Stilan
About This Model
There were many small fountain pen manufacturers in Italy during the vintage era, particularly in Torino and Bologne, and included Artus, Atlantica, Aurea, Imperiale, Kosca and others. The trouble is that there is almost no published information about them, except for the wonderful scholarship of Letizia Jacobini, who has managed to tease out most of the sub-brands and models from brands, a tremendously complex job. Most of the brands here were one purchase I made some years back to experience mid-level Italian vintage pens. They were almost all button-fillers, in celluloid patterns that I had never seen before or since. The nibs were almost all steel, responsive and often at least minimally flexible. Filcao started in the 1960s in Settimo Torinese, Italy, as a machine shop for metal parts. Crediting Richard Binder for the history, it's noted that by the end of the decade Filcao was producing cartridge/converter fountain pens, which then became its primary business. In 2004, Binder designed a pen for Filcao called “Columbia, the Gem of the Ocean,” an all-new button filler. It was followed by the Atlantica, the Nobile, and the Silvia. Filcao closed in 2012.
About This Pen
Although I was able to find two similar pens on offer in Italy by a seller/friend, he knew nothing about them. This is a substantial, handsome, elegant pen at 13.8cm long capped, in black and darker pearl celluloid in a marbled pattern. It is very clean and shiny, no scratches of note, and the gold trim is solid and clean. The button filler is firm and fills well. The imprint reads “Stilan”, with quote marks (often seen with Italian vintage pens), and is complete. The section is tapered with grip threads, an unusual feature. The nib is plated, shows some plate loss, and is engraved with “A.B.T” and and “Osmit”, the latter presumably referring to the tip alloy. It writes a full wet fine, with some flex. A case is recommended to protect its very fine finish.
Price: $200 Sold