1920s Signet Gold-Filled Flat Top Fountain Pen - SUPERFLEX

Vintage: 1920s

Make: Signet (De Witt–La France)

Model:  All Metal Flat Top

Materials: 1/20 Gold Filled

Filling System: lever-filler (resacced and guaranteed to fill and write as designed)

Length: This full-sized model measures 5” capped.

Nib: Super-Flexible 14k Warranted nib lays down a smooth and consistent XF/F line that widens to a 4B+ (approx 2.4mm) under light pressure

Condition: Gold-filled surface is entirely free of brassing apart from a thin sliver around the top edge of the cap. No deep scratches or dents but there are a couple dings on the cap like the one below and to the left of the clip (see uncapped photo) and there is a light but notable scratch that doesn’t penetrate the plating around the middle of the barrel. Ends are perfectly round. Cap posts securely on the end of the barrel. Manufacturer imprints are deep and fully legible.

Details: Signet was a house brand of Rexall, a chain of drug stores that contracted with various makers to produce pens sold exclusively through them (as stated on the barrel imprint of this pen). Signet pens were manufactured for Rexall by the De Witt–La France company, founded c.1918 in Cambridge, Mass. Despite being a smaller company, the workmanship and quality of their pens are every bit as high as those from the American Big Four. This one is of the thicker all metal construction (no underlying hard rubber), marked "1/20 Gold Filled" on the barrel. Has a substantial heft in the hand. The exterior has been machine turned in a chevron-and-bar pattern. Elegant teardrop clip marked ‘PAT. PEND’. Complex lever design with trailing support bar resembling Carter’s design.