Goldfinger's Onoto

[Cob]

The thought of a huge Swan Eternal nib heading towards my "family jewels" whilst I am strapped to a table terrifies me I must say...

 

Cob

[Goudy]

Actually these wires are more freaking than they appear on this photo. When starting screwing the pen open or at the end of the closing the wires really scratch inside the pen.with cracking noises.

 

I have a Swan with a metal overfeed, an ebonite underfeed, and long wires very like those (not the usual short twisty wire of Swan over/under feed pens).

 

It also has a sort of plug in the underfeed, which leads me to think that it's all to do with this nib-filling system:

 

http://i.imgur.com/dGMBMSs.jpg

 

The idea seems to be to pull out the plug from the nib and trickle ink down the exposed wires. The position you replace the plug in also regulates the flow of ink (according to the ad). I haven't been able to move the plug on my Swan, though, so I'm not sure how well that works.

Edited January 24, 2015 by Goudy

[Cepasaccus]

Goudy, do you have a photo of your plug?

[Goudy]

Here's a quick photo:

 

http://i.imgur.com/QlPNIdf.jpg

[Cepasaccus]

Never seen such a thing. Thanks! Btw. is this also with overfeed?

[Goudy]

Yes, here's the metal overfeed and the wires. The pen needs a good clean!

 

http://i.imgur.com/RJC8zlJ.jpg

 

Edit: I think the metal bar is probably not a "feed" in the true sense but rather a way of retaining ink drawn into the nib slit from the actual feed beneath the nib.

Edited January 24, 2015 by Goudy

[Cepasaccus]

Thanks. My Mabie Todd looks the same, but has no plug.

[Guernseytim]

Here it is. My mistake, the listing is still current.

Haha, another "rare" pen.

 

I had one like this with 18k gold bands - lovely and interesting pens. It'll likely sell for close to £100 though - they always do. Worth every penny often too.

[Goudy]

Haha, another "rare" pen.

 

I had one like this with 18k gold bands - lovely and interesting pens. It'll likely sell for close to £100 though - they always do. Worth every penny often too.

 

£116 was the final price, so your crystal ball wasn't far off. Personally I think it's a bit steep for an Onoto in that condition, but the feed makes it unusual. My guess is that it's a Swan-type ebonite over-under feed with gold plating on the exposed portion rather than solid gold. But it would be interesting to see the feed disassembled to be sure.

[Flounder]

Can you plate rubber though? Paint it on maybe? Why did they do this anyway?

[Cob]

 

£116 was the final price, so your crystal ball wasn't far off. Personally I think it's a bit steep for an Onoto in that condition, but the feed makes it unusual. My guess is that it's a Swan-type ebonite over-under feed with gold plating on the exposed portion rather than solid gold. But it would be interesting to see the feed disassembled to be sure.

Yes a good guess. I was very tempted, but in reality I have enough to be getting on with as it is.

 

I thought it was a lovely pen - and black too which is a big bonus.

 

Cob

[richardandtracy]

In most of these, the gold sheathing is little more than a bit of gold sheet shaped over the rubber feed, with thicknesses of around 26-28 gauge or thinner.

 

Regards,

 

Richard.

[Cepasaccus]

Thanks. My Mabie Todd looks the same, but has no plug.

I think I have to correct myself. It indeed seems to have that plug although it is pushed in quite far.

 

Cepasaccus

[Goudy]

Here's a gold, or rather gold-coated, feed on an Arnold Fountain Pen:

 

http://i.imgur.com/yAexdTy.jpg

 

 

And the gold coating is on the other end of the feed, too, for some reason:

 

http://i.imgur.com/WTgqX4u.jpg

 

Source: https://munsonpens.wordpress.com/category/arnold-pen-company/

[Flounder]

I saw a Harrods advert being sold on eBay recently, showing different prices for Onotos (early shape section) with these options:

 

"Long or Short model

Fitted with Gold band

Two Gold bands

Gold Body and Cap

Fully covered Gold"

 

I guess the all-gold with gold feed option was that last one?

[Flounder]

Here's a gold, or rather gold-coated, feed on an Arnold Fountain Pen:

 

http://i.imgur.com/yAexdTy.jpg

 

 

And the gold coating is on the other end of the feed, too, for some reason:

 

http://i.imgur.com/WTgqX4u.jpg

 

Source: https://munsonpens.wordpress.com/category/arnold-pen-company/

 

Thanks for the photos, Goudy!

[Goudy]

I think I have to correct myself. It indeed seems to have that plug although it is pushed in quite far.

 

Cepasaccus

 

Another Swan eyedropper with that odd and rather fiddly looking filling system: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SWAN-PEN-MABIE-TODD-BARD-NEW-YORK-/301544551235

 

This one comes with instructions:

 

"...raise the wire with the bulb-like end, using the edge of the point cover or the thumb nail for the purpose, until the twisted portion of the wire is about on a level with the point of the nib, then place the end of the charged glass filler over the point of the nib [...] and steadily squeeze the bulb, using care not to eject the ink too forcibly. When reservoir is full, push back the wire as far as it will go easily, when the pen is ready for use. [...] To increase flow of ink lift the bulb a fraction of an inch, thereby more freely opening the ink passage - to decrease, reverse this action."

[Cepasaccus]

Mine is a 4663 with an engraving from 1906. I was not able yet to pull this plug out.