Caran D'ache Ecridor Retro Design History

[minthe]

I am deeply in love with the old red-capped version of the Caran d'Ache Ecridor Retro, for me the most beautiful pen I've ever seen. I'm very curious about the (slight) design evolution the Ecridor pens have undergone over the years. I've read that the Retro design hasn't been changed (much) since 1930, but having held both a new and an old (don't know what year, would love to though) one, I think the differences are striking.

 

The new one was much thicker, especially the transition between the thin barrel and the thicker body of the pen. In my old version, the overall pen is slimmer, the body-barrel difference is smaller, the edges are sharper. The to of the cap with the logo, in my opinion of course is much more beautiful with the lovely red cap instead of the modern etched one. Well, to each their own .... but if you have information about when those different models were launched, or details about the design evolution of the different Retro models, I would love to hear!

 

Minthe

 

 

PS.: This is what the old beauty looks like (unfortunately I didn't take pictures of the new one before I returned it...)

 

 

[minthe]

Steel nib, M ground to a 0.3 mm XF by Mr. Minuskin. http://i.imgur.com/FNi2a7H.jpg

[hari317]

Interesting subject, I also like the red logo ones better. They also changed the clip shape. I have the older style bought new in 2005 and a later style in the maya pattern. let me see if i am able to take some pics...

[______Zaphod_Beeblebrox]

I am deeply in love with the old red-capped version of the Caran d'Ache Ecridor Retro, for me the most beautiful pen I've ever seen. I'm very curious about the (slight) design evolution the Ecridor pens have undergone over the years. I've read that the Retro design hasn't been changed (much) since 1930, but having held both a new and an old (don't know what year, would love to though) one, I think the differences are striking.

 

The new one was much thicker, especially the transition between the thin barrel and the thicker body of the pen. In my old version, the overall pen is slimmer, the body-barrel difference is smaller, the edges are sharper. The to of the cap with the logo, in my opinion of course is much more beautiful with the lovely red cap instead of the modern etched one. Well, to each their own .... but if you have information about when those different models were launched, or details about the design evolution of the different Retro models, I would love to hear!

 

Minthe

 

 

PS.: This is what the old beauty looks like (unfortunately I didn't take pictures of the new one before I returned it...)

 

I need to get me a beautiful vintage pen like that!

[minthe]

You have to indeed!

 

Right, the clip is another part I didn't mention. The new ones do not have anything written on (and under) the clip. I would be very interested in pictures of your pens, Hari!

[christof]

I am very sorry but as far as I know did Caran d' Ache start with fountain pen production in 1970's.

The Ecridor Retro is a modern pen (catridge filler) as the name states (Retro).

Back in the 30's there were no fountain pens made by Caran d'Ache, only mechanical pencils and leadholders.

c.

[soapytwist]

I need to get me a beautiful vintage pen like that!

 

The design is based on C d'A's Ecridor pencils from the 1930s, which in turn were based on their Fixpencil mechanism from the late 1920s. As Christof says, FPs didn't come along until later and the Ecridor FP is possibly a 1990s creation? Someone will chime in with the right answer; my pen was bought in the early 2000s and the instructions in the box are dated October 2000.

[ink-syringe]

All I know is i LOVE The design of this pen. Cd'A has no dealer here in Korea. I finally did track one down and it leaked like crazy. Broken hearted I returned it.

 

 

Someday I will own one.

 

I hope..

[minthe]

Oh, sorry to hear this, ink-syringe! And thank you so much Christof and soapytwist for your insights. This is all new to me and very interesting. So, the 2000 version has the red cap and so does the 2005 Maya? Interesting. I wonder if the relative bulkiness of the newest design is due to the rhodium plating, would this significantly add tho the circumference? Which inks do you Ecridor owners prefer? I always like the idea of emerald green ink with a silver pen, even though I haven't tried a green ink I really loved myself...

[jar]

Which inks do you Ecridor owners prefer?

 

My experience has been that all my Caran d'Ache fountain pens have been very forgiving when it comes to inks; equally happy with wet or dry, saturated or unsaturated.

 

http://www.fototime.com/537F6681C1019C8/large.jpg

http://www.fototime.com/B0CE60948A4C499/large.jpg

http://www.fototime.com/B9BBAB888F4F26A/large.jpg

[minthe]

Great Jar, thank you very much! Your fine nib looks lovely and the pen too, of course. So from which year is this one? I wish I took pictures, but my impression was that on the most recent one I had briefly, the circumference difference between barrel and body was more pronounced than in yours ... and that looked a little "clumsy". hmmm.

[jar]

It's fairly new, maybe a year or two old, certainly the newest of my Cd'As. I also have a couple Varius pens. an older Hexagonal and a Genève and all seem to be happy with whatever ink I put in them.

[Mookli]

Greetings all,

How does the flat clip and plastic section fit in the time line?

http://www.maryhatay.com/Mark/Fountain-Pens/Mixed-Pens/i-Vmv7L9k/0/XL/%24_57-XL.jpg

[soapytwist]

Hi Mookli - nice pen! Your's looks more like a 70s-80s pen - maybe not an Ecridor, but another earlier model that uses the same hexagonal design in a nod to the pencils?

[jar]

Greetings all,

How does the flat clip and plastic section fit in the time line?

http://www.maryhatay.com/Mark/Fountain-Pens/Mixed-Pens/i-Vmv7L9k/0/XL/%24_57-XL.jpg

 

As Soapy says, yours might be an early Hexagonal instead of the Ecridor. Is your nib Gold or Gold Plate?

 

Compare with these pictures of a Cd'A Hexagonal (yup, that was the model name).

 

http://www.fototime.com/95EF9B374ADEEFF/large.jpg

http://www.fototime.com/5BE17A2603739D1/large.jpg

The Ecridor was usually steel nib and where the cap attached round and not hexagonal.

 

http://www.fototime.com/537F6681C1019C8/large.jpg

[Mookli]

CdA 18k nib, but in a plastic section

cap mating on a hex.

wide flat clip.

Looks like the Hexagonal.

 

Hmmm, Hexagonal, Must have been named by a Swiss engineer.

 

Thanks for the help,

M

 

 

http://www.maryhatay.com/Mark/Fountain-Pens/Mixed-Pens/i-bB9p66K/0/L/%24_5n7-L.jpg

[jar]

CdA 18k nib, but in a plastic section

cap mating on a hex.

wide flat clip.

Looks like the Hexagonal.

 

Hmmm, Hexagonal, Must have been named by a Swiss engineer.

 

Thanks for the help,

M

 

 

 

Cd'A also has a line that comes in wood and metals and lacque finishes and they call the model "Varius". Maybe there is a pattern to b found?

[Mookli]

Folks, I stand corrected, The section is black metal, not plastic, probably anodized aluminum.

 

This one is new to my collection, one of those "I'm still pinching myself deals".

I have always wanted a Caran D'ache fountain pen!, and I was right wanting it.

It is a beautiful pen, typical high quality Swiss production. with a understated clean design.

I got this baby cleaned up and inked up, and have been using it all day. and I love it.

Is it my best writing pen, definitely not, but it writes good enough to not be a problem.

So without a doubt I can say it is in the top fifty pens of my choice,

 

 

 

 

http://www.maryhatay.com/Mark/Fountain-Pens/Mixed-Pens/i-F2Gt3Db/0/X2/Caran%20DAche_7075-X2.jpg

[jar]

Folks, I stand corrected, The section is black metal, not plastic, probably anodized aluminum.

 

This one is new to my collection, one of those "I'm still pinching myself deals".

I have always wanted a Caran D'ache fountain pen!, and I was right wanting it.

It is a beautiful pen, typical high quality Swiss production. with a understated clean design.

I got this baby cleaned up and inked up, and have been using it all day. and I love it.

Is it my best writing pen, definitely not, but it writes good enough to not be a problem.

So without a doubt I can say it is in the top fifty pens of my choice,

 

 

If you get a chance shine a light under the clip and see if there is anything to be seen there.

 

http://www.fototime.com/92A4F650AD6E973/large.jpg

[Mookli]

Yes, under the clip, "Caran D'Ache Swiss Made"