Newest Acquisitions (Virtual "Show & Tell") ~ part 107

Today's newest acquisition is courtesy of VPC member Armando! Here is his write-up....

THE SONNET GAMBIT 

Siegbert Tarrasch, considered to be the Master of Chess, once said: "Chess, like music, like love, has the power to make people happy". 

(please click on images to enlarge)

Can we say the same thing with a fountain pen? 

In my opinion, the answer is yes, we can. 

Introducing the Parker Sonnet ....

When Geoff Hollington created the Parker Sonnet, he intended it to be the classic Parker, a truly timeless product. He went for a really well proportioned cigar shape, clear but updated arrow clip, a generously sized nib, and from the engineer's perspective, state of the art writing experience. Many models and designs have been created in the Sonnet series since 1994. 

 

The Sonnet featured here is the model with the chiseled sterling silver finish, the Sonnet Ciselé in 18k gold nib. The pen is hefty, given that it is sterling. Holding the pen gives the impression that it is durable. Posted or unposted, the pen has nearly perfect balance and sits in the hand well. Whilst this pen is quite old (1995, based on code IIT on the cap), it still looks great after years of use. The silver has developed a patina which adds to its character. 

 

Writing with the pen gives a hint of a feedback, but not scratchy. The 18k gold gives it some spring. I am using the Waterman Blue Black ink, and it pairs very well with the pen. 

In closing, I can say that when I ordered the pen, I had some concern due to its age (approx. 25 years), and not being sure of the condition. However, when I unboxed it, saw it, felt it, inked it, and wrote with it, the first word that came to mind was:   CHECKMATE!!!

 Armando, congratulations on your beautiful Parker Sonnet fountain pen---a true modern classic---and many thanks for the great photos and entertaining review :)

Newest Acquisitions (Virtual "Show & Tell") ~ part 106

A few weeks ago, longtime Vancouver Pen Club member Christopher sent me an email asking for my assistance with a mysterious vintage fountain pen he'd recently acquired....

(all photos courtesy of Christopher ~ please click on images to enlarge)

In Christopher's words: "This pen came into my collection the other day and for the life of me I have no idea who the manufacturer is or what era it is from? As you can see, it is a bulb filler covered by a long shiny black blind cap, and may I add, of considerable quality. The barrel supports a very large ink view window, which has a spiderweb pattern etched on the surface. The section is the best shaped one for my fingers yet. The cap has the most beautiful mottled red pearl and black finish topped off with a black cap screw which secures an even more attractive clip. The clip is also imprinted ‘Refograph’ and looks German 1930s in its design. Beautifully finished and shaped. There are also three distinctive cap bands the middle one being wider. All the fittings are 14K gold filled. But I have saved the best for last. The tiny nib, a Warranted one, is of super high quality and definitely 14K gold. And I would have to add that this little beauty is a semi broad with more flex than can be imagined. I took the liberty of an educated guess as to the dating as mid 30s. Actually I have had several 1930s German Reform pens and their clips were somewhat similar to this one."

 I did some digging and found reference to Refograph fountain pens on FPN (Fountain Pen Network) in a discussion about Hungarian fountain pens, so I sent the information to Christopher. He thanked me and sent me a photo of another wonderful Hungarian fountain pen (a Gracia)  that he owned....

 Christopher: "I only have one other Hungarian pen and it is a beauty. What I did learn about this other Hungarian fountain pen was that yes it was made in part, in Hungary but jobbed out by the Hunt Pen Company in the US in the late 1930s. But what really sold me on this pen was the Parker Arrow clip. That, I was told, was applied by licence so it has the Parker stamp of approval. With some of the people I have talked to, who have this pen, theirs even has a Parker nib from that same late 30s period. Evidentially, also approved by license. But I am challenged to exchange the nib in mine for a late 30s Parker one, because my nib has the Hunt Company branding on it."

You don't see very many vintage Hungarian fountain pens around (well, not in this part of the world), so many thanks to Christopher for sharing these two beautiful examples with us!

Newest Acquisitions (Virtual "Show & Tell") ~ part 105

Today's newest (pen-related) acquisitions "show & tell" features two Eversharp desk sets belonging to Stuart...

(all photos courtesy of Stuart ~ please click on images to enlarge)

 Stuart: "It’s a restored Eversharp Skyline desk-set, the pen in the beautiful dark Maroon they were using at the time, and a lovely green onyx base, darker in hue than the Sheaffer ones I have made from the same stone.  The pen has a Medium nib, and is a nice writer with a well-defined line, classic Eversharp.  Oddly, in the eBay description the seller said the base is glass!  I’d think the veining would indicate that it’s stone - glass only has veins after it’s hit by a hammer :)"

Stuart continues: "Again, I’m struck by the resemblance between the Skyline socket and pen, and the giant raindrop at Canada Place (ie. this one) . Using the Skyline cap as the basis of the socket design was a smart idea, it works beautifully, and makes for a distinctive socket, some are generic looking.  Anyway the entire pen-and-socket unit has a unified visual flow that most desk-sets don’t have, making for a striking overall look.  It’s more organic design-wise."

He concludes: "I’m very pleased with this, and now have a total of three Skyline desk-sets, counting the stray base that came as an extra with a Sheaffer set I got last year!" (photos of Stuart's two other Skyline desk sets here)

 

...and here's the other Eversharp desk set that Stuart acquired this fall:

Stuart: "It’s another Eversharp desk-set, a more economy type one with a base covered in leatherette and a pen with a smooth XF nib.  

 

"I like it, not sure of the date, 30’s-40’s, same feed as the Skyline." 

In addition to being useful and handy, a desk set can be an attractive complement to your work space. Vintage desk sets are available all over eBay, but keep in mind that the fountain pen desk pens might need to be restored, so bid accordingly. An alternative option - some companies, like Sheaffer and Parker, made attractive ballpoint desk sets, many of which take modern ballpoint refills.

Many thanks to Stuart and everyone else in our pen club that's contributed to our online "show & tell". Keep those photos and reviews coming! :)

Stay healthy!
~Maja

Newest Acquisitions (Virtual "Show & Tell") ~ part 104

...and now a little something from Down Under---a vintage Pelikan 400 fountain pen belonging to honourary VPC member Glenn G in Australia...

(all photos courtesy of Glenn ~ please click on images to enlarge)

 

Glenn: "I have just received a very early example of a Pelikan 400. The key features are: 

  

-Black stripe pattern, produced from 28 July 1950 until early 1956
-Plain cap band, discontinued mid-1954
-Barrel end stamped ‘Gunther Wagner Pelikan.’ 

 

-Friction fit ebonite feed, discontinued in August 1950

 

 -Nib size M engraved on filler knob
-Black piston seal, replaced by clear seals from 27 November 1953

 - 14kt ‘script nib’, fitted until December 1954.

From the above, the pen appears to date to the single month (at most) between the introduction of the colour in July and the discontinuation of the friction fit nib in August 1950."

References: https://www.pelikan-collectibles.com/en/Pelikan/Models/Revised-Piston-Fillers/400-Basis/index.html and especially Joshua’s article at https://thepelikansperch.com/2019/03/05/pelikan-400-fountain-pen/ , both accessed 26 October 2020.

Many thanks to Glenn for sharing his photos and research on this classic vintage Pelikan!

Newest Acquisitions (Virtual "Show & Tell") ~ part 103

From one classy black pen to another -- Lawrence's beautiful new Montblanc 'Heritage Rouge et Noir' black fountain pen!

(all photos courtesy of Lawrence ~ please click on images to enlarge)

Lawrence : "This pen was unique due to it being one of the smallest with a built-in piston.  Most modern pens in this size are usually of the converter types." 

 

"The design of this pen is unusual too, apparently it is vintage Montblanc style.  The Montblanc logo is coral / white (instead of black / white), and there is the Montblanc name written on the cap in script form."

 

 

 

 

 

"It is sort of like a small version of Montblanc's Agatha Christie writer's edition pen (it reminds me of it), although apparently I've read somewhere that the snake clip design has been around longer and pre-dates the Agatha Christie. The snake design is present also on the nib itself. "

"The medium nib that I initially got had a case of baby's bottom but the fine nib which I eventually got wrote well.  As with most of my black pens, this usually is used with red inks. It is not very finicky and works well with different brands that I use: J. Herbin, Graf von Faber-Castell, and Montblanc.  The nib, because of its smaller size, is also a bit stiffer than the larger MB's that I own.  The nib actually feels like a Faber-Castell / Graf von Faber-Castell nib in terms of stiffness; the R et N actually writes like them too."   

 

 "The size may be small for some people, but I grew up with my vintage Parkers which are very close to this size.  The cap can be posted, but I don't really do it. Not sure if the finish might scratch.  And instead of precious resin, it is precious lacquer in this case. Not sure if there is a difference (maybe the barrel is metal and coated with lacquer?)"

What a stunning homage to one of Montblanc's very first fountain pen models!
Lawrence - many thanks for sharing your photos and thoughts about it with us :)

Newest Acquisitions (Virtual "Show & Tell") ~ part 102

 Today's new acquisition belongs to VPCer Armando, who was kind enough to send us his photos and impressions of a modern fountain pen he recently acquired...

A PRESIDENT OF A PEN

Armando: "It has been said that Bill Clinton was the first US President to use a Japanese pen.  Whether this was the reason why the Platinum Pen Co. called their flagship pen "President" is subject to debate.  The Platinum President pen was released in 1994."

 

(all photos courtesy of Armando ~ please click on images to enlarge)

"I recently acquired a Platinum President Pen.  I was interested in having a pen with a double broad (coarse) nib.  I thought it might be good for a Presidential type signature."

"The pen arrived in a nice brown felt box, covered by a white cardboard box.  What got my attention initially was the two tone 18 k gold nib, with a heart-shaped breather hole.  In addition to this, the nib has a massive tipping material, and it has the mark "C" for coarse, or double broad.  The pen uses a proprietary cartridge converter."

 

 

 "This cigar-shaped pen is similar in looks to a Montblanc 146 (on the left in the above photo).  In fact, they have the same length and almost the same girth.  The pen is not heavy, and quite comfortable in the hand, when using unposted.  When posted, it becomes a bit back heavy, but still usable."

 

 

 

"I inked the pen with an Iroshizuku Shogun Grey.  Writing in a normal 45 degree angle shows the wide lines.  When I hold it more vertical, the lines are just broad or medium.  With reverse writing, it is very smooth, and produces a fine line.

Overall, I think this is a versatile pen, with even a possibility of changing the nib to a cursive italic."

Many thanks to Armando for his photos and review of this handsome fountain pen!

Fountain Pen Day 2020! (Friday November 6th)

From the official Fountain Pen Day website: "Taking place on the first Friday in November each year, Fountain Pen Day is celebrated by enthusiasts worldwide as a time to embrace, promote, and share the use of fountain pens."

Newest Acquisitions (Virtual "Show & Tell") ~ part 101

Happy Fountain Pen Day! Today's featured new acquisition is a beautiful sterling silver Italian fountain pen owned by Jerred....

(all photos courtesy of Jerred ~ please click on images to enlarge)

Jerred: "This is the Delta Profili.  It is a faceted pen, with 8 sides, and the cap and barrel are made of sterling silver.  The pen has accents in red celluloid, and has a 14k nib (I said 18k at the meeting, oops!)."

 

"There are at least two versions of the Profili of which I am aware, and this is the second.  The first version of the Profili was engraved on all body facets, and the "Delta Italy" logo is engraved on the cap.  This second version is recognizable from the first as only alternating facets of the body are engraved, and the "Delta Profili" logo is on the body, not the cap.  This second version of the Profili is a little bit more rare than the first."

"This particular pen came with Delta's #5.5 nib in 14k solid gold, with Rhodium plating.  The pen was not used much, but the nib is still a pretty decent writer."

 

What a gorgeous fountain pen! Congratulations on your new purchase, Jerred, and thanks for sharing it with us!

Newest Acquisitions (Virtual "Show & Tell") ~ part 100

For post #100, I thought it'd be nice to feature a pen belonging to the person who suggested our pen club's ongoing virtual "show & tell"-- René!
The pen in question? His Sheaffer '330' fountain pen....

(all photos by René ~ click on images to enlarge)

(photo above : Sheaffer '330' fountain pen)

 René: "Not long ago I acquired a Sheaffer 440 from VPCer Jerred. The 440 is what is called a "quasi-Imperial" pen from Sheaffer, from the 1970s, inspired by the successful Imperial line, several models of which came with the elegant and beautiful inlaid diamond-shaped nib. The 440 is called "quasi-imperial" because it also has the diamond-shaped inlaid nib, but a shorter one and is made of steel, instead of gold."

"While the 440 model has a plastic body and brushed steel cap, the 330 has the same body, but with a plastic cap with a metal cap ring, reminiscent of the Imperial IV cap."

 

  "As it shares the same nib section as the 440, the 330 is also a lovely writer, but the cap is a bit more difficult to post securely for some reason. 

 

 "Still, it's a beautiful pen that is cheaper than one of the Imperials but has the same elegant look, an underrated vintage pen."

 

"For comparison, here is a picture of the 330/44x quasi-imperials. From the top, the 444 (steel cap and body), the 440 (steel cap, plastic body), and the 330 (plastic cap and body)."

Love the short inlaid nibs on those 70s Sheaffers! For a nice article on this nib and its cousins, check out this article on Penhero.com - The Evolution of the Sheaffer Inlaid Nib 1959-Present

To René and all the VPC members who have contributed to our virtual show & tell --Thank you so much!

Newest Acquisitions (Virtual "Show & Tell") ~ part 99

 A few weeks ago, longtime Vancouver Pen Club member Christopher asked me if I happened to know anything about the manufacturer of this vintage fountain pen he recently acquired - an attractive Refograph bulb-filler...

(all photos courtesy of Christopher ~ please click on images to enlarge)

Christopher's initial thoughts on the mystery pen: "The Refograph is a bulb filler covered by a long shiny black blind cap, and may I add, of considerable quality. The barrel supports a very large ink view window, which has a spiderweb pattern etched on the surface, The section is the best shaped one for my fingers yet. The cap has the most beautiful mottled red pearl and back finish topped off with a black cap screw which secures an even more attractive clip. The clip is also imprinted ‘Refograph’ and looks German 1930s in it’s design. Beautifully finished and shaped. There are also three distinctive cap bands, the middle one being wider. All the fittings are 14K gold filled."

"But I have saved the best for last. The tiny nib, a Warranted one is of super high quality and definitely 14K gold. And I would have to add that this little beauty is a semi broad with more flex than can be imagined. I took the liberty of an educated guess as to the dating as mid 30s. Actually I have had several 1930s German Reform pens and their clips were somewhat similar to this one."

I subsequently did a bit of digging and found a reference to Refograph in a list of Hungarian pen brands on FPN. You certainly don't see too many Hungarian fountain pens (vintage or modern!) around, so I was very pleased that Christopher sent it in for our online "show & tell". Many thanks, Christopher, for sharing your interesting new find with us :)

Stay well, everyone!
~Maja