Yard O Led Victorian From 1986

[hari317]

I recently got a chance to purchase this Victorian from an estate reseller in TN, USA. With the ample assistance of my friend Pelman, I was able to own this one. This pen is quite interesting to me and I will try to show it through some pictures and in the process document this variant on FPN:

 

Capped:

http://i1269.photobucket.com/albums/jj582/hari-317/YOL%201986%20Victorian/IMG_7912.jpg

 

Open:

http://i1269.photobucket.com/albums/jj582/hari-317/YOL%201986%20Victorian/IMG_7914.jpg

 

The nib unit: I like this style of nib. The flat triangular monotone nib contrats nicely with the silver body and silver trim rings on the section. The cap is secured in a two way action. Friction between the inner cap and the upper section ring and finally the cap lip engages with the lower section ring. The cap is a push fit rather than a snap fit like modern. The section is ribbed for better grip.

 

http://i1269.photobucket.com/albums/jj582/hari-317/YOL%201986%20Victorian/IMG_7915.jpg

 

http://i1269.photobucket.com/albums/jj582/hari-317/YOL%201986%20Victorian/IMG_7916.jpg

 

http://i1269.photobucket.com/albums/jj582/hari-317/YOL%201986%20Victorian/IMG_7917.jpg

 

http://i1269.photobucket.com/albums/jj582/hari-317/YOL%201986%20Victorian/IMG_7919.jpg

 

http://i1269.photobucket.com/albums/jj582/hari-317/YOL%201986%20Victorian/IMG_7920.jpg

 

The older YOLs have an amazing workmanship, the depth of the work on this piece is amazing:

 

http://i1269.photobucket.com/albums/jj582/hari-317/YOL%201986%20Victorian/IMG_7923.jpg

 

http://i1269.photobucket.com/albums/jj582/hari-317/YOL%201986%20Victorian/IMG_7924.jpg

 

A cleanly struck "Made in England" stamp:

http://i1269.photobucket.com/albums/jj582/hari-317/YOL%201986%20Victorian/IMG_7926.jpg

 

Cap Hallmarks: The Lion Mark indicates Sterling silver, The leopard head indicates that the finished pen was assayed by the London assay office.

http://i1269.photobucket.com/albums/jj582/hari-317/YOL%201986%20Victorian/IMG_7929.jpg

 

The barrel hallmarks: Maker mark, Sterling Silver, London Assay Office, assayed in 1986 (M). The London assay office does not provide a date letter guide, however post 1975 all assay offices follow an uniform date letter code : link, so the Birmingham assay office information is valid in this case.

http://i1269.photobucket.com/albums/jj582/hari-317/YOL%201986%20Victorian/IMG_7931.jpg

 

The pen ends on this pen are sharp and flat, not domed like the modern counterparts:

http://i1269.photobucket.com/albums/jj582/hari-317/YOL%201986%20Victorian/IMG_7932.jpg

 

The pen came in a red velvet covered metal snap box with two papers:

http://i1269.photobucket.com/albums/jj582/hari-317/YOL%201986%20Victorian/IMG_7933.jpg

 

http://i1269.photobucket.com/albums/jj582/hari-317/YOL%201986%20Victorian/IMG_7934.jpg

 

http://i1269.photobucket.com/albums/jj582/hari-317/YOL%201986%20Victorian/IMG_7935.jpg

 

http://i1269.photobucket.com/albums/jj582/hari-317/YOL%201986%20Victorian/IMG_7936.jpg

 

This sticker is placed underneath the box, perhaps the model number of the pen at that time?

http://i1269.photobucket.com/albums/jj582/hari-317/YOL%201986%20Victorian/IMG_7937.jpg

 

A comparison shot with a 1999 Victorian Grand with a writing sample in the background.

http://i1269.photobucket.com/albums/jj582/hari-317/YOL%201986%20Victorian/IMG_7940.jpg

 

http://i1269.photobucket.com/albums/jj582/hari-317/YOL%201986%20Victorian/IMG_7941.jpg

 

I hope this comparison was useful.

 

Cheers!

Hari

[rochester21]

very interesting fp, thanks for the review(although i would have liked to read more about the actual writing performance).

Edited October 21, 2012 by rochester21

[hari317]

very interesting fp, thanks for the review(although i would have liked to read more about the actual writing performance).

 

Thanks! Actually this review is more in continuation of my previous YOL reviews documenting their somewhat older FPs.

 

This was a used pen and need some work. The pen was full of dried ink, so a major cleaning was involved, the nib met with a mishap while I was setting up the pen(never work on pens at 1am !!) but at the end of the day, I could make the pen write well as can be seen in the writing sample.

 

The nib is quite springy, it is a 14Ct nib unit, the pens that I have seen from 1992 onwards have the 18C conventionally shaped nibs.

 

Hope this helps.

 

Best

Hari

[Ghost Plane]

It did. I'd seen the older black sections, but I've never until now seen a nib like this.

[hari317]

I'd seen the older black sections, but I've never until now seen a nib like this.

Yes, I had been chasing ones with these kind of nibs on ebay for a while.

[Abhik]

[pelman]

A very nice comparison Hari. Thoroughly enjoyed it.

 

You know I had that pen with me for a almost a month. I hadn't picked up some of the details you mentioned and of course the nib is completely different from the other YOLs. I didn't appreciate the pen as much as I do after reading your review and now I can't see the darn pen in person. :bonk:

 

As ususal lovely photography.

[Montblanc owner and lover]

great pen and very interesting review!congrats

[Horseknitter]

Have you thought about selling them yet? Keep my name in mind!

[ribbit]

Hari, you're killing me with all your YOL pictures!!

 

Umm, more? LOL

[breaker]

nice review and pics!

thanks!

[hari317]

A very nice comparison Hari. Thoroughly enjoyed it.

 

You know I had that pen with me for a almost a month. I hadn't picked up some of the details you mentioned and of course the nib is completely different from the other YOLs. I didn't appreciate the pen as much as I do after reading your review and now I can't see the darn pen in person. :bonk:

 

As ususal lovely photography.

Thanks Abhik, Pelman.

 

great pen and very interesting review!congrats

Thanks!

Have you thought about selling them yet? Keep my name in mind!

I might never sell this one. I have now enough older ones so the ones I bought brand new last year or so will be up for sale soon.

Hari, you're killing me with all your YOL pictures!!

Umm, more? LOL

 

nice review and pics!

thanks!

Thanks!

 

Best

Hari

[humsin]

What a pen!!!

[hari317]

What a pen!!!

absolutely!

[georges zaslavsky]

looks nice thanks for sharing

[pennymann]

Hi,

This was the first fountain pen we made . Both these pens look as though they have hardly been used. The

pattern is as crisp as it was when it was first made.

[hari317]

Hi,

This was the first fountain pen we made . Both these pens look as though they have hardly been used. The

pattern is as crisp as it was when it was first made.

very nice to know that these were the early FPs made. Thank you.

[flipper_gv]

Who produced those nibs? That looks a lot like Montblanc work of those years.

[pennymann]

This pen was made for YOL by a London pen company which went bust years ago. I think most nib units were

German or Swiss .

I had forgotten that this model had been chased and it would have been done by a London chaser.

As they could only do small numbers I would say this pen is quite rare, we never sold many of these

anyway. An excellent find.

[Historyguy]

Thanks for the information pennyman and Hari. I have one of these as well (acquired via E-bay last year and I'm going to be posting a review in a few days) but in the barley pattern. It's a delightful pen and different to the later ones I have.

Edited August 28, 2019 by Historyguy