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How Many Onotos Do You Own


praxim

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No 'Topic Poll" button appeared when I started this topic. Perhaps it is excluded in this sub-forum. We shall have to do it by hand.

 

I see irregular mention of Onotos on the forums, from people scattered across continents. It is evident from some of the replies that there are some with significant experience of them, probably with current or past collections. So, I am curious to discover more.

 

How many Onotos do you own? Is the number static, rising or falling? Any particular focus on them or comments?

 

For my part they currently stand as the modal point of my collection, albeit not by much. Aurora and Waterman are close behind. I started on them early, and still pick them up occasionally, preferring those needing some repair these days because I find that entertaining.

 

Had I been able to start the poll, my divisions were going to be something like:

A. 1

B. 2

C. 3-5

D. 6-9

E. 10-15

F. 16-24

G. 25-40

H. 41+

 

I fall in the sixth of those categories, F, with 21 currently if I include one on its way. Not all of those are currently functional, but they will be.

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I have:

 

A 1946 Magna

A 1940s 6233

5 K-series (I like 'em!)

A pearly short plunger filler

A 1332 lever fill

A RHR DLR lever filler, pencil, and address book set

 

So I think that's an E?

 

Cheers,

 

Ralf

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B for certain but probably D if I had the time to look through.

You do not use them [much]? I gather you have quite a few pens. :)

 

I have:

 

A 1946 Magna

A 1940s 6233

5 K-series (I like 'em!)

A pearly short plunger filler

A 1332 lever fill

A RHR DLR lever filler, pencil, and address book set

 

So I think that's an E?

 

Cheers,

 

Ralf

 

I have generally preferred the plunge fillers and have no piston types in Onoto. There are five lever fillers including a 1332 and the rest smaller. I have thought of reducing those to the Australian one, the 21 with No 15 nib but the others are also attractive -- a 601 (labelled Junior, Steve's Book says a Dainty), 850 and 1332.

 

For plunge fillers I have [takes a breath]

  • 3000 from the early 1920s, not the earlier N version.
  • 2500, 3500, 6000 and 6411 all in the Streamline range from the early to mid 1920s.
  • Three 3050s, two black and one red. Probably early 1930s. A black one will be sold, being a duplicate.
  • 4601, 5601, from the late 1930s.
  • Two 6233 (both black) and two 6234 (one black one red marbled), late 1940s.
  • Magna probably one from the late 1940s.
  • An 1822 from the early 1930s is on its way.

 

The 3500 is disassembled as of this morning, waiting all new seals and a shank pin.

I expect the 1822 will be the same. I am waiting to measure what size washer it takes because I see the information nowhere.

One 6233 needed a new rod and seals, done, while the other is waiting for rod, seals, and plunger! I will sell one of these later.

 

I buy in the cup washers but have moved to making everything else. The first plunger will be attempted soon, and shortly also I will be equipped to make seal screws should one be needed. This is why I now ignore ads which say "fully restored". :)

 

I have always thought Onotos had lovely nibs. Properly restored, they are also entering the class of 'daily practical', if not always to modern standards.

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You do not use them [much]? I gather you have quite a few pens. :)

 

 

No. To be honest I'm not very keen on them.

 

I repaired one (or two?) on a WES repair course and bought one in an antique shop for far too much (thank you Dapprman!) thinking it was a Magna, so I know I have two.

 

Come to think a little harder, I must have three or four Minors too. I do like their equivalent of the lizardskin.

 

But I have no Onotos to hand

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Fair enough. While caveat emptor and all that, one would have hoped you would get a fair description of the not-really-a-Magna. Then again, I have bought a few which I discovered were misidentified by the seller, after detailed comparisons with known pens and with Steve's book. Fortunately, differences were insignificant for price. Even well known sellers seem to call their pen one of about four or five common models, regardless.

 

I have a 3050 in rotation now, expecting to add a couple out of a 601 Junior, 3500 and 6233 when the 3050 goes out, these being untried repaired pens. Do you have a pic handy of the lizardskin-like Minor? I have no Minors.

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Just one and just so I could an Onoto for my GB collection.

 

A. Onoto Junior (C 1945)

 

It is a beautiful little pen!

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C grade here, with four modern pens:

 

Magna Classic havana brown, chased

Mammoth LE plunger filler

Magna Classic tortoiseshell

Charles Dickens series Pickwick

 

The Pickwick is my current choice for journalling :happyberet:

 

 

✒️ :happyberet:

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I had not thought of someone owning so many modern Onotos, although I considered a yellow Magna Classic myself at one point, without eventually buying. The ones you mention which I found are nice pens. I did not see the Mammoth LE. Do you have a picture handy?

 

edit:typo

Edited by praxim

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...I did not see the Mammoth LE. Do you have a picture handy?

 

edit:typo

Okay, here goes my first attempt to post images here!

 

fpn_1519571800__onoto_mammoth_1.jpg

 

fpn_1519571825__onoto_mammoth_2.jpg

 

fpn_1519571853__onoto_mammoth_3.jpg

 

Edit: I had forgotten how limited these were. I have No. 11/25 :happyberet:

Edited by gmax

✒️ :happyberet:

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Well, limits may explain why I had not seen one. :). In the pictures that white knob is rather startling....

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are you talking only modern Onoto's or are you including De La Rue pens as well?

 

i have.....

 

Onoto - The Centenary pen

Onoto - Magna - Royal Ruby

Onoto - The Aviator Pen

Onoto - Excel - Black Acrylic

Asprey of London - Purple Pen

Vintage (1937?) De La Rue Plunger Pen

 

I use all of these pens on a daily basis.

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Well, limits may explain why I had not seen one. :). In the pictures that white knob is rather startling....

The plunger knob is made of mammoth ivory. In reality it is ivory coloured - like a magic wand ;)

✒️ :happyberet:

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@zaphod, I included a couple of De La Rue branded pens in my list. They were made by Onoto. Perhaps it would be more accurate to say all Onotos were made by De La Rue, given Onoto was merely their brand.

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Adding to my list, the 1822 arrived, as did a Magna ink-visible from 1937-39. A very pretty pen the Magna is too. There is a 6235 on the way. The Magna will need overhaul to be put into use, certainly a cup washer. Other issues may or may not be discovered. By report from the seller, a new washer should be sufficient, if I can identify the right size (Magnas came in many).

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I now have a black K4 on the way. It'll be interesting to see how it compares with a P51 or my favourite, the P61. The nib looks stubbish and may be broader than average (at least I hope so..). The sale image of the nib is below.

s-l1600.jpg

I am interested to see if it's up to the standards of the old Onotos that preceded it. I would love to use my 6233 more, but in a busy engineering office, it leads to splatters and I cannot find a way of avoiding them, the way we work is too fractured for the sensible and thoughtful 6233. If the K4 nib is as good, in a more 'modern office' friendly body, I'll be in heaven.

 

Regards,

 

Richard

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I have been deterred from the K series partly by bias (not plunge fillers) and partly because only one, (the K3?) is said to be designed for serviceability. I will be interested in your experience of the K4. They are available around these parts on fbay should I be interested.

 

* I think I will leave the the typo alone ;)

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