MS889 Arnold Lever Filler. (Medium)

MS889 Arnold Lever Filler. (Medium)

Date: c1930s

Size: Length - 124mm capped; 142mm posted.

I bought several of these old Arnold pens in a job lot.  They appear to be all old stock and unused which is very unusual for these, as they are usually used to death.  The Arnold pen company started in 1935, and these celluloid pens were probably made in the late 1930s.  At the time, they were the second largest pen manufacturer by volume in the world!  They are not great quality - I believe they would have originally sold for around 25 cents in the 1930s, but it is very unusual to find one here in the UK, and even more unusual to find one that has never actually been used.  This pen is in an almost reverse "black and pearl" celuloid rodstock - it is primarily black with white "pearl" chunks.  The tapering pocket clip has a ball-shaped terminal and below is a very narrow cap band.  The long filling lever is also gold plated.  This pen has a black hard rubber gripping section and a gold plated Arnold nib.  

I have fully serviced this pen.  It writes surprisingly well for such a budget item, producing a very nice wet and consistent medium width line.