German Pen - Markings In A Cap

[rustynib]

Hi fellow FPNers,

 

What is this the meaning of the marking in this cap (the "diamond" with a C with in the centre) ?

The golden pen was no brand, but the nib it similar like a V model Kaweco.

 

Thanks All,

 

rustynib

 

[JLS1]

My guess is that the mark is either:

- a jeweller's marking to show who did the gold plating/overlay; or

- some standard marking to show that it's authentic gold.

 

That said, I could be totally off on this one...nice pen nonetheless!

[Kaweco]

Hello rusty

It looks like the DEGUSSA marking. DEGUSSA is a German trade mark of a corporation for extracting gold and silver from other metals. (Deutsche Gold und Silber ScheideAnstalt) DEGUSSA did not make fountain pens but they made and make e.g. fine gold metal plates. The character which you identified being a "C" is the half-sun and half moon which stands for gold and silver.

Nice pen

Thomas

Edited June 25, 2015 by Kaweco

[JLS1]

Hello rusty

It looks like the DEGUSSA marking. DEGUSSA is a German trade mark of a corporation for extracting gold and silver from other metals. (Deutsche Gold und Silber ScheideAnstalt) DEGUSSA did not make fountain pens but they made and make e.g. fine gold metal plates. The character which you identified being a "C" is the half-sun and half moon which stands for gold and silver.

Nice pen

Thomas

 

Thomas - was/is this Degussa the same ones who used to make FP nibs?

[whych]

 

Thomas - was/is this Degussa the same ones who used to make FP nibs?

The same Degussa. They also made up the odd pen under the Degussa label.

 

The C is really a circle with radial lines running from the outer border, which is Degussa's mark.

[rustynib]

Thanks All, Kaweco and whych, for the accurate info !

 

rusty

[rustynib]

Like this ?

[Kaweco]

Hello rusty

Yes, that`s it. The DEGUSSA began to make nibs in 1932 after the crash of the Parker- Osmia- Connection in Dossenheim near Heidelberg/Germany. The Osmia went to bancrupty but DEGUSSA rescued them by giving a loan and taking over the nib production in Dossenheim. So the old DEGUSSA nibs had exactly the same quality compared to the famous Osmia nibs. The Osmia imprint remained on the nibs or the "half sun imprint" had been used for other fountainpen companies who did not make their own nibs e.g. Böhler. 1932 the gold price inflated tremendously and within the nazi era the use of gold had been prohibited. DEGUSSA invented the alloy "Palliag", made from Palladium and Silver which is extraordinary good for nibs. Within ww2 only steel nibs had been made. After ww2 the nib production went on and since 1948 gold nibs had been made. Until 1970 500,000 gold nibs and 11 Million steel nibs had been made per year. Then the nib production went down and DEGUSSA moved back to Hanau/ Germany. Another big competitor in the direct neighborhood besides Rupp and Bock came on display: Mutschler (Reform)

Kind Regards

Thomas

[rustynib]

Thanks Thomas! Inportant info !

José

[Bo Bo Olson]

Great post, Thomas.

[Sertorius]

Really fascinating post from Thomas, weaving a nib maker into the broader context of history. This is why I enjoy this forum.