Amazing Vintage 1930s Reform LUXUS No.70 Fountain Pen - Barleycorn Black Shiny Celluloid & Snake Clip w/ 14K Super Flex Nib from the "Attic Find" Item ID: REF-080

Reform Luxus - Black Celluloid - Barleycorn

Manufacturer/Model: Reform Germany/Luxus Model No. 70
Year of production:  Exact year unknown, estimated mid to late 1930s
Filling system: Piston filling (Original cork replaced with x4 HQ rubber O-rings - silicone greased)
Nib: 14K 585 - F Fine - Super Flex melts on paper, writes up to BB/3B, super wet and consistent; Original Ebonite feed
Material: Cap & Barrel - cast and bored black celluloid. Green Ink Window. Turning Knob & Cap, Grip section Ebonite/Hard Rubber. Piston parts metal. Cast and Gold Filled clip and rings
Length (pen closed): 123mm, Posted: 157mm posed
Condition and information:

Date this pen published & listed: February 13th 2025
This is the 3rd Reform pen/type from the find "Attic Find" to be listed.
The first two being the  Reform Luxus Jade Green & the Reform Luxus Blue Chevron

Context & Provenance:
To read more about the circumstances about how and where this pen was found, please visit our blog page here. Article: "June 2nd 2021 - The 80 Year Lost, 300+ Pen Attic Find"
This find was also covered by The Pelikan's Perch in the article: "Treasures In The Attic: A Time Capsule Rediscovered"


Reform Luxus Model No.70

With this Pen listing we are starting to list some of the Black Reform celluloid pens from the Attic Find. There were about 15 or so Reform pens in the Attic Find, some in very minor used condition, some with only some minor traces of ink in them, we assume pens that were only dipped in the shop for testing or maybe even some pens that were brought back for repair, service or tuning as was a "thing" back then. Some of these Reform pens were completely NOS - new old stock condition, meaning it was obvious they were never dipped in ink or used. The corks are clean as on the day they left the factory. So it was a true pleasure to the first people to touch and explore these pens as they were left close to 90 years ago. Most importantly however, is the fact that all Reform pens had their original 14K gold nibs. This was not the case with some other brands, which either had their nibs replaced with steel nibs at that time, or some were missing the nibs entirely due to the fact that they had been salvaged for gold, either then or years later. You can find out more as to why we know that was the case in our Blog Post.

The pen listed here is one of four Luxus model No.70 in an astonishing shiny Black Celluloid with hand made barleycorn finish. These were accompanied by their smaller companions, what were then called Lady Size models, the No. 69, which will be listed in the following days.

The craftsmanship and quality of these pens is simply astonishing, same as described for the Blue and Jade Chevron models, so the same description applies. These even surpass Pelikan and Montblanc craftsmanship and quality in some if not in most respects, as Reform had much to prove as they were the underdogs.

If some thought that Montblanc came up with the Snake head/body Clip, they might want to reassess that belief. Reform made "Snake" clips as early as 1930 with their first models, and by the time the rest were doing it, they even modernized the shape of what we call Gen 2 Snake Clip to a modern multi-faceted design as on this model 70 and the Lady model 69. Simply astonishing as to how far and how good Reform were at this time. Please explore the photos to find out more.

All of the Model 70 and Lady 69 pens had been gently and thoroughly brought back to life, i.e. the "restored" word does not actually feel right, as besides the cork change to rubber O-rings, minor lubrication, there was nothing done on them except cleaning and light polishing. They are basically as they were some 90 odd years ago. We were even tempted to leave the original corks on, as hard may be to believe, their pistons were actually still operating flawlessly, moving smoothly and creating perfect vacuum with their original wood corks!

...

When this pen was made, Reform was what Apple was in the 1980, a rebel company, with bold goals, no compromises, one drive only, making the best pens ever made! Several engineers from the then well established pen companies left to found Reform, (mainly from Kaweco), after their bold ideas and passion wouldn't be heard at "IBM", they left and founded Reform. This was the result.