Vintage 1930s Celluloid Melbi Transparent No.43 Fully Flexible EF to 3B 14K Nib Piston Fountain Pen with an Amazing Story! Item ID: VAR-133

Melbi Transparent No.43

Manufacturer/Model: Melbi Transparent No.43 EF/ Germany
Year of production: Mid to Late 1930
Filling system: Piston filling (Cork replaced with a new double rubber O-rings)
Nib: Fully flexible EF Solid 14K 585 gold, writes all sizes up to 3B and wider with little to no pressure
Material: High shine and gloss celluloid; Gold plated trimmings
Length (pen closed): 132mm; Posted Oversize at 165mm

Condition and information:
Offered here is a very special pen, from a very special find, several months ago, which included over 30 Kaweco Dia pens. This Melbi pen was the only other pen brand found in that collection.

The Melbi name as a brand appears a lot in German made pens, but its full history is still somewhat illusive. The peculiar thing about this pen is that it was likely sold through a Kaweco dealership, as all of the pens with it ware Kaweco. The Melbi also appears in some later Senator pens, but also as a standalone brand. Also, sharing the word Transparent with the Kaweco Transparent line might be some connecting implication this Melbi as an offshoot Kaweco brand, but that may not be the case after all. Nonetheless the pen is a masterpiece in its own right, rivaling or even surpassing any craftsmanship of the time. A very masculine pen with nice classic form, perfect feel and balance. It is one of the first piston fillers with a nice piston mechanism and a capped piston knob, also found on the Kaweco pens from the same era. The pen had its original cork falling apart, hence we have replaced the cork with two new O rings which now make the piston operate perfectly smoothly and securely. The pen has a beautiful square mesh transparent celluloid ink window as well as a black celluloid body and cap with some hard rubber parts, such as the section and turning knob cap. A beautifully decorated clip gives the pen some Art Deco feel to it. Two rings are the cap ensure no cracks on the cap; only the high-end pens featured two rings/bands at the cap.

The best part about these old pens, its their nibs. This is a super soft nib, as soft as they come, a paint brush, ready to be enjoyed. The nib slit continues 1 or 2 millimeters over the breathing hole, and it might be as this is how how it was made, or the slit appeared over time. Nonetheless, it is not compromising to the nib, as the nib just performs marvelously and will keep on performing for decades to come. The pen comes in NOS never used condition. Naturally it shows some signs of storage and ware off, but not from use, just from time. It is perfectly reliable and a joy to write with as only these old fountain pens can be.

Please follow the Kaweco Dia 85 Pen description, to learn about the amazing story as to how this pen was found...