It's always nice to be able to help friends identify their pens...
A few days ago, I got an email that longtime VPC member Christopher sent to me about a mystery vintage fountain pen and pencil set....
Christopher: "Just finished restoring the pen & pencil set for my ever-growing collection. When I got the set, the nib had been pushed almost all the way into the section and I really had my doubts as to whether it had survived. Still, when I took the fountain pen apart and, in doing so, knocked out the nib and feed, both were in mint condition. This set is extremely well made. I would be prepared to bet that the nib is an early replacement, but no complaints in that department 'cause it is smooth as glass to write with and definitely semi flexy."
"So what that leaves is both a pen and matching pencil with absolutely no ID markings. If it was a model with clips, the ID would have probably been available and the same would have been with the original nib. At first glance, I would have said a Wahl set, but all of my Wahls are extremely well marked. My second guess would be Diamond Point or even Diamond Metal re the banding on both pieces. But I am stumped on this one and wondered if you had any ideas? I am still holding out for Wahl."
(all photos by Christopher ~ please click on images to enlarge)
Christopher's quick follow-up email: "I forgot to send you a snap of the Ring-Top fountain Lever Filler configuration. As you will see by the attachment (ie. the photo above), the Lever is not just a simple hinged bar like most, but has a second smaller bar which is also hinged on the Lever and opens up when the lever is extended out of the barrel but folds back into the barrel as the Lever is moved back into its seated position on the top of the barrel. A beautiful fine mechanism, and as with the rest of the pen, extremely well made. You can also see the end of the fountain pen which was covered by the cap in the last photo where I had the pen posted. Hope this helps with the ID."
I didn't get Christopher's photo showing the pen and pencil set, but I replied to him with my guess (just based on the photo above) because the barrel end looked very familiar to me. I said: "I thought I'd take a stab at the brand just based on the lone photo I got.
The barrel end reminds me of a Carter 'Pearltex' ringtop."
(Turns out my guess was correct!)
Christopher's reply to me :"I am impressed and grateful. Funny but I have been hoping to score a vintage Carter Pen but in reality I already have one, LOL!"
He added: "I have attached a snap of the Lever filler configuration, which I gather is unique to this model."
Many thanks to Christopher for the photos of this charming vintage ringtop set and for giving me a mini pen mystery to solve! :)
~Maja
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