Vintage Pilot Pen Identification Assistance, Please

[kurtankeny]

Hello Everyone:

 

I am a brand new user, having signed up just so I could get a bit of assistance in identifying a vintage Pilot fountain pen.

 

I am an artist, and have recently gotten interested in fountain pens for their use in drawing, since I like the look of nib work, and I dislike having to stop frequently to re-dip a pen when I'm drawing. It interrupts my thinking... (I have a couple of Noodler Conrad Flex demonstrators and a Lamy 2000, which I fill with Noodler's black for drawing.)

 

Anyway, my wife has had this pen for a while, and recently got curious about it. It was found in a vintage Japanese sewing box that came with a bunch of other vintage items, we're guessing they're from the 1950s or 1960s. This pen could be from that same period, but who knows? Not me, that's for sure.

 

Anyway, I'll post some photos so people might be able to hazard a guess. The nib doesn't seem to have any number on it, it simply says "BEST IN THE WORLD", then "PILOT" in the center, then "MADE IN JAPAN" at the bottom. No other identifying marks, except for "PILOT" on the top of the clip on the cap. Looks to be a plastic pen with inset metallic foil. It also seems to be missing its ink bladder completely, so for now it only functions as a dip pen. Would love to get it restored, or restore it myself, but not real sure what kind of project that is!

 

Anyway, any help and advice is greatly appreciated!

 

Thank you,

 

Kurt

[Algester]

red whirled ebonite? with a shiro steel flex nib huh... rare I wont be surprised if this was post-war era of Japan... but it could be during the war era according to Bruno war-time Japan is vague since it starts with their conquest of China in 1930s

[ehemem]

I think you have a Pilot celluloid pen from the 1950s. Nice Shiro nib which should have some flex but not like western flex. It would be worth having it restored to working order.

 

Stan the Mod might have more to say about this...

[zanio]

This may help: 53R

[stan]

Your pen is from 1938 and known as an R-T type.

It is missing the cap band. Trim is nickel plated.

Nib is stainless. Flexiness seemed to vary as there was no standard for this.

[kurtankeny]

Much thanks, Stan, zanio, ehemem, and Algester! I am kind of surprised that it is from the start of the war, but that is very cool! I did notice the cap band was missing from its groove.

 

Thank you all, now I have a place to start researching to see what would be involved in restoring it to working condition. I live in the Boston area, does anyone know of a jeweler in my area that could replace the cap band?

[stan]

Best choice for replacement of cap band is a pen restorer repairer. I've seen this service offered.

Jewelers seem clueless.