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Very early in the 20th century, Christian Olsen, a Danish businessman acquired the sole rights to import Parker pens into Denmark. Parker were very keen to establish themselves as a global brand and went on to establish agencies in many European countries as well as in Canada and South America. By the 1930s, trade restrictions forced Parker into giving Olsen the rights to manufacture and assemble Parker pens at his factory in Copenhagen under licence. As time went on the Olsen company gained in independence and added some refinements and slight differences to the pens, including some colours that were...

The original Sheaffer Crest snorkel filling pen was introduced in 1952: Forty years later a gold filled 'tribute pen' the Sheaffer Crest 590 was released at a whopping $265: At first sight the pens are pretty much identical, although the darker colour of the 23Ct. gold on the later pen is evident when compaed to the 14Ct. original. The nibs are also slightly different, the earlier pen is 14Ct. with a platinum mask wheeas the later pen has a plain 18Ct.Gold nib. The positioning of the threads is also different, and the older pen has a grooved section. The main...

Occasionally I come across a good vintage pen with no imprint or clear clue as to the name of the maker.  Unfortunately, we pen collectors generally have a mind that insists we classify a pen in great detail and mmany hours are  spent to satisfy this demand. This recent acqusition, an orphan, is a very good pen and, after many hours dellving into all available resources I'm no closer to identifying it's maker. It has a Wyvern nib, but I'm pretty sure that it's a later replacement so doesn't really help.  I'd like the pen to be a Wyvern though,...

The Waterman Expert was made in three versions, now referred to as Mk.l., Mk.ll., and Mk.lll.. The Expert I was made from c.1988 to 1999:   It is characterised by, the two toned, 'slab sided' nib and has a stlysed 'W' between two gold filled cap rings.  The Expert II, made from 2000 to 2013, has a more conventional nib, a metal plate on the end of the cap stud, and the words 'Waterman. Paris' between the cap rings:   The Expert III, made from 2014 to the present, has one wide and one narrow cap ring: The Expert was...

I recently acquired a small collection of high end Sheaffer Targa pens and sets, mostly unused and in immaculate condition. The Targa is a well made pen that has stood the test of time, usually an excellent writer, and very practical.  These high end pens, particularly the Medici series, which was part of the 'Targa Luxury' series elevate the model to a different level.  Here are a few pics:  Targa 1011 Diamond Squares Targa 1005 Fluted. Targa 682 Medici Line Targa 683 Medici Diamond