Moore Fingertip C. 1946-1950 Photo Thread

[PenHero]

Hi, Folks,

Going in the wayback machine to 2005 when I had the opportunity to photograph a large collection of Moore Fingertip pens belonging to Ross McKinney.

The Moore Fingertip was a unique effort to compete with the game changing design of the Parker 51, introduced in 1941, and one of the latest entries. This pen introduced possibly the earliest attempt at an inlaid nib design, with a cone shaped stainless steel section inset with a small, elongated flush fitted nib. As with the Parker 51, the feed is hidden inside the section. Moore Fingertips came in eight colors in either solid colors or striped celluloid. The shorter Demi model has solid color plastic barrels and either polished chrome plated or thin gold plated caps. This particular pen is a Moore Fingertip Eiderdown White c1946-1950, a particularly difficult color to find, which is subject to yellowing discoloration. Moore Fingertip pens also suffer from gold plating loss and discoloration.

http://penhero.com/Temp/MooreFingertipWhite_1280_01.jpg

You can read more about the Moore Fingertip pens here:

http://www.penhero.com/PenGallery/Moore/MooreFingertipGallery.htm

http://www.penhero.com/PenGallery/Moore/MooreFingertip.htm

Thanks!

[linearM]

I collect Moore pens, but as yet, I haven't acquired a finger tip. The Moores I have are for the most part flex nib and very responsive. Did any of the Fingertips have flex nibs? Very nice photo!

[PenHero]

I collect Moore pens, but as yet, I haven't acquired a finger tip. The Moores I have are for the most part flex nib and very responsive. Did any of the Fingertips have flex nibs? Very nice photo!

 

 

None that I have seen are flexible, but I am not an expert. Ross McKinney may have more information on that point. He can be reached through rosspens.com.

 

Thanks!

[PenHero]

Hi, Folks!

Another photo from the past: a Moore Fingertip Seaspray Pearl fountain pen c1946-1950.

Moore offered the Fingertip in two colors of striped celluloid plastic, Autumn Pearl, a brown, and Seaspray Pearl, a green, in addition to six solid colors, Lustre Black, Sunset Red, Vintage Wine, Starlight Blue, Woodsman Green, and Eiderdown White. Fingertip pens sold for $8.75, a matching injector type pencil sold for $3.75, and pen and pencil sets sold for $12.50.

http://penhero.com/Temp/MooreFingertip_1280_06.jpg

You can read more about Moore Fingertip pens in these two articles:

http://www.penhero.com/PenGallery/Moore/MooreFingertip.htm

http://www.penhero.com/PenGallery/Moore/MooreFingertipGallery.htm

Thanks!

[benbot517]

That's a pretty design! Thanks for sharing!

[PenHero]

Thanks!

[Tweel]

Thanks for showing this to us. I looked at your article and gallery on the Fingertip -- as nice as the striped celluloids are, I think the solid colors are a better match to the space age (or at least, X-1 age) look of the nib & feed "shell".

Edited March 21, 2017 by Tweel

[PenHero]

Agree that the solid color pens are more Buck Rogers. Too bad these pens were not manufactured at the quality level of the design. They suffer from ink leaking at the nib joint and plate loss problems, among other issues.

[PenHero]

Hi, Folks!

This is a preview of what you will find coming in the Spring 2019 Pennant... I'll add more as the issue approaches and once published!

This is a Moore Fingertip lever-fill fountain pen in Seaspray Pearl striped celluloid c. 1946-1950. The standard Fingertip, model L-96B, is about 5 inches long, sold for $8.75 and in a set with a matching pencil for $12.50. It features a patented design 14 karat gold nib stamped MOORE over 14K inset into a conical steel section. The long clip is stamped MOORE on the tab end. The trim is gold filled. It was made in Lustre Black, Sunset Red, Vintage Wine, Starlight Blue, Woodsman Green, and Eiderdown White molded plastic colors and Autumn Pearl and Seaspray Pearl striped celluloid.

http://penhero.com/Temp/MooreFingertipSeasprayPearl_1280_01.jpg

Thanks!

[PenHero]

Hi, Folks!

This is a Moore Fingertip lever-fill fountain pen in Starlight Blue c. 1946-1950. The standard Fingertip, model L-96B, is about 5 inches long, sold for $8.75 and in a set with a matching pencil for $12.50. It features a patented design 14 karat gold nib stamped MOORE over 14K inset into a conical steel section. The long clip is stamped MOORE on the tab end. The trim is gold filled. It was made in Lustre Black, Sunset Red, Vintage Wine, Starlight Blue, Woodsman Green, and Eiderdown White molded plastic colors and Autumn Pearl and Seaspray Pearl striped celluloid.

http://penhero.com/Temp/MooreFingertip96BStarlightBlue_1280_01a.jpg

Thanks!

[doggle2]

I like them! However, I feel a little let down by the non-celluloid color patterns. The nib section, however, is great.

[philm]

A few others ~

 

 

with a pencil ~

 

[spacecoastpenny]

great thread! thanks

[PenHero]

Hi, Folks!

 

This is a Moore Fingertip model 76-B lever-fill fountain pen in Vintage Wine c. 1946-1950. This shortest Fingertip, about 4 7/8 inches long, sold for $8.75 and in a set with a matching pencil for $12.50. It features a patented design 14 karat gold nib stamped MOORE over 14K inset into a conical steel section. The cap slips on and has a dome decoration at the top. The short clip is stamped MOORE. The trim and cap are gold plated.

 

 

Thanks!

[Seney724]

An amazing collection Jim!

Great photos, too.

The Seaspray Pearl is, by far, my favorite!

 

I think Moore's Seaspray Pearl celluloid and their Silver Bronze striped celluloid (not used, to my knowledge, on their 96-B pens) are two of the most lovely celluloids ever produced.

[FarmBoy]

This really belongs in the Parker forum but it should make this thread fun...

 

[PenHero]

This really belongs in the Parker forum but it should make this thread fun...

Is this really a Moore Fingertip demonstrator?

[FarmBoy]

Is this really a Moore Fingertip demonstrator?

Not exactly. Another picture will help. It has a Duofold filling mechanism.

[PenHero]

Is this really a Moore Fingertip demonstrator?

 

Is the clear shell adapted from a 51?

[FarmBoy]

The pen was found in the estate of a retired Parker employee. Parker experimented with many different front end treatments including nibs and markings as well as shapes. One can only speculate why Parker purchased a Moore Fingertip and then, for lack of a better term, hacked it into a Parker.