Duofold Brass Filler Button

[PaulS]

quoting Shepherd & Zazove, from their book, they describe this colour variation of the button, which is normally an aluminium coloured stud, as "AN UNUSUAL (YELLOW ALUMINIUM) BRASS BUTTON." ...................... whether that means the metal is brass, or a yellowish coloured aluminium, I'm unsure - is it possible to colour aluminium?

The pen is a re-styled c. 1948 AF Duofold, and carries the usual British made AF barrel imprint which includes 'MADE IN ENGLAND', with a Duofold nib showing N for Newhaven.

Presumably this colour variation of the filler button is uncommon at least - I've seen many re-styled Duofolds with aluminium buttons, but none with this colour of B/F - it may have been peculiar to England or just turns up infrequently anywhere - perhaps it's even rare.

 

For possible interest, the pix show this brass coloured button, the usual aluminium sort, plus a chocolate celluloid New Style Duofold pen (I'm addicted to that smell!!) with the more traditional b.f. The imprint on the chocolate pen doesn't include England, so am thinking possibly not made at Newhaven despite having N on the nib?? This pen was originally a very rich dark chocolate - not a colour made in the U.K. as far as I can see - so possibly the other side of the pond, but I'm only guessing and could be very wrong. This chocolate Duofold is the c. 1946 model described as New Style, which has the smaller brass button - it might have been the subject of some tampering in the past ............. it has a cap jewel which matches the body colour, but a grey jewel on the barrel, and could be missing a tassie from the barrel end.

 

Would be grateful for any comments if anyone able to add to the above.

Edited July 19, 2017 by PaulS

[corgicoupe]

Aluminum can be anodized to get different colors; yellow is one of them.

[mitto]

+1

[PaulS]

thanks - quite possibly you're right - this doesn't quite have the depth of colour as real brass so likely a surface colouring only.

Assuming it is anodised the reasoning for that isn't very clear - aluminium isn't going to rust etc., so can only assume it was created simply for the coloured effect - almost a novelty value, perhaps. Certainly unusual though.

 

Grateful if anyone has any thoughts on the chocolate coloured Duofold, as to scarcity etc.

Edited July 20, 2017 by PaulS

[mitto]

I think the chocolate brown was one of the main colors of the NS Duofold line pens. Olive green color in the Danish made NSs may be somewhat uncommon. In the AF Dufold line pens I assume the deep (forest?) green may be somewhat uncommon or ever rare color as I have not found, as yet, a mention of this color (while I have one) .

Edited July 20, 2017 by mitto

[baz666]

Hi,

Yes the filler is made from anodized aluminium.

 

Less common than the bare aluminium but certainly not rare.

 

I recently sold one on the bay.

 

 

 

As for the brown Duofold, again fairly common in the U.K. (10 plus on the bay this year)

Yours does indeed have a blind cap tassie missing + the wrong jewel.

 

Paul.

[PaulS]

thanks folks - appreciate the input, helps me to understand what I'm collecting and what I need to learn - which is obviously vastly more

[corgicoupe]

Google "why anodized aluminum". Basically to increase corrosion resistance and surface hardness and durability. Color is an added byproduct.