This is another of my "third tier" pens. I am ashamed to
admit that to date I have been unable to establish whether the pen
relates to the typewriter manufacturer,
but it seems quite likely. In absolute terms, this is not a
particularly good pen-- the point is steel, the filler is the
cheapest sort of piston, and the different colours of the caps (the
whole rear of the barrel unscrews to allow the piston-stem room) seem
poorly bonded together. From a distance it might be taken for a
Sheaffer Balance, which one suspects is exactly the
effect hoped for, but that is achieved at the cost of a clip that is
held on by tabs, and tabs which penetrate the cap and allow for
evaporation from the point.
So, if it's so indistinguished, why am I keeping it around? Well,
I got it as part of a lot, and the other pens it came with were worth
enough (at least, to me) that I count this one as having been a free
bonus. Free pens get a lot of slack from me. It also counts
as an opportunity to practice repairing this mode of piston filler, as
the original seal has long since disappeared. It also has a
pretty reasonable point, for all that it's so cheap-- I don't mind
letting someone who's unfamiliar with vintage pens try this one, as
it's stiff enough to take some abuse and should it fail, not very dear.
Specifications:
"Velvet Touch" fine steel point, nibs formed by folding of the
pen material rather than by adding iridium. Shafted piston filler. 13.2cm long capped, 16.3cm posted.
Condition:
The 14K gold plating on the point is almost all worn away, with
small random patches remaining. Small brassing of the steel-tone
plating on the band. Very little wear on the body, and the clear
section is remarkably transparent.
Repairs:
Cleaned old ink from interior spaces. Replaced piston-seal.
Location: My collection.
For sale?: I'm
not done playing with it yet-- I want to at least be sure that the seal
is going to last a while, as it's materials I'm not wholly certain of.
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