This is a pre-WWI era fountain pen. Lever-fill Celluloid fountain pen. This was not a big executive's pen or the draft tool of statesmen. It was the everyday pen that fit into daily lives. Made at a price that was available to most all. Pens like this got used, chewed and led hard lives in general. To see a common item wendt it's way to the 21st century and not show it's age is something of a rarity and it's the common fountain pen in the age when it was just that dead common is a bit of a rare bird.
This ARNOLD is a beautiful example of a vintage celluloid fountain pen made for everyday use in, it's day. Items like this are often rare because they were sold cheap and meant to be used. They didn't often get stored away collections. But here is one that breaks those rules of statistics. Looking at the condition of the pen, you get the feeling it led an uncommon sheltered life. It's used, but the overall condition is very clean. Arnold pens had an era price range of 19c to 89c. An everyman's dime store item. This pen has survived better than most examples you may find.
A Ruby Red swirl textured Celluloid body and cap. Silver chromed waist and end jewels, along with the clip, signed: USA ARNOLD. There is a black acrylic section and a very interesting clear acrylic under a steel Broad nib which is signed: SMOOTHLINE BROAD USA. (Be sure to view the photos as the nib and feed are definite features on this pen.) It shows no real wear from use One might guess this pen to have never been sold and only used in modern times? 120mm capped 145mm posted & 110mm uncapped. 12mm diameter.
The fill lever on the body states: Made in USA. This pen has little restoration in that most of it is original condition and much of that is remarkable. It doesn't show wear the cap to body threads are snug. It has a new talc'd rubber fill sac as time requires. The clear feed has yellowed with the decades, and had a good layer of ink built up on it.
Someone could have held a flame to the end of the feed. Not the best idea, but it appears to have been only tentative.
Arnold pens were produced in large quantities for many years in Petersburg, Virginia. Remmie Arnold started the company in 1935, after working for the Edison Pen Company. In the years that followed, Arnold became one of the largest producers of fountain pens in the world. They concentrated in selling inexpensive pens (less than $1.00) due to the low price points, they were not built to last so when you run across a good example. It is a bit of a rarity.
This is part of a series of special, one-off vintage pens. The pen is over 75 years old. It has been tested and writes quite wonderfully with a bold broad line. Collect it or use it as it was intended. I am selling it as described above. It has a new rubber sac, otherwise no attempt at restoration has been made. This pen doesn't have the common aliments you might expect to find on such an old pen. Please view the images clickable from the thumbnails of the pen for visual conditions. You can buy this pen now SOLD Shipping is NZD$4.50 for all of New Zealand. Tracked 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 Shipping
Your 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.
