David MacKinnon is an engineer who, having made pens for other brands, set up his own pen company in England in 2006, David MacKinnon Pens. His first pen was the Honeycomb, a series of four pens in sterling silver vermeil and lacquer which sold for $3400 each (a set is listed on eBay now for offers on $35,000!). This launch pen was on the cover of Stylus magazine and featured in Pen World. In 2007 MacKinnon launched his second series, the Maverick, four acrylic pens which sold for $825. Though made in England MacKinnon pens were mostly sold in the US.
At the request of an American collector MacKinnon made his third pen in 2007, the Manhattan in titanium, the toughest metal to work. The Manhattan was available in both brushed and polished titanium, polished being unusual with titanium pens. The Manhattan, like the Honeycomb,, was planned as an edition of just 75, 50 fountain pens and 25 rollerballs. It was shown at the London Writing Equipment Show in October 2007 when I ordered one in the polished finish. Although the Manhattan edition was planned to be 50 fountain pens I doubt the full edition was made. I have not seen a Manhattan pen for sale for years and the financial crisis hit luxury pen sales from 2008.
The MacKinnon Pens company ceased trading in 2013 and the pens are now quite rare.
The Manhattan is hand-made of solid titanium with a highly polished finish. The clip is sterling silver vermeil with the imprint of the London hallmark, maker’s mark “DM”, London sterling silver hallmark and date code for 2007. The cap band has the MacKinnon Pens name and logo and the limited edition number11/75.
The pen has an 18k gold medium nib with ebonite feed by Peter Bock, a smooth medium to fine writer with well-controlled flow. It has a standard piston converter and can also be used with standard ink cartridges.
The pen in solid titanium has impressive heft, at 64g but is very well balanced for writing.
Capped the pen is 14.5cm and with the cap is posted, 17.1cm.
Condition: excellent, the pen has only been inked four times, is in excellent condition and comes with the MacKinnon burgundy leather case, box and card sleeve.
Price: reduced to £750. (UKP 750) ….. including shipping
Payment: PayPal please to: barrie51@icloud.com
Responses
www.newpentrace.net