Aurora 88 - 88K - 88P

[christof]

Since I recently had a couple of Aurora 88s lying on my workbench and there was a representative of each model among them, I thought a little photographic comparison of the development of the design might be interesting. So here are a few shots of the 88, 88K and 88P models

Aurora 88, 88K and 88P in comparison:
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52300261177_b6a020bbef_b.jpg

Aurora 88, the original, 1946 -53
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52301738050_0e5e2de62d_b.jpg

Aurora 88K 1953 -58
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52300261122_87ea5da2e5_b.jpg
Aurora 88P 1958 -64
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52301253053_5198247f7d_b.jpg

sections and imprints:
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52301257526_0b7aca0330_b.jpg

caps:
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52300577072_f02c707454_b.jpg
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52300576987_e25abd655c_b.jpg

cap tops:
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52301570373_7b8bfc20b7_b.jpg

clips:
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52301555251_6baaf532ef_b.jpg

More about this topic on mat’s pen blog. The «Vintage Aurora 88 Family Ultra Review»
https://matspens.blog/2020/11/02/vintage-aurora-88-family-ultra-review/

or the brilliant article on FPN by Andrea Caligaris (aka diplomat)
https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/111001-the-aurora-88-dynasty/

[AlohaPens]

Really nice to see these. Thanks!

[Jon Szanto]

Thanks, Christof. The 88P has always been a favorite of mine. Nice to see the family resemblances.

[mizgeorge]

Lovely pictures Christoph - thank you :)

I also have at least one of each of these, and really enjoy them. I don't know if it's the Italian heritage, the styling, or something else, but I always feel like I should be whizzing around on a Vespa and hanging out in smoky Jazz clubs when I use them.

[christof]

Thank you.



...The 88P has always been a favorite of mine...

It is also the one I like the most. I think its design expresses the era best. But also the change of the clip from the 88 to the 88K shows that italian designers at that time, specially Nizzoli were driven by a great will to create. To create also outside of fashion trends and away from design objectivity and the reduction to the necessary.
The clip of the 88K and 88P is proof of the playful search for form. I like details like that.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52307842397_db2c4662f4_b.jpg

[ralfstc]

I like that the later clips have the black teardrop referring back to the original clip. Do you have any of the models with the matt black body? I have an Achivi Storici 022, and I think it's a stunning pen, though small by modern standards. Although, I like the originals and the P as well. They are very well designed for assembly and service with simple tools and the earlier two models are pretty chunky feeling in the hand. The weak point? Probably the piston head design, as the threads don't always do well after 70 years in ink. Luckily there's a person in Spain now producing 3D printed replicas!

I just tracked down a pencil to match one of my 88s (First gen gold cap) and it too is a lovely thing. When you pull off the cap to refill lead there is a "stealth" Aurora 88 logo there . . . .

Oh, yes, a picture of the original aluminium boxes would probably be very welcome :-)

Great work Christof, thank you!

Ralf

[christof]

Thank you Ralf. Any pictures will be welcome!

[ralfstc]

I'm away from home right now, but I will do what I can when I get back :-) Meantime, bonjour de La Rochelle!

Ralf

[FredRydr]

Thank you for this thread, Christof. Labeo had been listing these model pens for sale, and I was asking what the differences are. You've made the comparison very clear. Aquire an 88? Tempting....

[ralfstc]

Hi folks,

A couple of rather less well photographed offerings! First, one of the cool cases the original 88 came in. These cases are the same shape in section as the Aurora logo. I've never found one with the original cleaning cloth still inside, but I am off to Milan in September, so who knows?

https://i.imgur.com/4Oxo32A.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/J9RqY8L.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/XO2U1Lz.jpg

But wait! What is that peeking out? Too skinny for a pen surely? It's an Aurora 88 Mk.1 pencil. It took ages to find one of these, but it was worth it. It's a terrific pencil, even though it lacks a lead guide tube at the business end.

https://i.imgur.com/QLHY23G.jpg

So really the case should be pink for a set (I believe, though I can no longer find the reference, that blue was a single pen?).

In any case enjoy! Thanks Christof for starting the thread!

Ralf

[christof]

Very cool! Thank you Ralf.

[OCArt]

Thank you for your excellent photos and post and for posting the references too!

[rkesey]

Beautiful, Christof, thank you. My one and only 88 is the most perfectly suited to my hand of any pen I've owned or even held. Inked constantly since I got it, which is rare for me. Such cool pens.

[karmachanic]

Thank you Christof. I'm late to the party, and have only recently developed an interest in these beauties, so your photos and the additional links are very helpful.

[christof]

I was recently able to acquire an interesting Aurora 88.

It is a very early variant (6-digit serial number) with a rare sterling silver cap. It is known that Marcello Nizzoli was inspired by the Parker "51" for the design of the Aurora 88. So he designed a sterling silver cap for the 88 as well.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53014657076_097354291b_c.jpg

But the best thing in my eyes is an olivetti advertising imprint on the cap. It is also known that Nizzoli worked as a designer for olivetti as well. This is what makes this pen really special to me.

Pics:
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53013654580_7eedac36c4_c.jpg

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53013755773_a2f67ef5e9_c.jpg

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53013276596_2d2d77922e_c.jpg

Olivetti type writers designed by Marcello Nizzoli:
https://d2mpxrrcad19ou.cloudfront.net/item_images/1052751/11162284_fullsize.jpg
picture: Bukowskis – Arts & Business, Part of the Bonhams Network

[christof]

...just some additional photos of the family:



https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53043677066_4f3259bb96_b.jpg



https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53043090737_df5019788b_b.jpg



https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53043090767_1e529f4588_b.jpg

[welch]

"A Parker 51 re-styled by Pininfarina".