Art - Vintage Japanese Fountain Pen

[Pen_Padawan]

Hi FPN,

I have a 'like' new in box vintage Japanese fountain pen call "ART". Since I have never heard of this pen I am looking to see if anyone else has heard of this pen? If it were not for the box I would have thought it was inscribed with the owner's name Art.

The box reads "Art Kogyo Co., LTD. Japan Tokyo.

The cap clip has R14K, what does the "R" stand for? On the internet some jewlery says "R" stands for rolled gold, can someone confirm this is true? The cap band also has R14K marked.

The nib reads: OSMIRIDIUM/ 14K GOLD/ 3231/ JIS/ PARLEY

This pen is a squeeze converter.

 

Thank you for any information that you can share,

Pen_Padawan

 

[Dibutil]

I have almost exactly the same pen but it seems that mine is missing some parts. Firstly, there is no squeeze converter and I do not see how to attach any. Secondly, in the barrel the end tip can be unscrewed and a long shaft can be pulled out. That shaft has an end portion which is thicker than the most of its length so it cannot be pulled completely out from the barrel. There seems to be some seal meant between the shaft and the barrel but currently it is not air tight. The very tip of the shaft is touching the end of the capillar of the feeder. So I have no idea where the ink should go and how it is meant to be filled and sealed. This is pity because the pen is comfortable and the nib is superb. I would also like to get some info on the pen, especially this strange filling system of mine.

[stan]

One of you has a squeeze filler and the other an eyedropper.

[Dibutil]

One of you has a squeeze filler and the other an eyedropper.

There is no means to seal the barrel against the grip as well as the rear shaft is not sealed against the barrel. It leaks the water in both directions - I did not risk filling it with ink yet.

[stan]

The seal at the barrel and section is friction fit. Over time, there can be wear and leakage. The solution is to put a light dab of silicone grease on the threads. Not too much as you do not want to have it squish and get loose inside the barrel.

[luxseeker]

Have you written with this pen? How does it perform?

Edited August 17, 2018 by luxseeker

[Pen_Padawan]

Have you written with this pen? How does it perform?

 

I only dip tested this pen, the nib is soft and springy.

[Number99]

I will share the information in the instructions.

 

The instructions say Tokyo Art Sangyo Naoetsu 直江津, not Art Kogyo. Naoetsu means Naoetsu in Niigata  Prefecture 新潟県 and is most likely the location of the company.

The two letters in front of "Art Sangyo" indicate Tokyo 東京, but it is very unusual for a company address to appear in front of the company name.

 

Two different and similar company names appear separately on the box and on the instruction manual.

This is a guess, but the manufacturing company and the sales company may have been separated.

 

The manufacturer of the nib is "Ishikawa Kinpen Mfg." 石川金ペン製作所, a famous company that manufactured nibs and pens that no longer exist.

 

P.S.

In the middle of the instruction manual, there are instructions for using the "ink stopper type," インク止め式 but further up in the manual, there is a description of "repeatedly grasping and releasing the tube," which can be read as part of the instructions for handling the squeeze filler.

 

Edited May 21 by Number99

[stan]

It is a mid-level noname pen. Gets to mid-level based on decent Parley nib. Otherwise just another pen peddled to the masses.

As a squeeze filler it can be repaired easily.

 

Nib should be quite good. Get it repaired and use it. Enjoy your pen. Don't worry about the maker, etc. Totally meaningless dribble.