Allmar (Hallmark / Kraker) Fountain Pen

[Silviu]

Just received this ALLMAR fountain pen. It was probably made by Kraker (Kraker patents are imprinted on barrel) and was originally a HALLMARK. Caught my attention after reading a post on Hallmark and Kraker. After close inspection of the imprint one can definitely say the "H" and "K" are still visible, although very faint, after the selective buffing. As Daniel Kirchheimer suggests, this might have been done by Sheaffer after taking over Kraker. Anyway, as I have not found pictures of a complete Hallmark or ALLMAR, I wonder if the cap/clip and warranted 14K nib are original to the pen.

Edited July 6, 2016 by Silviu

[DanDeM]

Silviu:

Is it just the light, but to my eye the chasing on the cap is chevron/wave while the barrel

appears to be done in basket-weave? And the barrel is still rather crisp; the cap much

less so. Think your doubts about the two of them starting life together are very reasonable.

Fascinating background and great fun to see the imprint go from HALLMARK to …ALLMAR…

Maybe it should read ALMOST.

Best,
Dan

Edited July 30, 2016 by DanDeM

[philm]

That is the second one of these I have seen. Interesting thought by Daniel. I had always thought it was Kraker's way of jabbing it to whomever made Hallmark pens, but the Sheaffer theory works as well. So much of what surrounded Kraker is still a mystery. For what its worth, here is a Hallmark nib, found in an old Waterman 52.

 

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y50/munsonhsr/waterman%20pens/52/DSC_0007-1.jpg

[jonveley]

The Hallmark mystery is solved - full story at Leadhead's:

 

http://leadheadpencils.blogspot.com/2017/07/the-hallmark-mystery-solved.html

[philm]

Thank you, Jon. I wish Dennis was around to read this. He would have enjoyed the research you have done.

 

Phil