Any Fpn'ers Have These Two Viscontis.............

[sumgaikid]

Did some googling and found that AirlineInternat'l.com is supposedly

selling some Visconti Urushi pens on their website(couldn't paste and

copy the link to this post). They come in red,green and black,but don't

have the capband. Would these happen to be originals,or were they

later made? They don't have "Visconti" on the clip,but the word "Urushi".

 

Oh yes.........A/I wants $2900 apiece.

 

Legit or not?

 

 

John

[raging.dragon]

I've bought from Airline International, and they're definetly legit. From the description I'd guess this is a consignment sale (hopefully not an estate sale!) of one pen in each colour. My only worry would be whether or not the pens have degraded in storage. These pens are 23 years old and have never been used, so we have no idea when, if ever, they were last taken out of the box and inspected. If you're interested, my advice would be to call Airline International, speak to Eddie, and request photos of the pens.

[mchenart]

Thanks for the info................could you show us some pics of your collection? John

 

Sumgaikid, here are three of my Ban-ei pens, a black urushi, a Maki-e and a Nashiji-nuri:

 

http://i955.photobucket.com/albums/ae33/mchenart/Ban-ei.jpg

 

And a close-up of the the nibs. Although the three nibs all look different, the one on the Nashiji-nuri (the middle one) with the heart-shaped vent hole is the same nib as on the Visconti Urushi pen. You can see that there is the engraving 'GK' which stands for Ginjiro Kabutogi in the bottom.

 

http://i955.photobucket.com/albums/ae33/mchenart/Ban-einibs.jpg

 

These pens are about the same age as the Visconti Urushi. In fact, the only 'degradation' of a vintage Japanese eyedropper pen that I can think of, is the cork seal in the safety valve. If it leaks, it can easily be fixed by a specialist.

[sumgaikid]

Thanks for the info................could you show us some pics of your collection? John

 

Sumgaikid, here are three of my Ban-ei pens, a black urushi, a Maki-e and a Nashiji-nuri:

 

http://i955.photobucket.com/albums/ae33/mchenart/Ban-ei.jpg

 

And a close-up of the the nibs. Although the three nibs all look different, the one on the Nashiji-nuri (the middle one) with the heart-shaped vent hole is the same nib as on the Visconti Urushi pen. You can see that there is the engraving 'GK' which stands for Ginjiro Kabutogi in the bottom.

 

http://i955.photobucket.com/albums/ae33/mchenart/Ban-einibs.jpg

 

These pens are about the same age as the Visconti Urushi. In fact, the only 'degradation' of a vintage Japanese eyedropper pen that I can think of, is the cork seal in the safety valve. If it leaks, it can easily be fixed by a specialist.

 

Thanks,mchenart.............of the three,I think the Nashiji-nuri with the GK nib is the nicest.

 

 

 

John

[delvecchio]

There is a description of the Visconti urushi pen in the book Fountain Pens- History and Design, edited by Giorgio Dragoni and Giuseppe Fichera (page 161), however, it was referred to as 'Kaburagi Urishi' made by Kaburagi for Visconti.

Visconti Urushi pen

 

That name has puzzled me for a quite a few years, because I have not been able to find out anything on Kaburagi. A few days ago I came across one such pen offered on eBay (the same one noted by eric47 in this thread), and on seeing the closeup photo of the nib, it dawned on me that it is 'Kabutogi' rather than a 'Kaburagi' pen. GK, the initials of the nib maker Ginjiro Kabutogi, are imprinted on the nib. Aficionados of Japanese pens would know that Kabutogi was the nib maker in the workshop that comprised of Eisuke Sakai (lathe turner), Shuichi Tsuchida (maker of ebonite feed and assembler), and Z. Kitamura (lacquerer), that has often been referred to as 'Ban-ei' or 'Tsuchida' in the west.

 

While the Visconti Urushi pen looks similar to an iconic Ban-ei pen of that era, there are slight differences in the length of the section grip and the positioning of the cap ring of the two pens. So whether this pen is a special commission by the Ban-ei workshop or by Kabutogi personally, only Dante del Vecchio of Visconti could tell.

 

I have some pics of the Urushi. Will post later.

They look similar to NAMIKI 50#. But the urushi technique on these pens are not as good as the Namiki emperor pens.

freakman, you are right in saying that the Namiki are finished to a higher degree of polish than on the Kabutogi pens. Yet, because of the small imperfections of these hand-made pens made by dedicated artisans using primitive tools, they have a warmth which is absent from a Namiki or a Pilot. The Warranted nib by Kabutogi is another magic. I have several Ban-ei pens in my collection, and they all write better than my Namiki Yukari Royale.

 

I have to go back 25 years to tell you all the story.

I met mr Kabutogi on early 1987 when I was in Japan searching celluloid makers.

Probably Kaburagi was a bad translation from japanese, understanding was diffiult.

We found a celluloid maker that supplied us the first batch of materials were we made a little amount of Royale pens.

At that time we had no quality control because our company was of 3 persons and I was used to make myself all the work, my partner was in the street selling and his wife writing invoices.

Quality of the feeds was not really stable and some were excellent while some were....so so.

Later on we learned that only plastic feed were able to deliver a stable quality while ebonite quality depends ...from the maker. For my experience I do not know any reliable ebonite feed maker , not japanese neither two french I met later.

In Germany ,already in 1988, all feed makers dropped ebonite.

Urushi was sold in Italy for 800 us dollars at that time and we were suggested to make it limited.

For what I know is the first limited of the modern FP age, but I am sure you will find some earlier pens that is not the two Parker, spanish treasure or queen mary.

In Italy the Urushi was a huge success and we sold 5 years production in a row (50 pcs x year).

This pen and the follower D'Essai LE ,made out of antique celluloid from the 30 ties probably motivated other brands like Aurora to make their first limited at the end of 1991, and later in 1992 Omas.

Visconti started the business on 20 oct 1988 with no experience but with some good ideas in pens

Just 15 months later with our second limited we turned over a million in the sole Italian market and the surprise to all our competitors was so great to see an unknown company to sell pens at 3 times higher selling prices than any other brand including famous germans , french and americans.

I can say that all started with the Urushi that was not marked Visconti because we were not manufacturing it.

Last year I called Glen Bowen of Pen World that was founded in the same year of Visconti, and Glen mailed me all early issues of PW.

I none of this issues I was able to locate a limited edition earlier than Visconti Urushi or D'Essai.

So collectible value of Urushi is very high , togheter with the Visconti D'Essai the sole pen ever made using certified material from the therties.

[mchenart]

Thank you Dante for your recount of the early days of Visconti. It is so good to hear from the mastermind himself.

 

I can say that all started with the Urushi that was not marked Visconti because we were not manufacturing it.

 

According to the book Fountain Pens- History and Design, the Visconti Urushi pen comes in two versions- one with the word 'Urushi' and the other with 'Visconti' engraved on the clip. Would it be safe to conjecture that these are the limited edition pens, while unmarked urushis belong to the earlier version that had been made before you decided to turn it into a limited edition?

 

Visconti has developed into one of the most innovative companies making numerous memorable pens in the past decades. No wonder many earlier Visconti pens have become such sought after jewels, such as the Urushi and the D'Essai(made by Kato Kiyoshi?). Kato passed away a couple years ago, and his pens have become collectors' items not just in Japan, but around the world too.

 

Any plans of involving Japanese craftsmen/companies again in future Visconti creations?

[georges zaslavsky]

quite interesting

[tryphon]

Ciao Dante! I have both of these pens. And, as many may remember, I was for a while the sole official importer for Platinum in the US: so I have many excellent Urushi and Maki-e pens. Anyone who says that the Visconti Urushi is inferior to Namiki or Platinum has clearly NOT held one of the Kabutogi pens. The Visconti Urushi is one of my favorite pens. I also have a few of the first batch of old celluloid pens made by Visconti, including the one that came with vintage glass nibs (and a second section with a gold nib). I think the vintage celluloid stock came from Turin (perhaps old leftover celluloid from the Williamson stock).

[tryphon]

Thank you Dante for your recount of the early days of Visconti. It is so good to hear from the mastermind himself.

 

 

 

According to the book Fountain Pens- History and Design, the Visconti Urushi pen comes in two versions- one with the word 'Urushi' and the other with 'Visconti' engraved on the clip. Would it be safe to conjecture that these are the limited edition pens, while unmarked urushis belong to the earlier version that had been made before you decided to turn it into a limited edition?

 

Visconti has developed into one of the most innovative companies making numerous memorable pens in the past decades. No wonder many earlier Visconti pens have become such sought after jewels, such as the Urushi and the D'Essai(made by Kato Kiyoshi?). Kato passed away a couple years ago, and his pens have become collectors' items not just in Japan, but around the world too.

 

Any plans of involving Japanese craftsmen/companies again in future Visconti creations?

 

I have a large coillection of celluloid pens made by the late Kato Kiyoshi: they are beautiful. The Visconti D'Essai pens were turned in Italy by Visconti, using a limited stock of old celluloid that was found, I believe, in Turin. Some were turned from solid rods, some from rolled up celluloid. I bought them new when they first came out. The finish and the metal parts are of higher quality than what is found on the Kato pens.

[tryphon]

Thank you Dante for your recount of the early days of Visconti. It is so good to hear from the mastermind himself.

 

 

 

According to the book Fountain Pens- History and Design, the Visconti Urushi pen comes in two versions- one with the word 'Urushi' and the other with 'Visconti' engraved on the clip. Would it be safe to conjecture that these are the limited edition pens, while unmarked urushis belong to the earlier version that had been made before you decided to turn it into a limited edition?

 

Visconti has developed into one of the most innovative companies making numerous memorable pens in the past decades. No wonder many earlier Visconti pens have become such sought after jewels, such as the Urushi and the D'Essai(made by Kato Kiyoshi?). Kato passed away a couple years ago, and his pens have become collectors' items not just in Japan, but around the world too.

 

Any plans of involving Japanese craftsmen/companies again in future Visconti creations?

I have a large collection of celluloid pens made by Kato: they are beautiful. The D'Essai pens made by Visconti were turned from vintage celluloid by Visconti, in Italy. The celluloid was found, I believe, in Turin (I seem to remember that it was from the old Williamson factory). Some of the pens were turned from solid rods, some from rolled-up celluloid. I have a couple, including one that came with two sections, one of which was fitted with a vintage glass nib. The quality of the metal parts used in the Visconti pens was higher than what was used by Kato.

Giovanni Abrate

Florida

[raging.dragon]

This was my only Visconti Royal sold a wile ago here on classified,

was a quite fat pen about as a MB 149 just slight shorter.

 

I remember I contemplated buying it, but somebody else beat me to it.

[Tombstone]

Ciao Giovanni,

 

You know about the functionality of the "Edit" button? Would make reading much easier... even in a thread from ancient history...

 

 

Ciao - Peter

 

PS: I do not know if I have to say "Thank you" for reminding me that I have been to slow at that time when the pen was sold...

 

Edited March 23, 2014 by Tombstone

[tryphon]

Did some googling and found that AirlineInternat'l.com is supposedly

selling some Visconti Urushi pens on their website(couldn't paste and

copy the link to this post). They come in red,green and black,but don't

have the capband. Would these happen to be originals,or were they

later made? They don't have "Visconti" on the clip,but the word "Urushi".

 

Oh yes.........A/I wants $2900 apiece.

 

Legit or not?

 

 

John

The original Visconti Urushi only came in red.

[tryphon]

There is a description of the Visconti urushi pen in the book Fountain Pens- History and Design, edited by Giorgio Dragoni and Giuseppe Fichera (page 161), however, it was referred to as 'Kaburagi Urishi' made by Kaburagi for Visconti.

Visconti Urushi pen

 

That name has puzzled me for a quite a few years, because I have not been able to find out anything on Kaburagi. A few days ago I came across one such pen offered on eBay (the same one noted by eric47 in this thread), and on seeing the closeup photo of the nib, it dawned on me that it is 'Kabutogi' rather than a 'Kaburagi' pen. GK, the initials of the nib maker Ginjiro Kabutogi, are imprinted on the nib. Aficionados of Japanese pens would know that Kabutogi was the nib maker in the workshop that comprised of Eisuke Sakai (lathe turner), Shuichi Tsuchida (maker of ebonite feed and assembler), and Z. Kitamura (lacquerer), that has often been referred to as 'Ban-ei' or 'Tsuchida' in the west.

 

While the Visconti Urushi pen looks similar to an iconic Ban-ei pen of that era, there are slight differences in the length of the section grip and the positioning of the cap ring of the two pens. So whether this pen is a special commission by the Ban-ei workshop or by Kabutogi personally, only Dante del Vecchio of Visconti could tell.

 

 

freakman, you are right in saying that the Namiki are finished to a higher degree of polish than on the Kabutogi pens. Yet, because of the small imperfections of these hand-made pens made by dedicated artisans using primitive tools, they have a warmth which is absent from a Namiki or a Pilot. The Warranted nib by Kabutogi is another magic. I have several Ban-ei pens in my collection, and they all write better than my Namiki Yukari Royale.

Here is a picture of two of my pens: the one on top is the original Visconti Urushi, the one below is a Ban-Ei pen. It is easy to see the differences. They are both beautifully made pens.

 

 

 

http://s16.postimg.org/ct8r2m8c5/Urushi.jpg