Oversize Urushi Eyedropper

[Phthalo]

Recently I purchased this ~1955 Yotubisi (aka Yotsubishi) Eyedropper, which had initially attracted my attention due to its Red-Brown Urushi finish.

 

It's not a great example, as it has some brassing, a few scratches, and most tragically - a missing conical barrel jewel. When I bought it, I was expecting everything except the missing jewel...

 

However, I was not expecting the pen to be so big... here it is with my M200:

 

http://www.ciar-roisin.net/photos/jp/YCompare-01.jpg

 

What a lovely handful!

Edited April 29, 2009 by Phthalo

[southpaw]

Very nice pen. How does it write? Any chance of a photo showing us the nib? ENJOY!!!

[FrankB]

Phthalo wrote:

 

"It's not a great example, as it has some brassing, a few scratches, and most tragically - a missing conical barrel jewel."

 

I feel I have to disagree. It sounds like a marvelous example. Everything you mention sounds like "character" to me. I wish I could find buys like that. Is there a brand name on it?

 

Your photography is so good, I would like to see a picture of the nib, too. I am looking forward to hearing how it writes.

 

If the pen turns out to be to large for you, maybe you could PM me back channel ...

 

Edited: Spelling, spelling, spelling. Oh, my!

Edited August 1, 2007 by FrankB

[Nikolaos]

Great pen Laura!

 

i really like the way the urushi has aged! very nice

Nikolaos

[skipwilliams]

Where did you get it? I'd love to find some of those old, big n'plain, ED Urushi Japanese pens.

 

How much did you pay, if you don't mind me asking?

 

Skip

[Phthalo]

The nib is a Platinum "Pladium" nib with JIS mark. Here is a nib shot:

 

http://www.ciar-roisin.net/photos/jp/YNibShota-01.jpg

 

Sadly, I really have no intention of using this pen... I'd like to just display it safely and prevent against fading and more brassing. Also, the seal will have perished and so it would leak. But, I have dipped the nib, and it is a nice flexible XF.

 

I didn't pay much for it, but I think I was lucky. A few pop up on eBay... mainly black ebonite with an urushi coating to prevent fading, this is the first colored one I have seen.

 

Here is another ED I picked up recently:

 

http://www.ciar-roisin.net/photos/jp/BlackUrushi-01.jpg

 

As you can see, the whole pen, including the clip, is coated with Black urushi - it's a fairly small pen, as most of my vintage Japanese pens are.

[trencherman]

How is the nib on the Well fountain pen Laura? I suspect it is flexible on account of the cut-outs just like the Pilot FA nibs.

[Phthalo]

The flex on the Well isn't bad... it's about the same as the Platinum where you get a true XF line which can flex out to close to 2mm. But, you need some pressure - no noodles here.

[southpaw]

Wow! Thanks for the nib shot and the photo of the other pen. IMHO, you should get a pen guru to restore that sweet beauty and put it to its intended purpose!

[stan]

In one of my future sales there will be a bunch of 1930s urushi clad pens, 'aged' finish and all.

[Phthalo]

In one of my future sales there will be a bunch of 1930s urushi clad pens, 'aged' finish and all.

 

Ooooh... excellent!

[FrankB]

Thanks for the nib shot, Laura. That Platinum "Pladium" nib looks beautiful. It is a shame not to use a nib that nice, but the pen looks great and will make a fine display item.

 

Stan, I will also look forward to your vintage urushi sale.

[jlepens]

In one of my future sales there will be a bunch of 1930s urushi clad pens, 'aged' finish and all.

 

 

Ok, there went my pen budget again. Can not wait. Your pens are so cool!

 

Joi

[jonro]

Nice pens, Laura. You can't go wrong with a couple of nice-looking urushi pens.