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Eclipse Filigrees


DanDeM

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Based on the number of views, it appears that Jim Mamoulides has sparked some interest in the Eclipse brand.

Thought you FPNers might like to see some of their earlier offerings.

In the 1910’s Victorian tastes still lingered, and pen makers offered ornate filigree-cut pens to meet that demand. Eclipse was no exception. While earlier pens were clad over black hard rubber, here is their somewhat later offering in tried-and-true black celluloid. Of interest about this pen is the lever. It is a signature of early Eclipses to use a boxed lever assembly. This pen eschews that detail.

fpn_1535234307__eclpsfiligree_-_5.jpg

While black pens were basic and popular, some more assertive scribes wanted a more flamboyant color, so filigrees were offered over red material. Of all of Eclipses’ filigree colors this is likely the most sought-after today, but what makes this pen exceptional is its size. Rarely does one see an Eclipse filigree as a ring-top. And an unusual ring-top at that. Instead of the common, top of the cap screw in assembly, a lanyard is fastened to a hoop that is cut andhammered into shape.

fpn_1535234352__eclps_red_filigree_rt_-_

However the brand was not to be satisfied with just two colors; they went on to offer another version in difficult to capture, deep midnight blue.

fpn_1535234399__eclpsblue_filigree_-_4.j

In the mid-twenties Marx Finstone, Eclipses’ founder, patented a technique for rolling flat stock celluloid into barrels.(#1,576,588, Mar. 16, 1926). Although Victoriana was long passé, founder Finstone pushed on to clad a pen in rolled striated green. The result is striking and evokes the image of a roaring twenties flapper wearing a corset and bustle.

fpn_1535234467__eclps_grn_filigree_pp_se

The set is especially interesting because it illustrates the company’s relaxed attitude about details. Although the pen and pencil both carry David Klien’s patented clip, the clips do not match.

It should be mentioned that all of these filigrees are cut in the pansy design. There were many other patterns.

Edited by DanDeM
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Interesting. The filigree overlay on the third pen looks similar to that on a couple of Morrison ringtops I own (both are gold filled -- I hope to someday get my hands on a sterling silver one, either full size or another ring top). And it also looks similar to the filigree I've seen on a Waterman pen (in fact, when I bought the first Morrison, my friend said that if I didn't buy the pen he WOULD :rolleyes: -- I somewhat suspect that he thought it *was* a Waterman, because he's a Waterman guy...).

Mostly I bought it because it was pretty -- and the seller said it was working. And it has a lovely juicy nib on it; it just doesn't get a lot of use because as a ring top I've had too many problems with it unscrewing itself from the cap while I have it on the lanyard.... :angry:

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

"It's very nice, but frankly, when I signed that list for a P-51, what I had in mind was a fountain pen."

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