MS783 Pitman's "FONO" Lever Self-Filler, boxed. (Soft Fine)

MS783 Pitman's "FONO" Lever Self-Filler, boxed. (Soft Fine)

Date: c1950s

Size: Length - 128mm capped; 161mm posted.

This is a large and beautiful Pitman "FONO" shorthand pen in black with gold filled trim and original 14 carat gold Warranted nib.  There are no cracks, splits or chips to either cap or barrel and I can't even find any surface scratches.   In fact, the only damage I can see on this pen is a tiny bit of plating wear to the edges of the pocket clip, and on the upper part of the pocket clip ball.  The cap has a large black hard rubber top button.  This holds on the gold-filled washer-style pocket clip.  The flat-ended barrel has an excellent and deep imprint.  The long filling lever has a small circular end tab.  It is undamaged with no brassing to its gold fill.  The 14 carat gold Warranted nib is undamaged and in a fine point.  These FONO Pens were actually made by Waterman, and on this example the feed rather gives the game away as it is a standard Waterman feed.  I am not sure if the box is original.  It is heavily taped and appears to be plain with "SHORTHAND PEN"  written on the top of the lid in pencil and a name and address written on the base of the box in ink.  Inside the box is the original receipt for the pen dated 1960 with a separate instruction sheet. 

I have fully serviced this pen.  It fills and writes well.  The nib is very smooth and lays down a consistent, wet and fine width line.  It also has a little softness and will produce a tiny bit of line width variation.