Delta Demonstrator

July 7, 2010

This is a review of the Delta button filler limited edition demonstrator fountain pen in vermeil trim with medium nib. In vermeil there were only 88 pens made some 20 of which were exported to the USA. Mine is number 59. The first and most obvious thing about this pen is its large size. Oversized really. Here are the dimensions in inches.

Length

Capped: 5.534

Posted: 6.481

No cap: 5.508

Diameter

Barrell: 0.588

Cap: 0.656

Section (in the middle): 0.494

Weight: 33.5 grams

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Thus, this pen is nearly as large as a MB149 and in Delta’s lineup it closely matches the Ainu Indigenous Peoples limited edition pen. Like the Ainu the cap will screw onto the end for secure posting. Of course posting makes this pen very long it does not become unwieldy. Even while posted the balance and writing comfort are surprisingly not badly affected. Normally I find large pens very comfortable to write with but this pen does not well support extended writing sessions. It is comfortable for short bursts but for me it’s just too big to use for long periods.

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As can be seen in the accompanying photos the cap, section, and blind cap are opaque black plastic whereas the body is crystal clear plastic. The silicon ink sac is large and easily shows the color and amount of ink contained within. In this case the ink is Noodler’s Rabaul Red from the 1939-1945 V-mail ink series. The gold plated smartly designed compression bar is very effective at squeezing the sac and it has no rough edges that could puncture the sac. In this way it is much better than the poorly implemented compression bar in my Conway Stewart Churchill lever filler.

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The clear body is perfectly finished and polished. It is so clear that the laser etching on the barrel appears to float above the ink sac. The barrel has thick walls that combined with the large diameter give the pen a solid monolithic feel that exudes quality. The overall appearance is stately and somewhat reserved. While the clear demonstrator aspect provides a bit of whimsy this pen definitely has its nose in the air. The monotone gold nib looks great and somehow speaks to an earlier time. Likewise, the flattop cap and the nearly flat blind cap are reminiscent of Golden Age pens such as the vaunted Parker Duofold “Big Red”.

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This pen has nine threaded positions that are perfectly executed. The vermeil trim comes in the form of a large tassie, a broad and strong clip, and three sets of double rings. The textured tassie is flat except at the center, which is raised in form Delta’s symbol of a nib. The clip is stout and highly functional. The gold bands are thoughtfully placed forming an aesthetic balance that contributes to the regal air. There are two sets of bands on the cap spaced equal distances from either end. The third ring doublet bridges the clear barrel and the blind cap.

Although the nib is described and promoted as having some flex this is nothing but hubris. While not nail stiff this nib certainly does not have any flex. Regardless of angle or pressure the line is a nearly invariant medium. I would not even describe the nib as feeling springy or soft. Nevertheless, the nib is a joy to use. Very smooth right out of the box, but not glassy, there is a hint of welcome feedback. This nib needs no modification, not even a pass across the 12000 grit Micro-Mesh. The plastic feed (ebonite would have been better) supplies the perfect amount of ink without drying if left unused for a few days. The ink supply is admirably large especially for an ink sac.

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The packaging is typical of Delta’s limited editions; cardboard outer box, nice foam lined pen “coffin” held together with thumb screws, a bottle of ink with a special label (black ink in this case), and some supporting documents. Uniquely, one of the documents for this pen is printed on velum or something very similar to velum and touted among other things the flexible nib. All together the packaging formed a classy presentation without too much extra expense.

In summary this is an extremely well made pen that goes beyond what even very sophisticated individuals could do at home. In addition, it is a great and very usable writer that you can carry around with you wherever you go. It is the best button filler I’ve used and it holds a lot of ink. The MSRP is $750 and I paid a little more than half that. As such it was a very good bargain. Is it worth the asking price? Almost I think. If I could afford the asking price I would understand where my money went anyway.

July 7, 2010

It is a beautiful pen, and a very good review.

July 7, 2010

I've got one, and it's one of my favorites. It's very lightweight with a perfectly sized section.

I've got one concern, though. The bottom of the pressure bar (near the section) does have sharp edges, and it's already making marks on the inside of the barrel. I suppose it's not very likely it'll cut all the way through in my lifetime, but it is unfortunate that it's marking up the barrel.