In 1921 the Wahl company produced their first self filling pen under their own name, the Wahl All Metal Fountain Pen. It was also known as the Whal Art Deco pen, made when the movement was at it's zenith. Contemporary lever fillers, with a metal casing, were made by overlaying the metal on to a hard rubber pen, but Wahl, largely because of their vast experience in working metal, were able to dispose of the hard rubber and build an all metal case.
The patterns were engine turned and given names, an individual pattern may have lasted for around 8 years but this 'Ring Colonial' was only made in 1928 into 1929, it is one of the least common and most prized of the metal pens.
The Ringed Colonial design consists of fine longitudinal 'milleraies' lines interspersed with pairs of wide rings cut into the cap and barrel in a repeating pattern. The three cuts are filled with black enamel to striking effect. The plain 'Colonial' design does not have the rings.
The set has been restored and tested and is in first class working condition. The Gold filled casings are ding free and the imprints are clear and crisp. The lever filling system works well and takes up a decent volume of ink, given the small size of the pen. This feature was one of the selling points that Wahl emphasised, it was the result of the absence of a hard rubber casing underlaying the metal and allowing use of a larger ink sac. The 14Ct. Gold nib, stamped with the Eversharp name, writes with a firm, fine line.
The pencil, a perfect match for the pen, operated by turning the cap to expel the lead with a manual retract. A new lead has been fitted to the pencil and it is in excellent working order.
The box is new and of high quality, it will serve well for transportation, protection, and display.
The pen, a ring top, was a probably made as a 'ladies' version, although it was not marked or marketed as such at the time, I have seen one contemporary advert pointing out how impressive the pen would be on a man's watch chain. The capped length is 9.4 cm., excluding the ring, and grows to a very usable 12.8cm. when posted.
The Wahl Pen was introduced when the Art Deco movement was flourishing and ceased production at around the same time that the movement was losing influence in 1929. The all metal construction was revolutionary, it represents an important milestone in the evolution of the fountain pen.
The Wahl Eversharp Ringed Colonial is a sought after, and very collectable item. A near mint set is now extremely hard to find.