Maruzen Athena Pens With Conical Sheaffer Type Nibs

[PenHero]

Hi, Folks,

Thought I would start a new thread on these early 1950s Maruzen Athena pens with conical Sheaffer type nibs. Only have seen a few. At the DC pen show I saw a few other brands that also copied the Sheaffer conical Triumph nib unit. If you have more information or similar Maruzen pens to show, please do!

This is a small Maruzen Athena lever fill fountain pen in a translucent red plastic c. early 1950s. Maruzen is a large book and stationary store based in Tokyo that began 1869 and became Maruzen in 1893, according to Fountain Pens of Japan by Andreas Lambrou and Masamichi Sunami. Maruzen imported fountain pens and in 1907 became the Japanese distributor for De LaRue Onoto pens. Maruzen launched its own Athena brand in 1915, a design similar to a Waterman 52, and Athena became the flagship house pen brand of the company. The pens were made by Sakasai which Maruzen acquired in 1937. This 4 5/8 inch pen features a conical stainless steel nib with a ribbed section that is copied from the Sheaffer Triumph pens of the 1940s. The nib is stamped MARUZEN’S over ATHENA over MADE IN JAPAN over JATO. The cap pulls off. The clip is stamped ATHENA. The trim appears to be chrome plated. The cap top and barrel end jewels are black. The barrel is stamped “Athena” over MARUZEN over MADE IN JAPAN. The paper band shows a price of 350 yen, which is $3.31 in today’s dollars.

http://www.penhero.com/Temp/MaruzenAthenaRedTransE_2048_01.jpg

Thanks!

 

[FOUR X FOUR]

I like the nib on this pen. A good looking nib can make an otherwise plain looking pen

Allan

[ehemem]

I have seen a few of these pens recently on e-bay. Japanese vendor, don't recall which one right off hand...

[PenHero]

Hi, Folks,

This is a small Maruzen Athena lever fill fountain pen in a green and black marbled celluloid c. early 1950s. This 4 5/8 inch pen features a conical stainless steel nib with a ribbed section that is copied from the Sheaffer Triumph pens of the 1940s. The nib is stamped MARUZEN’S over ATHENA over MADE IN JAPAN over JATO. The cap pulls off. The clip is stamped ATHENA. The trim appears to be chrome plated. The cap top and barrel end jewels are black. The barrel is stamped “Athena” over MARUZEN over MADE IN JAPAN. The paper band shows a price of 450 yen, which is $4.28 in today’s dollars.

http://www.penhero.com/Temp/MaruzenAthenaGreenBlackE_2048_01.jpg

Thanks!

[PenHero]

Hi, Folks,

This is a Maruzen Athena lever fill fountain pen in a green and black marbled celluloid c. early 1950s. This 5 3/32 inch pen features a conical stainless steel nib with a ribbed section that is copied from the Sheaffer Triumph pens of the 1940s. The nib is stamped MARUZEN’S over ATHENA over MADE IN JAPAN over JATO. The cap pulls off. The clip is stamped ATHENA. The trim appears to be chrome plated. The cap top jewel is black. The metal barrel end cap is chrome plated. The barrel is stamped “Athena” over MARUZEN over MADE IN JAPAN. The paper band shows a price of 400 yen, which is $3.75 in today’s dollars.

http://www.penhero.com/Temp/MaruzenAthenaGreenBlack_2048_01.jpg

Thanks!

[PenHero]

Hi, Folks,

This is a Maruzen Athena lever fill fountain pen in a tan and black marbled celluloid c. early 1950s. This 5 1/4 inch pen features a conical stainless steel nib with a ribbed section that is copied from the Sheaffer Triumph pens of the 1940s. The nib is stamped MARUZEN’S over ATHENA over MADE IN JAPAN over JATO. The cap pulls off. The clip is stamped ATHENA. The cap and barrel shape is similar to the later Sheaffer Triumph pens c. 1945-1948. The barrel is stamped “Athena” over MARUZEN over MADE IN JAPAN. Similar pens have paper bands with a price of 450 yen, which is $4.28 in today’s dollars.

http://www.penhero.com/Temp/MaruzenAthenaTanBlack_2048_01.jpg

Thanks!

[ethernautrix]

Wow, those are gorgeous!

[PenHero]

Hi, Folks,

This is a Maruzen Athena lever fill fountain pen in a red translucent plastic c. early 1950s. This 5 1/8 inch pen features a conical stainless steel nib with a ribbed section that is copied from the Sheaffer Triumph pens of the 1940s. The nib is stamped MARUZEN’S over ATHENA over MADE IN JAPAN over JATO. The cap pulls off. The clip is stamped ATHENA. The cap and barrel shape is similar to the later Sheaffer Triumph pens c. 1945-1948. The barrel is stamped “Athena” over MARUZEN over MADE IN JAPAN. Similar pens have paper bands with a price of 450 yen, which is $4.28 in today’s dollars.

http://www.penhero.com/Temp/MaruzenAthenaRedTrans_2048_01.jpg

Thanks!

[PenHero]

Hi, Folks,

This is a Maruzen Athena lever fill fountain pen in a green translucent plastic c. early 1950s. This 5 1/8 inch pen features a conical stainless steel nib with a ribbed section that is copied from the Sheaffer Triumph pens of the 1940s. The nib is stamped MARUZEN’S over ATHENA over MADE IN JAPAN over JATO. The cap pulls off. The clip is stamped ATHENA. The cap and barrel shape is similar to the later Sheaffer Triumph pens c. 1945-1948. The barrel is stamped “Athena” over MARUZEN over MADE IN JAPAN. Similar pens have paper bands with a price of 450 yen, which is $4.28 in today’s dollars.

http://www.penhero.com/Temp/MaruzenAthenaGreenTrans_2048_01.jpg

Thanks!

[PenHero]

Hi, Folks,

This is a Maruzen Athena lever fill fountain pen in black plastic c. early 1950s. This 5 1/8 inch pen features a conical stainless steel nib with a ribbed section that is copied from the Sheaffer Triumph pens of the 1940s. The nib is stamped MARUZEN’S over ATHENA over MADE IN JAPAN over JATO. The cap pulls off. The clip is stamped ATHENA. The cap and barrel shape is similar to the later Sheaffer Triumph pens c. 1945-1948. The barrel is stamped “Athena” over MARUZEN over MADE IN JAPAN. The paper band shows a price of 450 yen, which is $4.28 in today’s dollars.

http://www.penhero.com/Temp/MaruzenAthenaBlack_2048_01.jpg

Thanks!

[PenHero]

Hi, Folks,

This is a Maruzen Athena lever fill fountain pen in a green crosshatch celluloid c. early 1950s. The material is similar to Conklin's celluloid they named etched. It may be a three ply sheet with a base color layer, a layer of threaded material that creates the crosshatch pattern and a top clear layer that is formed into a spiral wrap that creates the cap and barrel tubes. The spiral seams are visible. Sheaffer used a similar patented celluloid made by the Celluloid Corporation of New Jersey on their early WASP Clipper pens. This 4 11/16 inch pen features a conical stainless steel nib with a ribbed section that is copied from the Sheaffer Triumph pens of the 1940s. The nib is stamped MARUZEN’S over ATHENA over MADE IN JAPAN over JATO. The cap pulls off. The clip is stamped ATHENA. The cap and barrel shape is similar to the later Sheaffer Triumph pens c. 1945-1948. The barrel is stamped “Athena” over MARUZEN over MADE IN JAPAN. The paper band shows a price of 350 yen, which is $3.31 in today’s dollars.

http://www.penhero.com/Temp/MaruzenAthenaGreenCrosshatch_2048_01.jpg

Thanks!

Edited August 21, 2019 by PenHero
Corrected patent information

[PenHero]

Hi, Folks,

This is a Maruzen Athena lever fill fountain pen in a green marbled celluloid c. early 1950s. The celluloid is a sheet that is formed into a spiral wrap that creates the cap and barrel tubes. The spiral seams are visible. This 4 3/4 inch pen features a conical stainless steel nib with a ribbed section that is copied from the Sheaffer Triumph pens of the 1940s. The nib is stamped MARUZEN’S over ATHENA over MADE IN JAPAN over JATO. The cap pulls off. The clip is stamped ATHENA. The cap and barrel shape is similar to the later Sheaffer Triumph pens c. 1945-1948. The barrel is stamped “Athena” over MARUZEN over MADE IN JAPAN. Similar pens are priced at 350 yen, which is $3.31 in today’s dollars.

http://www.penhero.com/Temp/MaruzenAthenaGreenMarble_2048_01.jpg

Thanks!

[stan]

Jim.

Maruzen was not unique in marketing pens with conical nibs. I've seen similar pens from Platinum and from smaller 'noname' makers. Pilot may have had one too as I recall having a similar nib section in my spares box.

[PenHero]

Jim.

Maruzen was not unique in marketing pens with conical nibs. I've seen similar pens from Platinum and from smaller 'noname' makers. Pilot may have had one too as I recall having a similar nib section in my spares box.

 

Hi, Stan!

 

I've seen others also. Maruzen obviously made a lot of different models.

 

Thanks!

[PenHero]

Hi, Folks,

This is a Maruzen Athena lever fill fountain pen in a tan and black marbled celluloid c. early 1950s. The cap and barrel are made from tubes formed from spiral strips of the material. The seams can be seen. This 5 1/8 inch pen features a conical stainless steel nib with a ribbed section that is copied from the Sheaffer Triumph pens of the 1940s. The nib is stamped MARUZEN’S over ATHENA over MADE IN JAPAN over JATO. The cap pulls off. The clip is stamped ATHENA. The cap and barrel shape is similar to the later Sheaffer Triumph pens c. 1945-1948. The barrel is stamped “Athena” over MARUZEN over MADE IN JAPAN. This example has a paper band with a price of 450 yen, which is $4.28 in today’s dollars.

http://www.penhero.com/Temp/MaruzenAthenaGreenBlack_2048_02.jpg

Thanks!

[PenHero]

Hi, Folks,

This is a Maruzen Athena lever fill fountain pen in a burgundy plastic c. early 1950s. This 5 3/16 inch pen features a conical stainless steel nib with a ribbed section that is copied from the Sheaffer Triumph pens of the 1940s. The nib is stamped MARUZEN’S over ATHENA over MADE IN JAPAN over JATO. The cap pulls off. The clip is stamped ATHENA. The cap and barrel shape is similar to the later Sheaffer Triumph pens c. 1945-1948. The barrel is stamped “Athena” over MARUZEN over MADE IN JAPAN. Similar pens have paper bands with a price of 450 yen, which is $4.28 in today’s dollars.

http://penhero.com/Temp/MaruzenAthenaBurgundy_2048_01.jpg

Thanks!