Mallat, Paris

April 18, 2012

An uncommon brand from a writing instrument company established in 1842. Apparently shifted to fountain pens after WWI.

This is a model A-52. A dignified pen, in black-on-black Bakelite. Clipless, with an Art Nouveau/Bauhaus look.

This is a Plexigraf Junior 14. Gotta love that four-in-hand cravat clip

Here's some background.

http://www.fountainpen.it/Mallat/en

Anyone have others to show?

Edited April 18, 2012 by Blotto

February 18, 2015

Wow. Nothing like reviving a topic over two years old....

Today I became the proud owner of a Mallat Paris model 120 (Ladies Model) fountain pen. It's a celluloid body/cap (which places it post 1930) that sports an 18k gold nib ("warranted"). It's a lever fill that is in need of a new ink sac. The nib itself could use some work, too. The color is a bronzey-gold flake with bits of bright red appearing only occasionally. Definitely on the small side, about 4 inches capped. The feed looks to be in very good condition. The lever was gold plated with just a bit remaining. The clip is silver in color, and I'm not sure it was ever plated. Actually not even sure it's original? The cap is missing a band (I think). There is a groove which looks like it's for a band, anyway.

I purchased this pen basically to sell it on eBay or wherever, from a local antique mall. It was with an entire case of knickknacks from France, perhaps a private collection from someone who lived there. The pen is engraved/stamped "MALLAT PARIS" and underneath of that "120". The nib has the WARRANTED over 18Cts over "QUALITY" marking. It's a neat little pen with some interesting colors. I'll be sad to see it go, but I do need to fund a purchase of a new Edison pen. Anyway, the pictures and description may helps others if they ever come across a similar pen from the same maker.

--Eric

February 20, 2015

Was "watching" that auction, but decided to pass. Although those 18k Warranted nibs can be wonderful, the pen has more condition issues than I cared to take on. Definitely a user, not specimen, and there more than enough users in the stash.

Put it again in a few weeks. Who knows???
Best of luck with it.

February 22, 2015

Yes, it's definitely a "rough specimen". I do like the color, though. Maybe some day I'll get a sack installed and have that nib fixed and maybe it'll be a great writer. Who knows? I'm guessing it won't sell on eBay (or anywhere for that matter), but that's okay. Because at the end of the day...how many mini Mallat pens are there in the U.S.? It's a unique piece to start a conversation or two.

March 31, 2015

Last year I found an (formerly) unknown lever fountain pen.

I started some research and discovered that it´s a Mallat 120 lady pen (about 1930-35).

The pen was in bad conditions and I started some restauration. Especially the nib and the ink sac needed some more efforts ... the ink sac was a "somehow crumbled whatever".

The result can be seen on the pics. Please note ... it´s not a snake but a fountain pen.

Regards, Ingolf.

P.S.: The Lamy 2000 was added to show the small size of the Mallat.

March 31, 2015

Wonderful material on that pen.

Here's one that arrived a while ago. A Model 140. Not nearly as dramatic as your

snake-skin, but also a smallish pen. This 11.4 cm, 4.5 inches capped.

Has an interesting feature. The lever has two flanges that catch in the barrel slot

when seated. The flanges prevent the lever from catching on fabric when the pen

is placed in a pocket; accidentally causing a discharge. They also make the lever

very difficult to lift.

The black item that looks like a worm casting is a fabric wrapped metal band I

found twisted tightly around the nipple where the dried sac had been shellacked

in place, intended to re-enforce he seal.

Both elements a bit of over-engineering. Well made pens with large, heavy

imprints.

Enjoy seeing more of them appear.