FILCAO Silvia

[Dennis B]

The FILCAO Silvia with styling influenced by the vintage pens of Settimo, Italy, and bearing more than a passing resemblance to the vintage Pelikan 100N, is proving to be a reliable writer in everyday use. The button filler is a nice alternative to most modern cartridge converter pens. I have two inked and in daily use, this Limited Edition pen with a 14K nib by Mutschler and another with the Schmidt steel nib.

 

http://www.parkvillepen.com/images/filcao/ivoryle.jpg

 

At 5.094” capped and 6.076” posted, the Silvia is small in the pocket when capped, but full length when posted. The barrel measures .478” diameter and the tapered section is .390 at the midpoint. The cap measures 2.607” in length and .482” inside diameter at the mouth. The size is ideal for my somewhat small hands, yet should also be comfortable for a user with larger hands.

 

Both the 14K and steel nibs are providing a smooth writing experience with good flow. Both nibs are mounted in a threaded collar that interchanges with the Columbia model. I have not found any tendency to dry out, even when capped and unused for a day or two. The pens are nicely finished with no unneeded trim on the section to corrode. The clip is not marked with the FILCAO name, an improvement in appearance over some previous models. The simple, classic lines of the Silvia are quite attractive.

 

All in all, one of the best FILCAO models produced, on par with the very popular Columbia and Atlantica models.

 

Only 10 of the Horn/Ivory pens were produced along with 10 of the Horn/Red pens. As far as I know, all the available LE pens were sold, so count yourself lucky if you managed to get one. Standard production colors are combinations of black, striated green and pearl green like the Pentrace LE pen. Schmidt steel nibs are standard with the Mutschler 14k nib available in the Silvia Oro.

 

Although I am a FILCAO dealer, I am also a pen collector and user and, in those roles, I rate the Silvia a winner.

 

Dennis B.

[davyr]

hi dennis, good to see you here! thanks for the fine review and pictures, and hopefully more will follow. a very nice lookin' pen - i prefer simplicity rather than overwrought flourishes/finishes that many pens nowadays unfortunately have. i wonder if they have to pay any royalties to pelikan (or hero the same for its parker lookalikes) - or is there some sort of time period when the original designs become public domain? :blink: