Summit Cadet S100 fountain pen

I left the London Writing Equipment Show last week, dear Readers, with a Cadet in my pocket. Yes, Palimpsest is now the proud owner of a Summit S100.

Summits were made by a Liverpool-based pen manufacturer which was established in 1899 as “Lang Co. Ltd”, became Curzon, Lloyd & MacGregor Ltd, then Curzons Ltd in 1920, L. Wilson & Co Ltd in 1928 and finally settled for the name “Summit Pens Ltd.” after the Second World War – a wise move since Summit was the most successful pen this company ever produced.

S models were the most commonly available Summit models, the earliest being manufactured in 1929. You can find out all about them in the Summit Pens website created by Summit collector, Paul Martin. 

My Summit Cadet has got a stunning barrel and cap with a wonderful green marble effect, very vibrant and pearlescent. The cap is a screw-on with a black flat top (slightly concave), a metal clip engraved with the word “Summit”, and a single nickel trim. In contrast with other Cadets dating from the late 1940s I browsed in the site above this one’s barrel has a rounded end. “Cadet S100 Made in England” is stamped near the screw thread. The pen measures 124mm capped, 140.5mm uncapped. 

There is a delightful 14ct flexible nib, producing ever so smooth writing. The Cadet is a lever filler so lifting the lever compresses the ink sac inside. You place the nib in the ink, close the lever and wait for 10 seconds to allow the sac to inflate completely. I’ve inked the Cadet with J. Herbin Vert Empire (to match the exterior). The nib succumbs easily to pressure making writing a real pleasure.