France, late 1940s. Postwar pen with prewar styling. In black celluloid, at 14.2cm long, it’s an unusually large French pen. Original nib is missing its tip, so it carries a 1930s Waterman’s Ideal nib. Someday I’ll find le Super Edacoto Transparent Serie 208, le plus grande taille. That may be my grail.
Germany 1935. The Edel fountain pen is a curiosity, a pen that had been mostly lost to history until a Dutch restorer took a risk and brought a barnful of them back to life. Piston-filled, made of plastic (barrel and cap), Bakelite (crown and blind cap), and ebonite (section and feed). It looks like a contemporaneous 100 Pelikan. Its nib is flexible and wet, writing from an EF to a BBB.
USA, 1960s. The Deluxes were Esterbrook’s 1960s successor to the J pens. This is a permanent desk pen for me with its 9550 extra fine nib.
USA 1941-44. Black celluloid, wartime bandless Dollar. Lever filler.
USA, 1939-41. Copper marbled celluloid Dollar, lever filler.
USA, 1930s. This Dollar is one of the earlier ones, mid-1930s, in hard rubber. Feels great in the hand.
USA, 1950s. SJ in brown marbled celluloid, lever filler. Frequent use at home.
France, probable early 1930s. Its resemblance to Conway Stewart is not an accident, because CS made pens for GS until the mid-1930s. Model unidentified, pink, warm brown with light chips in marbled celluloid, original nib. Lever filler.
China, 2000s. The 51-clone that outsold the 51! Wonderful smooth extra-fine nib, writes like a champ, too.
Spain, 1959-63. Another shameless copy of Parker 51. Brushed steel cap over black plastic barrel. This is the earlier 55, the first of two versions. Purchased by SGE in Barcelona. Aero filler, unmarked hooded nib. Very nice wet writer.