How Old Is This Al-Star?

[AL01]

Hello!

 

I have recently bought an Al-Star, (after looking for one for 6 years daggomit), but I got this one used. A few things to consider before making an educated guess......

 

1: The colour has been discontinued not too long ago....

 

2: The nib is black and has no markings on like modern Lamy interchangeable nibs.

 

3: The pen is made in Germany and not West Germany.

 

 

 

 

 

(If your wondering, yes there is a little agitator in my converter... It came from a Platinum cartridge.)

Thanks for the help, Al.

[tamiya]

Is that the Silver or the Gunmetal? bit dark in pics to differentiate

[AL01]

I believe its graphite.

 

http://www.penhero.com/PenGallery/Lamy/LamyAlStar.htm

 

I hope the pictures are better on here.

[hbdk]

It looks like graphite to me also - graphite is still in production. Nice pen

[AL01]

It has a black clip - just keep in mind that the pen has no markings on the nib.

[OTDoc]

I concur, it is the graphite. Nib is curious though. Maybe the very early versions of the black nibs did not have the name and size stamped on them yet?

[AL01]

That's what is confusing me..............................

[Orpilorp]

For what's it's worth, several month's ago the local pen store sold me their Safari demonstrator. It is red with a black clip and a completely unmarked black nib. The store's buyer initially didn't want to part with it because it had been their demonstrator for 12 years. So my guess is that your unmarked nib might be about that old.

 

And my unmarked nib is far too wet for my liking.

[AL01]

It is quite wet with even Waterman inks... But I like variety so it doesn't matter with me. It's buttery smooth though....

Good to know.

[Robert Alan]

It has a black clip - just keep in mind that the pen has no markings on the nib.

'Sorry for coming to this a bit late. The first Safari fountain pens were fitted with unmarked/unsigned black painted nibs (not signed anodized black nibs like the current version). With the early black nibs, if the paint wore off, plain steel was exposed. The black painted nibs were found on the Savannah green, terricotta, early black/charcoal pens, and, on the early white Safari fountain pens and early CP-1 fountain pens, too. They may have been put on the early AL-Stars (does anyone know for sure?). Although I don't know for certain, I doubt that the AL-Stars ever were fitted with plain black painted nibs (I've never seen one). For some reason, your pen may have had its nib swapped with an early nib. You might want to consider putting the early nib aside and fit a new, current replacement nib on your pen. You may want the early nib if you ever come across one of the original Safari or CP-1 pens that needs an 'original' replacement nib.

 

Regards, Robert

Edited October 19, 2016 by Robert Alan

[OTDoc]

'Sorry for coming to this a bit late. The first Safari fountain pens were fitted with unmarked/unsigned black painted nibs (not signed anodized black nibs like the current version). With the early black nibs, if the paint wore off, plain steel was exposed. The black painted nibs were found on the Savannah green, terricotta, early black/charcoal pens, and, on the early white Safari fountain pens and early CP-1 fountain pens, too. They may have been put on the early AL-Stars (does anyone know for sure?). Although I don't know for certain, I doubt that the AL-Stars ever were fitted with plain black painted nibs (I've never seen one). For some reason, your pen may have had its nib swapped with an early nib. You might want to consider putting the early nib aside and fit a new, current replacement nib on your pen. You may want the early nib if you ever come across one of the original Safari or CP-1 pens that needs an 'original' replacement nib.

 

Regards, Robert

And there you go! This is why FPN is so awesome. The communal knowledge available usually means that someone on this Board will know the answer. Thanks for sharing this with us Robert!

[AL01]

Hmm... I have seen pics on the internet showing an Al Star with an unmarked nib...

 

Thanks though, I trust you!

[Robert Alan]

Hmm... I have seen pics on the internet showing an Al Star with an unmarked nib...

 

Thanks though, I trust you!

Hello again--that may be an unmarked black anodized nib if such a nib has been produced, but I have never seen a definitive statement regarding such a nib, and I have never seen an unmarked/unsigned black anodized nib. It may very well be the older, and, rarer, unmarked black painted nib. Considering that the AL-star version of the Safari appeared after the Safari nibs were changed to the signed black anodized version, I doubt the AL-stars were ever factory fitted with a black painted nib. However, like I said, a plain black anodized nib may have been manufactured. Perhaps they were marketed in Europe or elsewhere. If anyone knows for certain, I would really like to know. The pictures you have seen on the Net may have been of pens with swapped nibs. Was it on an official Lamy site?

 

Regards, Robert

[AL01]

No. I was on Pen Hero. I have the link to it in this forum.

[Argee]

I have a pen I identical to yours. It's silver (black clip is a dead giveaway, graphite has a chrome clip). My nib unmarked just like yours. It certainly looks anodized to me. I have no reason to think the nib isn't original to the pen, however I am the second owner.

[AL01]

Our stories are the same!