Hi gang, I'll be spending most of the month of March in Ukraine, and of course, I thought I'd try to hunt down a vintage pen or two actually made in Russia (or Ukraine). I know zero about them, but certainly there should be some decent collectibles or at the very least a vintage great writer or two. Certainly there were tons of pens in the Soviet era which were not imported. The last couple of times I was in Eastern Europe I saw a few stationary shops, but carried only new Waterman's, Parkers, etc (surprisingly enough for me anyway)

Any tips on names/makes/models to hunt down?

Thanks,
Dave

Hi Dave,

I'll be interested to read if anyone responds to your query with information. I've had quite a number of customers from Russia over the years, and all of them reported to me that they grew up using Hero pens from China!

Let us know if you find out differently after your trip.

There was a Russian version of the Parker 51 sold on eBay a few weeks ago. It had an engraving of the Kremlin (I think).
I recall that there was a spcecific brand name but can't remember that ow.

Dave, did you try doing a search on this forum? I recall we had at least one, and probably two, threads about this topic. My memory is vague, but I remember a couple people who grew up in Russia commenting that they grew up with very poor FP's. Chinese pens were mentioned, along with a couple Russian names. The consensus from the ex-pat Russians was not to bother with Russian pens.

I might have an opportunity to go to Ukraine this summer for my church. If that trip comes to fruition, I intend just to search for targets of opportunity and learn while I am there. I don't care if I can never write with any FP's I find, I will still bring some home.

I will be very interested in any after action report you might share with us from the trip.

Isn't Penkala a Russian manufacturer?

Here is one discussion we had back in October.

Thanks for the info and the thread link..

So it looks like Soyuz is the brand I'll be chasing after while I'm there. I'll report on anything else I find out. I won't be near Saint Pete on this trip.. but hopefully I can find at least one in great shape in Ukraine.. I'll be back in Moscow in the fall and I'll look there and get up to SP. In Russia, if any item is over 50 years old, there's a bunch of hassle getting it out of the country, but with pens, I should be able to just carry them out. My jacket goes through the X-ray, but never been closely searched in the last couple of years. Ukraine customs barely even look at westerners anymore. I can probably carry a handful out if I can find them.

Penkala is Croatian according to that other thread... but I'll look for those as well as there should be some good ones around.

Dave

I think Soyuz was also the name of their rockets or missions in their space program, wasn't it?

Wow, Russian fountain pens, I hadn't thought of that. Do they use tubes?

Sorry, couldn't help myself.

JD