Our Sold Archive provides information to budding vintage fountain pen/writing equipment collectors and social history students.
Each fountain pen or piece of writing equipment forms part of the collective history of its period and has a history unique to that particular item. In the 1930’s a silver banded fountain pen (right) was purchased by estate workers, with no doubt hard earned wages, and inscribed to present as a silver wedding gift to the land owner. It was reported recently that, in the days before the National Health Service, when health care had to be paid for, a man pawned his fountain pen to raise funds to enable his wife to be released from hospital. A recently sold writing cabinet was originally a presentation piece to recognise 40 years of loyal service in a period when jobs were for “life”. Just three examples which only scratch the surface of the lifetime of memories held within each item. A treasure trove of history that no new fountain pen could convey.
Below, and on following pages, are all the pens in our Sold Archive, displayed in a random order. If you wish to search the sold archive, then the Search Catalogue page gives you an opportunity to do so. On other pages you can find the desktop items part of our Sold Archive, as well as lists of our current stock of pens and desktop items.
Merlin No.33 - Blue Striated | Stock number: 1023 |
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Fine to Medium nib, Button fill system. |
Sold |
This Merlin No.33 vintage pen was made in Germany around 1950. It is a very serviceable economy line button filling pen. Being 12cm (4½ inches) long with the cap on it is a good size for the smaller hand. This particular example has a blue striated finish with a gold tone clip. Whilst it is a vintage pen it has not previously seen much use and therefore the fine-medium Merlin 14ct gold nib will smooth to suit your hand. It measures 11.8cm with cap on and 14cm with cap on barrel end. A good everyday writer. This fountain pen has been professionally serviced by Vintage Fountain Pens Inc. and bench tested prior to offering for sale. A further inspection is carried out before despatch. A gift box is available free of charge on request. | |
Parker 51 - Teal Blue | Stock number: 5119 |
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Fine to Medium nib, Aerometric fill system. |
Sold |
This vintage pen was made in England by Parker in the early 50’s. Its aerodynamic design has made it a classic and the plaudits it has received over the years both in terms of design and reliability are well deserved. Its contribution to design is evidenced by its display in the Design Museum in London and the Museum of Modern Art in New York and has been marketed as “51…the world’s most wanted pen”. This particular model has a blue/green body, a colour Parker termed “Teal Blue” and the polished steel cap Parker termed “lustraloy”. This classic vintage pen is in good condition with only minor age wear and comes with a fine-medium Parker nib. The aerometric filling system is often termed "squeezebox" and is a very simple method of filling the pen with ink by unscrewing the barrel to expose a metal shell covering the ink sac - just press the metal bar and release up to five times and this vintage pen is ready to use. Parker 51’s are not only a collector’s item but also an excellent everyday workhorse. All fountain pens are professionally serviced by Vintage Fountain Pens Inc. and bench tested prior to offering for sale. A further inspection is carried out before despatch. A gift box is available free of charge on request. | |
Parker 51 Wine with Lustraloy Cap | Stock number: 4169 |
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Fine to Medium nib, Aerometric fill system. |
Sold |
This vintage pen was made in England by Parker around 1955. Its aerodynamic design has made it a classic and the plaudits it has received over the years both in terms of design and reliability are well deserved. Its contribution to design is evidenced by its display in the Design Museum in London and the Museum of Modern Art in New York and it has been marketed as “51…the world’s most wanted pen”. This particular model has a wine body and a Parker Lustraloy cap with “jewel” end and arrow clip. The body and cap are in good condition overall with some age wear. It has a Parker 51 fine to medium nib. The aerometric filling system is often termed "squeezebox" and is a very simple method of filling the pen with ink by unscrewing the barrel to expose a metal shell covering the ink sac - just press the metal bar and release up to five times and this vintage pen is ready to use. This is a good example of a classic vintage pen - 51’s are an excellent everyday workhorse. All fountain pens are professionally serviced by Vintage Fountain Pens Inc. and bench tested prior to offering for sale. A further inspection is carried out before despatch. A gift box is available free of charge on request and filling instructions will be sent with your order. | |
Merlin No. 33 | Stock number: 1020 |
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Fine to Medium nib, Button fill system. |
Sold |
This Merlin No.33 vintage pen was made in Germany around 1950. It is a very serviceable economy line button filling pen. Being 12cm (4½ inches) long with the cap on it is a good size for the smaller hand. This particular example has a blue striated finish with a gold tone clip. Whilst it is a vintage pen it has not previously seen much use and therefore the fine-medium Merlin 14ct gold nib will smooth to suit your hand. It measures 11.8cm with cap on and 14cm with cap on barrel end. All fountain pens are professionally serviced by Vintage Fountain Pens Inc. and bench tested prior to offering for sale. A further inspection is carried out before despatch. A gift box is available free of charge on request. | |
Parker Ballpoint Rolled Silver Cap | Stock number: 5224 |
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nib, Cap activating fill system. |
Sold |
Normally I would not include a ballpoint in my stock range but this one is rather special. The Parker “51” ballpoint is quite rare to find and even more so with this rolled silver cap and gold fill clip. This type of cap was only produced in England and is generally felt to be the most sought after cap finish. Produced around 1955 to compliment the Parker “51” pen of the period with the same style cap, it was the forerunner of the Parker Jotter. It has a cap activating mechanism in that you simply push down the cap to extend the ballpoint. It takes standard Parker ballpoint refills - there is a blue ink refill in place. The barrel finish is in a colour Parker termed Teal Blue which is an attractive cross between green and blue. The cap has the later rolled silver imprint (hence the “55” dating) and I have illustrated this in the photograph. Condition is good with some minor age wear to both cap and body. It should be noted that the barrel is engraved with the initials “GJ” – however this personalisation is reflected in the price. Measuring 13cm in length this is an excellent addition to a “51” collection or simply to use as an everyday writer – with style. A gift box is available free of charge on request. | |
Parker Vacumatic Silver Pearl | Stock number: 5313 |
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Medium nib, Vacumatic fill system. |
Sold |
This vintage fountain pen was made by Parker in1937 and is an example of the first generation of a very successful Parker model called the “Vacumatic”. The finish is called “Silver Pearl”, the trim is chrome and the top of the cap and bottom of the barrel have the Parker “jewels” which carry through the “Silver Pearl” design.
The “Vacumatic” was originally launched in 1932 as the “Vacuum Filler”, it was advertised as holding 102% more ink than other pens available at the time. The barrel is used as the ink reservoir rather than an ink sac which increases the ink capacity. Filled by a then new style vacuum pump mechanism on the barrel end, it was also advertised as “revolutionary in principle and perfectly marvellous in performance”. It became an accepted and reliable filling method. A more streamline version was also initially used for the Parker 51. You will see from the photographs that this first generation model has the original metal lockdown filling system. You release the filler plunger by pressing and turning slightly to the left and return it to its original position following filling. Full filling instructions will be sent with your order. The barrel was designed to be slightly transparent which allowed you to see the volume of ink held within it.
The barrel imprint states “Parker Vacumatic Made in Canada Reg. TM’S Pat. No. 318982” with the date stamp of “37” standing for the third quarter of 1937. This is just at the end of the lockdown fill era and the beginning of Parker issuing a non-locking version. It came in a range of sizes. This particular example is a junior, small, slim pen measuring 11.5cm with cap on and 14.7cm with cap on barrel end. The nib is the Parker two tone arrow design with a medium point and has the text “Parker Vacumatic Reg. TM Made in Canada” The cap, in addition to the top “jewel” has three thin bands and the Parker chrome clip. You will note from the photograph that there is wear to these bands but overall condition is good with only minor age wear overall. Following servicing there is a slight ridge where the filler button joins the barrel. This is not uncommon in “Vacumatic” restoration. It comes with what appears to be its original box. An interesting and stylish vintage fountain pen, small but suitable for everyday use or to add to a vintage fountain pen collection. All fountain pens are professionally serviced by Vintage Fountain Pens Inc. unless otherwise stated and are bench tested prior to offering for sale. A further inspection is carried out before despatch. A gift box is available free of charge on request. Filling instructions will be sent with your order.
Source: Parker Vacumatic – Geoffrey Parker, David Shepherd, Dan Zazove – Surrenden Press Limited. | |
Conway Stewart No.388 Pale and Dark Blue Marble | Stock number: 5276 |
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Broad nib, Lever fill system. |
Sold |
This Conway Stewart No. 388 was made in England around 1939. The finish is a mix of pale and dark blue marble with rolled gold trim. It has the original Conway clip to the cap with two thin and one slightly wider cap band. The body has the original Conway lever and the inscription “Conway Stewart 388 Made in England”. The nib is a Conway 14ct broad point – which means it is a wet writer. There is some age wear on the plating to the clip and some body wear but this is not significant and is reflected in the price. A classic vintage fountain pen in fair to good condition in an attractive finish. An ideal pen to use everyday if you like a broad nib and a wet writer. All fountain pens are professionally serviced by Vintage Fountain Pens Inc. unless stated otherwise and bench tested prior to offering for sale. A further inspection is carried out before despatch. Filling instructions will be sent with your order and a gift box is available free of charge upon request. | |
Wearever Pen and Pencil Combi | Stock number: 5245 |
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Medium nib, Lever fill system. |
Sold |
Pen and pencil combinations have been around in their very basic form since the 1840’s. This fountain pen and pencil combination is typical of the “combi” which was at the height of its popularity from the late 1920’s until the end of the 1930’s. It is believed that this particular model by the American fountain pen manufacturer Wearever was made around 1935. It is a clever idea of combining a fountain pen on one end and a pencil on the other. You carry it in your pocket with the cap on the fountain pen end. The pen section is a lever fill. It has a Wearever steel two tone nib which states it is “broad” – however to me when writing it seems more like a medium point. The nib is similar in feel to an Esterbrook - firm with no flex. On test I have found the pen/pencil combination very useful and pleasing to use. It is a “chunky” good looking model measuring 15.3cm with cap on the nib end and it presents itself well. There is minor plating and age wear but nothing of significance. The pencil is an expel/repel system and the replacement pencil lead is the standard “Yard-O-Led” which is readily available and comes in a slim phial. So to sum up it is an economy American pen, of good design, in good condition with a firm nib and it will work well as an everyday writer or to add to a “combi” collection.
This vintage pen and pencil combination was not serviced by Vintage Fountain Pens Inc. but has performed well on filling, writing and bench test and we are satisfied that it will continue to do so. A further inspection will be carried out before despatch. A gift box is available free of charge on request. Filling instructions will be sent with your order.
Source: Fountain Pens and Pencils – George Fischler and Stuart Schneider (brown book) – Schiffer Publishing - p.178 | |
Swan SM100/83 "Snakeskin" | Stock number: 5201 |
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Fine to Medium nib, Lever fill system. |
Sold |
This unusual vintage fountain pen was made in England by Mabie Todd & Co. Ltd. under the “Swan” brand name around 1938. It is unusual in that whilst it is a plastic body its finish is in a pattern called “blue snakeskin”. There were a series of snakeskin finishes - blue, green, ruby and silver grey and they are not that easy to find these days in good, and working, order. The design is complemented by having a black lever and, in this instance, a chrome trim for the “Swan” clip. The barrel imprint states “Mabie Todd & Co. Ltd., Swan Self Filler – Made in England” – with the “Swan” emblem. The bottom of the barrel has the model number SM100/83. The nib is a “Swan No.1” - 14ct. with a fine to medium point and the “Swan” emblem is on the cap top. It measures 15.2cm with cap on barrel end and 12.5cm with cap on. Condition is good with minimal age wear. This is an excellent vintage fountain pen to either add to a collection or use as an everyday writer. All fountain pens are professionally serviced by Vintage Fountain Pens Inc. and bench tested prior to offering for sale. A further inspection is carried out before despatch. A gift box is available free of charge on request. | |
Conway Stewart Dinkie 550 | Stock number: 5279 |
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Medium nib, Lever fill system. |
Sold |
This delightful vintage fountain pen and pencil set was made in England by Conway Stewart around 1949. The Dinkie range is so called because it is a very small, neat fountain pen, measuring only 10cm with cap on and 12.7cm with cap on barrel end. This particular model is No. 550. They were extremely popular at the time and being slim and short they were used primarily by ladies. Today, given that men seem to be able to manage using small pointers with their organisers, it could be equally useful, for example, as a notebook set. Both the fountain pen and pencil have a pale and dark green marble finish with rolled gold trim. The pen has a Conway Stewart 14ct gold nib with a medium point. The pencil is in working order with a lead in place. Replacement leads can be obtained from most good stationers by asking for a Yard O Led size 1.18. An added advantage of this particular set is that, unusually, it comes complete with its original box which is a fine example of vintage Conway Stewart design. As with the pen and pencil the box is in good condition as can be seen from the photograph. Suitable for everyday writing or to add to a Conway Stewart collection this is indeed a “Dinkie” set which will be a pleasure to own. All fountain pens are professionally serviced by Vintage Fountain Pens Inc. unless otherwise stated and are bench tested prior to offering for sale. A further inspection is carried out before despatch. Filling instructions will be sent with your order. | |
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If you would like us to try to source another copy of a previously sold item, please stating the stock number of the item in question, which you will see above its picture on the right.