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First Bi-tone nib?


seven4times

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I recently saw a few Onotos dated to around 1935 that had beautiful two tone nibs. Is it known who made the first two tones?

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Based on the clip design and color, this OS Balance in my collection probably fits into the 1932-1934 ballpark.

 

I've seen references stating late 1931 or early 1932 as the first year for the two tone Lifetime nib.

 

If the comment on the above nib being "rather ugly" refers to the plating loss, fortunately this one is intact and hopefully gives an idea of what the nib should look like. (this particular pen may well be my favorite I own-it's a desireable color in perfect condition, the Oversize dimensions which were copied by pens like the MB 146 are perfect for me, this one has a wider nib than is often seen on American pens of this age, and best of all is a family piece that my mom saved from the garbage out of my grandmother's desk after my grandmother had passed).

 

IMG_2741.thumb.jpeg.c96282a8cffe95025681c549144d9940.jpeg

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When I said ugly I was referring to the straight line transition above the breather hole. The nib you've got is visually pleasing, and I'm a big fan of the celluloid. It's quite similar to an extremely rare 'grail' pen from my field of specialty, an old Pilot. The below pens were likely made within the range of 1931-1933

o1454053414367896677.jpg

Pilot 1933.jpg

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A little outside of the original question, but may give an indication. There were two-tone dip pens with partial gold-plating over the base steel pen going back to at least the turn-of-the-century. The Spencerian Gilt-Point is probably the most common example. 

feder-spencerian-42-gilt-point-dome-point.jpg

 

“When the historians of education do equal and exact justice to all who have contributed toward educational progress, they will devote several pages to those revolutionists who invented steel pens and blackboards.” V.T. Thayer, 1928

Check out my Steel Pen Blog

"No one is exempt from talking nonsense; the mistake is to do it solemnly."

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