Worcester Pen Company Sentinel

[rogerb]

I had a brown ebonite Sentinel previously which was a really nice pen but it just didn't look 'interesting' and it found a happy new owner.

 

When I saw and wrote with this one, with an Oxonian-customised GP steel nib (Broad/Medium in normal position and EF reversed), I had to prise it away from Oxonian's hand!

(A bunch of £20 notes makes a remarkably effective 'lever', I find!!)

 

It is quite a large pen ...just as I like 'em ....nearly 15cm capped,12.8 cm uncapped, and nearly 17cm posted (6x5x6.7 in inches), and has a nice 'substantial' weight and thickness.

 

The resin and gold-plate trim look as if they are from a MUCH more expensive pen, and the fit & finish are up to Worcester's usual very high standards.

 

The colour is hard to describe...a stripey mix of blues, black and creamy-gold-olive, with a bit of 'sparkle'...very striking.

 

As you'd expect, the nib writes beautifully smoothly, with a little 'suppleness', and is fairly wet....I cannot imagine that a gold nib would add anything, except substantial cost, and 'snob value'!

The 'step' at the threads is very smooth and causes me no writing discomfort ....I mostly use it unposted, but don't find it unwieldy with the cap posted.

 

It is a C/C filler, one of the longest conveters I've seen, and I have filled it with Diamine Delamere Green, although a real sooty black would also go well, IMO (that's what it had when I got it)

 

The Sentinel in resin with an non-Oxonianed steel nib costs £99 to £115, and a bit more in ebonite, I think. Fantastic value, in my opinion.

 

I believe there were only 2 made in this resin, but there are other nice options on the Worcester Pen Company website. Brian Lucas is a great guy to deal with .....I am sorry I could not be at the Midland Pen Show today, to have a chat with him ....and, maybe 'do a deal'!

 

I cannot think of any way I'd like to see this pen improved, but nothing's perfect, so it's a 9.9/10 from me! Beautiful colour, great writer and a lovely 'feel' in the hand.

 

And pictures(coming up shortly)....sorry about the evening shadows

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v693/rogerb40uk/SentinelProto1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v693/rogerb40uk/SentinelProto2.jpg

Edited June 20, 2010 by rogerb

[cmeisenzahl]

Wow, great colors!

[ANDY101]

I have the same pen in 'mardi gras' with silver plated fitments. The nib has received oxonian's attentions. It is a delight to look at, to hold and of course to write with!

(No affiliation just a satisfied customer.....)

Cheers

Andy

[Signum1]

rogerb,

 

Great review! Thanks.

 

I don't think the model you photograph is called the Sentinel. I have the exact model pen in black hard rubber (ebonite). The pen was known as the "Spencer." I've looked at Worcester's Pen Company website, today. Apparently, Bryan Lucas is discounting the Spencer. It's the cap and the curve clip that lead me to conclude the pen WAS once called the Spencer.

[rogerb]

Ooops, sorry about that...I'll check .... that's the problem of not buying from the mfr! Thanks, Signum for putting me straight.

 

They are not SO different, I think, but I wouldn't like to see that someone has bought a sentinel and got something different...the clip is certainly different, but I took that to be because this one is somewhat of a 'prototype'.

 

YES, I HAVE CHECKED AND THIS IS A SPENCER NOT A SENTINEL....I have asked the mods whether they can and will change the name in the title.

 

APOLOGIES (and to Bryan for spelling his name wrongly) :embarrassed_smile:

Edited June 22, 2010 by rogerb