Circa 1940 German Fountain Pen-Need Advice

[msnovtue]

So, I'm scouting eBay for goodies, and stumble across this: http://www.ebay.com/itm/271119615255?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

 

I'm relatively new to FPs, and haven't had a lot of time research &study things yet, so I was hoping to get some advice on this before I pursue it.

 

I'm interested not just as a FP fan, but also as a Mercedes-Benz fan. One of the initial things that makes me wary is the fact that it's supposedly circa 1940, but only carries the "Mercedes" name. However, Daimler (Mercedes) and Benz merged in the mid 1920s. If it is associated with the car company, then I would think it would carry both names, or some variation of the 3-pointed star & laurel wreath symbol. (As you might have guessed by now, I know a bit more about the cars...)

 

Anyway, any advice would be appreciated....

[Ernst Bitterman]

Keeping in mind where ol' Gottlieb got the name for his car from, of course. Chances are it's not at all connected with the auto company (I wouldn't be surprised to find a pen of a similar age named Nike...).

[handwriter]

The same seller has been selling pens like this for several months. Since she/he keeps a perfect feedback score, I wouldn't be wary. I have not idea about the possible connection with the car making company.

[mirosc]

No relationship between the car company and the pen manufacturer. Just the same name. The pen manufacturer was founded in the mid '20s in Heidelberg.

[Bo Bo Olson]

The owner had worked at MB.

 

Heidelberg and the area was once the pen capitol of Germany...may be of Europe.

 

I have one.Semi-flex OM.No where near so fancy...mine is a '50s-early 60's one.

 

I also have a Frankie. BHRC Mercedes pen with a Kaweco clip.

 

That is a very good looking one. One of the prettier I've seen, but that is a lot of money for one.

 

Go to German Ebay regularly, you might find one near as good for lots less money.

 

Folks want a lot of money for pens in America or for pens posted for America.

 

There use to be a warehouse for Mercedes pens in my little village right out side Heidelberg. Casual conversation with a non pen user native. Right over there pointing it out...just an unused little brick warehouse now.

Edited December 14, 2012 by Bo Bo Olson

[Kaweco]

Hello msnovtue

There was the same question with a link to the same seller some time ago. I gave some informationes here (+ scroll down):

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php?/topic/220274-mercedes-100m-fp/page__p__2330341__hl__%2Bmercedes+%2Bheidelberg__fromsearch__1#entry2330341

and you can find a lot of copies of my infos at some web pages out in the wild.

@ Ernst Bitterman: His name was not Gottlieb (Daimler), the builder of the first Mercedes was Carl Benz.

Kind Regards, Thomas

Edited December 14, 2012 by Kaweco

[Ernst Bitterman]

Hello msnovtue

There was the same question with a link to the same seller some time ago. I gave some informationes here (+ scroll down):

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php?/topic/220274-mercedes-100m-fp/page__p__2330341__hl__%2Bmercedes+%2Bheidelberg__fromsearch__1#entry2330341

and you can find a lot of copies of my infos at some web pages out in the wild.

@ Ernst Bitterman: His name was not Gottlieb (Daimler), the builder of the first Mercedes was Carl Benz.

Kind Regards, Thomas

 

I live to serve as an example of the folly of working from the memory of sources, rather than taking the time to look it up properly.

[Bo Bo Olson]

A worker from "Matador" I got to remember that...That's also a pen I've not got.

[Kaweco]

Hello msnovtue

There was the same question with a link to the same seller some time ago. I gave some informationes here (+ scroll down):

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php?/topic/220274-mercedes-100m-fp/page__p__2330341__hl__%2Bmercedes+%2Bheidelberg__fromsearch__1#entry2330341

and you can find a lot of copies of my infos at some web pages out in the wild.

@ Ernst Bitterman: His name was not Gottlieb (Daimler), the builder of the first Mercedes was Carl Benz.

Kind Regards, Thomas

 

I live to serve as an example of the folly of working from the memory of sources, rather than taking the time to look it up properly.

Hello Ernst, Sorry I hope I did not offend you. I live near Ladenburg and visited the Benz Museum several times. There was always a local competition between Benz and Daimler. Here are some more Informationes (sorry OT)

Carl Benz developed several parts for the gasoline motor and got a patent fot a light motor in 1878. In 1885 he invented the first automobile with a gasoline motor. Carl Benz` wife Bertha Benz "borrowed" one of the prototypes without permission and made the first long trip from Ladenburg to Pforzheim, 104 kilometers in nearly 13 hours.

Benz never talked to Daimler who was a strong competitor. The Maybach & Daimler works won a court case about a patented part in a motor against Benz in 1896.

Emil Jelinek, who traded with Daimler and Maybach cars ordered a racing car which he named after his daughter Mercedes. Since 1901 Mercedes was an official trade mark. ( I did not know this)

Daimler died in 1900.

1926 there was a fusion among Benz & Cie and Daimler Motorengesellschaft to Daimler Benz AG.

After the purchase of Chrysler 1998 the name was changed to Daimler Chrysler AG, since 2007 Daimler AG. Alas, the name of the early inventor Benz was deleted.

Once a year there is a „Bertha Benz Memorial Tour“ for historic automobiles starting from the Benz Museum in Ladenburg. Very interesting for Oldtimer fans

http://www.automuseum-ladenburg.de/

Kind Regards

Thomas

Edited December 15, 2012 by Kaweco

[Otter1]

Hi,

 

I actually picked up one of these pens from that seller after drooling over it for several months--the seller must have a box of them. They are nice pens, and look brand new. The nib on mine was semi-flexible as is typical for this brand, and for most 40's German steel nibs --which is why I collect them.

 

Here's an ebay link to a box for a Mercedes pen, just for background:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/MINT-cardboard-pen-box-MERCEDES-Koenig-NOS-never-used-/160444555187?_trksid=p2045573.m2042&_trkparms=aid%3D111000%26algo%3DREC.CURRENT%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D27%26meid%3D4159427708236264627%26pid%3D100033%26prg%3D1011%26rk%3D2%26sd%3D160448803192%26

 

-Otter1

[Kaweco]

Some more Mercedes. A red hard rubber safety and some more rare colored Mercedes.

Black chased hard rubber or plastic, the big Mercedes Dublo and a small pocket pen which imitates a little bit the Kaweco Sport

Kind Regards

Thomas

http://i844.photobucket.com/albums/ab1/Thomasnr/Mercedes1_zps9e0de506.jpg

http://i844.photobucket.com/albums/ab1/Thomasnr/Mercedes2_zpsf7444a60.jpg

Edited December 15, 2012 by Kaweco

[mirosc]

Some more Mercedes.

 

Thank you for those pictures and sharing your informations!

I'm always amazed by your profound knowledge of German pen history. I've got only some minor bits and pieces of a few things, but there is so much more...

[Ernst Bitterman]

Hello Ernst, Sorry I hope I did not offend you.

 

Not a bit! Even if you had, those pictures would abolish any sullenness; I'm amazed, looking at those, that they're not better known.

[Otter1]

Wow Thomas--those are beautiful pens--thanks for sharing them.

 

-otter1

[Bo Bo Olson]

Mrs. Benz bought her benzine/gas in the pharmacist shops the only place it was available.

Carl Benz had only driven the car around the city square, so the first real car driver was a woman.

 

I've been to Ladenberg, Benz museum, his old house. They have a copy of his first car steered by a front rudder. . A very pretty city with 'fachtwerk' houses, the clay and straw houses with the crossing wooden beams.

 

They have a nice baseball field and a good team. I as an old man just short of 50 was the batting coach of a small town on the outside of Heidelberg, and even got into a few games. (it was ten yards longer between bases than when I was young, but I could still hit.)

The rules say in the lower leagues only one American can be on the field at the same time on a team. That is HS level. Collage level is played in Mannheim and a four other places. I was under the impression two

Americans can play at that level, and three semi-pro players.

In the lower league one semi-pro, normally he is both the coach and pitcher.

Baseball is a very minor sport in Germany played where the Americans had bases for many decades.

[Kaweco]

....those are beautiful pens....

Yes, indeed. And it is nearly unbelievable that these jewels of beauty and technique often were made in narrow and dark workshops like this:

http://i844.photobucket.com/albums/ab1/Thomasnr/fl_zps00da611b.jpg

BTW, it is sad that the initial poster seems not to have any interest in this thread...

Kind Regards

Thomas

[provis]

It's really fascinating.

 

I've always loved Mercedes's guilloche pattern on the pen body because it elevated the BCR in a refined manner, but I never imagined they made celluloid and gold filled models too.

 

The red rubber safety is especially breathtaking!