Orion 491

[anra]

Hi everyone!

 

I found this vintage FP at a local garage sale here in Denmark. It's Orion 491 with lever filler. I searched the interned trying to find out more about the brand and the model.

 

I found only one of them (among archived sales on a forum) - restored - and the seller mentioned the pen is from 1934.

 

However, on a German website I came across another information that the company Orion Pen Co. changed the name to Miller Pen Co. in 1933 - meaning the pen must date from before 1933 - my guess is early '30s...

 

Any help about sheding more light on this little thing?

 

 

 

The nib is gold plated, with "Orion Pen Co. 1" written on it (and an ugly window reflection)

 

The barrel has Orion logo, "fountain pen" and and model number "491"

 

[Azuniga]

I have a Black Orion 474, the only difference with yours is the cap top, it is round and has no gold rings on the cap. The name and number are on the barrel.

When I got it at the Hamburg pen show, I was told it was a German production for Denish market later manufactured in Denmark

and they dated it 1932 but I could never find more information... Now there is a very similar one at penbord.de I am sure they would

give you more information about it if you inquire with them...

Regards and happy 2014

Ariel

Edited December 31, 2013 by Azuniga

[anra]

Hi Ariel

 

Thank you for your info. And happy New Year to you, too.

 

I did check penboad.de - it is where I found the information that 491 is from 1934.

 

About the company (Orion Pen Co., later Miller Pen Co.)... I found it's a Danish company (located in Copenhagen) that used to import quality pen parts from Germany and England and assemble the pens in Denmark. They changed the name in 1933 to Miller Pen Co. - and they still exists under that name (they even have the same logo they had in 1933!). The comany imports writing instruments today.

 

My husband has Miller Streamline 622 FP he got as a Christmas gift from his parents back in late 1950s

[Azuniga]

Hello anra,

 

Slowly but if we keep searching we will gather the information together... I bought the pen from Tom W (penbord.de) personally and not through the net, so we have the information from the same source. I have had the pen for more than two years (I was considering buying the one he has now but it is almost the same as mine and I do not need two. Too many pens already !!).

My experience with Orion has been very satisfactory. The pen has a nice size, very comfortable to write with. Once it has a new sac and a clean nib is quite elegant pen too. When I find more information I post it and if you do please post it too. One more detail, the pen looks almost exactly as the Osmia 54, like twin sisters, and I wonder if I should look in that direction since Osmia was for longtime establishing deals with other pen companies, the best known being their production of Osmia Parker.

I would love to see an image of your husbands Miller Streamline 622 FP

Enjoy your pen and stay well

Regards, Ariel

[anra]

Hi Ariel!

 

Here are the pics of my husband's Miller Streamline 622

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Azuniga]

Hello anra,

Thank you for the images, beautiful pen...

At this point, since I am not an expert, it confirms some relationship between Orion-Miller with Osmia,

since your Miller is quite similar to Osmia-Faber Castell 963 and some other models from Osmia...

shape, size, nib and also the lines from a very similar material as well as the Parker style filling system...

Best regards for you,

Ariel