Raja fountain pen

[seymour]

Hi all

 

I bought this lot because it included a part I needed. However, it included an extremely attractive Raja pen in good condition (3rd from left).

 

Does anybody know anything about it?

 

[EventHorizon]

I am not familiar with the Raja brand but it appears there are a few nice pens in the lot. I can pick out the Esterbrook (8th from the right). Numbers 5 and 9 from the right look nice also. What are they?

[Johnny Appleseed]

I seem to recall seeing some "Raja" brand pens that were Parker Vacumatic look-alikes, but were Eyedropper fillers and either made in India (as knock-offs) or an actual Parker made sub-brand aimed at the British colonial market. I might be completely misremembering though. Did you try a search of the name?

 

John

[seymour]

Hi Eventhorizon

 

Of the two you like. 5 is a write off. 9 is interesting. It has no maker marked anywhere. It has a 'Pelikan type' clip. It is a button filler and the legend on the nib is really interesting: "warranted 1st class non rust". I would guess that is British English of the 1940s or earlier. It needs a new sack and would probably work. The last one on the right is marked "Kaweco VII". That brand has been discussed on FPN as a cheap brand, but I have this VII which has what seems to be a gold nib and has not been discussed anywhere.

 

Hi Johnny

 

I did a search for Raja on Google and within the FPN. There is a Pakistani firm but I am not certain that it is the only firm of the name. The craftmanship is impressive. The top of the clip has what seems to be a lion's mane, whereas the bottom has the Parker arrow. Its piston fill and has a cover like a vacumatic and the piston knob has ridges to make it confortable to hold.

 

I am a bit scared to fill it as I assume there is probably perished rubber inside, but as I say, I am impressed by the aesthetics and by the workmanship

 

Chaim

[Akumar]

Hi Eventhorizon

 

Of the two you like. 5 is a write off. 9 is interesting. It has no maker marked anywhere. It has a 'Pelikan type' clip. It is a button filler and the legend on the nib is really interesting: "warranted 1st class non rust". I would guess that is British English of the 1940s or earlier. It needs a new sack and would probably work. The last one on the right is marked "Kaweco VII". That brand has been discussed on FPN as a cheap brand, but I have this VII which has what seems to be a gold nib and has not been discussed anywhere.

 

Hi Johnny

 

I did a search for Raja on Google and within the FPN. There is a Pakistani firm but I am not certain that it is the only firm of the name. The craftmanship is impressive. The top of the clip has what seems to be a lion's mane, whereas the bottom has the Parker arrow. Its piston fill and has a cover like a vacumatic and the piston knob has ridges to make it confortable to hold.

 

I am a bit scared to fill it as I assume there is probably perished rubber inside, but as I say, I am impressed by the aesthetics and by the workmanship

 

Chaim

 

Raja is a Hindustani word for King that much I can confirm. Hindustani is spoken in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal

 

[hari317]

I have come across celluloid Raja pens made both in India and England. The English ones that I have seen were button fillers and Flat topped like the Duofold. There were also an English brand called "KRISHNA unbreakable pen" made out of celluloid. I hope Oxonian will chime in with some more information.

 

Best,

Hari