Silver Overlay Pens

[QM2]

http://queenmargot.com/so2.jpg

 

Today was a happy day in Silver Overlay land, as a new member was welcomed into my collection: the Conklin 100th

Anniversary LE, received from Bryant!

 

http://queenmargot.com/so1.jpg

 

I would even go so far as to say that I feel my modern overlay collection is complete now. From left to right in the image

above, the pens are:

. Krone Architectus Swords

. Conklin 100th Anniversary LE

. Conway Stewart Centenary by Henry Simpole

. Visconti Taj Mahal

. Krone Architectus Gothic

 

http://queenmargot.com/so3.jpg

 

The nibs on these pens have all been reground into interesting shapes, except for the new Conklin: The Krone Architectus

Swords is a near-needlepoint XXF; the Conway Stewart is a .45mm cursive italic with dramatic line variation; the Visconti

Taj Mahal is a medium stub; and the Krone Architectus Gothic is a wet .4mm cursive italic. The Conklin 100th Anniversary

is currently a B, and will probably become a .6mm stub.

 

http://queenmargot.com/so4.jpg

 

Another enjoyable aspect of this collection, is that the filling systems are all different: The Krones are pistons (well, "trapped

piston converters"); the Conway Stewart is a CC; the Visconti is a pump/plunger filler, and the Conklin is, of course, a crescent.

Mmmm!...

 

So who else out there loves overlays, and which do you own or crave? Are there any that you dislike? I was recently surprised

to read a comment describing an overlay pen as "cheap looking", because the silver is not solid. Does anybody else think this?

 

Hope you enjoyed the photos,

QM2

 

http://queenmargot.com/so5.jpg

Edited October 20, 2008 by QM2

[QM2]

I've now added a poll to this -- what do you think of overlays?

[tfwall]

I've now added a poll to this -- what do you think of overlays?

 

It'd rather have solid silver. There are a couple of nice vintage ones, but the modern ones don't do it for me.

[AllWriteNow]

Hi Q

Very Nice Pens!

 

I'll vote if you can add another choice.

Vintage Gold?

 

The different eras would be nice to see in one photo.

I mean if you needed something to do or well you know.

Steve

 

 

edited : hopefully before the grammar police show up :ph34r:

Edited October 20, 2008 by luckygrandson

[FrankB]

I voted "lovely, but unaffordable." I like and enjoy pens that echo early 20th Century vintage pens, and that enjoyment includes overlays, gold or silver. But I own only one. They are generally outside my budget.

[Ghost Plane]

Noooooooooooooooooooooo! You bought the B before I could save up for it! :bonk:

How can you ruin one of the few B nibs out there?!

[escribo]

Stunning collection, QM2!

Personally, I'm not sure I care if it's solid or overlay, as long as it is silver.

-jon

 

EDIT: Voted "can't get enough."

Edited October 21, 2008 by escribo

[Strang]

I have the Visconti Art Nouveau that I like very much. It is not a heavy pen and is wonderfully balanced. I suppose if I voted I would vote for the lovely but overpriced, except I don't think they are overpriced as long as you don't need to have a huge collection of them. I have one, it's great, I love it and would recommend it to anyone who likes overlays and has the dough. Now, on to the next pen!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edit: Because I can't read.

Edited October 21, 2008 by Strang

[soloworx]

Voted already.

 

Quick query: how do you clean these pens?

[Titivillus]

full silver- overlays feel too much like the pen has jewelery on!

 

 

 

[Ghost Plane]

Voted already.

 

Quick query: how do you clean these pens?

Many are coated. The ones that aren't, a silver polishing cloth. Regular use in the hand keeps the tarnish down.

[chesnuts2roast]

Its a good thing those are pics. If they were in front of me I would drool on em Beautiful collection!!!!!

[QM2]

Hi Q

Very Nice Pens!

 

I'll vote if you can add another choice.

Vintage Gold?

 

The different eras would be nice to see in one photo.

 

Thanks Steve! I do plan to post a comparison between vintage and modern overlays. It's funny, because when I put the the old & new next to one another, they are entirely different animals and don't seem to belong in the same category. The modern overlays look like monsters in comparison! Everything is different, including the proportions, textures, weight, and so on.

 

I would love to have a real collection of vintage overlays, but they are actually more expensive than modern ones. In several yeas of searching, I have seldom seen a full size 1920's silver overlay by a 1st tier company, in a condition I find acceptable and without personalised engravings, sold for under $700. By comparison, consider that I bought my Krones for $180 each. The others were not quite as inexpensive, but I got them for 40% of the MSRP or less. So it is a misconception that vintage pens are always less costly than modern...

 

Of course, you know which vintage overlay is my favourite...

 

http://queenmargot.com/overlay1.jpg

[QM2]

Noooooooooooooooooooooo! You bought the B before I could save up for it! :bonk:

How can you ruin one of the few B nibs out there?!

 

Sorry Ghost Plane! But perhaps I will make it a B Stub in your honour --

The nib looks hefty enough to make a nice, juicy 1.1mm, at least : )

Edited October 21, 2008 by QM2

[Stani]

Love those pens but could not afford them. Anything over a "C" note is out of the question for me.

 

They are nice though.

 

 

......Stani

[QM2]

I voted "lovely, but unaffordable." I like and enjoy pens that echo early 20th Century vintage pens, and that enjoyment includes overlays, gold or silver. But I own only one. They are generally outside my budget.

 

Frank, which do you own?

[Ghost Plane]

Noooooooooooooooooooooo! You bought the B before I could save up for it! :bonk:

How can you ruin one of the few B nibs out there?!

 

Sorry Ghost Plane! But perhaps I will make it a B Stub in your honour --

The nib looks hefty enough to make a nice, juicy 1.1mm, at least : )

That's better. Conklins have such juicy nibs that they resemble Viscontis to me in performance. Should make a nice stub.

[Anne-Sophie]

Waiting for your vintage/modern comparison with eagerness!

[QM2]

Waiting for your vintage/modern comparison with eagerness!

 

Arghh, my server is acting up today so my images are not showing up!

I took some nice photos this morning of my Morrison and Waterman overlays next to the Conway Stewart Centenary.

[QM2]

Noooooooooooooooooooooo! You bought the B before I could save up for it! :bonk:

How can you ruin one of the few B nibs out there?!

 

Sorry Ghost Plane! But perhaps I will make it a B Stub in your honour --

The nib looks hefty enough to make a nice, juicy 1.1mm, at least : )

That's better. Conklins have such juicy nibs that they resemble Viscontis to me in performance. Should make a nice stub.

 

My Visconti Taj Mahal stub (Binder) was made from an M nib, but is definitely at least a 1.1mm. It is mmmmm smooth and lovely, with marvelous line variation. The image of Richard working on it as an audience of bystanders looked on in horror (You're grinding that pen???) is still fresh in my mind -- but it was so worth it : )