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The Simplo Filler No. 2
This pen is from the personal collection of Ariel Zuñiga - a generous contributor on FPN, seminal Montblanc collector’s books, and now this website. Watch out for a series of reviews of truly rare pens thanks to AZ’s generosity!
The Simplo Filler No. 2 is a truly rare pen with a simple-yet-ingenious filling system inspired by the "matchstick" filler patented in 1904 by Wedlich.
The Simplo Filler Co. was founded in March 1908. A few years later it became the "Montblanc" that we know. The pen under review is a rare one manufactured during the first few years of the company, maybe around 1912. The nib is imprinted with "New York" because Montblanc used to buy its nibs from the US at that time.
The filling system is simple and effective, You take off the cap and use the stick on its top to push a pressure bar in the barrel which in turn compresses a sac that fills up with ink. Clever and clean!
I have never before seen this pen or read about it in any books. Ariel, the owner of this pen, confirms that he has seen a similar one with an imprint "Simplofiller – Weidlich & Simpson Pat. May 24 – Aug.2.04 – Jul.24.06 – Cincinnati. O. USA" on David Nishimura's website in the past. He notes while there is a strong resemblance between them, the pen reviewed here has a clear imprint "The Simplo Filler Pen", and is clearly distinct from the older model of Weidlich. See the official patent of the filling mechanism dated 2nd August, 1904, by Otto Weidlich in the US. What a truly beautiful and rare pen!
Bibliography:
Rösler, J., & Wallrafen, S. (2014). Collectible Stars I: 1908 - 1947.
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