After finding out the Swisher LE was resin, I'm wondering what the ratio of celluloid/resin Etruria's is. And under what circumstances. There can't be too many resin pens because up to now I thought all regular production was celluloid. Or at least current production. Maybe certain comissioned LE's were resin to keep cost down?

Possibly, but there are quite a few more resin ones. The only celluloid black Etruria, f.e, AFAIK, was the original black one. All the other blacks are made of resin. This includes the current black editions, both the PF and c/c. I am wondering about the Étéré, also a black edition. I would have to check when I am back home again.

The new Gaudis are also resin, cracked ice and black, and the Nuda is acrylic, another resin.

This means at least 10 different resin Etrurias so far, and maybe more.

Warm regards, Wim

I know my original amber Etrurias (one O/S, one medium) and the 911 are celluloid. I was under the impression that all the rest of mine are resin. Be of good cheer, the resin is very good quality and very well made.

Ok, found out the Ëtéré is black celluloid after all. To check whether your Etruria is celluloid or another material, here is a list of all the Etrurias in existence of which I am aware of, with barrel materials and some other info as far as I am aware of:

Etruria Grande (O/S)

Piston filled versions:
Amber Grande, Silver Trim (unlimited, 18K two-tone, celluloid)
Amber Grande, Gold Trim (unlimited, 18K two-tone, celluloid)
Black, Silver Trim (unlimited, 18K two-tone, short piston button, celluloid)
Cracked Ice Swisher Special, Gold and Gold/Chrome Trim rounded clip (SE of 60, 18K two-tone, resin)
Demo Swisher Special, Gold Trim (LE of 50, 18K two-tone, acrylic)
Nuda, Silver Trim (LE of 351, 18K two-tone, acrylic)
Amber Vintage 2006, Silver Trim (unlimited, 18K two-tone, celluloid)
Black 2006, Silver Trim (unlimited, 18K two-tone, long piston button, resin)
Alter Ego 2006, Silver Trim (unlimited, 18K two-tone, celluloid)

Retractible versions:
Amber Grande, Gold and Chrome Trim rounded clip (unlimited, 18K two-tone, celluloid)
Blue d' Inverno, Silver and Chrome Trim rounded clip (LE of 399, 18K two-tone, celluloid)

Convertible Versions:
Amber Grande, Gold and Chrome Trim rounded clip (unlimited, 18K two-tone, celluloid)
Blue Ocean, Silver and Chrome Trim rounded clip (unlimited, 18K two-tone, celluloid)
991 10th Anniversary, Silver and Gold Trim, (LE of 991, 18K two-tone, celluloid)
Etere, Gold and Chrome and Silver Trim rounded clip (LE of 2002, 14K rhodium plated, celluloid)

C/C versions:
Cracked Ice Swisher Special, Silver Trim (SE of 70?, 14K rhodium plated, resin)
Majestic Indian Nights, Gold Trim (Dark Blue FPH Special, SE of 100, 18K two-tone, celluloid)
Blue Dusk, Silver Trim (FPH 60th Anniversary LE of 60, 14K rhodium plated, resin)
Orange/Black Swisher Special, Silver Trim (SE of 30, 14K rhodium plated, resin)
Blue/Black Swisher Special, Silver Trim (SE of 30, 14K rhodium plated, resin)
Volterra, Gold Trim (LE of 193, 18K two-tone, celluloid)
Amber Vintage 2006, Silver Trim (unlimited, 18K two-tone, celluloid)
Black 2006, Silver Trim (unlimited, 18K two-tone, resin)
Alter Ego 2006, Silver Trim (unlimited, 18K two-tone, celluloid)
De Architectura Gaudì Casa Battliò (Black LE of 193, 14K rhodium plated, resin)
De Architectura Gaudì Pedrera (Cracked Ice LE of 193, 14K rhodium plated, resin)
Amalfi (red/black - PensPlus Special, SE of 25?, material?)
Fountains of Rome (blue cracked marble – PensPlus Special, SE of 25?, material?)

Metal cap versions (c/c):
Amber Aurea Silver Cap Godron (celluloid)
Amber Aurea Silver Cap Plain (celluloid)
Amber Aurea Gold Cap Godron (celluloid)
Amber Aurea Gold Cap Plain (celluloid)
Black Aurea Silver Cap Godron (celluloid?)
Black Aurea Silver Cap Plain (celluloid?)


Etruria Media

C/C versions:
Amber Silver trim (celluloid)
Amber Gold Trim (celluloid)
Black Silver Trim (celluloid?)

If any of you know of more models, I'd really appreciate it to learn about them. I do know there were a few pre-Etruria models, with IPG nibs, made of celluloid, amongst others one made of a nice green striped celluloid . Also for the unknown factors here, I would appreciate more info.

Warm regards, Wim

Wim,
I've had a full-size Blue Ocean C/C pass through my hands, fitted with the rhodium-plated 14K nib.
Best,
David

Wow... Wim, you rock! Thanks for the list!

Hi David,

Can you remember whether this pen had a silver ring at the top end of the barrel, as if it had a blind cap or knob?
And did the part over which the barrel screws have a black sleeve or another colour, and if so, which?

TIA, warm regards, Wim

Hi girlieg33k,

Thank you, the pleasure is mine!

Warm regards, Wim

Hi, Wim. Yes, it had a silver ring and blind cap, though I never attempted to unscrew it. The part of the section over which the barrel screwed was a matte, silverish, aluminium-type metal (if that makes any sense). Here it is:



David

Thank you David!

And Phew! Thought for a moment I missed out on one . This looks like a regular Blue Ocean to me, which is a Convertible, IOW, has/had a large piston converter and can be used as a c/c as well. You can make sure by checking if the barrel end, the "blind cap" turns around; the big piston converter end fits into the inside, to make it possible for it to operate as a piston knob for the large piston converter. When you unscrew the barrel, it should turn freely. It does not operate a normal converter, unfortunately.

There are several versions around when it comes to the inner sleeve: plain aluminium, which si what you seem to have, a black material (still don't know what that is), and chromed steel (?). That inner sleeve serves to prevent the barrel from breaking off at the threads due to the flex in the celluloid and the thin wall where the outer and inner threads of the barrel meet.

Anyway, this pen was, certainly in the US, available with a choice of 14K rhodinated or 18K twotone nib.

Warm regards, Wim

Ack! When I received it, it came with a regular converter and it never occurred to me that this was the convertible version and that it was only missing the larger piston converter. I got rid of it because the flow with the regular converter was no good. I never tried to turn the end cap. Oh well, nothing left to do but kick myself :-). Thanks for the information,
David

Wim wrote:

"Volterra, Gold Trim (LE of 193, 18K two-tone, celluloid)"

That's right! I forgot about my Volterra.

That is a great list, Wim. Thanks. Now, I have to ask, how many of the pens on that list do you have?!

Thanks Wim, good stuff!

Ummm, well, quite a few...

I don't have the Medias or the metal cap versions, the former because they are too small for me, and the latter because I don't particularly like them. Somehow I don't like these covered celluloid caps. I have the Gaudis on order, and that means there remain the two with the material unknown remark, the PensPlus SEs - I don't have those. The rest, ummm, yes . With some even more than one .

Warm regards, Wim

It's a pleasure!

Warm regards, Wim

Looks like at least 26 with the ones coming in, and missing 11.

Yes, but I only consider 2 out of those 11 as missing .

Warm regards, Wim

Zounds! You win!

That is a lot of money. But, dang!, they are great pens, aren't they?!

I have a paltry seven! But, I am retired and have to save up for some more.

They are great pens IMO. I have to save too, but I had a little windfall two and a half years ago, and went a little crazy .

7 of them is in no way paltry, if you ask me...

Warm regards, Wim

Wim,

Thanks so much for the wonderful list (as well as your indefatigable commitment to always help). What a pleasure it is to read your posts.

Wim: What brand and color inks do you put into your Etruria pens?

I think it is easier to ask which brands and colours I do not use in my Etrurias. I don't use iron gall inks anymore, after a disastrous encounter between MB Permanent Blue Black and my d'Inverno. The top gasket of the piston filler mechanism blew within a day after filling it with this ink, but fortunately Stipula fixed that for me within two weeks, under warranty - great service. Neither do I use Swisher's Intense Red in any of my celluloids anymore. Although I managed to remove the stains on the section of one of my 991s (yes, I have more than 1, 3 actually ) with InkNix, I got a such fright from this, that I will only use it with resin pens now.

My favourite inks with my Etrurias, or rather, the Etrurias' favourite inks are Noodler's Ottoman Rose, Ottoman Azure, FPN Dumas Tulipe Noire, Black, Cayenne, Emerald, Red Black, Legal Lapis, Herbin Café des Îles, Waterman BB for priming, Omas Vespucci Red, PR DCSS 2004 Blue, and whatever other ink my pens tell me they want as a diet .

I have FPN Galileo Manuscript Brown loaded in my Iris, BTW, not an Etruria, obviously, but it uses the same hazelnut celluloid as the 991 .

Warm regards, Wim

Welll, ummm, thanks .

Blushing hard here.

Warm regards, Wim