Results 1 to 17 of 17

Thread: Aurora 88 - 88K - 88P

  1. #1
    Senior Member christof's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2010
    Location
    Confoederatio Helvetica
    Posts
    1,875
    Thanks
    1,892
    Thanked 7,814 Times in 1,426 Posts
    Rep Power
    17

    Default Aurora 88 - 88K - 88P

    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:


    Aurora 88, the original, 1946 -53


    Aurora 88K 1953 -58

    Aurora 88P 1958 -64


    sections and imprints:


    caps:



    cap tops:


    clips:


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

    or the brilliant article on FPN by Andrea Caligaris (aka diplomat)
    https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/f...ra-88-dynasty/

  2. The Following 17 Users Say Thank You to christof For This Useful Post:

    + Show/Hide list of the thanked

    AlohaPens (August 23rd, 2022), amk (August 25th, 2022), Barry B. Gabay (September 6th, 2022), carlos.q (August 23rd, 2022), catbert (August 30th, 2022), dneal (August 26th, 2022), FredRydr (August 23rd, 2022), jar (September 18th, 2022), Jerome Tarshis (August 25th, 2022), Jon Szanto (August 23rd, 2022), markiv (January 28th, 2023), Marsilius (July 2nd, 2023), mizgeorge (August 23rd, 2022), ralfstc (August 24th, 2022), rkesey (September 21st, 2022), Robert (August 23rd, 2022), Yazeh (August 23rd, 2022)

  3. #2
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Jun 2020
    Posts
    163
    Thanks
    30
    Thanked 81 Times in 45 Posts
    Rep Power
    4

    Default Re: Aurora 88 - 88K - 88P

    Really nice to see these. Thanks!

  4. The Following User Says Thank You to AlohaPens For This Useful Post:

    christof (August 23rd, 2022)

  5. #3
    Senior Member Jon Szanto's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2012
    Posts
    6,616
    Thanks
    7,795
    Thanked 11,039 Times in 4,010 Posts
    Rep Power
    22

    Default Re: Aurora 88 - 88K - 88P

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

  6. The Following User Says Thank You to Jon Szanto For This Useful Post:

    christof (August 23rd, 2022)

  7. #4
    Senior Member mizgeorge's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2020
    Posts
    3,993
    Thanks
    2,100
    Thanked 2,222 Times in 1,253 Posts
    Rep Power
    8

    Default Re: Aurora 88 - 88K - 88P

    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.

  8. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to mizgeorge For This Useful Post:

    christof (August 23rd, 2022), Yazeh (August 24th, 2022)

  9. #5
    Senior Member christof's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2010
    Location
    Confoederatio Helvetica
    Posts
    1,875
    Thanks
    1,892
    Thanked 7,814 Times in 1,426 Posts
    Rep Power
    17

    Default Re: Aurora 88 - 88K - 88P

    Thank you.


    Quote Originally Posted by Jon Szanto View Post
    ...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.

    Last edited by christof; August 24th, 2022 at 01:57 PM.

  10. The Following 6 Users Say Thank You to christof For This Useful Post:

    amk (August 25th, 2022), catbert (August 30th, 2022), jar (September 18th, 2022), Jon Szanto (August 24th, 2022), manoeuver (September 21st, 2022), mizgeorge (August 24th, 2022)

  11. #6
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Jun 2014
    Posts
    139
    Thanks
    14
    Thanked 43 Times in 19 Posts
    Rep Power
    10

    Default Re: Aurora 88 - 88K - 88P

    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

  12. The Following User Says Thank You to ralfstc For This Useful Post:

    amk (August 25th, 2022)

  13. #7
    Senior Member christof's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2010
    Location
    Confoederatio Helvetica
    Posts
    1,875
    Thanks
    1,892
    Thanked 7,814 Times in 1,426 Posts
    Rep Power
    17

    Default Re: Aurora 88 - 88K - 88P

    Thank you Ralf. Any pictures will be welcome!

  14. #8
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Jun 2014
    Posts
    139
    Thanks
    14
    Thanked 43 Times in 19 Posts
    Rep Power
    10

    Default Re: Aurora 88 - 88K - 88P

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

    Ralf

  15. #9
    Senior Member FredRydr's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2012
    Location
    Carlisle, Pennsylvania USA
    Posts
    4,908
    Thanks
    1,396
    Thanked 6,390 Times in 2,505 Posts
    Rep Power
    18

    Default Re: Aurora 88 - 88K - 88P

    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....

  16. The Following User Says Thank You to FredRydr For This Useful Post:

    christof (August 25th, 2022)

  17. #10
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Jun 2014
    Posts
    139
    Thanks
    14
    Thanked 43 Times in 19 Posts
    Rep Power
    10

    Default Re: Aurora 88 - 88K - 88P

    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?







    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.



    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

  18. The Following 6 Users Say Thank You to ralfstc For This Useful Post:

    catbert (September 6th, 2022), christof (September 6th, 2022), forester (July 1st, 2023), jar (September 18th, 2022), markiv (January 28th, 2023), Yazeh (September 7th, 2022)

  19. #11
    Senior Member christof's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2010
    Location
    Confoederatio Helvetica
    Posts
    1,875
    Thanks
    1,892
    Thanked 7,814 Times in 1,426 Posts
    Rep Power
    17

    Default Re: Aurora 88 - 88K - 88P

    Very cool! Thank you Ralf.

  20. #12
    Senior Member OCArt's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2015
    Location
    San Diego, CA
    Posts
    205
    Thanks
    12
    Thanked 90 Times in 59 Posts
    Rep Power
    9

    Default Re: Aurora 88 - 88K - 88P

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

  21. #13
    Member
    Join Date
    Apr 2021
    Location
    Maryland
    Posts
    79
    Thanks
    95
    Thanked 44 Times in 29 Posts
    Rep Power
    3

    Default Re: Aurora 88 - 88K - 88P

    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.

  22. #14
    Senior Member karmachanic's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2022
    Location
    The edge
    Posts
    112
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 51 Times in 35 Posts
    Rep Power
    2

    Default Re: Aurora 88 - 88K - 88P

    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.
    Add Lightness and Simplicate

  23. #15
    Senior Member christof's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2010
    Location
    Confoederatio Helvetica
    Posts
    1,875
    Thanks
    1,892
    Thanked 7,814 Times in 1,426 Posts
    Rep Power
    17

    Default Re: Aurora 88 - 88K - 88P

    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.



    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:






    Olivetti type writers designed by Marcello Nizzoli:

    picture: Bukowskis – Arts & Business, Part of the Bonhams Network
    Last edited by christof; July 1st, 2023 at 11:57 PM.

  24. The Following 5 Users Say Thank You to christof For This Useful Post:

    catbert (July 1st, 2023), forester (July 1st, 2023), Jon Szanto (July 1st, 2023), mizgeorge (July 2nd, 2023), Yazeh (July 3rd, 2023)

  25. #16
    Senior Member christof's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2010
    Location
    Confoederatio Helvetica
    Posts
    1,875
    Thanks
    1,892
    Thanked 7,814 Times in 1,426 Posts
    Rep Power
    17

    Default Re: Aurora 88 - 88K - 88P

    ...just some additional photos of the family:












  26. The Following 3 Users Say Thank You to christof For This Useful Post:

    catbert (July 14th, 2023), dneal (July 14th, 2023), Yazeh (July 14th, 2023)

  27. #17
    Senior Member welch's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2013
    Location
    New York City
    Posts
    1,031
    Thanks
    1,504
    Thanked 510 Times in 344 Posts
    Rep Power
    12

    Default Re: Aurora 88 - 88K - 88P

    "A Parker 51 re-styled by Pininfarina".

  28. The Following User Says Thank You to welch For This Useful Post:

    dneal (July 14th, 2023)

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •