Compilation Of Visconti Ragtime Information

September 23, 2009

Edited 9/24/09: Be sure to read the thread for corrections, additions, etc. For example, Eric has added important info about Nibs.

99% of this information gathering comes from FPN'ers, esp. eric47. As I was writing my wee review of my Ragtimes, I began to compile a list of Ragtime information. Because I always believe if I want this info, someone else might someday want it...well, here ya go future collectors of Ragtime. (A self-serving *ahem* modified version of this info is on my infrequent pen blog.) Here's a secret: I may love collecting information more than I love my pens.

As of 2009 Visconti has released six kinds of pens with the Ragtime name. Unless otherwise indicated the pens are made from cellulose nitrate (celluloid). In addition to fountain pens, there is also a ball point pen version. In the case of the 20th LE there is also a roller ball version.

Ragtime. 1991. Material: celluloid sheet. Golor: Green, Blue, Blonde (Pearl/Black), Cinnabar (Orange/Black).
New Ragtime, or Ragtime II. 1994. Material: Celluloid sheet. Color: Green, Blue, Blonde (Pearl/Black), Cinnabar (Orange/Black).
Ragtime Black, or Ragtime III. 1999. Material: Lucite. Color: uh, it's Black. This is a smaller Ragtime that's about the size of a Pelikan M200.
Ragtime Medici. 2000. Material: Lucite. Medici has engraving. Color: Black.
Ragtime 20th Anniversary LE. 2008. Material: acryloid. Color: Caramel, Pearl and Brown swirls. 1988 made in honor of the Visconti company's 20th anniversary.

Other Ragtimes include limited and special editions, commissions and prototypes which do not or may not carry the Ragtime name. The list below includes only those pens I'm aware of.

Accademia Italiana. 1990. Material: Celluloid sheet. Color: Blue, Green and black. 130 made. A commission by Accademia Italiana Della Penna Stilografica (Italian Fountain Pen Academy). Far more stunning in person than any photo I've seen.
Caravel. 1992. Material: Celluloid bar/rod. Color: Light Blue (Nina), Brown (Pinta), Plum (Santa Maria). Only 500 made. 14K nib. The first flat-top Ragtime. The Caravel honors the voyage of Columbus
Stagioni. 1993. Material: Acyrlic. Cap and blind cap are celluloid. 300 of each season made. Barrels are solid color with mixed colors on blind cap and pen cap.
Federico II. 1994. Material: Celluloid sheet. olor: Green, Blue, Blonde (Pearl/Black), Cinnabar (Orange/Black). Federico honors the 800th anniversary of Federico II of Hohenstaufen, a Holy Roman Emperor. Made as a set of 4 pens with 800 sets made.
Minuet. 1999. Material: not sure. This is a very small combination fountain pen and ball point pen. Closed it's 3 1/2" in length. Photo here but not seen in the Visconti museum.
Wood Ragtimes. Someone I know owns 3 Ragtimes made of wood. These are longer than the normal Ragtime and are beautiful solid color fountain pens.

More information about Ragtimes

Visconti Museum A great resource esp. for basic pictures. Be aware that the Museum's information about filling systems, nibs and such is often inaccurate. Good to check with folks on FPN to verify when possible.

On FPN

Ragtime Clips and Furniture

Ragtime Filling Systems

Types of Ragtimes

Photo of Ragtime III and some good Ragtime info

Photo Ragtime III next to an original Ragtime

GoodGuy's review of the 20th LE

jde Ragtime review

Penna Magazine

Still Time for Ragtime

Visconti 20 Years of Business in Florence

Glenn's Pens

A Visconti Collection at Waterloo A lot of Visconti pen photographs.

Pen World Magazine has at least 1 Fred Plewa Ragtime sketch. (I love Plewa sketches!)

Visconti Ad, Pen World, Vol. 7 No. 1, Sept/Oct 1993, p.11-12. Features the original Ragtime, inks, ink tablets, pen cases, and travelling inkpots.

Edited to correct colors. See Eric's post below for more color clarifications, and non-fountain pen information.

Edited September 24, 2009 by jde

September 24, 2009

Ragtime. 1991. Material: celluloid sheet. Color: Green, Blue, Pearl/Black, or Blonde.
New Ragtime, or Ragtime II. 1994. Material: Celluloid sheet. Color: Green, Blue, Brown, or Orange/Black.
Stagioni. 1993. Material: Celluloid sheet. 300 of each season made. Barrels are solid color with mixed colors on blind cap and pen cap.

Excellent work Julie!

Some comments. The standard available colors for the Ragtime I and II (and the Federico) should be the same:

Green
Blue
Blonde, Pearl - I've seen both names for this color, depending on the sample the celluloid is almost white.
Cinnabar, Brown, Orange - darker than the above, depending on the sample can be brown, orange, brown-orange

All the above are veined with the darker color black or near black. The Federico II set included all 4 colors.

There were also Ragtime I mechanical pencils; I don't know about Ragtime II. There are Ragtime III (Black/Medici) rollers. 20th Anniversary also available as roller and ballpoint; and special 3 piece set included all 3 pens, Nautilus rolltop case, 3 stones and remover (My Pen System).

The barrels of the Stagioni are not celluloid, probably acrylic. Only the cap and blind cap are celluloid. Gold-plated nibs.

What no nib choices? That's a minefield. Here's a breakdown of nibs that I've seen in ads and auctions, on pensinasia, on my pens, and been told by others. I don't think it's exhaustive:

Nibs:

- Ragtime I: 18K single-tone, 14K two-tone, plated two-tone*, antique glass

- Ragtime II: 18K single-tone**, plated single-tone, antique glass

- Ragtime Black: S/S (silver color)

- Ragtime Medici: 14k white gold single-tone

- Ragtime 20th Anniversary: 14k single-tone

- Accademia Italiana della Penna Stilografica: 14K two-tone

- Caravels: 14K two-tone

- Stagioni: plated single-tone

- Federico II: 18K single-tone*** or plated single-tone

- Ragtime Woods: plated two-tone

*I recall an ad on FPN for one.

**Relying on Julie for Ragtime IIs with 18K single-tone. Confirmed by Pensinasia

***Pensinasia shows the Federico II set with 18K nibs. I've seen a number of sets with plated nibs.

All the rest I can vouch for as original or with a high-probability as original.

Only the Black and Medici have silver-toned nibs and furniture. So in the above single-tone and two-tone means completely or predominately yellow gold or gold-plate.

Edit: Added comments about MP, RB, etc. and nibs.

Edit #2: Added nib list.

Edited September 24, 2009 by eric47

September 24, 2009

Great job!

I'm not particularly fond of the Ragtimes, but I love when the knowledge around a certain topic is being organized and made clear in such a way.

This is a reference!

Grazie,

September 24, 2009

Edited to say: Check post #2 in the thread for updated Nib info.

Thanks, Eric, I'd knew you get me square!

I tried to pull the nibs together and went bald doing it. It deserves sorting out! It's, uh, all in your head, isn't it?

Thanks, diplomat, too for your kindness.

-Julie

Edited September 24, 2009 by jde

September 24, 2009

This is really cool!

Nice job!

September 24, 2009

"In 1991, the Ragtime fountain pen, ball point and pencil in four colors were introduced to the world. 1n 1992, the limited edition Caravel was born. Only 500 pieces each, it was produced in re, blue and brown celluloid...In 1993, the Ragtime glass nib pen (the first glass nib fountain pen with a piston mechanism) entered the market..."

Dante Del Vecchio (Visconti co-founder) interview in

"Uffizi: In Support of Art", Pen World, Jan/Feb 1994, Voll 7 No. 3, p.15. (entire article, p.12-15)