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Thread: Hi from France and can anybody tell me about this pen?

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    Default Hi from France and can anybody tell me about this pen?

    Hi there,
    I must admit I am not a fountain pen user or collector so before you throw me off your forum in horror I was wondering if somebody would be able to tell me a bit about this pen? I was having a clear out at home and came across this in a drawer, I can't remember where it came from but I think I may have been given it by my great uncle many years ago. I've attached a couple of photos. I've had a search online and have read about De La Rue, on the nib it says De La Rue Onoto 14ct London 3. So I'm guessing that means the nib is 14ct gold? It's obviously been well used as the stamp on the body is quite worn down. Could the first 3 letters on the stamp be DLR? I was hoping the stamp would give an indication of the date so I could get an idea of when the pen would have been made and therefore bought. So if anybody could give me some information I would love to hear it as I would love to learn more about this pen.
    I live in France now but have only been here for a few years so this pen would have been bought in the UK originally.
    Thanks very much for your help.
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    Default Re: Hi from France and can anybody tell me about this pen?

    It is an Onoto Plunger filler. The nib is gold. I can't give you an exact date of manufacture but it's quite early. If Cob happens to chime in he knows more about these than I do.

    Splendid pen!
    Regards,
    Deb
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    Default Re: Hi from France and can anybody tell me about this pen?


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    Default Re: Hi from France and can anybody tell me about this pen?

    Hello and welcome to FPGeeks.
    Regards, Chrissy | My Review Blog: inkyfountainpens

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    Default Re: Hi from France and can anybody tell me about this pen?

    Compliments on a lovely pen.

    It appears to be a variation on the 1000 or 3000 series - not much difference - a couple of millimetres in length.

    If you can manage a sharp close-up of the hall mark I should be able to date it for you. As the nib is a 3 it may well be original in which case the pen probably dates from around 1920 and might just be a 6000.

    Edit: and yes, of course: the nib will be 14-carat gold.

    Cob
    Last edited by Cob; May 23rd, 2019 at 01:04 PM.
    Vive les chevaliers! A bas les têtes rondes!

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    Default Re: Hi from France and can anybody tell me about this pen?

    I'm totally envious of your pen ;- ) Does the nib have any flex to it? I hope you get to know what a nice gift you once were given.

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    Default Re: Hi from France and can anybody tell me about this pen?

    Quote Originally Posted by Cob View Post
    Edit: and yes, of course: the nib will be 14-carat gold.
    I jumped to the conclusion it was manufactured for the French market, but of course, it probably wasn't.

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    Default Re: Hi from France and can anybody tell me about this pen?

    Welcome

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    Default Re: Hi from France and can anybody tell me about this pen?

    Quote Originally Posted by FredRydr View Post
    Quote Originally Posted by Cob View Post
    Edit: and yes, of course: the nib will be 14-carat gold.
    I jumped to the conclusion it was manufactured for the French market, but of course, it probably wasn't.
    Yes an interesting point. The early over/under feed - nibs were stamped 14 ct, but I have had several slightly later nibs that are just stamped Onoto London. I cannot imagine that Onoto used anything but gold for the nibs and of course if the nib - or indeed the overlay - was to be sold as gold in France, then it would have to be 18-carat.

    Cob
    Vive les chevaliers! A bas les têtes rondes!

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    Default Re: Hi from France and can anybody tell me about this pen?

    Thank you so much for your comments and compliments! I've tried a couple of close ups of the hall mark but it's well worn so not coming out very well.
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    Default Re: Hi from France and can anybody tell me about this pen?

    Quote Originally Posted by arrow View Post
    I'm totally envious of your pen ;- ) Does the nib have any flex to it? I hope you get to know what a nice gift you once were given.
    Well I don't really know anything about fountain pens but I'm beginning to understand from all of your comments that it's a very nice pen. Yes the nib does have have a very slight flex to it, only about 1mm, I daren't push more than that.

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    Default Re: Hi from France and can anybody tell me about this pen?

    Quote Originally Posted by Cob View Post
    Yes an interesting point. The early over/under feed - nibs were stamped 14 ct, but I have had several slightly later nibs that are just stamped Onoto London. I cannot imagine that Onoto used anything but gold for the nibs and of course if the nib - or indeed the overlay - was to be sold as gold in France, then it would have to be 18-carat.
    No, sorry, me being in France now is a bit of a red herring. Why was 14 carat acceptable in the UK but not in France then?

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    Default Re: Hi from France and can anybody tell me about this pen?

    I've just noticed a tiny mark on the lid too so have taken a snap of that - it's a lot less worn.
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    Default Re: Hi from France and can anybody tell me about this pen?

    Those are hallmarks showing that the barrel and cap are made from 9ct gold.
    ".375" is the hallmark for 9ct gold.
    Regards, Chrissy | My Review Blog: inkyfountainpens

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    Default Re: Hi from France and can anybody tell me about this pen?

    Quote Originally Posted by Jeebers View Post
    Quote Originally Posted by Cob View Post
    Yes an interesting point. The early over/under feed - nibs were stamped 14 ct, but I have had several slightly later nibs that are just stamped Onoto London. I cannot imagine that Onoto used anything but gold for the nibs and of course if the nib - or indeed the overlay - was to be sold as gold in France, then it would have to be 18-carat.
    No, sorry, me being in France now is a bit of a red herring. Why was 14 carat acceptable in the UK but not in France then?
    It is simply a matter of French law - the French determined that any alloy containing less than 75% gold (i.e. 18 carat) may not be sold as "gold"

    Cob
    Vive les chevaliers! A bas les têtes rondes!

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    Default Re: Hi from France and can anybody tell me about this pen?



    Nice pen !

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    Default Re: Hi from France and can anybody tell me about this pen?

    Welcome!

    Hope you stick around!

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