Aurora Hastil, Information anyone?

[SincerelySpicy]

Hi!

 

I've been interested in the Aurora Hastil for some time now, but i can barely find any information in addition to the seemingly ubiquitous "designed by Marco Zanuso, and on display at New York's MOMA"

 

Does anyone have any specific information on this pen, such as when the pen was first manufactured, what colors & styles it came in, the original MSRP, etc?

 

Any information would be appreciated, and if you have pictures, all the better.

 

Thanks!

ES

[Inkanthropist]

I can't offer any historical information, I'm afraid, but here are a few (decidedly amateur) photographs of my silver Hastil. I picked it up on eBay a year or so ago for something like £20-30. It's a perfectly efficient writer, but it is extremely thin (to the point of being pencil-like, in fact). To show this, I've put it alongside a Pelikan M200 in the last of the pictures.

 

Neil

 

http://img137.imageshack.us/img137/2576/hastil1uc3.jpg

http://img182.imageshack.us/img182/9094/hastil2dh9.jpg

http://img243.imageshack.us/img243/492/hastil3nd4.jpg

http://img78.imageshack.us/img78/2646/hastil4ov0.jpg

[jhmclearly]

I've a matt black one with gold trim, and yes although it's quite a nice writer it is a little thin for continual use.

 

Bought again on Ebay for £7.50, and probably I would guess from the late 70's.

[Dillo]

Hi,

 

It was introduced in 1970 and started a wave of slimline pens from various manufacturers, Omas included. It was introduced in stainless steel and was designed my Marco Zanuso. The nib was rhodinated gold and produced in six sizes. I has been in production to this day.

 

Dillon

[SincerelySpicy]

What's curious to me is why there is so little information available on a pen that is considered to have such a great design that it warrants a permanent spot at the Museum of Modern Art.

 

I have found sparing amounts of information, and i have found all of one store online (US Based or otherwise) that sells it online, which seems weird to me. Almost every website that mentions it mentions either Zanuso's name, or that the pen is on display at the MOMA, and how famous it is.

 

Well the reason i'm doing this research is that I've fallen in love with this pen, and I have acquired a lacquered blue version with gold trim, and I usually try to find out as much infromation as possible on each of my pens. However it's somewhat frustrating to find no extensive information whatsoever.

 

Well, if noone else has any information, i guess the next time i'm in NYC and the Moma, i'll be sure to take a look-see at what they have to say...

 

ES

[Dillo]

Hi,

 

Exactly what kind of information do you want?

 

If you tell me, I'll see if I know.

 

Dillon

[SincerelySpicy]

well, i always document any new pen that i get, so i'd love to know things like the original MSRP, specific years of production, colors and styles produced, etc...

 

I'd also love to know exactly why exactly the pen is considered museum material; specifically what about the design or the history of the pen warrants display at such a prestigious museum?

 

[Inkanthropist]

QUOTE (SJM1123 @ Feb 22 2007, 02:43 AM)

I have found sparing amounts of information, and i have found all of one store online (US Based or otherwise) that sells it online, which seems weird to me.

When I rang Aurora's UK distributor to ask about a replacement part, the woman who answered the phone was amazed that I'd even heard of the Hastil. 'That's a really obscure model', she said (or words to that effect). It's all very strange.

 

Neil

[tryphon]

QUOTE (SJM1123 @ Feb 21 2007, 11:21 PM)

well, i always document any new pen that i get, so i'd love to know things like the original MSRP, specific years of production, colors and styles produced, etc... I'd also love to know exactly why exactly the pen is considered museum material; specifically what about the design or the history of the pen warrants display at such a prestigious museum?

I covered the Hastil in my article on post WW2 Auroras published in the PenNant in 2006. If you join the PCA you can request a copy of the two issues on which the article was printed.

[rikbarry]

I also own this pen, and it was only after reading this thread today that I was able to finally identify it as a Hastil. I bought it used over 10 years ago, and knew it was very special by its extraordinary modern, minimalist design. I want to know where I can get nibs for it, and where I can get it reliably reconditioned.

 

(Photos attached)

 

By the way, the only Hastil currently shown in any Aurora catalog is more recent ball point design.

 

Rick

Edited April 28, 2009 by rikbarry

[LetiziaJac]

Hi!

 

I've been interested in the Aurora Hastil for some time now, but i can barely find any information in addition to the seemingly ubiquitous "designed by Marco Zanuso, and on display at New York's MOMA"

 

Does anyone have any specific information on this pen, such as when the pen was first manufactured, what colors & styles it came in, the original MSRP, etc?

 

Any information would be appreciated, and if you have pictures, all the better.

 

Thanks!

ES

 

Hi, I just read the posts on the Hastil. There is not so much information in Italy, either. the "most complete" review of this model is in Andreas Lambrou's book. Here at least you can find some detailed pieces of information:the original model was in brushed steel with white gold nib ( silver, gold, gold filled, lacquered and matt black are later versions of the model). The special features of the pen are not only its slender and clean design, but also the spring mechanism of the clip and the innovative capillary feed of the nib. It's a great pen with a fantastic nib. A ball version also exists and, as for the FP the earlier model is the one with steel case. I hope this helps!!

[rikbarry]

How can I replace the nib?

[SincerelySpicy]

How can I replace the nib?

 

The nib is technically changeable by gently pulling it off of the feed. the nib is folded on either side to fit into a pair of channels on either side of the feed. The nib is not glued or crimped in place and should relatively easily pull out.

 

However, as per usual suggestion, I wouldn't do it without some knowledge of repairing pens. It would be pretty easy to accidentally bend the tines out of alignment and the feed is very thin at the tip, risking bending or breaking.

[zabo]

How can I replace the nib?

 

The nib is technically changeable by gently pulling it off of the feed. the nib is folded on either side to fit into a pair of channels on either side of the feed. The nib is not glued or crimped in place and should relatively easily pull out.

 

However, as per usual suggestion, I wouldn't do it without some knowledge of repairing pens. It would be pretty easy to accidentally bend the tines out of alignment and the feed is very thin at the tip, risking bending or breaking.

If it's basically like a Lamy Safari, then the Lamy Safari trick (i.e. with tape) should work...

[rikbarry]

Thanks SMJ.

 

What I meant was "where can I get a nib and have it replaced?"

 

Rick

[Deirdre]

One of the Hastil variants is sterling with unbroken lines running down the body, and I missed one of them. I'm not looking for one right away, but I am keeping my eye open.

[Dib]

Deirdre, the sterling ones are hard to find, but with some patience you will find one. I have only the vermeille ballpen in this variant left.

[SincerelySpicy]

One of the Hastil variants is sterling with unbroken lines running down the body, and I missed one of them. I'm not looking for one right away, but I am keeping my eye open.

 

Hah, I'm currently here in Italy (last week before i get back across the atlantic) and to be honest, sterling hastils arent that rare if you go looking in person. Several of the pen shops in rome have one or two in stock. My problem was...they were all charging more than 300 euro for the thing.....the last time i found it online it was only 120 so i think i may wait to get one.

[Dib]

even 120 Euro are much money! I sell my (used) Hastils at 50-90 Euro and I really think that is enough!

[gicoteni]

Letizia has already given the main information on this pen and the reference to Lambrou's book, where you can also find data about the "Idrograph" feeding system of the Hastil. I just want to add some detail and some pictures.

 

The design of this pen, a product of the "golden age" of Italian Design, is very clean and essential, but also very sophisticated.

 

http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee36/gicoteni/HASTIL/disegno2a.jpg

 

http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee36/gicoteni/HASTIL/originale1.jpg

 

The original edition in "ecosteel"

 

http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee36/gicoteni/HASTIL/th_originale2.jpg http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee36/gicoteni/HASTIL/th_OriginalePart2.jpg http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee36/gicoteni/HASTIL/th_originale3.jpg http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee36/gicoteni/HASTIL/th_originale4.jpg http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee36/gicoteni/HASTIL/th_Originale5.jpg

 

 

It seems that in order to produce the body it is necessary to use a simple steel tube and cut it to size, but actually the barrel is tapered (in fact the cap can be posted) and it measures 9.1 mm close to section and 8.3 mm at the bottom ).

 

Gold plated "godron"

http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee36/gicoteni/HASTIL/Goldplatedgodron.jpg

 

 

The mechanism for keeping the cap when it is posted is designed in a way which does not produce scratches on the body (the first model was made in "ecosteel", a stainless steel in a very soft satin finish). It is patented and you can see here the drawings of the patent in the U.S.A.

 

http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee36/gicoteni/HASTIL/th_pat1.jpg http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee36/gicoteni/HASTIL/th_pat2.jpg http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee36/gicoteni/HASTIL/th_pat3.jpgclickable thumbnails

 

The clip also is rather complex: the objective is to keep it close to the cap to give the sensation of thinness and linearity, but it can fit to fabric when inserted inside a pocket (a motion very similar to the one of the Waterman DG – see my post).

 

Sterling Silver "small grid"

http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee36/gicoteni/HASTIL/Sterlingsilversmallgriddetail.jpg

 

About finishing I know these ones: stainless steel, vermeil, sterling silver, gold plated and lacquer

 

Vermeil "small grid"

http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee36/gicoteni/HASTIL/Vermeilsmallgrid2.jpg http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee36/gicoteni/HASTIL/th_Vermeilsmallgriddetail2.jpg http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee36/gicoteni/HASTIL/th_Vermeilsmallgriddetail.jpg http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee36/gicoteni/HASTIL/th_Vermeilsmallgrid.jpg

 

 

 

Sterling Silver "large rectangular grid"

http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee36/gicoteni/HASTIL/Sterlingsilverrectangulargrid.jpg

 

http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee36/gicoteni/HASTIL/th_Sterlingsilverrectangulargrid1.jpg http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee36/gicoteni/HASTIL/th_Sterlingsilverrectangulargriddet-1.jpg

 

 

 

Sterling Silver "small grid"

http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee36/gicoteni/HASTIL/Sterlingsilversmallgrid2-1.jpg

 

http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee36/gicoteni/HASTIL/th_Sterlingsilversmallgriddetail3.jpg http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee36/gicoteni/HASTIL/th_Sterlingsilversmallgrid.jpg

 

 

I have seen nibs in 18 k and 14 k white gold and in 14 k yellow gold.

 

 

http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee36/gicoteni/HASTIL/18knib.jpg http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee36/gicoteni/HASTIL/Sterlingsilverrectangulargriddetail.jpg http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee36/gicoteni/HASTIL/Vermeilsmallgriddetail3.jpg

 

Edited May 3, 2009 by gicoteni