Unknown Vintage Italian Fountain Pen ...maybe Tibaldi?

[Michael R.]

Now I would like to ask the vintage Italian fountain pen expert about this pen I found on a flea market in Vicenza, Italy last sunday.

 

It is a nice light olive green marbled push button filler made from celluloid and hard rubber end caps. It was sold to me as a Columbus (because it has a small Columbus gold nib) but I cannot find any similar looking Columbus pens on the web or in books I have. Also the barrel is only inscribed with what looks like "INVICZA"; no other imprints are visible. Unfortunately it is the clip is missing any markings as well.

 

The only pen which looks very similar (at least the plastic parts) is a Tibaldi Infrangibile shown in the "Tibaldi - a story of fountain pens and men" on page 80. But the Tibalid pens have aTibaldi clip, nib and imprint.

 

The clip and nib of course could be replacement parts but what about the strange imprint? ...maybe a advertisement or special customer pen?

 

Lenght is c. 13,2 cm (closed with cap) and widest diameter of the cap (without clip) is 1,4 cm.

 

http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/nn140/PENSnINKS/P1040452.jpg

 

http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/nn140/PENSnINKS/P1040456.jpg

 

http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/nn140/PENSnINKS/P1040459.jpg

 

 

I would be very interested in hearing your opinions on the pen or maybe even identification.

 

Many thanks in advance.

 

Cheers

 

Michael

 

PS: I also got a nice teal Parker 51, a little vintage Ancora and a originally packed Waterman 12 eyedropper with instructions, box and eye dropper at that flea market in Vicenza. Also a solid gold Montblanc 146 was available but I did not had the cash for that one.

Edited September 13, 2011 by Michael R.

[bartl]

Nice pen Michael, but I have no clue what brand it might be. Perhaps a Kosca ? I have a Kosca having the very same clip (though engraved with KOSCA). Kosca is the third pen from the left.

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p269/bartlin/P1000929.jpg

Edited September 13, 2011 by bartl

[sanpei]

Correct name on imprint is INVICTA, I think is a Tibaldi production at 99%

but better waith for experts opinions.

 

S

Edited September 13, 2011 by sanpei

[fabbale]

I'm not an expert, but this is what writes Letizia Jacopini in a publication:

 

INVICTA

Fountain pens marked with this name were made between the late twenties and thirties by Renato Valentini’s firm in Via Galvani, Florence.

 

The company specialized in making fountain pens with metal, solid-gold, gold-filled, and silver overlays.

 

During the thirties, Fiani e Ciampi (see Goldstar) took over Renato Valentini’s firm.

 

The aesthetic characteristics of some models made under brand "Goldstar" celluloid justify the hypothesis of a production on Commission from the company Tibaldi

 

Probably because all the companies who worked on the city of Florence, there were between their business contacts how can have happened at the time in the city of Bologna between OMAS, TABO, NETTUNO and others.

 

Even if it were not a tibaldi is still a very nice pen IMHO.

For a comparison, here's a TIBALDI:

 

http://i1081.photobucket.com/albums/j359/loufabba/TIBALDI/tibaldi_4.jpg

 

http://i1081.photobucket.com/albums/j359/loufabba/TIBALDI/tibaldi_6.jpg

 

http://i1081.photobucket.com/albums/j359/loufabba/TIBALDI/tibaldi_7.jpg

 

http://i1081.photobucket.com/albums/j359/loufabba/TIBALDI/tibaldi_10.jpg

 

http://i1081.photobucket.com/albums/j359/loufabba/TIBALDI/tibaldi_11.jpg

 

http://i1081.photobucket.com/albums/j359/loufabba/TIBALDI/tibaldi_13.jpg

 

http://i1081.photobucket.com/albums/j359/loufabba/TIBALDI/tibaldi_17.jpg

 

http://i1081.photobucket.com/albums/j359/loufabba/TIBALDI/tibaldi_18.jpg

[bartl]

 

what a pen !

[RMN]

Well, Invicta or Tibaldi, they are both rather nice pens.

 

Which is an understatement..

 

D.ick

[youstruckgold]

Once again

 

...I'm starting to wear holes in my knees!

Edited September 14, 2011 by youstruckgold

[fabbale]

Once again

 

...I'm starting to wear holes in my knees!

 

 

:roflmho: :roflmho:

[Michael R.]

What a great forum. Many thanks for your replies and sharing your knowledge.

 

Correct name on imprint is INVICTA, I think is a Tibaldi production at 99%

 

makes much more sense; now that you mention this it really looks like INVICTA

 

 

I'm not an expert, but this is what writes Letizia Jacopini in a publication:

 

INVICTA

Fountain pens marked with this name were made between the late twenties and thirties by Renato Valentini’s firm in Via Galvani, Florence.

 

The company specialized in making fountain pens with metal, solid-gold, gold-filled, and silver overlays.

 

During the thirties, Fiani e Ciampi (see Goldstar) took over Renato Valentini’s firm.

 

The aesthetic characteristics of some models made under brand "Goldstar" celluloid justify the hypothesis of a production on Commission from the company Tibaldi

 

Probably because all the companies who worked on the city of Florence, there were between their business contacts how can have happened at the time in the city of Bologna between OMAS, TABO, NETTUNO and others.

 

Even if it were not a tibaldi is still a very nice pen IMHO.

For a comparison, here's a TIBALDI:

 

...

 

 

Many thanks. This is very valuable information.

 

I've seen the pictures of your wonderful Tibaldi before; one of the few bits I could find on those greg vintage pens.

 

The model you show has some similarities but the pen shown in the Tibaldi book looks almost identical (excel for the clip, imprint and nib). It seems that there were at least three different versions of the Tibaldi Infrangibile (each in several sizes) and one versions looks just like my pen. Even the shape of the cap bands are the same excel that the subtle engraving shows a slightly different design. So it makes sense that the pen was made by Tibaldi.

 

Unfortunately I could not find any additional information about INVICTA on the net (except a few old auctions with even older overlay safety pens).

 

So the Columbus nib is a replacement part? What kind of nib would be correct?

 

I will post some better pictures of the pen when restored.

 

Many thanks again

 

Michael

[Gobblecup]

Very nice pen, because of it my mouth is going dry!

 

And I'm sure the Columbus nib is a replacement, only a Columbus should have a Columbus nib... Of course it is not uncommon to find fountain pens of that age with replacement nibs. I have no suggestion myself as to what the correct nib would be, perhaps a "warranted" type would be appropriate?

[Gobblecup]

Nice pen Michael, but I have no clue what brand it might be. Perhaps a Kosca ? I have a Kosca having the very same clip (though engraved with KOSCA). Kosca is the third pen from the left.

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p269/bartlin/P1000929.jpg

 

What is that second pen from the right (red)? My goodness it's beautiful! :notworthy1:

[bartl]

the red one is a vintage Montegrappa Extra red marbled piston filler in oversize version. No longer in my possession though.

Edited September 14, 2011 by bartl

[Gobblecup]

the red one is a vintage Montegrappa Extra red marbled piston filler in oversize version. No longer in my possession though.

 

Too bad, I wanted it!

[fabbale]

Very nice pen, because of it my mouth is going dry!

 

And I'm sure the Columbus nib is a replacement, only a Columbus should have a Columbus nib... Of course it is not uncommon to find fountain pens of that age with replacement nibs. I have no suggestion myself as to what the correct nib would be, perhaps a "warranted" type would be appropriate?

 

Quote

the Columbus nib is a replacement.

[fabbale]

What a great forum. Many thanks for your replies and sharing your knowledge.

 

Correct name on imprint is INVICTA, I think is a Tibaldi production at 99%

 

makes much more sense; now that you mention this it really looks like INVICTA

 

 

I'm not an expert, but this is what writes Letizia Jacopini in a publication:

 

INVICTA

Fountain pens marked with this name were made between the late twenties and thirties by Renato Valentini’s firm in Via Galvani, Florence.

 

The company specialized in making fountain pens with metal, solid-gold, gold-filled, and silver overlays.

 

During the thirties, Fiani e Ciampi (see Goldstar) took over Renato Valentini’s firm.

 

The aesthetic characteristics of some models made under brand "Goldstar" celluloid justify the hypothesis of a production on Commission from the company Tibaldi

 

Probably because all the companies who worked on the city of Florence, there were between their business contacts how can have happened at the time in the city of Bologna between OMAS, TABO, NETTUNO and others.

 

Even if it were not a tibaldi is still a very nice pen IMHO.

For a comparison, here's a TIBALDI:

 

...

 

 

Many thanks. This is very valuable information.

 

I've seen the pictures of your wonderful Tibaldi before; one of the few bits I could find on those greg vintage pens.

 

The model you show has some similarities but the pen shown in the Tibaldi book looks almost identical (excel for the clip, imprint and nib). It seems that there were at least three different versions of the Tibaldi Infrangibile (each in several sizes) and one versions looks just like my pen. Even the shape of the cap bands are the same excel that the subtle engraving shows a slightly different design. So it makes sense that the pen was made by Tibaldi.

 

Unfortunately I could not find any additional information about INVICTA on the net (except a few old auctions with even older overlay safety pens).

 

So the Columbus nib is a replacement part? What kind of nib would be correct?

 

I will post some better pictures of the pen when restored.

 

Many thanks again

 

Michael

 

 

there were at least three different versions of the Tibaldi Infrangibile (each in several sizes)

 

 

Right: the series SEMPLICE (SIMPLE), the series II and series III.

 

SEMPLICE was the economic INFRANGIBILE (UNBREAKABLE) series and had only two rings on the CAP and had not the ends of the cap and body to step (see pic)

 

http://i1081.photobucket.com/albums/j359/loufabba/TIBALDI/infrangibile_2.jpg

 

http://i1081.photobucket.com/albums/j359/loufabba/TIBALDI/infrangibile_1.jpg

 

SERIES II and SERIE III were substantially equal, the only difference was the cap bands:

one band without decorations placed between two smaller (see my pics posted above) for the SERIES II

one high band with decorations placed between two smaller for the SERIES III (like as your INVICTA)

 

[Michael R.]

Thanks a lot for the additional information and pictures.

 

Do you have any suggestion what kind of nib would be original on the pen? Did INVICTA use their own style nibs?

 

Cheers

 

Michael

[fabbale]

Thanks a lot for the additional information and pictures.

 

Do you have any suggestion what kind of nib would be original on the pen? Did INVICTA use their own style nibs?

 

Cheers

 

Michael

 

 

Sorry Michael, i've not an idea about a nib for this pen.

[Michael R.]

Thanks a lot for the additional information and pictures.

 

Do you have any suggestion what kind of nib would be original on the pen? Did INVICTA use their own style nibs?

 

Cheers

 

Michael

 

 

Sorry Michael, i've not an idea about a nib for this pen.

 

Thank you for your answer.

 

I'll try to find a slightly larger nib for the pen until we find out about the originsl nib

 

Vintage Italien pens are so nice but I rarely come across them here in Germany

 

Cheers

 

Michael