Tibaldi was founded in 1916 and closed doors in 1960. Somewhere in its middle years, this 1935 Model 0111 Doctor fountain pen was produced. This vintage pen is one of the rarest Tibaldi pens, with only two known to exist. This model is an eyedropper-filler with a wave-chased rolled-gold (gold-filled) overlay on a black hard rubber body. The nib is a fine, flexible Tibaldi 14CT 7. In addition, the barrel contained a thermometer! This specimen …
What kind of paper should I use with my vintage fountain pen? You can use any paper with your fountain pen, but with copy-type papers, your ink will likely feather, and bleed through the paper. Some papers will perform better than others. If you want a pleasant, smooth writing experience, it’s best to start with papers that are known to couple well with fountain pens, such as Rhodia, Clairefontaine, Oxford, Tomoe River, or copy paper …
The Parker 51 is very popular and features some quality design, but one thing I really love about them is the colors. This gorgeous 1945 Parker 51 is a vacuumatic-filler in Buckskin Beige. The 14kt pink and yellow gold ‘Empire’ cap is considered by many one of Parker’s most beautiful pens. This specimen had a fine nib and was mint condition NOS. Not the easiest color to find! Was available in Catalog #73. Don’t miss out …
I love the look of fountain pens, but don’t they always leak? A leaking fountain pen is a sign that something is either broken, misaligned, or you’re throwing it around too roughly. A fountain pen with a nib and feed that are properly aligned and fitted into the section properly should not leak if carried with care. If you drop your fountain pen, it’s possible some ink will splatter into the cap and then …
The 1945 Omas Colorado double-barreled vacuum filler qualifies as an extraordinary pen! It is a double-nibbed pen with a scissor barrel configuration (below: pictured open). Each section is marked with a red dot or a white dot to identify your inks and tell them apart. The pen is black with nickel-plated trim. Closed, it certainly looks like a pen but in its open configuration, it’s tricky. The nibs are medium/fine. Orlando Quadretti has been credited as the …
I’m interested in buying a vintage pen, but I want a pen with the easiest filling system to use and take care of. What would you recommend? The eye dropper filling system was the first found on fountain pens. They are easy to use in that they are easy to fill – you simply fill the barrel with ink and screw it closed, and they are easy to clean – open the barrel up and …
Why are some nibs smoother than other nibs? A great question – many people seek smooth nibs, whereas others like nibs with a little feedback. The tipping on the end of the tines are finely polished – the more polished they are, the smoother the writing experience tends to be. Nibs that offer feedback feel a little more ‘toothy’ than smooth nibs, because they are not as polished. There is the risk of over polishing …
What is a good nib for signatures? A nib that is expressive and offers a lot of character can make your signature look outstanding. If you don’t already have a nib preference, try out a stub/italic nib on the broader side, perhaps with a little flexibility to it. The natural line variation will highlight the variation in the ink saturation, and with some flex, you can push that even further. Of course, any fountain …
The No. 58 Awanyu Aztec Parker: $12.00! The original retail price was $12.00, that is. Currently, it is a little more expensive: $24.950. If you are looking for something to collect, this is an extremely rare pen – a holy grail for collectors. This pen was inspired when George Parker vacationed in Mexico and saw wonderful Aztec relics in a museum. He obtained permission to use the three armed triskelion design, the symbol of preserving …
I have read the warning on a lot of vintage pens with flexible nibs to be careful when using them. I keep reading about springing the nib. What does ”springing a nib” mean? A lot of vintage pens that have flexible nibs should be treated with care. Although they can tolerate pressure, depending on the specific nib (some are more flexible than others), you don’t want to apply so much pressure that you spring the tines. …
