Dasi Shorthand - Apparently An Australian Pen

December 7, 2015

I popped into Scammell Auctions as I usually do on a Monday since school has wrapped up. There was only one pen this week, listed in the catalogue as "Dash". I couldn't find anything on Dash pens and put a post here to see if anyone could identify it. They let me into the gallery to have a closer look and it was in fact a Dasi Pen. I have done a little bit of research and they were apparently the first Australian fountain pen manufacturers, first out of a shed and later a shop in Sydney. This appears to be mass produced, but I've located the son of one of the blokes who started it - he runs an online pen shop - so I'll give him a call in the next few days and see if he can shed any light on it.

The nib says it's a Dasi Shorthand. The nib is a little scratchy, but could easily be rectified. I only paid $15, so it was a steal as far as I'm concerned.

I'm not totally enamoured with it so I might end up selling it or giving it to someone.

If anyone knows anything about them, I'd be interested to know. I can't find where to add the ink. It has no lever and the top section does not detach.http://i.imgur.com/S7QBIlQ.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/OHCQfR7.jpg

Edited December 7, 2015 by CalebBond

December 8, 2015

Nice find and it has a 14K nib. well done!

December 8, 2015

It appears to me to be a piston-filler, similar to a Reform 1745 for example. If so, that top section of the barrel is the turning knob that operates the piston, rather than a piece that comes off.

It looks like a good pen, and the gold nib is a nice touch, congratulations.

December 12, 2015

It appears to me to be a piston-filler, similar to a Reform 1745 for example. If so, that top section of the barrel is the turning knob that operates the piston, rather than a piece that comes off.

It looks like a good pen, and the gold nib is a nice touch, congratulations.

I called up the son of one of the fellows who established Dasi back in the day. A very nice guy. He said at its peak, they were selling 10,000 Shorthands a year. They were being supplied to many universities and exported to various Pacific islands. This particular model wasn't manufactured in Australia - when they started selling Shorthands successfully they transferred production to Germany to make a few extra quid. It is a piston filler, it just needed a bit of coaxing to get moving.