Here is the first of some interesting Vintage fountain pens that I have run across. Most of these are more obscure vs famous. Each one I feel has it's own small slice of history which adds to it's appeal. A deep Navy blue pen with a black hooded nib section. The trim is gilt gold and is showing brass from age. The gleaming 14K gold nib is a firm Fine with a smooth leaning to wet flow. This pen has a new rubber sac and it's a button fill.
The button fill works as it should and since you can unscrew the barrel, you can also hand fill the bag with one complete squeeze. It's much easier to clean the pen out this way as well. This pen is a very nice writer. The fine gold nib is precise and would stand up to a daily user, some 70 years along ... 133mm capped 120mm uncapped and 150mm posted, the 13mm overall diameter makes a nice feel in most anyone's hand. In most light the pen looks to be black, under lights it shows off a brilliant gem-blue glow, the barrel is signed in 3 lines: MENTMORE D I P L O M A MADE IN ENGLAND PAT APP FOR
under the microscopeThis is an old classic and I don't think it hurts to point out flaws and wear. If this pen were untouched it would probably not evoke as much character? Looking at the pix you can see the brassing of the plated furniture. And I angled the lighting to show off the surface conditions. There are no overt dings, dents, but there are a lot of surface scratches. These are mostly micro scratches, the cap slips on and off, so there is more wear on the body where the cap contacts. The fill bulb is new.
Despite the new sac, the pen's feed came with a rich store of a rather nice blue ink that rehydrated and let me do a fair bit testing with no additional colour. The end of the visible feed is signed with the letters PAT[tent?] and numbers below that. The nib as mentioned is quite Fine, I'd almost give it an extra fine definition. The nib looks as if it's Left Oblique. But I can't tell writing with it? It's pretty subtle.
MENTMORE pens were made in Hackney, East London, between the 1920's and the mid 1950's. They are attractive, exceptionally well-made, and were deservedly very popular, especially during the post-war period between 1946 and the mid 1950's.
I have only one of these to sell, so I am putting it on the blog as a special, one-off. The pen is used and it is a vintage fountain pen. It has been tested and writes as it should, there is no reason it couldn't be used as a favourite daily writer. I am selling it as described above. It has a new rubber bladder otherwise this pen is in it's natural condition. Saying that, it's had a peaceful life, it was well cared for. Please view the images of the pen for conditions as well. You can buy this pen now with PayPal NZD$60. Shipping is NZD$4.50 for all of New Zealand. Rural Delivery is higher and has it's own selection on the paypal button, and if you live outside of NZL, shipping cost will be higher based on actual postage costs.
ABOUT ShippingYour pen is shipped to you with NZPost Tracking, the pen is well armoured in the sleeve packet. This vintage pen comes in small slipcase box that are made of 100% recycled paper and cardboard, undecorated. But could be dressed up for presentation purposes.
