? Fake Visconti Homo Sapiens

[philip.kregor]

Attached are three pictures of a Visconti Homo Sapiens Maxi I bought online. I normally buy from reputable shops, but was allured by the price on this one ($425).

Instead of having the power piston filler it has a screw type mechanism into what I think is a cartridge.

I have researched this online and Im pretty sure this is fraudulent, but need some expertise.

I think that all of the Visconti pens have the power filler in this line.

The seller says this is genuine of course.

Can you help?

3 photos are attached.

[Hoovy]

The newer Steel Ages come with this sort of filler - an irremovable cartridge converter.

 

As for your particular pen, I've never heard of the end cap being removable. Someone who actually owns a Steel Age is going to have to chime in on this one.

[RobertS]

Why not contact Visconti and ask for their opinion?

[RitchieMac]

This is the Visconti Homo Sapiens Maxi Steel Age, which is a piston filler - actually a sealed converter as I don't think the manufacturer wanted the ink to be in constant contact with the lava material. The end cap screws out in a typical piston filler fashion, but I think it could come off with sufficient force - especially if it is thought that it is a power filler. I did not use enough force to pull out the end cap yet. The Visconti HomoSapiens Maxi Bronze Age, that comes with bronze trimmings (clip, cap bands etc) has the power filler. It is also more expensive than the Steel Age. $425 is reasonable for a new Steel Age.

 

I have not heard of fake Visconti Homo Sapiens yet. It is probably not profitable and too difficult for counterfeiters to mimic the lava material and the Dreamtouch nib for what is essentially a niche product, as opposed to a widely recognizable resin cigar shaped fountain pen.

[PAKMAN]

Not fake, newer versions do not have power filler.

 

See this topic

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php/topic/216119-homo-sapiens-plunger-stuck/?p=2626773

[82Greg]

There are indeed two versions of the Steel Age: a) the Power Filler and a captured converter. I believe the usually retail the converter for less than the power converter. I understood that only the first hundred or so produced had the power filler. That may have changed of course.

[Aramchek]

I seem to recall that early Visconti Homo Sapiens had problems with leaks through the barrel. Captive converter would of course fix it, but they presumably found a fix for the power filler version as well.

[humsin]

I think the pen needs a repair!

 

Visconti never made a Steel power filler. It was introduced as an internal piston filler. Only the Bronze came in two fillers, with the power filler completely replaced.

[Earthdawn]

I think the pen needs a repair!

 

Visconti never made a Steel power filler. It was introduced as an internal piston filler. Only the Bronze came in two fillers, with the power filler completely replaced.

 

Actually there were a few made. I asked Bryant of PenTime about this and he told me there were a rare few made. It was stopped to make them less expensive.

 

"Steel Maxi-When this first came out, the first pens were Single Reservoir power filler. But quickly were switched to "piston" (Captured Converter) So this one has a Power Filler, Number 6 nib"

 

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php/topic/216119-homo-sapiens-plunger-stuck/?p=2626773

 

Makes me want one !

[fabrimedeiros]

 

Actually there were a few made. I asked Bryant of PenTime about this and he told me there were a rare few made. It was stopped to make them less expensive.

 

"Steel Maxi-When this first came out, the first pens were Single Reservoir power filler. But quickly were switched to "piston" (Captured Converter) So this one has a Power Filler, Number 6 nib"

 

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php/topic/216119-homo-sapiens-plunger-stuck/?p=2626773

 

Makes me want one !

Yes, I know some people here who bought the early version - maxi steel age with power filler. And this pen is not fake at all.

Edited July 2, 2013 by fabrimedeiros