anything, we are fellow members of this forum and as far as I'm concerned, we are of equal standing, and there are no "offences" recorded anywhere.

As Jon mentioned above, there are enough issues in the world, shall we just leave things that are meant to be light-hearted stay that way?

[FredRydr]

Hush!

[Sailor Kenshin]

Hush!

That Deep Purple song?

[penwash]

There's the Rex Lady 100, my little piston-filler. Ever heard of that?

61404

Nope, never heard of it.

How long is this Rex Lady when capped?

This reminds me that I have probably the smallest and daintiest piston filler (that I've ever seen), it's smaller than even Merlin Merlina, yet a piston filler.

[mizgeorge]

...I have probably the smallest and daintiest piston filler (that I've ever seen), it's smaller than even Merlin Merlina, yet a piston filler.

That sounds like my dream pen!

[Jon Szanto]

This reminds me that I have probably the smallest and daintiest piston filler (that I've ever seen), it's smaller than even Merlin Merlina, yet a piston filler.

Smaller than a Pelikan M320?

[FredRydr]

...How long is this Rex Lady when capped?...103mm


...Smaller than a Pelikan M320?110mm (according to reviews).

[Jon Szanto]

...Smaller than a Pelikan M320?
110mm (according to reviews).

Yeah, that's it. Boy, that photo is misleading, looks like a fullsize Pel 100 or something!

[penwash]

This little darling of a piston filler clocks in at 107mm capped. So the Rex Lady won by a smidgen in terms of smol-ness.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51255211926_e5eb795c63_c.jpg

But it's slender, really reminds me of the Merlina. Now, if I can figure out how to open the piston filler mechanism without cracking anything, I can replace the cork inside.

[FredRydr]

This little darling of a piston filler....
Looks like it has a nib from the same source as the Rex Lady 100.

[Scrawler]

I haven't suggested any make of pen because of suspect that if I know about it then I can't be obscure.

This thread is about learning together about pens that are not known.

Whether it's not known to some of us, one of us, two hundreds of us, doesn't matter, as long as collectively we all learn something that enrich our enjoyment in this hobby.

If you want to be pedantic about the actual meaning of the word "obscure", then yeah, this thread probably won't be that useful for you.

But if you consider switching your perspective, and take this thread as it was intended, then for sure you can participate, and have fun with the rest of us.

Suggest any make that you think could inform or educate others.

Just leave Scheaeffer out of this... :D

Thank you for clarification.

I almost feel as though I've been scolded and should say, 'Yes Mother. I'll do better next time.' That aside, my comment was in response to the exchange above discussing one's awareness of only one pen of a brand that may have numbered in the thousands as one respondent put it. My comment was my ignorant attempt to express the sentiment that there, people like me, who despite a long life of fountain pen use -- seven decades in my case -- understand that our experience is in fact limited, and that we do not know it all, nor do we pretend to do.

You have my apologies for my ignorance.

The British manner of humour is sometimes a little too understated for the international stage.

[Jon Szanto]

The British manner of humour is sometimes a little too understated for the international stage.

Certainly. All the more reason for everyone to take care in both delivery and reception of communication.

And since we're doing this in a modern, electronic form, it never hurts to insert one of these :D if you aren't certain how your comment will be taken.

[FredRydr]

...And since we're doing this in a modern, electronic form, it never hurts to insert one of these :D if you aren't certain how your comment will be taken.
https://advrider.com/f/styles/advrider_smilies/friday.gif

[mizgeorge]

This little darling of a piston filler clocks in at 107mm capped. So the Rex Lady won by a smidgen in terms of smol-ness.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51255211926_e5eb795c63_c.jpg

But it's slender, really reminds me of the Merlina. Now, if I can figure out how to open the piston filler mechanism without cracking anything, I can replace the cork inside.

Oh goodness, that is SO pretty - you lucky thing! I can see why you liken it to a Merlina.

Is it blind capped or integrated?

[penwash]

This little darling of a piston filler clocks in at 107mm capped. So the Rex Lady won by a smidgen in terms of smol-ness.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51255211926_e5eb795c63_c.jpg

But it's slender, really reminds me of the Merlina. Now, if I can figure out how to open the piston filler mechanism without cracking anything, I can replace the cork inside.

Oh goodness, that is SO pretty - you lucky thing! I can see why you liken it to a Merlina.

Is it blind capped or integrated?

Excellent question and now I'm kicking myself for not showing it on that photo.

It is a long-ish blind cap. Inside, an equally slender piston dial.

[Jon Szanto]

...And since we're doing this in a modern, electronic form, it never hurts to insert one of these :D if you aren't certain how your comment will be taken.
https://advrider.com/f/styles/advrider_smilies/friday.gif

Some days I could just slap you.

https://imgur.com/iEltYkw.gif

[mizgeorge]

Excellent question and now I'm kicking myself for not showing it on that photo.

It is a long-ish blind cap. Inside, an equally slender piston dial.

How very elegant. I wonder if there's a pin lurking in there somewhere...

[Jon Szanto]

FWIW, here is a similar no-name Italian pen, piston filler, with blind cap removed. Will can comment whether it looks like his in terms of the piston knob (sorry for the photo quality). This pen is just a tiny bit larger, around 110mm.


https://i.imgur.com/1VtGszfl.jpg

[mizgeorge]

FWIW, here is a similar no-name Italian pen, piston filler, with blind cap removed. Will can comment whether it looks like his in terms of the piston knob (sorry for the photo quality). This pen is just a tiny bit larger, around 110mm.


https://i.imgur.com/1VtGszfl.jpg

Love this one too - what a fabulous colour *sigh* :)

[Sailor Kenshin]

They's purdy.

[FredRydr]

I'm sure you've heard of the Ora-Scol 227, another piston-filler. This lovely little Swiss pen is a massive 115mm long, capped. (a/k/a "Ora-Pen")

61444

Well...Christof knows.

[Jon Szanto]

Boy, Fred - you and all your Silver-Ray celluloid pens!

[FredRydr]

Boy, Fred - you and all your Silver-Ray celluloid pens!

I really should start a thread featuring them, not only silver, but also emerald, copper and even blue.

[Jon Szanto]

Boy, Fred - you and all your Silver-Ray celluloid pens!

I really should start a thread featuring them, not only silver, but also emerald, copper and even blue.

https://i0.wp.com/www.rowsdowr.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/make-it-so-captain-600x423.jpeg?resize=600%2C423

[christof]

I really should start a thread featuring them, not only silver, but also emerald, copper and even blue.

Well this sounds like a plan!
C.

[jar]

Ferrari da Varese

[eachan]

The Progress fountain pen was made at Newhaven by Valentine. It's a close relative of the Osmia and was made only for a few months in 1932.

https://images44.fotki.com/v1644/photos/2/3815032/14358355/progressa-vi.gif (https://private.fotki.com/sempilch/private/progress-a.html)

A huge variety of button and lever fillers were produced.

https://images41.fotki.com/v1673/photos/2/3815032/14358355/progressb-vi.gif (https://private.fotki.com/sempilch/private/progress-b.html)

This pen is very rare now and has faded from memory, known only by a few determined collectors.

[FredRydr]

The Progress fountain pen was made at Newhaven by Valentine. It's a close relative of the Osmia....
They look as though they're cousins to Waterman's with those celluloids and clips and levers reminiscent of Patricians.

[eachan]

I agree. The button fillers have more than a hint of Duofold.

https://images42.fotki.com/v903/photos/2/3815032/14358355/progressc-vi.gif (https://private.fotki.com/sempilch/private/progress-c.html)

[penwash]

The Progress fountain pen was made at Newhaven by Valentine. It's a close relative of the Osmia and was made only for a few months in 1932.

https://images44.fotki.com/v1644/photos/2/3815032/14358355/progressa-vi.gif (https://private.fotki.com/sempilch/private/progress-a.html)


Never heard of this one. What a treat! Thank you, Eachan.

I like flat-top pens and these Progress have the nice placement of the clip that make the overall look of the cap very distinguished.

[penwash]

I was conflicted whether to post this here or on the sketches thread.

But learning together wins out in the end. So here we are.

Universal Pen Co. from New York. This particular pen is called Uni-Flow, it's even engraved on the barrel.

The celluloid is very cool, it's brown/orange with dapper white stripes. So of course I had to match it with Diamine Ancient Copper.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51262753226_5b2064cd59_b.jpg

That sleek-looking 14K I believe is original, ample tipping (literally a ball, which is rare for vintage nibs), writing in Fine.

[Jon Szanto]

I was conflicted whether to post this here or on the sketches thread.

But it turns out to be a perfect segue, Will. I was going to put a link back here after you made your recent sketch with the nice Moore pen, because I've had an 'obscure' pen to share for a while... hoping to get to it tonight! And here we go...

I've been fascinated by the sub-category of longitudinal striped/striated celluloid from the period. It probably started with the ubiquitous Sheaffer stripes, but a few years ago I ran across the Moores (not the moors...). While they only have a couple of colorways, they really are lovely materials, and I've looked for similar products, often in the lesser-known market. This first photo combines most of that.

The top pen is an Essex, not a giant among pens, but they were either a sub-brand of Moore or they purchased the material from the same maker, as this pen is the identical material to one Moore used (when I find reference to the name I'll edit here). The pen is fairly well made, decent nib, and an interesting feature I'll show in the second photo.

The bottom pen is how we link to the previous post: another Universal. This material has the exact same characteristics as the silver/grey/brown stuff, but in reds/violets/silvers. Really attractive. Will described the construction and appointments of his pen well, and this one is very similar. I didn't capture it in this quick photo session, but it has a particularly florid imprint. Lovely pen, I thought I would have been the first to post one, but Will got there first!


https://i.imgur.com/rVOoGqXh.jpg

Last little bit: one of the really fun things about chasing the lesser-known brands is that they can surprise you with little elements of difference. Here I've tried to capture the ends of the barrel and cap of the Essex pen, which don't have either metal or other separate-piece finials, but instead a step is machined into the celluloid and is the only time I've seen the pattern on both ends of the pen. I think it is a nice feature to include in a lower-cost instrument.


https://i.imgur.com/y58cNfjl.jpg

[penwash]

Last little bit: one of the really fun things about chasing the lesser-known brands is that they can surprise you with little elements of difference. Here I've tried to capture the ends of the barrel and cap of the Essex pen, which don't have either metal or other separate-piece finials, but instead a step is machined into the celluloid and is the only time I've seen the pattern on both ends of the pen. I think it is a nice feature to include in a lower-cost instrument.


https://i.imgur.com/y58cNfjl.jpg

Jon, thanks for the two additions. If I recall, think the Essex brand is somehow related to the Venus pens.

Also, I have seen those stepped finials on a few Parker pens made during the great depression era.

ADDED: Forgot to mention that I love the cap band on the Essex, and the fact that it has ink window.

[eachan]

The Corona was produced for only a few years between 1916 and the early 1920s. The pens were innovative and of the highest quality.

https://images42.fotki.com/v903/photos/2/3815032/14358355/corona24nibsbcopy-vi.jpg (https://private.fotki.com/sempilch/private/corona-2-4-nibs-b-copy.html)

These exceptional overfeeds were produced only for exhibition purposes.

https://images42.fotki.com/v1416/photos/2/3815032/14358355/corona4penmountedcopy-vi.jpg (https://private.fotki.com/sempilch/private/corona-4-pen-mounte.html)

The chasing on these pens was quite unlike anything else at the time.

https://images41.fotki.com/v868/photos/2/3815032/14358355/coronamatchstickcopy-vi.jpg (https://private.fotki.com/sempilch/private/corona-matchstick-copy.html)

This splendid matchstick filler is also beautifully chased. No matchstick was actually required. The turned spigot on the cap fitted the aperture exactly.

https://images46.fotki.com/v1645/photos/2/3815032/14358355/corona2penboxcopy-vi.jpg (https://private.fotki.com/sempilch/private/corona-2-pen-box-copy.html)

With thanks to Andy Russell.

[Jon Szanto]

Also, I have seen those stepped finials on a few Parker pens made during the great depression era.

Right - though on the Parkettes I have (and have had), the stepped finials were made out of a different material, and what caught my eye was the simple (simplistic?) choice on the Essex to just turn the decoration out of the barrel/cap itself. Cheap and innovative.


The Corona was produced for only a few years between 1916 and the early 1920s. The pens were innovative and of the highest quality.

Really nice - the overfeeds are eye-catching and that chasing almost looks like what I know as knurling on tool parts (for added grip).

[penwash]

Right - though on the Parkettes I have (and have had), the stepped finials were made out of a different material, and what caught my eye was the simple (simplistic?) choice on the Essex to just turn the decoration out of the barrel/cap itself. Cheap and innovative.


What I had in mind wasn't the Parkette, instead, the "thrift" or some called them "moderne" models.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51264096697_3af02193c9_z.jpg

It's this pen right here:

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49771363253_4663889366_z.jpg

Despite the model name, it's one of the prettiest Parker I have.

NOTE: I apologize beforehand for posting a non-obscure pen here in this thread. This is for illustrations only.

[Jon Szanto]

NOTE: I apologize beforehand for posting a non-obscure pen here in this thread. This is for illustrations only.

No need for that, it was worth seeing the pen. How can it be a lower model with that lovely narrow/wide/narrow cap band?? :)

[christof]

Here comes the pen of the most obscure brand (at least to me) of my collwection:

The Brand is called "Golsil" and the pen was obviously made in Englang. So this is something for the English people here:

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51264526261_8395d4fc80_k.jpg

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51264526231_a42c08ceac_k.jpg

This pens desing and guilloche is rather humble, but the manufacturing quality is fine. The lever looks kind of SWAN-ish to me, but the most obscure thing about this pen is the nib! Unfortunately it is defect and lost one of the tippings, that's why I changed it with a warranted of the same geometry (short and stubby).

The original nib is made of gold platet silver(!)

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51265265004_32686334a3_k.jpg

I am quite curious about this pen and would love to hear some informations of the British experts.

Thanks in advance
Christof

[eachan]

I'm sorry that I can't add any information on this pen. New to me and not mentioned in any of my reference works, so truly obscure. The hard rubber hasn't faded and it's quite a handsome flat top. I agree about the long lever looking like those on 1920s Swans. The gilded silver nib is unique in my experience.

[eachan]

Somewhat related to the above, a friend reminded me:
"Apparently during the war, the Waterman company made their pen fittings from silver as brass was a strategic material and this limited. The silver was gold-plated. I understand that over the years he silver "leaches" into the gold causing a gradual fading of the colour."

With thanks to Paul Leclercq

[eachan]

Being stamped on the barrel and engraved on the nib, I take it to be the brand.

[christof]

Being stamped on the barrel and engraved on the nib, I take it to be the brand.

This is also my understanding.

[FredRydr]

How can silver leach into gold?

[Cyril]

My two cents on this fabulous thread. This seems to be a vintage pen with no name. The nib is a "warranted" Made in Germany.
Although it is a rigid Nib but EF and it suits for my cursive writing.

Lovely pens and I also have some antique pens to show you all. No one has seen them anywhere but the seller and me. No fighting over that point !!!!!

61552

[eachan]

https://images42.fotki.com/v903/photos/2/3815032/14358355/img_0333-vi.jpg (https://private.fotki.com/sempilch/private/img-0333.html)

This early 1920s pen advertises Morrell's ink. Though maybe rather obscure now, these advertising pens were churned out in great quantity, perhaps by one of the well-known older companies like Burnham or Wyvern, perhaps by an un-named manufacturer. The curious thing is that while many expensive pens like Swan or Onoto frequently fade, the black hard rubber in these cheap, made-to-a-price pens remains as black as coal. They're actually quite good pens.

https://images20.fotki.com/v1672/photos/2/3815032/14358355/img_0334-vi.jpg (https://private.fotki.com/sempilch/private/img-335.html)

What is really obscure here is the ink advertised. I have quite a collection of useable vintage inks but I've never been able to find any Morrell's or even a good empty bottle with a label. Competition was fierce in the ink world and Morrell's fell by the wayside a very long time ago and is not remembered now.

[Cyril]

@ Eachan.
Is this your pen in your collection or a pen for sale??

[eachan]

I'm afraid it's long gone, Cyril. All of these pens are from our archive. I finally managed to find a glass flask, the kind known as a Master Bottle, good for storage and pouring, which had the Morrell monogram on it. Pen and flask were bought by a collector.

[Cyril]

Wow this is very appealing Pen eachan !!
Interesting ink I guess !!:)

[eachan]

This is the St. George pen. It's a button filler and the celluloid is the same as (or perhaps just very, very similar to) the pattern that Waterman used for their Patrician and called "Turquoise". Though it was made in England I discovered it in eBay Australia. As well as the Waterman colours it bears a fair resemblance to the Duofold, even to the use of the Christmas Tree feed. I would guess it's a late 30s/40s pen. Beyond that, I know nothing about it. This is the only example I have ever seen. Obscure enough?

https://images46.fotki.com/v1671/photos/2/3815032/14358355/imgp6582-vi.gif (https://private.fotki.com/sempilch/private/imgp6582.html)

https://images41.fotki.com/v1670/photos/2/3815032/14358355/imgp6584-vi.gif (https://private.fotki.com/sempilch/private/imgp6584.html)

https://images34.fotki.com/v1675/photos/2/3815032/14358355/imgp6588-vi.gif (https://private.fotki.com/sempilch/private/imgp6588.html)

https://images41.fotki.com/v1402/photos/2/3815032/14358355/imgp6585-vi.gif (https://private.fotki.com/sempilch/private/imgp6585.html)

[penwash]

This is the St. George pen. It's a button filler and the celluloid is the same as (or perhaps just very, very similar to) the pattern that Waterman used for their Patrician and called "Turquoise". Though it was made in England I discovered it in eBay Australia. As well as the Waterman colours it bears a fair resemblance to the Duofold, even to the use of the Christmas Tree feed. I would guess it's a late 30s/40s pen. Beyond that, I know nothing about it. This is the only example I have ever seen. Obscure enough?


Absolutely, at least to me it is.

Plus, what a good looking pen. I'd be happy if I ever come across one like that.

Thank you, Eachan!

[eachan]

Yes, great colours. Long gone like most of the others I have dredged up from the archive for this thread.

[eachan]

https://images20.fotki.com/v1672/photos/2/3815032/14358355/imgp7454-vi.gif (https://private.fotki.com/sempilch/private/imgp7454.html)

The Perry Duragold: not the prettiest or most interesting-looking pen I've shown here but a tale attaches to it. James Perry, a schoolteacher, was dissatisfied with the quills he used at work as they required re-cutting too often. Steel nibs did exist but they were rigid. In 1819 Perry developed a method of slitting the nib which improved ink flow and enabled flexibility. That was the beginning of the dip nib as we know it and he went into business producing them His business grew throughout the nineteenth century and by the 1870s Perry's was the biggest manufacturer of steel nibs in the world.

https://images46.fotki.com/v1671/photos/2/3815032/14358355/imgp7455-vi.gif (https://private.fotki.com/sempilch/private/imgp7456.html)

A descendant set up the firm of E.S. Perry and it was this company that eventually produced the famous Osmiroid. I believe they also produced the Duragold. This example has a plated steel nib but there was a more expensive version with a 14 carat gold nib and a couple of cap rings. Those two pens were the only Duragolds that came my way. If you see a resemblance between the word Duragold and Duofold you're not wrong. As an attempt to cash in on the popularity of the Parker it failed miserably

https://images34.fotki.com/v1675/photos/2/3815032/14358355/imgp7457-vi.gif (https://private.fotki.com/sempilch/private/imgp7458.html)

https://images20.fotki.com/v1672/photos/2/3815032/14358355/imgp7460-vi.gif (https://private.fotki.com/sempilch/private/imgp7460.html)

[Cyril]

PERRY AND COMPANY London is a great pen company. I have some rare dip pens.
This pen is a special pen for me.
Recently I have fallen into hunting Vintage Dip pens and I was able to get hold of very amazing rare series of pens.
I wish I had this pen into my lot!!!

Nice pick Eachan!!:)

[eachan]

Sorry to say that one's long gone too. There are some great Perry dip nibs around.

[eachan]

https://images34.fotki.com/v1675/photos/2/3815032/14358355/imgp7893-vi.gif (https://private.fotki.com/sempilch/private/imgp7893.html)

This Pento Sydney eyedropper appears quite conventional for the period but it has an additional method of filling. You can unscrew the section in the usual way but there is also a removable plug at the end of the barrel. Otherwise, it's a straightforward eyedropper with an over-and-under feed and chasing on the barrel but not on the cap.

https://images42.fotki.com/v1215/photos/2/3815032/14358355/img_0375-vi.gif (https://private.fotki.com/sempilch/private/img-376.html)

This pen was made by Maypen Ltd and it has their "Perfect" nib - a real beauty! This image is from a later pen but the Sydney has the same nib. Later Pentos were lever-fillers. The company also made what was probably the first capless pen. Unfortunately it was not a success and the company folded in 1927. It's likely that it was the development costs of the capless pen that caused the insolvency.

[rkesey]

What a fascinating thread!

I have a few that haven't yet made the master list here, though I don't know how obscure they truly are. Here's my latest catch-and-restore, an Underwood lever-filler from (I think) the 1940s. On the short-and-stout side at 124mm uncapped and 13mm wide at the barrel, but light and very comfortable in the hand; the nib looks in rough shape but writes a lovely smooth line, and the feed keeps up. It just needed a new sac and a tightening of the cap band...

[An old bloke]

I vaguely remember Underwood pens being mentioned in an internet article some years ago. The article was a summary of early to mid 20th Century American pen brands. The article listed brand by tier. Don't hold me to this, but I believe Underwood was listed as a third tier brand.

Again, this is from memory, and I could be completely wrong.

[rkesey]

Sounds right!

[eachan]

Most of the really uncommon pens I've come across over the years attained their obscurity from a lack of commercial success. Several post-war pens are in this category; there were a number of machine shops which had been producing armaments or ammunition which turned to pen production on the cessation of hostilities. None of them made it.

https://images12.fotki.com/v1667/photos/2/3815032/14358355/imgp3372-vi.gif (https://private.fotki.com/sempilch/private/imgp3372.html)

There is another category among earlier pens: the pens produced for small businesses by well-known pen manufacturers. The Pepys Pen is just such an example. Perhaps it was called that because the diarist was a well-known writer, though in the quill days.

It's impossible now to discover the company this pen was made for but it's possible to hazard a guess at the manufacturer. It's a good-quality, well-made pen and the sculpted shape of the section suggests Wyvern to me as some of their own-brand pens of the time look like that. There's no certainty about that of course as any pen-maker could make a pen in any style.

https://images41.fotki.com/v1673/photos/2/3815032/14358355/imgp3374-vi.gif (https://private.fotki.com/sempilch/private/imgp3374.html)

Like all the other pens I have written about in this thread it's long gone and forms part of someone else's collection. I kept it for a while because it was a good writer and a splendid example of mottled hard rubber.

I'm sure Samuel Pepys would have loved to own such a pen as it would have made his diary so much easier to write!

[FredRydr]

...splendid example of mottled hard rubber....
I love that stuff!

[An old bloke]

I imagine that writing with such a long, slender pen would be very pleasant and not unfamiliar to experienced dip pen users.

[Chip]

A few years ago, I got a pretty blue fountain pen in a drawer lot, a brand I'd never seen before: The Lincoln Pen, National Pen Products, Chicago. 1920s at a guess. Medium size and weight, nice-looking but not distinctive. It didn't work, so I cleaned it up and restored the ink sac and filler to working order. A friend had sent me regular packets of old pens she found in junk shops, some of which proved to be rather valuable when restored. So I sent her the blue Lincoln pen as a Christmas gift.

When I looked for a photo on the web, there were only a few, none of them blue. Here's the only decent example. I recall the floral scroll on the clip.

https://i.imgur.com/Q0ukA7e.jpg

[eachan]

A handsome pen with good mottled hard rubber.

[penwash]

A few years ago, I got a pretty blue fountain pen in a drawer lot, a brand I'd never seen before: The Lincoln Pen, National Pen Products, Chicago. 1920s at a guess. Medium size and weight, nice-looking but not distinctive. It didn't work, so I cleaned it up and restored the ink sac and filler to working order. A friend had sent me regular packets of old pens she found in junk shops, some of which proved to be rather valuable when restored. So I sent her the blue Lincoln pen as a Christmas gift.

When I looked for a photo on the web, there were only a few, none of them blue. Here's the only decent example. I recall the floral scroll on the clip.


One of my favorite pen maker and material. This is what mine looks like:

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51074898512_b078f3e54e_c.jpg

I am very attracted to vintage mottled / woodgrain ebonite pens, and this Lincoln pretty much has everything that I like in a pen. Plus I put a big Sheaffer nib on it, so it has a lot of "horse-power" under the hood as well.

[penwash]

An old DIXIE pen:

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51345333103_f02379b25f_c.jpg

FP Historians who like odd brands such as PenHero or Phillip Munson, have quite a bit of info on this brand (online, even). But I bet you not a lot of pen people you know would recognize this brand. Or they would classify this as "third tier" and dismiss it outright (a mindset that I find myself at the opposite end of).

The fact is, I really like this handsome pen. A big and solid (5-1/4 inches capped) old pen that withstand restoration admirably, and those knurled ends that reminds me of my Gold Bonds pens.

Here's a photo of the barrel engraving:

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51346121935_2d7d990bf1_z.jpg

[Seattleite]

Kraker made these, As always, nice quality. Along with "Dixie", Kraker made the very similar "Yankee" pens. Wonder if there was a marketing strategy in the regional distribution of these brands. :)

Bob

[eachan]

Has anyone mentioned Celtric? There's one offered in Ebay at the moment. Lovely pen. Splendid chasing.

[FredRydr]

Has anyone mentioned Celtric? There's one offered in Ebay at the moment. Lovely pen. Splendid chasing.

How did you stumble upon that?!

[eachan]

It was a "related sponsored item" under a pen I'm bidding on.

[penwash]

A Greif piston filler from Germany. Beautiful jade-marble-like celluloid on the cap distinguish this pen from other brands. Excellent condition plus an interesting, flexy, flexy nib.

Making this ... ready? A Good Greif.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51425712282_3d9d699a22_c.jpg

[catbert]

A Greif piston filler from Germany. Beautiful jade-marble-like celluloid on the cap distinguish this pen from other brands. Excellent condition plus an interesting, flexy, flexy nib.

Making this ... ready? A Good Greif.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51425712282_3d9d699a22_c.jpg

I have a similarly flexy Greif.
63148

Add a Noodler's Charlie
63149

and a certain pen reviewer's ink —
63150




Good Greif, Charlie ... Brown.

[christof]

I have a Greif too. These are cool pens!

https://live.staticflickr.com/7807/47498026692_c4633dccf3_h.jpg

The Greif Company has been taken over by Pelikan in the 1950's.

The pencil is interesting too since it has a window to controll the lead reserve:

https://live.staticflickr.com/7801/47498026552_9d7bccd690_h.jpg

[penwash]

Good Greif, Charlie ... Brown.

Well played, sir!

:D

[penwash]

I have a Greif too. These are cool pens!


It crossed my mind that Christof may have a few :)
The neat thing also, is the green band is located in different parts of the pen depending on the model.

And those pencils are just innovative!