Kiwi - Made In England

[FredRydr]

I have a De La Rue fountain pen with a gold nib embossed as follows:

KIWI

14 CT

MADE IN

ENGLAND

Based on Stephen Hull's book, the pen was manufactured ca. 1927.

I am trying to determine if the Kiwi nib is either factory correct, Onoto-approved replacement or a generic replacement. I would appreciate any knowledge about Kiwi nibs, for example:

- Was Kiwi an Onoto brand or another company's brand?

- Were Kiwi nibs factory-installed (OEM) by Onoto?

- Were Kiwi nibs simply an aftermarket generic replacement nib?

TIA

Edited April 19, 2018 by FredRydr

[northlodge]

Why are you concluding that the KIWI nib is from DLR?

 

There has been previous discussion about MT having a Kiwi model, and thus presumably a nib marked kiwi.

[FredRydr]

Why are you concluding that the KIWI nib is from DLR?

 

There has been previous discussion about MT having a Kiwi model, and thus presumably a nib marked kiwi.

 

Because the Kiwi pen was in the De La Rue when I acquired it.

 

Okay, so the nib may have come from Mabie Todd. Thank you for that bit of information.

[northlodge]

I would have expected the pen pictured to have a nib marked with little more than a large 14C or a TDLR warranted 14ct.

If there is nothing on the nib suggesting it is a DLR product then I think I would conclude the nib has been a later replacement for the original.

 

That said, whilst finding a suitable TDLR nib will not be difficult, MT Kiwi pens are few and far between. so the nib wil be well worth keeping just in case one comes your way.

[CS388]

What a beautiful pen!

[Cob]

 

Because the Kiwi pen was in the De La Rue when I acquired it.

 

Okay, so the nib may have come from Mabie Todd. Thank you for that bit of information.

 

I had a Kiwi pen - it was a pretty cheap job - a bit like a Starling; this nib looks pretty deluxe/. My Kiwi had a Warranted nib, but of course that might have been a retrofit.

 

I can make enquires

 

Cob

[FredRydr]

 

I had a Kiwi pen - it was a pretty cheap job - a bit like a Starling; this nib looks pretty deluxe/. My Kiwi had a Warranted nib, but of course that might have been a retrofit.

 

I can make enquires

 

Cob

 

Since KIWI is a Mabie Todd brand, it seems obvious that the KIWI nib had been installed in the DeLaRue as a matter of convenience, perhaps recently. Alas, I cannot recall who I bought it from to ask.

Edited April 23, 2018 by FredRydr

[blottingpaperforlife]

A stunning pen! Is the length of this pen the same as the contemporary Onoto Cambridge? Some people have questioned the relatively small sizes of the modern Onoto pens, particularly the sterling silver ones.

[peterg]

Nobody has asked what imprint is on the pen, so I will!

[northlodge]

Nobody has asked what imprint is on the pen, so I will!

 

Unless it is something lsuch as "Chatsworth" I would expect it to simply be "The De La Rue Pen". (I think these claws levers were used on less models than the earlier round and oval designs)

[FredRydr]

The pen is in a long queue at the pen spa, so I don't have the answer about the imprint, but I believe it's pretty much what northlodge typed, above.

Edited May 15, 2018 by FredRydr