AURORA Optima Vintage VS Modern

[sanpei]

Opinions???

More images available if someone is interested.

 

S

 

 

http://i43.tinypic.com/2czzwnc.jpg

[dannyboy]

Would love to know the history (dates, etc.) of each of these three beauties! As much as I love the contemporary Optimas, there's something about the vintage ones that is stunning--maybe the depth of color in the celluloid. I do like the contemporary clip better than the vintage one, however. Please do show us some more images of vintage Optimas!!! And tell us some details about each, manufacturing dates, etc. Thank you!

[Dib]

until I will earn enough money to buy a Duplex, I dream of these Optima

The old clip I like more than the modern Aurora clip. And I don't like the black parts on the modern Optima.

But please show us the nibs!

Edited March 4, 2009 by Dib

[sanpei]

  dannyboy said:

Would love to know the history (dates, etc.) of each of these three beauties! As much as I love the contemporary Optimas, there's something about the vintage ones that is stunning--maybe the depth of color in the celluloid. I do like the contemporary clip better than the vintage one, however. Please do show us some more images of vintage Optimas!!! And tell us some details about each, manufacturing dates, etc. Thank you!

 

Optima appears on Aurora'S catalogs on 1938, born as competitor of Omas Lucens

(no much different) and of all new transparent barrel pens, vacuum filling system is the same

used by late Doric and Sheaffer balance, clip same of second series Novum models

One size only, fist model was short and fat as the modern one,

large deco band on cap only two colours green and gray.

 

 

http://i39.tinypic.com/2mzd475.jpg

 

http://i44.tinypic.com/106yr2v.jpg

 

http://i39.tinypic.com/4kgug8.jpg

 

 

The greek on cap became thinner after few months, for this reason is almost impossible find a large band examples,

section was in celluloid and glued with barrel, pen could be disassembled and serviced from the bottom only,

many Optima were distroyer by unprofessional restorations.

Optima were fitted with #5 and #6 gold nibs, was the last Aurora luxury model in celluloid.

 

 

http://i43.tinypic.com/whya8j.jpg

 

http://i41.tinypic.com/20uzvr8.jpg

 

Tomorrow story will continue...

S

Edited March 4, 2009 by sanpei

[ethernautrix]

The Optima -- so gorgeous!

[Doug Add]

Thank you so much! I had no idea the Optima went back so far in Aurora's history. Oh, I would love to have one with the nib in your picture--WOW!

[dannyboy]

Thanks for the details on the history of the Optimas you pictured. These new pictures show even more clearly just how beautiful the vintage models were. I was fascinated that this model was meant to compete with the Omas! Wow, I'd love to own one of these vintage Optimas some day! I'll look forward to the continuation of the pictures and history tomorrow. You're a good teacher and offering great enlightenment to all of us Aurora fans! Thank you again! And give Carlo a hug from me!

[MDI]

I like how 3000 mm^3 sounds so much better than 3 ccs

 

I have a modern Optima coming my way. Interesting how what I now think of as the standard Aurora clip wasn't exactly so in vintage models.

Edited March 5, 2009 by MDI

[PenFisher]

Thanks for the post and the history lesson...and not to forget...the photo essay too. I've just become interested in the Aurora line and find all of this information fascinating. Please give us more :clap1: Ringraziarla molto per queste ottime informazioni.

[sbroglia]

woderful pen!!

no competion between vintage and modern.....

vintage wins 6-0 6-0 6-0

[Ken W]

Beautiful pens. Thanks for sharing the pictures and the history behing the Optima. I have a few modern Optimas (Blue Auroloid and Sole), but would love to have one of the vintage green pens with that great nib.

[eric47]

  sbroglia said:

woderful pen!!

no competion between vintage and modern.....

vintage wins 6-0 6-0 6-0

Stefano,

 

Non si fa così. You can't just post a picture of a pen like that, and not tell us it is.

 

Eric

[eric47]

  sanpei said:

Optima were fitted with #5 and #6 gold nibs, was the last Aurora luxury model in celluloid.

S</font></font>

So what do the numbers (5 and 6) mean on the nibs? I assume that they are nib sizes, but what would they correspond to in terms of their modern counterparts?

 

Sorry, totally clueless here about vintage Aurora nibs (and pens too).

 

Thanks, Eric

[sanpei]

Aurora no much later made some changes to Optima,

deco band models looks too old.

From L to R:

Early green large deco band

Early green thin deco band

Early gray thin deco band (this one is bit longer)

Later gray Ink-Vue

Later blue smoke

 

 

http://i39.tinypic.com/90obax.jpg

 

http://i43.tinypic.com/mtkpb7.jpg

 

 

Pens became longer and three rings were placed instead deco band

two new patterns introduced,

first more geometric similar to Waterman Ink-Vue one

other looks like coloured smoke,

in four colours, blue, gray, green, and black

A new (hugly) clip and jewels on cap top and barrel's end

in last model produced during WWII trims were in brass not gold plated,

nibs in Platriridio instead gold ones and sometimes I found NOS Optima button filler,

perhaps was too expensive and complicate service vacuum fillers in war time.

 

http://i41.tinypic.com/2dub3gz.jpg

 

http://i39.tinypic.com/ncicn9.jpg

 

 

Pen boxes follow the pens,

from jewelery style with velvet liner to cheap hard card.

 

 

http://i42.tinypic.com/2ql7sc0.jpg

 

http://i40.tinypic.com/28qvwq8.jpg

 

 

Optima were always marked on section only,

or just I never seen this model with imprint on barrel

 

http://i42.tinypic.com/33m1xkn.jpg

 

 

I seen in the past some transitional models with thin deco band geometric pattern and Selene style clip

unfortunately not have any to show.

Modern Optima fits a different clip respect vintage one,

is inspired to the glorious Aurora Duplex.

 

 

http://i41.tinypic.com/24mdxtg.jpg

 

http://i41.tinypic.com/1z4ls1j.jpg

 

Thanks for giving mind to me,

I'm not a pen expert, that I wrote could be wrong of course,

I wanted just to share my emotions collecting vintage Aurora,

and sorry for my terrible english, I don't think will improve

I'm too lazy, but will try.

ENJOY!

 

S

Edited March 5, 2009 by sanpei

[dannyboy]

Again thank you for these informative posts! Now I'm drooling over those vintage Aurora Optimas and wondering just how those #5 and #6 nibs would feel on some Clairefontaine paper! Boy, oh boy, oh boy, have you ever given all of us Aurora fans something to yearn for in our collections and especially in our hands where fountain pens belong! And your English is far better than my Italian!

[diplomat]

Yes, two things: your English is better than my Italian; and your pens are way better than mines.

 

Oh, and I love the Duplex clip.

 

Ciao,

[antoniosz]

The modern is more beautiful but I have a impression that the vintage nib will rock, especially the one that seems to be misaligned in sanpei post .

[gyrosan]

I'm new to this fountain pen world - but rarely has a fountain pen impressed me so much.

 

Italian pens have something entirely different about them. And Aurora is at the top!

 

Kind regards,

gyrosan

[Rainwalker]

Wow! Thank you so much for your wonderful, very informative posts and pictures - greatly appreciated!

 

[sbroglia]

too good!!