Ultra-bonus on Dan for putting a Sticky on this thread. As usual, kudos to AG for sharing just a portion of his stellar collection. Time to go rob some banks, kiddies...
Ultra-bonus on Dan for putting a Sticky on this thread. As usual, kudos to AG for sharing just a portion of his stellar collection. Time to go rob some banks, kiddies...
"When Men differ in Opinion, both Sides ought equally to have the Advantage of being heard by the Publick;
and that when Truth and Error have fair Play, the former is always an overmatch for the latter."
~ Benjamin Franklin
rpsyed (July 19th, 2015)
This is an interesting point. I'm not sure it would be easy to replicate many of the geometric celluloid patterns using acrylic. Celluloid is the raw form is like a dough. The dough can be colored, rolled, cut, and different layers and pieces can be put together and process to produce the vintage patterns. Acrylic resin when uncured is a liquid. That makes swirly patterns easy but the ones like the arco pattern would seem to be difficult to make out of acrylic.
Bogon07 (May 28th, 2013), fountainpenkid (May 28th, 2013), gentlyom (May 30th, 2013), nostalgic (May 29th, 2013), raging.dragon (December 28th, 2013), reprieve (May 29th, 2013)
Let's look at some post war pens.
This pen is a Duchessa. Duchessa is one of the many Montegrappa sub-brands. One can see the influence of the Wahl Eversharp Skyline. The pen has a more rounded and streamline look that was popular after the wear. Duchessa was a more budget oriented line and this pen is definitely a budget pen. The celluloid is nice but not spectacular. I've seen this pen in at least 4-5 other celluloid patterns. The pen is a button filler.
Bogon07 (June 2nd, 2013), ethernautrix (June 3rd, 2013), Haefennasiel (May 10th, 2015), nostalgic (June 3rd, 2013), rpsyed (July 19th, 2015), Sketchy (June 2nd, 2013)
Safis took a similar route to their post-war pens. This Radius has the new popular streamline cigar shape rather than the classic design of the Radius Superior I showed earlier. Like the Duchessa above, the cap bands became simpler. Gone are the ornate caps bands on the Radius Superior. The celluloid is classic light colored Tortoise shell celluloid seen on many Italian pens.
Bogon07 (June 2nd, 2013), ethernautrix (June 3rd, 2013), Haefennasiel (May 10th, 2015), nostalgic (June 3rd, 2013), Sketchy (June 2nd, 2013)
Omas also introduced more rounded pen bodies in the form of the Ogival. But I don't have one of those. Omas continued with their classic facetted shapes in addition to the Ogival.. However, there were tweaks to the classic design. The trim was simplified to a single thick solid cap band, simple non-roller clip and the proportions seem a bit more 'modern'. Of course, the filling system was switched to a piston filler. This Omas Extra was made for Italia Navigazione.
ethernautrix (June 3rd, 2013), gentlyom (June 3rd, 2013), Haefennasiel (May 10th, 2015), nostalgic (June 3rd, 2013), pyiyha (April 4th, 2022), raging.dragon (December 28th, 2013), rpsyed (July 19th, 2015), Sketchy (June 9th, 2013)
Now back to more classic pens.
Here is a selection of Columbus 98's. The 98 was a mainline pen for Columbus in the 1930's and were the first main series with the introduction of celluloid. The first pens made in celluloid were derivative of the Parker Duofold. The pen (on the left) is a clone of the Parker Duofold with one exception. These pens were soon replaced with pens that are classically Italian. The 98 was made for quite some time and underwent many subtle changes in trim. Simple clip, roller clips, and a Parker-like arrow clip. The number of celluloid patterns is just vast for these pens. The filling system for these pens is unique to Columbus, a spoon filler. Basically, the pen has a spoon which when depressed would compress the sac. It's bit of a novelty and not my favorite filling system but is it definitely unique to Columbus.
Ahriman4891 (April 9th, 2018), Bogon07 (June 2nd, 2013), Cyril (June 22nd, 2021), ethernautrix (June 3rd, 2013), gentlyom (June 3rd, 2013), Haefennasiel (May 10th, 2015), nostalgic (June 3rd, 2013), raging.dragon (December 28th, 2013), rpsyed (July 19th, 2015), Sketchy (June 2nd, 2013)
fountainpenkid (June 2nd, 2013)
Fabulous photos, Ricky.
Hot damn.
The Omas Extra series was Omas main line pen in the early 30's and replaced the earlier Duofold like pens. The round and facetted Omas Extra oens were lever fillers and really have the classic design that continues today. This pen is a medium sized cylindrical Omas Extra. The pen has the classic Greek key band set off by two smaller bands.
Ahriman4891 (April 9th, 2018), Bogon07 (June 10th, 2013), Cyril (June 22nd, 2021), gentlyom (June 19th, 2013), Haefennasiel (May 10th, 2015), peterpen53 (June 12th, 2013), pyiyha (March 5th, 2023), reprieve (June 9th, 2013), rpsyed (July 19th, 2015), youstruckgold (June 30th, 2013)
Omega is an interesting company. In 1919 Eugenio and Alfredo Verga started the Columbus pen company in 1919. Around 1930, the brothers parted ways. Alfredo Verga started the Omega pen company in Milan and made good quality pens through the 1930's while Eugenio continued on with Columbus. The Supernova series was one of the better known Omega pen models. This pen is a button filler in a classic red marble celluloid.
Omega Supernova
Gold plated steel nib
Bogon07 (June 10th, 2013), gentlyom (June 26th, 2013), Haefennasiel (May 10th, 2015), peterpen53 (June 12th, 2013), raging.dragon (December 28th, 2013), reprieve (June 9th, 2013), rpsyed (July 19th, 2015)
Bogon07 (June 10th, 2013), Cyril (June 22nd, 2021), fountainpenkid (June 29th, 2013), gentlyom (June 19th, 2013), Haefennasiel (May 10th, 2015), pyiyha (March 5th, 2023), raging.dragon (December 28th, 2013), reprieve (June 9th, 2013), rpsyed (July 19th, 2015), Sketchy (June 9th, 2013)
Bogon07 (June 10th, 2013), Haefennasiel (May 10th, 2015), reprieve (June 10th, 2013), rpsyed (July 19th, 2015), Sketchy (June 9th, 2013)
It's just heaven looking at these pics - I'm both jealous and in awe!!! Thankyou
fountainpenkid (June 16th, 2013)
Contrary to rumors, I have not run out of pens.
I have a bit of time tonight so let's throw up some more pens.
Tonight we have a pair of Omas Lucens. The Lucens was the cylindrical counterpart to the Omas Extra Lucens. The Lucens came out around the same time but perhaps a bit later than the Extra Lucens. Unlike the EXtra Lucens, the first generation Lucens were not made in the fragile light color celluloid so you can find first gen Lucens. The first gen pens have the classic Greek key band and the roller clip. These were soon changed to the arrow clip and three ring cap bands. My two pens are not as transparent as my Extra Lucens. The barrels of both pens have darkened. The red pen moreso. The picture with the flashlight hopefully gives you a sense of what the pen looked like when new. The larger pen has an Omas Extra nib which is possibly not original. The medium sized red marbled pen has the Lucens style arrow nib.
Bogon07 (June 29th, 2013), Cyril (June 22nd, 2021), fountainpenkid (June 29th, 2013), gentlyom (June 29th, 2013), Haefennasiel (May 10th, 2015), LagNut (October 17th, 2014), nostalgic (June 29th, 2013), Pelikan-Vera (June 29th, 2013), raging.dragon (December 28th, 2013), reprieve (June 28th, 2013), rpsyed (July 19th, 2015), Sketchy (June 29th, 2013)
Ricky,
Hope you don't mind me playing in your space here....
Two pens recently acquired in Rome, both from a company called "SAFIS", a big manufacturer back the in the day. Their main two brands were Radius (high quality) and Astura (not so much)
The top one with the outrageous celluloid is a Prismatica. It has the same shape and cap band of a Wahl Doric, and it happens to have a Wahl nib in it (not for long - that nib will go in a Wahl). Its a smaller line on SAFIS' higher end. I doubt I'll ever find a Prismatica nib; finding original gold nibs in Italy is very difficult because so many were scrapped after the way.
Below that is The King. Often (incorrectly) attributed to Omas, The King was another high quality brand of SAFIS
Bogon07 (July 20th, 2015), Crazyorange (July 20th, 2015), Haefennasiel (July 19th, 2015), Jon Szanto (July 19th, 2015), rpsyed (July 19th, 2015), Sevenof9 (July 20th, 2015)
Hey now, this is necro-posting I can get behind! Lovely pens, Marc. Can I assume the typo near the end should have been "scrapped after the war"?
"When Men differ in Opinion, both Sides ought equally to have the Advantage of being heard by the Publick;
and that when Truth and Error have fair Play, the former is always an overmatch for the latter."
~ Benjamin Franklin
"War" would be correct. Apparently I don't have editing priviledges
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