Example of small writing instruments humble collection as on 6th May 2023, Coronation Day of HM King Charles III

There is circa 100 of us in the above picture, celebrating the Coronation Day of HM King Charles III on 6th May 2023. The above number “100” is in fact the maximum number of writing instruments permitted in our collection, which we shall not at least in theory exceed. We have a dedicated collection comprising of lots of different makers of both vintage and modern fountain pens.

Everyone who knows us well thinks, that it’s lovely to hear stories like this one about my father’s pen that started my interest. For many collectors, it is embarrassing to admit that they have too many pens to mention German, Japanese, French, Chinese, Italian and American brands as their tastes keep changing. Currently one of them just admitted, that he just discovered …vintage Aurora pens. We absolutely don’t judge anyone here as we also get a little obsessive in our collecting!

The individual practical and aesthetic appeal of fountain pens, in our opinion should not age discriminate, so we as many others look for and examine interesting and beautiful fountain pens going back for many decades, and those produced currently. As well as those practically coming from anywhere in the world. We hope this book will appeal to anyone interested in writing instruments and not just to fountain pen collectors. We hope that anyone with any interest in the modern and past history of this extraordinary field of interest, will benefit from studying this book.

Conway Stewart 2023 Special Edition Pen

Engraved in sterling silver and adorned with a profile of the monarch on the top of its cap.

Designed and made in United Kingdom, this pen features an engine-turned body and cap, which is the traditionally method to produce exquisite engraving on top class jewellery, also watches and pens. As claimed, this engraving method gives it a classical appearance and a tactile feel. The pattern used on this pen is the same as the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee pen produced in 2023.

On top of the cap is the profile of the King Charles III which has been captured perfectly by the UK Assay Office’s Commemorative Mark for the Coronation. Fitted with a 23ct gold-plated clip and an 18ct gold 2-tone Conway Stewart nib, this pen is designed as a part of limited edition of 250, making it a rare and exclusive writing instrument that is sure to be treasured for many years to come. The King Charles III Coronation Commemorative Pen is available as either a fountain pen or a rollerball. If you buy the fountain pen, you can also buy a conversion kit from our accessories that can convert it into a rollerball.

Westminster Abbey, May 6, 2023

During the King Charles III Coronation ceremony, the King was made to sign the Oath and this caused him further totally unexpected pen trouble after the famous leaking pen frustrations from his Hillsborough Castle visit earlier in 2023. The King was seen grimacing as he screwed the top back on the pen after signing the Oath during the grand ceremony. The King is known to carry his own pen for when he is to sign documents during royal visits. In September 2022, still as HRH Prince Charles, he attempted to sign a visitor’s book at Hillsborough Castle during his important Belfast visit. But his fountain pen didn’t work, much to HRH annoyance. Given half a chance, any good pen expert could fix this problem in less than 30 minutes. An average of 18.8 million people tuned into watch the Coronation across 11 channels and services, including BBC One, Two, ITV and Sky News.

Pictures courtesy of TVP

1. Montblanc “Meisterstück” Model 149 18 k Gold M size Nib, made in Germany in 1994
2. Montblanc “Meisterstück” Pix 145 Chopin 14 k Gold M size Nib, made in Germany
3. Montblanc “Meisterstück” PIX Model 164 Ball Pen, made in Germany (new model)
4. Montblanc “Meisterstück” Model 164 Ball Pen, made in Germany (original previous model)
5. Senator “Windsor” GP Iridium GP M size Nib, Special Edition, Piston Filler, made in Germany
6. Senator “Windsor” Iridium GP Bock S.250 M size Nib upgrade, Piston Filler, made in Germany
7. Pelican M250 M size GP Nib, Piston Filler, pre-1979, made in Germany
8. Mulberry “Art Deco” Ladies Pen M size GP Nib, made in UK
9. Conway Stewart Model 388 14 k Gold Nib, Lever CS Filler, made in England
10. Vintage Piston Filler inc. superior Senator GP Iridium M size Nib, made in Germany
11. Mentore “Auto Flow” 14 k Gold Iridium Nib, made in France
12. Parker “Duofold Centennial Model 9030” 18 k Gold M size Nib, made in USA/UK

1. Jinhao Model X159 EF size Iraurite Nib, made in PRC
2. Jinhao Model X159 F size Iraurite Nib, made in PRC
3. Wordsworth & Black “Majesti” M size Nib, made in PRC/UK
4. Wordsworth & Black “Majesti” F size Nib, made in PRC/UK
5. Jinhao Model 350 M size Nib, made in PRC
6. Jinhao Model 350 M size “bent” Nib, made in PRC, this special bent nib is especially good for ink drawings
7. Jinhao „80 Series” EF (0.38 mm) or F (0.5 mm) Iridium Nib, made in PRC, finished in matt black
8. Jinhao „Slim Black/Rosewood” F size Nib, made in PRC, one of the most underrated designs for fine fountain pen
9. Jinhao „Clear Blue” Model 992 F size Nib, made in PRC,
10. Jinhao X450 “Louie Souter Senior St Benedict School”, Louie will get this pen in September 2023, made in PRC
11. Ministry of National Defense of Poland „Ministerstwo Obrony Narodowej” Ball Pen, presented to me personally by MON (Ministry of National Defense of Poland) delegation visiting London
12. „Chopin Society London” Lady Rose Cholmondeley and the CSL secretary Gillian Newman, Memorial Ball Pen

John F. Kennedy offered German Chancellor Konrad Adenauer his own Montblanc 149 fountain pen

How fortunate, John F. Kennedy offered the German Chancellor Konrad Adenauer his own Montblanc 149 fountain pen. In 1963 in Germany, President Kennedy offered the German Chancellor, Herr Konrad Adenauer, at the signing of the Golden Book in Cologne, when Adenauer didn’t have a pen. John Kennedy offered his own personal Montblanc 149. Konrad Hermann Joseph Adenauer was a German statesman who served as the first chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany) from 1949 to 1963. The MB 149 fountain pen design by 1963 was already eleven years established worldwide, since its launch in circa 1952. Its default standard nib would be stamped as 14k pure gold except for France where 18k was legally required. Under French law requires gold objects to be of at least 18 carats to be sold as gold.

Half a century later, the legendary writing instrument company is commemorating the 35th President with a pen named in his honour. The latest addition to Montblanc’s Great Characters collection, the John F. Kennedy pen reflects many facets of JFK’s life and career: The three rings around the cap represent his three brothers, for example, and the pattern is inspired by the first footsteps on the moon. And of course, the clip is engraved with Kennedy’s initials.

Author and Pele with his favoured Montblanc Fountain Pen at Winter CES, Las Vegas in 1984 and Mr. A. Einstein below

Montblanc “Meisterstück” Model 149

Its History-Montblanc had a far less marketable name when it was originally founded in Germany by three partners in 1906.

The Simplizissiumus-Füllhalter pen company doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue. It was renamed later as the Simplo Filler Pen Company GmbH in 1907.

This company produced a pen in 1910 called the Montblanc that eventually became the company’s name. So, it was a German company with a French name, now owned by the Swiss Richemont Group as of 1993. Richemont also owns Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels, Chloé, and Blume et Mercier. It keeps all these in very good company.

The “Meisterstück” line dates all the way back to 1924 a designation for their top-of-the line pen “Meisterstück” of course, it means simply “Masterpiece.”

Model 149 UK retail price is £795 (Cult Pens, February 2023)

Jinhao Model X159

We and most of the of the wet ink world were really thrilled with the Jinhao X159. We think it is phenomenally great value. There is nothing quite like it on the market. It could compete well with some pens in the £200.00 to £300.00 price range (Autumn 2022-Spring 2023). Jinhao X159 on-line retail price is £ 7.98 (February 2023)

However, the new version, of the original Jinhao 159, launched circa 3 years ago, the X159 is different in many respects and offers significant quality improvements. Whilst very similar in appearance and its physical size to its previous model, the main improvements areas are as follows:

• It is now made of a high-quality acrylic and is much lighter
• It has a larger, 2-colour – number No. 8 nib
• There is improved pocket clip
• The grip section is much less tapered and does not end with a metal “rust” ring
• The threads on the barrel, for the cap are now acrylic instead of previously used metal

1. Inoxcrom “All Metal” M size Nib, made in Spain, equipped with Waterman style converter, all metal design
2. LAMY “Safari/Vista” Clear & Chrome M size Nib, made in Germany, clear design, ex. Ryman in Ealing on 27th February 2023, LAMY Z28 converter was an extra cost
3. Pilot 78 G BB Italic Nib, made in Japan, perfect for calligraphy, in Teal colour, “Squeezy” type of an old-fashioned but reliable rubber converter, sourced in USA
4. Pelican MK20 14 C Gold F size Nib, made in Germany, pre 1970 model, Piston Filler
5. Waterman “Hemisphere/GT” M size Nib, made in Paris France, Parker Converter “borrowed” from my Parker Centennial
6. Pilot “Semi hooded” F size Nib, made in Japan, “squeezy” type of an old-fashioned but reliable rubber converter
7. Parker “All Metal” M semi covered Nib, made in UK, Model 61, mid-1970th popular design
8. Parker Naval Museum in Gdynia, Poland “Muzeum Marynarki Wojennej w Gdyni” SS F size Nib, made in UK, cartridge or standard converter
9. Parker “UK Y” Ball Pen, made in UK
10. Order of Malta x 2 pieces “SMOM + ZPKM” Ball Pen, made probably in PRC, Red or White
11. Pierre Cardin design for ICL Fujitsu super NOVA, mechanical pencil of 0.8 mm

The 159 Jinhao Model is a large relatively heavy fountain pen with a design heavily influenced by the iconic Montblanc Meisterstück 149. It is a cartridge converter based pen with a metal body with plastic overlay, a screw cap, and typically comes with a Mediuinhao is the main brand of Shanghai Qiangu Stationery Co Ltd (Chinese: 上海千古文具有限公司), Outside China they are known for their affordable fountain pens. The company was established in 1988 in Jiangxi Province, but relocated to Shanghai in 2003. The company has two manufacturing factories and employs about 300 workers. The 159 model has apparently No. 8 steel nib. Length: Closed 149mm (5.9in), Posted 163mm (6.4in), Weight: 28.7 g

Shown below, is the new MAJOHN / Moonman P136, a knock-off of the Montblanc 146/145? It is certainly very similar. But there are some key differences. Nib: EF size (0.38mm); F size (0.5mm); M size (0.6mm); Flat size (1.1mm), Material: black Resin Total Length: 146mm; Weight: 26g

Montblanc  “Meisterstück” Model 145 Chopin

Our own take on Chopin’s visit to UK in 1848. Seven months of Fryderyk Chopin’s Life in England and Scotland, April-November 1848. On the 23rd February 1848 a revolution broke out on the streets of Paris. The French Royal family fled to England and the majority of Chopin’s friends and pupils also left the capital of France. Miss Jane Stirling, his devoted friend and pupil, together with her sister Mrs Katherine Erskine, both jointly convinced Chopin that he should come to London. The author’s own album was produced in 2011 with prof Alexander Ardakov and Mr Masayuki Tayama from Japan. The Montblanc Chopin fountain pen link was not accidental…

MAJOHN Model P136

Both classics and relatively new and modern fountain pens can live in many collections side by side

The Mentmore Auto-Flow (1939) with 14 carat semi-flex gold nib

Mentmore Company started its life in 1919 and was named after its first premises in Mentmore Terrace, Hackney in London. The Mentmore company was an innovator – it invented the first self- filling fountain pen, the retractable ballpoint pen, the felt tip pen and the spy pens in 1939. When the button is pressed, the bar is bent inward and compresses the sac, expelling its contents. As it reinflates, if the nib and feed are in ink, the vacuum created will fill it. Picture above courtesy of Allan Paris from Angus in Scotland.

FIRST TO FIGHT – Page 64

The Pelikan logo originally had three chicks, but after the birth of Wagner’s (he created the famous logo) 4th child the logo shows … four chicks in the nest. A logo redesign in 1937 saw all the proposed designs move back to three chicks. Eventually though another chick was “thrown overboard” as “even the three remaining chicks are still too close together and difficult to make out, especially when reduced in size.” (Fritz Beindorff, Pelikan owner, 1937). Today for further simplification, the logo has only 1 chick within the nest. Courtesy of: https://www.penheaven.co.uk/blog/birdseye-view-pelikan

One of the latest additions is shown below, circa 1970 NOS Montblanc Model 22, which safely arrived from Philippines…

The Montblanc Model 22 is much smaller than both Montblanc 145/146. And it is extremely lightweight at 15.4g.

1. Adler “The Polish Library London” LED Light + Ball Pen, from Dr Dobrosława Platt 2021 (A Debt of Dishonour lecture)
2. Adler “The Polish Library London” LED Light + Ball Pen, from Dr Dobrosława Plat after my lecture (A Conventual Chronology of The Sovereign Order of St John of Jerusalem, Rhodes and Malta – The First 900 Years, 1099-2018 A.D. lecture)
3. Adler “The Polish Library” 1942-2022 Anniversary Ball Pen, Green
4. Steve Pound – Super Labour Local MP for “Ealing North” Ball Pen
5. Logica CMG “S” Ball Pen, in memory of many years at Logica as its long-suffering Global Services CTO
6. National Gallery „Rembrandt” Ball Pen, in memory of this most important exhibition
7. JW Grom-Polish Special Forces-There is such a force in Poland,
   “Jest w Polsce taka siła …” Ball Pen, presented by Colonel Piotr Gąstał, Grom’s Commanding Officer whilst in London (S.O.E. Conference by PHS UK)
8. Marek Rencki “Polish Heritage Society” PHS UK Ball Pen, blue/white (18.0 g), gold/black (17.6 g), Silver
9. Polish Olympic Committee for London 2012, Ball Pen, after meeting Waldemar Dąbrowski at POSK, Chopin 2020 „18th International Chopin Piano Competition” Ball Pen
10. “TIMES+” Ball Pen, 11.6 g, Parker “The Times” Ball Pen, following The Chelmsford Literary Festival, also Zebra Red miniature Ball Pen
11. WURTH Ball Pen, Metro Bank Ball Pen, in memory of a critical finance package for my dear friend dr Tony Morton advanced to him to build his new modern dental surgery in Ealing Broadway

Onoto Spitfire VIII Made from Spitfire IIa P7350 Fountain Pen (2020) and Onoto Hurricane P2725 TM-B (2022)

Above: 1. Onoto Spitfire VIII Made from Spitfire IIa P7350 Fountain Pen (2020) A limited edition of 100 fountain pens crafted using Duralumin originating from 1940 Battle of Britain Spitfire “P7350”. In celebration of the Spitfire’s sleek curves, the pen’s basic design features a gentle radius throughout, the cap being crowned by a propeller spinner, with the clip, made of bronze, in the form of a propeller blade. 2. Onoto Hurricane P2725 TM-B (2022) A limited edition of 250 fountain pens crafted using Duralumin retrieved from the Battle of Britain Hawker Hurricane P2725 TM-B to form the pen’s propeller spinner. This particular aircraft, piloted by Sergeant Ray T. Holmes, made history when it rammed a German Dornier bomber over London on Battle of Britain Day, 15th September 1940, which clearly shown Luftwaffe that they lost. . 3. Photograph of vintage Hurricane and Spitfire above Malta courtesy of Polish Heritage Flight Duxford

Onoto nibs: No.8 in 18 K solid gold (on the left), No.3 in 18k solid gold (centre) and No.7 in gold plated stainless steel (on the right)

Both Onoto Spitfire VIII Made from Spitfire IIa P7350 Fountain Pen (2020) and Onoto Hurricane P2725 TM-B (2022) as shown above had Onoto No.7 nibs in 18k solid gold- or gold-plated stainless steel in M size

From July to October 1940, the Hurricane vastly outnumbered the Spitfire in operational service, and without its contribution the Battle of Britain would not have been won. Photograph of vintage Hurricane courtesy of Polish Heritage Flight at Duxford

A limited edition of 82 fountain pens marking 2022 as the 82nd year after the 1940 Battle of Britain. Crafted using Duralumin (a form of aluminium) retrieved from the Battle of Britain Hawker Hurricane P2725 TM-B to form the pen’s propeller spinner.

The Onoto Spitfire IIa P7350 Fountain Pen collection is now sold out

A collaborative Onoto project in conjunction with TMB Art Metal of London, to celebrate the Royal Air Force’s iconic aircraft, the Supermarine Spitfire, was produced in time to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Britain in 2020. A limited edition of 100 fountain pens crafted using Duralumin originating from 1940 Battle of Britain Spitfire identified as “P7350”.

The height of the Onoto Spitfire and Hurricane pens is 156 mm, the Longitude pen is 150 mm. Visconti Homo Sapiens Bronze Age is 145 mm, the Parker Duofold Centennial is 138, whilst some of remaining pens as shown are significantly shorter: Pelican MK20 (135 mm), Platinum No. 3776 Century Diamond (141 mm), Senator Vintage and the GT Pristine (135 mm) and Senator Marble Green & Gold (130 mm). The Onoto Longitude pen details are shown on the far right and below.

Howard S. Wright – May 16th, 1939. This invention relates to a fountain pen and has special reference to a fountain pen having a novel writing fluid feeding mechanism for establishing a capillary channel from the pen nib rearwardly into the reservoir to draw writing fluid positively therefrom to feed the pen nib in writing.