Onoto Identification - Early Plunge Fillers

[mallymal1]

Milling a small flat of this sort was done by other companies, and earlier -- Waterman, most notably. The aim, it appears, was to break the vacuum when removing the cap, so as not to suck ink out through the feed. I have not noticed any particular attempt to orient the flat consistently, whether by Waterman, DLR, or anyone else.

 

 

 

Thanks for that, David. Sounds good to me.

[praxim]

Here's another plunger filler. I got this one from an Australian seller. Cob might enjoy the fact that it is fitted with a "Swan" 2 nib.

 

The dimensions:

 

Barrel - 5.3

Section - 2.9

Filler Knob - 1.6

Cap - 5.8

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

P.S. Steve Hull's book should be shipping this week...but you all probably know that.

 

Very nice looking pen. I missed that being on sale here.

[Cob]

Here's another plunger filler. I got this one from an Australian seller. Cob might enjoy the fact that it is fitted with a "Swan" 2 nib.

 

The dimensions:

 

Barrel - 5.3

Section - 2.9

Filler Knob - 1.6

Cap - 5.8

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

P.S. Steve Hull's book should be shipping this week...but you all probably know that.

Absolutely! A first-class modification!!

 

A very nice pen I must say.

 

I have reserved my copy of Onoto and will collect it at the show.

 

Cob

Edited September 13, 2016 by Cob

[PeterBeoworld]

Have received my copy and even better than I thought it would be - companion volume to the Conway Stewart book - wonderful pictures and excellent historical narrative. Simply superb. Thank you Steve.

[PaulS]

Regret I know almost nothing about Onoto pens, and possibly some while before I get the book - but these appear to be interesting and quality pens. In the above I didn't see an example with a over and under feed, so thought it might be of some interest to show what I believe is an example of a Long Slim No. 1000 with just such a nib arrangement, although doubtless there are pix in the book showing this type of front end.

 

I've assumed this is a No. 1000 in view of the barrel O/D and length of barrel both which look to match details in the table of data in the first post - it also has the upper case S next to the securing pin on the blind cap, but of course if I have the model No. wrong, then please say promptly.

 

The nib is unusual in that the imprint writes out carat in full - sadly I'm minus a cap for this one. Is it possible to give an idea of a date for this pen - thanks:)

 

 

[richardandtracy]

I think it's one of the earlier 3000 type.

I understand the over feed came in around 1910 and was last seen 1916-ish. (must get that Onoto book!)

 

So it is al least a century old.

 

Regards,

 

Richard.

[PaulS]

thanks Richard - in that case have you any idea what the S stands for?? Good to know I have at least one pen that's a true antique:)

[praxim]

In a quick look in The Book I could not find 'S' as a model mark. It seems over/under feeds were available 1905-1920. Yours looks like an N model, a 3000.

 

 

By the by, I have realised my 2000 is a slight frankenpen. The parts are all correct but cap and barrel colours should match. My barrel is black and cap red. There is a picture in post #34 of 'British pens show and tell', and p76 of The Book shows the originals, the middle two pens.

[richardandtracy]

Even more reason to get 'The Book'. Think it'll have to go on my 'Luxuries to get one day' list as it's around £70.

 

Regards,

 

Richard

[PaulS]

so the S will have to remain a mystery for the time being - thanks. Think I'll put the book at the top of the Christmas present list (that's presents wanted)

[Goudy]

I have an overfeed Onoto which also has an "S" at the end of the barrel:

 

http://i.imgur.com/h3rciOd.jpg

 

http://i.imgur.com/JO86CRt.jpg

 

I assumed this meant "short", since my pen seems to be the stubbier, "military" size, as mentioned in contemporary advertising, compared to the longer "N" size.

 

http://i.imgur.com/WUfEIlW.jpg

 

There was also a "G" model, "for those who require a larger pen with a very flexible nib."

 

http://i.imgur.com/7XmuTew.jpg

 

[PaulS]

would agree that one looks to be 'short' .............. perhaps somewhere along the factory assembly line someone put the wrong blind cap on mine..... it's definitely longer at 81 mm for the barrel alone and 142 mm overall from tip of nib to very end of blind cap.

Those gold bands are very classy looking.

[praxim]

Assume that it means "Superior"

[PaulS]

I seem fated to acquire pens without caps - attached is picture of another, probably identical model to my earlier capless example, and this one again with the over/under nib feed, although the chasing looks more like spiralling chevrons, and barrel length is 81 mm. The pen came to me in the accompanying box, although unsure if it would have been the original for this pen or not.

The blind cap carries some marks which hopefully the experts here will be able to clarify, as I don't have Stephen Hull's book.

Two pairs of marks.......... the first shows what is just possibly an earlier owner's efforts to show their initials, and looks to read upper case A H - and the other clearer marks show what appears to be 3 r 19, or something very similar.

 

Sorry the pix aren't too good, but hopefully legible