Celluloid

[sombrueil]

Here's hoping this thread never dies.

 

I am a celluloid junkie. In my opinion, sadly shared by others with deeper pockets, the most beautiful celluloid pens ever made include the Omas Arco in bronze or whatever they call it, Waterman Patrician in Onyx (the original), and the original Pelikan 100 in tortoise.

[hari317]

Hari: The Platimun is on the list for sure! I wish Pilot would produce something like that, since I really like the con-70. Is there a big difference between the Platinum and the celluloid Nakaya?

 

I do have one Nakaya Celluloid. NO, there is no difference other than the nice Nakaya engraving and design on the nib.

 

Pilot does offer some models made of propionate resin(Cellulose-Acetate-Propionate) a type of modern celluloid but not the "authentic" Cellulose niterate variety. Link to product page

[LedZepGirl]

Get a Parker Duofold, it's a nice piece of warm and silky smooth celluloid.

 

Are they still being produced, or is it a historical pen?

 

 

 

 

If you want a celluloid Duofold you're looking at a vintage pen. They have a button filler system, which is the easiest to repair once the sac has gone bad.

 

 

 

*Thinks she needs to pic spam this thread with vintage American celluloid*

:meow:

Edited September 21, 2011 by LedZepGirl

[richardandtracy]

How about the celluloid Stipula Etruria as one of the FPN LE's?

 

Regards,

 

Richard

[eric47]

How about the celluloid Stipula Etruria as one of the FPN LE's?

 

That pen will be made from the acetate variety, not the good smelling nitrate kind.

Edited September 21, 2011 by eric47

[sumgaikid]

Altec,what is that black and pearl striped Pilot and what's

the scoop behind it--it's a beauty!

 

 

John

Edited September 21, 2011 by sumgaikid

[sumgaikid]

Always gotta bring out the Urbano and make the rest of us drool..............

 

Actually,those older Viscontis are nice,but I don't recognize the "candystripe"

versions or most of them--with the exception of the red one on the right and

the red Pontevecchio(my favorite color out of the three PV colors).

 

BTW Eric,do you use those glass nibs? How well do they write?

 

 

John

[dcpritch]

*Thinks she needs to pic spam this thread with vintage American celluloid*

:meow:

 

Um, waiting.

[Namo]

Hari: thanks for the info - that's what I thought, actually.

eric47: aaarggghh! so many beauties, so little timeandmoney... Iv'e always likes the Ragtime line - and I think there is a Voyageur in celluloid that I find relly nice too.

 

mmmh maybe this should go to Pen and Photography...

[AltecGreen]

Altec,what is that black and pearl striped Pilot and what's

the scoop behind it--it's a beauty!

 

 

John

 

 

All the Pilots I showed are pre-war or wartime pens. Many Japanese companies (there were a lot more in those days) made pens in beautiful celluloid.

 

That pen is a pre-war lever filler with the classic sword clip.

[dcpritch]

... All the Pilots I showed are pre-war or wartime pens. Many Japanese companies (there were a lot more in those days) made pens in beautiful celluloid ...

 

The Japanese celluloids are gorgeous - I have never seen those before, actually didn't know they existed. Of course, so too are the other celluloids you have shown us. Thanks John, Eric and others for sharing! I'm sure like others I can't stop staring at the photos in this thread.

[Astra]

As I am planning my next buy, I am thinking about getting a celluloid pen.

 

What would be your advice? and why?

 

 

Get a Platinum celluloid #3776. many colors available. The pens are made from Genuine Cellulose Nitrate with the aroma of camphor. Music nibs are also available. The stock platinum nibs are very good. I have bought my pens from an excellent dealer: Jim Sanders of poohcornerpens.

 

Best

Hari

 

+1. I have two Platinum celluloid pens: a music nib with the Koi pattern and a blue celluloid with a M nib. Love them both!

[H. Lime]

So what currently-produced celluloid nitrate pens are there around?

 

[moderators, please remove the following if in contravention of forum rules]

I've just trawled through ebay, and apparently someone there is offering a green omas ogiva.

Edited September 21, 2011 by H. Lime

[Namo]

So what currently-produced celluloid nitrate pens are there around?

 

[moderators, please remove the following if in contravention of forum rules]

I've just trawled through ebay, and apparently someone there is offering a green omas ogiva.

 

There is - beautiful... and definitly out of my reach!!

[hari317]

So what currently-produced celluloid nitrate pens are there around?

 

Not many I think. Platinum/Nakaya make a few models. Custom pen makers like Brian Gray and some others make pens from the Nitrocellulose rods offered by Americanartplastics.

[eric47]

Actually,those older Viscontis are nice,but I don't recognize the "candystripe"

versions or most of them--with the exception of the red one on the right and

the red Pontevecchio(my favorite color out of the three PV colors).

 

BTW Eric,do you use those glass nibs? How well do they write?

 

In the first set of photos -- the ones without the Ragtimes, the pens are:

1 - 3: Classic

4: Replica

5: D'Essai -- has a special name I can't remember now, not part of the D'Essai LE run of pens.

6-10: D'Essai (various colors)

11: Pontevecchio standard (non-LE)

12: Viscontina.

 

Are the candy-stripe pens 1 and 2? That's called pine needles celluloid.

 

Glass nibs, sure I write with them, when they write. Flow is tricky. It's usually 0, 50, or 100%. When flow is good, they write a nice wettish (but not gushing) F line. Pretty smooth, although it's not uncommon to have a side that catches -- can be smoothed with micromesh. Glass nibs however are quite rigid, no flex.

[eric47]

So what currently-produced celluloid nitrate pens are there around?

 

Not many I think. Platinum/Nakaya make a few models. Custom pen makers like Brian Gray and some others make pens from the Nitrocellulose rods offered by Americanartplastics.

 

Omas still does, probably using the same stock they've had for years. Someone told me, back in the day, you had to buy a lot.

[opus7600]

So what currently-produced celluloid nitrate pens are there around?

 

Montegrappa's Miya and 1930 Extra are celluloid.

 

If you allow counting Limited Editions, then OMAS is still producing celluloid pens - the Paragon 80th anniversary editions they're making right now.

 

Same with Delta - Not every LE is celluloid, but recently the Sevivon, the Caruso, and the Citta Reale have been.

[raging.dragon]

I believe the standard Delta Dolce Vitas use acrylic, not celluloid. Chatterly pens (www.pentime.com) have some very nice Delta exclusives in celluloid (a couple of which are on my wishlist - I like alot of Bryant's exclusives ).

 

Montegrappa are still making celluloid pens, and I believe several standard OMAS models are available in celluloid as well. Again several of these on my wishlist.... Visconti may not be making regular production celluloid pens anymore; however, the Wallstreet and some other celluloid models are still availble as NOS from Chatterly pens and others. These are not on my wishlist, but only because I already the ones I like most!

[LizWrites]

Altec, your pens are gorgeous!! So is that Omas Paragon Celluloid (http://tinyurl.com/422y7du).

 

Are you guys saying that one can't buy a a new pen made of celluloid?

 

If only vintage are available, anyone have an idea of when celluloid was last used (whether US, Europe or Asia).

 

This is a great thread.

 

Also, how does the celluloid pen feel differently from, say, a resin pen?