Filcao Leader

[antoniosz]

Last week a "for sale "posting on the green board included a Filcao Leader with a 14K nib.

The "regular" pens come with stiff plated nibs that are excellent writers. I have heard

about the 14K nibs but never had one. I asked quickly for pictures and when I saw that

the pen had a Filcao 14K nib and it was in the Tuscan Sunset celluloid one of the most beautiful

patterns, I pulled the buy trigger (thanks Charles).

 

I got it today, the celluloid is as beautiful as ever with orange/cream/light blue/dark

blue flakes in an orange translucent plastic. The nib is a very nice soft (modern flex - vintage semiflex)

that can give you a nice line variation with some pressure. An excellent wet writer that made me very pleased...

 

http://www.streamload.com/azavalia/filcao14Ka.jpg

 

The size of the pen is 5.25" (133mm) closed, 6.3" (~160mm) posted with a maximum barrel

diameter of 0.53" (14mm). A sizable pen which is not very heavy (the celluloid models - the

brass-based laqueurs are a bit heavier) with excellent writing characteristics. It is a cartridge/converter

filler (which is not a disadvantage for me. The cap is a slip cap with a clutch that posts well (but I never do).

The end of the barrel is screwed in and can be removed (in principle you could twist the converter's

end from there. I have had few Filcao Leaders 1918 in my collection for a while. Gorgeous eye-candy

beautiful celluloids, very good writers they have been favorite of mine for a while. Their only weakness

was the gold plated trim close to the nib which is subject to corrosion. I use them with cartridges so I do

not dump them in ink. If it were not for the section ring it would be a near perfect pen. Giovanni is

covering them in terms of warranty thoroughly. The newer Leaders are button fillers and FILCAO got

rid of the troublesome section ring.

 

I take the opportunity to post the following pictures which are a parade of the incredible italians

celluloids I found these in my hard drive - I believe they were posted at some point by Giovanni Abrate

(celluloid connoisseur extraordinaire - who is the importer of filcao pens in USA). I hope he does not mind

posting them here - Gio, let me know and I will take them down if you dont want them here.

The first page from the left.

1. Early Cracked Ice (gorgeous!)

2. prototype?

3. prototype?

4. Arlecchino (my understanding is that this was made by mixing WWII scraps of cellulloids into one.

5. Missoni

6. Tuscan Sunset (gorgeous translucent celluloid)

7. ?

8. ?

9. ?

10. ?

11. ?

12. ?

13. ?

14. Red/Orange Laqueur

15. Mandarin Laqueur

Missing from the picture is the "flighter" (all stainless leader)

 

http://www.streamload.com/azavalia/filcaocolors.jpg

 

I believe most of the pens below are prototypes. Drool on..

 

http://www.streamload.com/azavalia/celcolors-1.jpg

http://www.streamload.com/azavalia/cellcolors2.jpg

Edited January 28, 2006 by antoniosz

[tryphon]

Great review, Antonios!

The nib is very unusual in a Leader (I wonder if I brought that pen into the US or if it came from somewhere else). I tried that same nib in the Atlantica, but there were problems with the nib-feed fit and I then switched to Schmidt nibs. Still, I have a Nobile prototype with that same nib and I love the flex and line variation it provides.

I am very happy to see you post pictures of the FILCAO celluloids: as you said, many were prototypes and are therefore quite rare.

I will see if I have any other pictures on my server and post them, too.

The pen couldn't have found a better home!!!

[philm]

Antoniosz

 

I remember when these came out (3 or so years ago??). Anyway, the Tuscan Sunset was highly popular and disapeared rather quickly. By the time I bought one, I was limited to the Missoni, which I like. I forgot they were offered with the 14k option. Nice pictures and thanks for the repost of Giovannni's spectrum.

 

philm

[tryphon]

http://www.tryphon.it/service/RareLeaders.jpg

 

 

Another view of some very rare Leader pens.

[Apollo]

Beautiful pen you have there, Antoniosz. Wow! Those are some glorious looking colours.

 

Gentlemen, please excuse me while I go wipe my chin.

[Roger]

Gentlemen, please excuse me while I go wipe my chin. 

You and me, both, Apollo. That one on the left of the grouping really starts my motor as far as color goes, but, darn, I wish they didn't have that metal down there by the nib.

[krz]

"My God, it's full of stars" -- Dave 2001: A Space Odyssey.

 

Awesome pens, and great pictures!

[southpaw]

Great review, AZ, and some incredibly beautiful pens - ditto Giovanni. Thanks for sharing. And as others have already said,

[Ann Finley]

Wow! I'm not sure if any other company could beat Filcao in having such a large number of beautiful pens--and the nice, classic style is a winner, too. I think my fave is the WWII scrap-made Arlecchino, with the Tuscan Sunset running a close second! Giovanni has great taste in the pens he chooses to import!

 

Many thanks, Antonios, for the review and photos.

 

Best, Ann

[davyr]

a beautiful pen antoniosz, amongst a simply gorgeous available lineup. wowie zowie!

[TheNobleSavage]

I am always amazed with the infinite amount of colors, patterns and designs you can produce using celluloid!!! Nice, very nice!!!

 

Tns

[freewheelingvagabond]

How much do these pens approximately retail for?

[enricof]

How much do these pens approximately retail for?

 

May I suggest a look here?