How many italian fountain pens do you own?

[AndreaDuni]

First of all...

 

Merry Christmas

and a Happy New Year!

 

then... because I gave to me a gift for myself (who's better than me, to give me a fountain pen?) that was a Ancora Perla Blue-Grey fountain pen, I asked to myself how many italian fountain pens are collected and appreciated by collectors of FPN, and how many are really used, not just to test the comfort and the flowingness and then expose them and no more touched.

 

Of course, my poll is also to show a brand or particular model appreciation.

 

By myself I now have that Ancora Perla that I have not already used, and have the following:

• Nazareno Gabrielli Omas based, in steel and gold (used but I don't like because flows very bad)
• Ferrary by Artena in plastic (I used a lot but no more now, because yes it flows very well, but the ink dries very fast)
• Aurora Idea with a solid sterling silver 925 cap (never used, and someone told me that maybe it is an Auretta)
• Montegrappa unknown white plastic model (used but it is the worst I have ever used)

So my answer is 5 pens by now.

 

And you?

Edited December 25, 2006 by Netnemo

[marklavar]

I love Italian pens. The ones I have are:

 

Delta Dolcevita oversize

Visconti Aida

Visconti Empire

Stipula Etruria

Tibaldi Iride

Omas Paragon

Omas 360

 

So that makes seven in total. And seven wonderful pens they are!

 

I'm quite interested in Ancora - never tried one of those. How do they write?

[Phthalo]

I have 7 Italian fountain pens:

 

1. Montegrappa Micra

I use my Micra less, because it writes a little wet. This pen is having it's nib customised, so I will likely enjoy it more after that is done.

 

2. Aurora Sole Mini LE

3. Aurora Optima Mini

Wonderful EF nibs. My Sole Mini hasn't been out of use since I bought it.

 

4. Omas Celluloid Dama

5-7. Omas Celluloid Princess (x3)

I use my Dama with an EF nib most often, but the three Princesses will be used more once I have the nibs customised. I adore the shape and size of these pens, and the celluloid is spectacular.

 

I love my Italian pens.

[acfrery]

I love Italian pens:

• Three Auroras
• Two Filcaos
• Eleven Omas
• One Visconti

They can be seen at my Personal Homepage (do not mind the warning messages). The server is very, very slow.

 

All but one Aurora and two Omas, that are waiting for the perfect occasion, are frequently used. They are all a pleasure to use.

 

Alejandro

[Pen Nut]

Use a Montegrappa Reminiscence but very rarely. Best thing about it is the box.

 

One pen I do like using is the rollerball version of the above. Do like the fact the body of the pen is threaded which allows you to post when in use.

[kissing]

There's no option for 0

 

I don't own any Italian pens yet - though I do think they are beautiful. Especially the Visconti's ("celluloids" ? )

(I can add a 0 option for you Netnemo upon your request)

Edited December 25, 2006 by kissing

[geremy]

marklavar: please tell us more about the Aida! I love the look of that pen. Probably my favorite in existance. How does it write? Is the converter nice enough for a $600 pen, or is it a normal Visconti one?

[rhk745]

My first Italian pen is Aurora Ipsilon. Now I already collect more pens in my collection.

 

Aurora Ipsilon - 5 difference color

Aurora Optima - 3 difference color

Omas Celluloid & paragon

 

Jojo :bunny1:

[Dillo]

Hi,

 

I use all of my Italian pens. I have a few nice ones. I'll get back to you after the Spring Sale with the number I have on me.

 

Dillon

[georgem]

Regrettably, none.

 

I plan to remedy that deficiency.

[RyanL27]

I have one: a Filcao Columbia. I love it.

 

If I get another, it will likely be a Silvia.

[_EL_]

Never thought about the nationality of the pens, but I have

 

Aurora Talentum - my second 'real' fountain pen

Stipula Novecento Aqua

Omas 360

Omas Precious wood Ogiva model

 

All of them very good writers, the only pen I ever returned was also Italian (a Visconti Van Gogh, the old model.) A next pen would probably be an Aurora or Omas, but I am still looking for a good reason for that...

 

E.

[wiglaf]

I have 3: Visconti Van Gogh F; Montegrappa Symphony F; Montegrappa Micra F.

All 3 are a bit toothy- and a bit tempermental- nibs are wonderful to look at and to lay down initial lines- somehow or other they lose their wonder and their ease within weeks. Or perhaps it is me.

I still love to look at the Montegrappas and try to believe that Hemingway would have had the time to screw the cap onto the rear of the body during the Spanish Civil War- after all, it was someone else who was shot-

No doubt that a fine nib was used during H.'s wartime correspondences, and that simply surviving was a vote towards induction into a war-time pen hall of fame; but today's Montegrappa seems, and I use that word with care, less than heroic, and perhaps a bit less probable to appear in either a hexameter or short prose line.

 

Tony

[alvarez57]

Merry X-mas to you all!

 

I have more than a few Italian pens:

-3 Visconti: one is a rollerball and was part of a present

-4 Omas: one Tokyo, 2 Milord Paragons and one Dama Celluloid

-One Marlen: America

-3 Deltas

-2 Montegrappas; Symphony which I got at very, very good prices (pictured below)

P.D.

Omas are the ones that most problems have given me: INCONTINENT (leaky!!!)

One of them I got it "Binderized" and writes very nicely. This man does a very nice job for what I consider a very nice price.

 

To wiglaf (Tony?):

Well, it took me a good while for the Montegrappa to kick in and start writting as it should. I had read a bout the concept of a pen's "breaking in" so this gave me enough patience with the pen......... for how long have you had it?

Edited December 25, 2006 by alvarez57

[saintsimon]

Currently, I enjoy the following Italian pens (all are piston fillers):

 

Aurora:

Optima Sole LE (1996) with 18k F nib

vintage 88P black resin with gold plated cap and a rather fine 14k M nib

 

Omas:

Paragon 'The Cinema' LE dark grey celluloid with 18k EF nib (1995)

double desk set with black resin #1101 18k F nib FP and #3111 BP on glass base #6122

black resin #1101 18k M nib FP without own base, replaces ballpoint in the double glass base

single desk set with vintage black resin FP #583 14k semiflex F nib on black onyx base from the 50s or 60s

 

Stipula:

Brunelleschi 'Terra di Siena' celluloid LE (2004) with 18k 0.9 mm italic nib.

 

Tibaldi:

Impero blue & grey celluloid with white 18k EF nib

 

Visconti:

Moonlight Voyager in pink gold vermeil & black lucite with 14k pink gold plated M nib in a set with matching ink pot .

 

Pic showing Visconti Moonlight Voyager, Stipula Brunelleschi and Omas 'The Cinema':

http://img299.imageshack.us/img299/6295/bruncinemoon2ka9.jpg

Edited December 26, 2006 by saintsimon

[wspohn]

While Italian pens are not my main focus, I have accumulated a small collection of them:

 

Visconti Skeleton

http://www.rhodo.citymax.com/i/non-rhodo/visc2.jpg

 

Signum Nova in Cinnamon

http://www.rhodo.citymax.com/i/non-rhodo/signumcinnamon3.jpg

 

Aurora Primavera

http://www.rhodo.citymax.com/i/non-rhodo/ph_34_643216_1165454696_file1.jpg

 

Aurora Optima

http://www.rhodo.citymax.com/i/non-rhodo/AuroraOptimared4.jpg

 

Aurora 80th Anniversary in Sterling

http://www.rhodo.citymax.com/i/non-rhodo/d3_1.JPG

 

Classic Pens CP3 Odyssey (Aurora 88)

http://www.rhodo.citymax.com/i/non-rhodo/classiccp3.jpg

[marklavar]

marklavar: please tell us more about the Aida!  I love the look of that pen.  Probably my favorite in existance.  How does it write?  Is the converter nice enough for a $600 pen, or is it a normal Visconti one?

I picked up a brand new Aida on Ebay for only $300. It's simply a stunning blue celluloid pen, similar to an Opera in size, but much more beautiful to behold. The nib is 18k instead of the standard Visconti 14k, and, I don't know why, but it writes even better than the 14k - which is itself already a great writer! My advice: shop around, scan Ebay and ask Pam Braun. You should be able to pick one up at a substantial discount.

 

PS - the converter is the standard one, but this is absolutely not an issue.

Edited December 26, 2006 by marklavar

[Jonathan]

Here are a few of my favorites (right now)

 

http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i70/tourselect/DSCN0577.jpg

[kissing]

*Poll edited upon Netnemo's request*

 

I'm still deciding on my next pen (first I gotta find a part time job )...I saw a nice Visconti for sale at a pen store for not too much.

 

I can dream

[philm]

Eight:

 

Aurora - 88P / Talentum / Ipsilon

Astura - 1 Fifties button filler

Filcao - 2 Leaders / Columbia

Borghini - 1 c/c

 

Here is a picture of the 88P and Talentum

 

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y50/munsonhsr/DSC_0001a.jpg