My First: Scripto Something?

[Finalist]

Hi,

I'm extremely new to this world (literally days new I guess). I ordered a Twsbi mini with some Noodlers Eel Turquoise that I'm very excited to receive next week. However, next week is a looooong way away, so I purchased this little Scripto from a used store just to carry me through the next few days and learn a little. I paid $6 for it and it was the cleanest of about 15 pens the antique shop had in an old cup for sale. I liked the blue/teal color, the chrome cap and the size. I had no idea if it would even work, nor anything about it. I've done some minor google research and comparing it to other Scriptos that look like it this one this pen is extremely clean and in great condition. No rust, no cracks, the filling bag works well and the nib looks great (I think?).

 

Please tell me all you know about this pen. I gather it's the Walmart special of FPs from the 1950-1960s, but I'd like to know more? ...At least until my Mini arrives!

 

Thanks,

 

 

 

[Finalist]

The nib has this on it:

SCRIPTO

INC

MEDIUM

USA

 

and the clip says SCRIPTO with an S shape towards the bottom.

[Finalist]

Soo what decade? Were these the ten cent Bics of their day? What's the story on the filling system? What's the nib all about? Is this a knock off type brand?

[lallin]

I'm relying on memory, so some of the specifics may be off a bit; but, Scripto was a "value" line. Inexpensive pens sold, as I recall at Woolworth, Rexall and general retailers. The aerometric filler and overall "styling" suggests early sixties and, yes, they were the Bics of their day.

 

The pen is filled by putting the nib in a bottle of ink and pressing the bar, marked press, two or three times to expel air and draw in the ink. Not sure what there is to say of the nib; it's just a stainless steel nib, used instead of gold to keep the cost low.

[Finalist]

Ahh aerometric filler. I didn't know what that bag was called. For being a cheapo it sure looks great compared to typical office supply and I'm really drawn to the diameter while in hand.

Thanks

[Scribblesoften]

Have you cleaned it out and inked it up yet? It is styled similarly to the very end of the Esterbrook production. Nice find.

[scrivelry]

That pen is in nice condition from what I can see and probably a great one to start with - it looks in writing condition. Congratulations on your first FP!

 

Were you able to get yourself some fountain pen ink? If not, try Staples, they may have one bottle somewhere in the store.

 

T

[Finalist]

I finally got to try this Scripto today. My Twsbi Mini arrived, but my Noodler's Eel Turquoise is still in the mail, so I drove to Staples and purchased some black Quink.

 

I cleaned and loaded both the Twsbi and the Scripto with the Quink. IMO the Scripto medium and Twsbi mini EF seem to produce close to the same line thickness. The Twsbi is definitely nicer feeling. The Scripto has a bit of a scratchy feeling, but it's less scratchy than a cheap ball point or a .3mm Pilot Hi Tec C. I reay like the barrel color and chrome cap of the Scripto. It reminds me of the type of product design I saw as a very young child. I'm definitely keeping - it's looks like the best conditioned I've seen through internet searches and it's cheap enough to not worry about. My Mini seems so delicate.

[Scribblesoften]

As a relatively inexpensive pen your Scripto might be a candidate for tine adjustment and nib smoothing lessons. The Goulets have videos on using micromesh and mylar for smoothing. You need to ensure that the tines are properly aligned first. So purchase of a loupe may be necessary. Your Scripto may be the gateway to expanding your understanding. For me it was the Noodler's pens. Welcome to the nuthouse.

[Finalist]

I find the Scripto is only scratchy in one direction at a certain angle. However, I don't have much of a reference for what really smooth is.

 

The scripto's nib tip is not like the Twsbi. The tip is just folded back over to create that bulb shape. Can that be smoothed the same way the iridium (sic) tips are smoothed?

[Scribblesoften]

Folded steel nib were used on some less expensive pens. Esterbrook used them in their 2000 series nibs. I don't know about smoothing them. If you have a magnifying glass with at least 10x power you should be able to see if the nib has a bent tine. That would account for the scratchiness in a single direction. I see you are in the U.S. Harbor Freight usually has sets of cheap loupes for sale in the $10 range. You need to be able to see what you are working with. Smoothing is a one way trip. You can remove material but not add it. If you smooth a bent tine and then straighten it later, your pen might not be fixable.

[Finalist]

Ok, so I made of a mix of Noodlers Eel Turquoise and Black Quink ink and I purchased some smoother paper. I also used some very fine grit and made a few circles on the fine grit. The pen is definitely smoother, but I think it may mostly be the paper.

 

I don't have much of a reference, but the nib is much more flexable than the EF Twsbi mini's. I like how both nibs feel for different reasons. No wonder people here have collections of pens rather than one or two. I need more! Lol

[Runnin_Ute]

Scripto as a company is/was based in Atlanta, Georgia and a large portion of their business was in the sales of advertising pens and pencils. You know like the cheap pens with a business name on them.

 

Even if it doesn't have that kind of branding or isn't visible, at this point in time, this may have been a pen Scripto offered to customers for this purpose. Today we think of those as all ballpoints, but in the 1950's and early 1960's they may have offered fountain pens as well. I can find information mostly about mechanical pencils, but obviously they made "some" fountain pens.

 

Here is one that looks like yours except for body color:

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Scripto-Black-with-Chrome-Cap-Squeeze-Fill-Pen-medium-point-/350541159340

 

I found some lever filler models as well.

Edited January 6, 2014 by Runnin_Ute

[Finalist]

Thanks!