Product Description
Type Vintage retractable safety fountain pen
Product Name unknown
Manufacturer and Year Soma Pen, France - 1930s-40s (??)
Length 5" long
Filling System Retractable safety filler. We've restored and tested the system and it's working very well.
Color Mottled red hard rubber with gold-plated trim. One skinny cap band.
Nib FINE nib. It's smooth and soft - not enough for line variation, but pleasantly bouncy. Not marked as to gold content, but it could be 14k or 18k.
Condition Excellent condition. No cracks or chips, scratches or personalization. This is an early retractable pen in a classic material. We can't find much information about the pen company, just a few scattered references on message boards, but this pen seems to be in great condition. The safety mechanism works smoothly and well. The cap band has some brassing on the edges. The clip has brassing on the edges and a little bit down near the ball, as well as one dot of pitting on the top face. The cap and barrel are both in great shape - there is microscratching, but the surface is smooth and the color is uniform.
Richard Binder's web site has some excellent information on the anatomy and design features of safety pens.
