Old Onoto Identification

[Stringtickler]

Greetings all. I've just acquired this only Onoto and wonder if any of the eagle-eyed gurus out there can help me to identify it. The clip band is unusual and I wonder what metal it is made of and whether it can be restored if it's meant to be bright. The plunger seals need replacement and again I will value advice as to whom in Australia is a good person to contact. Very grateful!

[praxim]

That will be an early 'O' type model, I believe, known later as the 2000, probably dating around 1905-1915. The clip will almost certainly be either aftermarket or a bespoke addition. I could not read anything in those marks on it.

 

In Oz I know of Pensmith who repairs Onoto plunge fillers. He uses either brass or delrin rods.. There may be others, I have not sought one myself.

 

Do you have any information on provenance to date it more closely?

 

Post Script: That clip with its heavy load may well be silver. Try rubbing it with a jeweller's silver cloth to see what happens.

Edited December 13, 2016 by praxim