Steff. Great work.. I prefer these 88's as compared to their Optima.. lovely pen.. well done.. I realize that this was back in 2019.. I hope you are well.. I've been reading my favorite author.. David Cornwell. Aka, Jon LeCarre'.. lives on a bluff at Cornwall.. looks like heaven.. windy, but heavenly! Frank from Boulder, Colorado, US
Compliments Steve, very nice to see how you took this pen apart and showing al the parts and details of the pen. My dad used it as a daily writer, as a child I fell in love with this pen, I'am still writing with it today. The model your showing is a little bit younger than mine, the 88 K was entirely made from celluloid also the ink window is much more transparant. The older models had a section and piston turning knob made of ebonite (you can see the discolouration), the ink window is reddish/brownish, the engraving on the section only says...Aurora 88. Anyway Thank You for a Lovely Review Steve !
Hi Steve im glad you enjoyed it. Nice to hear your still using your dad's pen. Yes unfortunately that is the problem with the earlier model like most ebonite pens they tend to discolor. Thanks for watching..
The vintage Aurora 88 is one of my favorites. I don't have an 88K, but it was interesting to see the guts in your other video. I haven't needed to take mine apart, so I'm leaving it alone. It shows the ravages of age, but it writes beautifully and just disappears in my hand when I write.
wonderful pen, wonderful work! I have Aurora 88 with ebonite knob and section which are fully discolored. Could I try to polish it with micro mesh and simichrome in order to restore nice black color? Thank you for all the helpful videos!
Is this one for sale? I own one of the first ones, with the earlier design. I am so happy with it that I would like one of the later versions, too. It looks a fairly thick line. The one I have is an extra fine, and so flexible it is mind-blowing, considering the nib is partly covered. A fantastic pen.
Thanks Stef, this is a vintage pen I wasn’t aware of and one worthy of my collection. Like you, I’m a big fan of the Parker 51, in fact I use the Insignia I bought from you daily. I also like Aurora fountains having a modern limited edition 88 and Optima in my collection. So the 88k will be added to my list of pens to acquire. Best wishes to you.
Hi Steve. Yes this one was the first that i have encountered and i was pleasantly surprised it was a lovely pen. Try and find one im sure you will be happy with it. Good luck.
I have all 3 variants, 88, K and P. The first version is my favourite, as is has a marvelous flexy nib. The other later versions came with harder nibs. Comparing to 51, I would say it feels of better quality, due to the great celluloid. However, from a reliability and consistency point of view, the 51 aerometric must be the best pen ever produced.
Well done, nice to have all the three variants. Yes i was quite impressed with this pen and the feel and quality of it. The 51 aerometric pens are very reliable so i have to agree with your comments. Thanks.
Dear Stef, Thank you for the video. That vintage Fountain Pen definitely looks better in this video than in the preceding one. However, watching this second video, I had a strange feeling of safety and fulfillment, although I did nothing but watching! Maybe that would be an example of empathy, a positive, refreshing and encouraging one, as I needed to see such wonderful transformation from separate parts to a perfectly functional body. To explain more, I would say that the dismantling and cleaning meant to me a technical success, while the final assembly signified to me a correlated multitasking pretty artistic triumph. The Fountain Pen is very nice indeed and, after your intervention looks and works like new. However, I was impressed by the similarity to the Parker 51. I was too familiar to that iconic Parker as to accept a sibling slightly different of it. I called the Aurora 88K a "sibling" as it seemed to have much in common with the Parker 51 in matter of design, construction and quality. Well, as this Aurora is one year older than me, I would pay respect to it and I would say that a Parker 51 owner would need some time to get familiar to the Aurora 88K and finally cease of making comparisons. I definitely think that the Aurora 88K in the video deserves to be considered as a distinct entity. I would let you know that, with this video, a cycle ended for me, as I struggled hard to get familiar and understand the value of the classical black colour. Finally, it became for me a symbol of the introspection, of the meditation and of gathering light inside. So, from now on I would be prepared to accept and put at the right place among the other colours the black colour as well. I let you know about that, because it was one of the many beneficial side effects your videos have had on me! Thank you again for the video and, please, join me in wishing Tony many years of happiness together with his dear fellow-the Aurora 88K you just restored! Best Regards Anton-Mihai
Thank you Anton im glad you enjoyed the video and the pen. Yes i must admit i have also learnt to admire and enjoy black pens. I find them handsome and classic especially with gold colored trim.
Dear Stef, Thank you for your reply. Now, reading some comments below, I feel in a way responsible in giving an answer to a couple of questions. Unfortunately, about the "K" letter added to the Aurora 88 name I couldn't find anything else but an indirect response, namely that the "K" maybe was a mark for the improved clip the Aurora 88K had (in comparison with the Aurora 88). I based myself on an Internet article you could read following the link below (please, scroll down to the appropriate area): newpentrace.net/articleGA01.html About cleaning the piston fillers, I would say that I haven't an ultrasonic device, but I obtained very good results by flushing them with clean cold tap water (I abandoned the current usage of an ammonia solution, keeping that only for the extremely difficult cases, meaning for cleaning after very persistent inks in order to change the ink). Unfortunately, there is no other possibility but repeatedly and patiently flushing. But there are some tricks to apply in order not to get nervous. Firstly, you should not expect to have the Fountain Pen clean in the same day you started cleaning. Start by a couple of flushing, until the colour of the expelled liquid looks less intense. At this point, leave the Fountain Pen filled with water over night. In the next day you should continue with flushing until the liquid becomes less coloured than before. Leave the Pen filled over night even if the expelled water seamed to be perfectly clean. Next morning, surprisingly, you'll see that the water inside collected some remaining ink. Please, repeat the steps before until, in the morning, the expelled water would be found crystal clear. As a rule, do not believe to the expelled water in the evening! Secondarily, before leaving the Fountain Pen over night, or even at the regular flushing before, it would be recommended to gently agitate the Fountain Pen as to move the water inside a little. Thirdly, please, when you say "Good Night" to the Fountain Pen provide to him a cushion (made by a piece of rolled toilet paper, for example) in order to put the nib at a higher position than the piston knob (the Fountain Pen should be capped, of course). This way, the water inside would be directed to the piston seal (washer, or cork) which is the front mobile part of the piston . Fourthly, never immerse the Pen. Keep in mind it was designed to hold liquid, not to be immersed! Some vintage Fountain Pens could be made of materials water sensitive (like Conway Stewart casein made barrels). Finally, I would say that making a rule of cleaning ( at every third filling, in my case) would help to obtain a better cleaning, as well as keeping the kind of ink the same all the time. That's all I could say from my amateur experience. I hope it would be useful for something, although, maybe, you would smile at it. I do all those things in a very private place. Despite that, I heard some comments in the family, saying that I was a kind of a Monk (the character in the series movie "Monk"). Thank you for the patience of reading my comments! Best Regards Anton-Mihai
Hi Anton, thank you for your comments. Most people do not have an ultrasonic cleaner therefore flushing the pen like you say is fine it just takes a little longer. Dont forget hard rubber (ebonite) also does not like water as it will dicolour it. Yes i had a smile as i read your method. Good luck with it.
Dear Stef, If I made you smile, then I am happy, too. But, don't worry, I am aware that non professional people, like me, tend to overreact. For the moment, I cannot help it, as I care much of my vintage Fountain Pens. My method goes easily and smoothly, pretty effortlessly , as I can allow it to take several days, up to a week. Soaking over night accomplishes a big part of it and, having twenty active vintage Fountain Pens , apart from two or three involved in the cleaning procedure, I can make without interruption my daily handwriting. Thank you for telling me about the hard rubber, I didn't know about it. Best Regards Anton-Mihai
Great review and a really nice pen. Do you know what the "K" means? I watched WaskiSquirrel review of his and I don't remember him mentioning the K in his description. I have been venturing into the European vintage market lately and find most are piston fillers. I filled several but find it time consuming cleaning them out for a different ink color so I catch myself dipping to try them out instead of filling. Do you have any secrets to cleaning out a piston filler beside pumping the filler water 20 plus times?
Hi Mark thanks for watching, i think the K was just another variant of the 88 i believe there was a P to. Unfortunately most pens need to be flushed out with clean water to clean them. Maybe have one pen for each colour of ink. Good luck.
@@penkino1 Stef i wondered if i could pick you brains ? Do you know how to remove a Parker inflection nib and feed. I'll not be offended if you tell me to jog on .. lol
Steff. Great work.. I prefer these 88's as compared to their Optima.. lovely pen.. well done.. I realize that this was back in 2019.. I hope you are well.. I've been reading my favorite author.. David Cornwell. Aka, Jon LeCarre'.. lives on a bluff at Cornwall.. looks like heaven.. windy, but heavenly!
Frank from Boulder, Colorado, US
Thanks Frank, im glad you like it. The 88s are quite new to me and i quite like them myself. Corwall is a lovely part of the UK. Stay safe.
Great review. I have an Aurora 88P. I have not used it yet but your review prompts me to do so now. Thanks and bye for now.
Use it and enjoy it Mike as it was designed for. Thanks
Compliments Steve, very nice to see how you took this pen apart and showing al the parts and details of the pen. My dad used it as a daily writer, as a child I fell in love with this pen, I'am still writing with it today. The model your showing is a little bit younger than mine, the 88 K was entirely made from celluloid also the ink window is much more transparant. The older models had a section and piston turning knob made of ebonite (you can see the discolouration), the ink window is reddish/brownish, the engraving on the section only says...Aurora 88. Anyway Thank You for a Lovely Review Steve !
Hi Steve im glad you enjoyed it. Nice to hear your still using your dad's pen. Yes unfortunately that is the problem with the earlier model like most ebonite pens they tend to discolor. Thanks for watching..
The vintage Aurora 88 is one of my favorites. I don't have an 88K, but it was interesting to see the guts in your other video. I haven't needed to take mine apart, so I'm leaving it alone. It shows the ravages of age, but it writes beautifully and just disappears in my hand when I write.
Hi Jason i can understand why it is one of your favorite pens i was suitably impressed with the pen. Enjoy it. Thanks for your comments.
I think these older pens are nicer than the modern counterparts. This one is beautiful. Thanks for the review. P
Yes i most definitely agree Darold, thats why i prefer vintage although i do have some modern pens.
wonderful pen, wonderful work! I have Aurora 88 with ebonite knob and section which are fully discolored. Could I try to polish it with micro mesh and simichrome in order to restore nice black color?
Thank you for all the helpful videos!
Thank you Zoran glad you enjoyed it. If there are no imprints then yes you can. Good luck and stay safe.
@@penkino1 Thanks again. I am happy that I can start working on it. Imprints will be protected :)
Good luck and stay safe.
Thanks for the nice review. I have just purchased three of these lovely pens. I am expectig them to arrive in the next days.
They are lovely pens Alfredo so well done and enjoy them.
Is this one for sale? I own one of the first ones, with the earlier design. I am so happy with it that I would like one of the later versions, too.
It looks a fairly thick line. The one I have is an extra fine, and so flexible it is mind-blowing, considering the nib is partly covered. A fantastic pen.
This is one that came in for restoration from a customer. Sorry.
Thank you, Stef. Beautiful.
Yes its a lovely pen that i have not experienced before, but i really like them. Thanks Anzan.
Thanks Stef, this is a vintage pen I wasn’t aware of and one worthy of my collection. Like you, I’m a big fan of the Parker 51, in fact I use the Insignia I bought from you daily. I also like Aurora fountains having a modern limited edition 88 and Optima in my collection. So the 88k will be added to my list of pens to acquire.
Best wishes to you.
Hi Steve. Yes this one was the first that i have encountered and i was pleasantly surprised it was a lovely pen. Try and find one im sure you will be happy with it. Good luck.
I have all 3 variants, 88, K and P. The first version is my favourite, as is has a marvelous flexy nib. The other later versions came with harder nibs. Comparing to 51, I would say it feels of better quality, due to the great celluloid. However, from a reliability and consistency point of view, the 51 aerometric must be the best pen ever produced.
Well done, nice to have all the three variants. Yes i was quite impressed with this pen and the feel and quality of it. The 51 aerometric pens are very reliable so i have to agree with your comments. Thanks.
Very valuable review. thanks for your job.
Glad you enjoyed it Sherin, thanks for watching.
Dear Stef,
Thank you for the video. That vintage Fountain Pen definitely looks better in this video than in the preceding one. However, watching this second video, I had a strange feeling of safety and fulfillment, although I did nothing but watching! Maybe that would be an example of empathy, a positive, refreshing and encouraging one, as I needed to see such wonderful transformation from separate parts to a perfectly functional body. To explain more, I would say that the dismantling and cleaning meant to me a technical success, while the final assembly signified to me a correlated multitasking pretty artistic triumph.
The Fountain Pen is very nice indeed and, after your intervention looks and works like new. However, I was impressed by the similarity to the Parker 51. I was too familiar to that iconic Parker as to accept a sibling slightly different of it. I called the Aurora 88K a "sibling" as it seemed to have much in common with the Parker 51 in matter of design, construction and quality.
Well, as this Aurora is one year older than me, I would pay respect to it and I would say that a Parker 51 owner would need some time to get familiar to the Aurora 88K and finally cease of making comparisons. I definitely think that the Aurora 88K in the video deserves to be considered as a distinct entity.
I would let you know that, with this video, a cycle ended for me, as I struggled hard to get familiar and understand the value of the classical black colour. Finally, it became for me a symbol of the introspection, of the meditation and of gathering light inside. So, from now on I would be prepared to accept and put at the right place among the other colours the black colour as well.
I let you know about that, because it was one of the many beneficial side effects your videos have had on me!
Thank you again for the video and, please, join me in wishing Tony many years of happiness together with his dear fellow-the Aurora 88K you just restored!
Best Regards
Anton-Mihai
Thank you Anton im glad you enjoyed the video and the pen. Yes i must admit i have also learnt to admire and enjoy black pens. I find them handsome and classic especially with gold colored trim.
Dear Stef,
Thank you for your reply.
Now, reading some comments below, I feel in a way responsible in giving an answer to a couple of questions.
Unfortunately, about the "K" letter added to the Aurora 88 name I couldn't find anything else but an indirect response, namely that the "K" maybe was a mark for the improved clip the Aurora 88K had (in comparison with the Aurora 88). I based myself on an Internet article you could read following the link below (please, scroll down to the appropriate area):
newpentrace.net/articleGA01.html
About cleaning the piston fillers, I would say that I haven't an ultrasonic device, but I obtained very good results by flushing them with clean cold tap water (I abandoned the current usage of an ammonia solution, keeping that only for the extremely difficult cases, meaning for cleaning after very persistent inks in order to change the ink).
Unfortunately, there is no other possibility but repeatedly and patiently flushing. But there are some tricks to apply in order not to get nervous.
Firstly, you should not expect to have the Fountain Pen clean in the same day you started cleaning. Start by a couple of flushing, until the colour of the expelled liquid looks less intense. At this point, leave the Fountain Pen filled with water over night.
In the next day you should continue with flushing until the liquid becomes less coloured than before. Leave the Pen filled over night even if the expelled water seamed to be perfectly clean. Next morning, surprisingly, you'll see that the water inside collected some remaining ink. Please, repeat the steps before until, in the morning, the expelled water would be found crystal clear. As a rule, do not believe to the expelled water in the evening!
Secondarily, before leaving the Fountain Pen over night, or even at the regular flushing before, it would be recommended to gently agitate the Fountain Pen as to move the water inside a little.
Thirdly, please, when you say "Good Night" to the Fountain Pen provide to him a cushion (made by a piece of rolled toilet paper, for example) in order to put the nib at a higher position than the piston knob (the Fountain Pen should be capped, of course). This way, the water inside would be directed to the piston seal (washer, or cork) which is the front mobile part of the piston .
Fourthly, never immerse the Pen. Keep in mind it was designed to hold liquid, not to be immersed! Some vintage Fountain Pens could be made of materials water sensitive (like Conway Stewart casein made barrels).
Finally, I would say that making a rule of cleaning ( at every third filling, in my case) would help to obtain a better cleaning, as well as keeping the kind of ink the same all the time.
That's all I could say from my amateur experience. I hope it would be useful for something, although, maybe, you would smile at it. I do all those things in a very private place. Despite that, I heard some comments in the family, saying that I was a kind of a Monk (the character in the series movie "Monk").
Thank you for the patience of reading my comments!
Best Regards
Anton-Mihai
Hi Anton, thank you for your comments. Most people do not have an ultrasonic cleaner therefore flushing the pen like you say is fine it just takes a little longer. Dont forget hard rubber (ebonite) also does not like water as it will dicolour it. Yes i had a smile as i read your method. Good luck with it.
Dear Stef,
If I made you smile, then I am happy, too. But, don't worry, I am aware that non professional people, like me, tend to overreact. For the moment, I cannot help it, as I care much of my vintage Fountain Pens. My method goes easily and smoothly, pretty effortlessly , as I can allow it to take several days, up to a week. Soaking over night accomplishes a big part of it and, having twenty active vintage Fountain Pens , apart from two or three involved in the cleaning procedure, I can make without interruption my daily handwriting.
Thank you for telling me about the hard rubber, I didn't know about it.
Best Regards
Anton-Mihai
Great review and a really nice pen. Do you know what the "K" means? I watched WaskiSquirrel review of his and I don't remember him mentioning the K in his description. I have been venturing into the European vintage market lately and find most are piston fillers. I filled several but find it time consuming cleaning them out for a different ink color so I catch myself dipping to try them out instead of filling. Do you have any secrets to cleaning out a piston filler beside pumping the filler water 20 plus times?
Hi Mark thanks for watching, i think the K was just another variant of the 88 i believe there was a P to. Unfortunately most pens need to be flushed out with clean water to clean them. Maybe have one pen for each colour of ink. Good luck.
Thanks Stef, looking forward to getting it back and using it.
Hi Tony, the pen is on its way back to you. Thanks.
I was wondering, where do you sell your pens?
Hi Josh, a lot of my pens are sold privately to my customers and viewers. I also sell some pens on Ebay at welcome2stay. Thanks
Thank you Stef . You really do wonderful work, always impressive. :-)
Glad you like it Mathew, i try my best.
@@penkino1 Stef i wondered if i could pick you brains ? Do you know how to remove a Parker inflection nib and feed.
I'll not be offended if you tell me to jog on .. lol
Mathew but i am not sure, i have just had to watch my review on the pen for any clues. Sorry i cant be of any help.
A nicer looking pen than the 51.
Depends on the colour and trim of the 51, howver these 88K pens are very nice too. Thanks