SOENNECKEN Sub-Brand ? The Tower

[fin4]

Hi

This is my first time doing this

but I was wondering if anyone knows

anything about a fountain pen

called The Tower?? History?? Are they good??

I bought it from someone who said

is was a sub-brand Soennecken.

Thanks

[Oxonian]

Hi fin,

 

It might be an idea to ask if one of the admins would move this post to writing instruments or pen history, you might get more results.

 

I have seen Tower listed as a sub brand of Soennecken on several e-bay sales but know nothing further than that, if they are as well made as Soennecken pens then they will be very good, the nibs are as a rule very nice to use.

 

Cheers, John

[mr goldfink]

Hi

This is my first time doing this

but I was wondering if anyone knows

anything about a fountain pen

called The Tower?? History?? Are they good??

I bought it from someone who said

is was a sub-brand Soennecken.

Thanks

Hello

 

Soennecken Tower pens are very hard to find export versions made mainly for the US and Swedish market. They are clearly Soennecken as can be seen by the piston mechanism, feed design, nibs, and pocket clips which are identical to Soennecken's main brand pens.

 

The Tower pens did however have their own unique designs. There is an extensive range of these pens but they are so very hard to find. Rare examples can be found in fantastic marbled celluloid (brown marbled being the scarcest colour, but green perhaps the nicest), and hard rubber.

 

The Tower pens are generally (but not all) chunkier in size than the average Soennecken and were made only for Export. As such fewer of them were made and they are EXCEEDINGLY rare. As they are generally not widely known to other than very well informed Seoennecken collectors, a bargain can sometimes be picked up. However, as more collectors are becoming aware of The Tower brand the prices are set to shoot up significantly as has happened with other German brands in recent years.

 

Soennecken as a brand is increasingly sought after and the obvious investment prognosis is very good.

 

Look out especially for the Tower Extra and Superior pens with 14kt gold deco cap bands (which Sellers invariably fail to spot thinking it is just gold filled!). These pens are Tower's top of the range pens from the early 1940s and are both large and as you might expect of the highest quality.

 

Also look out for Tower City, Lord, Queen, Prince, King models. The latter three even come in a beautiful striped celluloid pattern which resembles the Parker Vac pattern. Ridiculously hard to find pens and very sought after especially by Italian collectors for some reason.

 

Hope this post has been helpful.

 

Goldie

Edited July 1, 2007 by mr goldfink

[AndyHayes]

There seems to be plenty coming up on electronicBay UK with the same sales blurb each time.

[mr goldfink]

There seems to be plenty coming up on electronicBay UK with the same sales blurb each time.

All from the same Seller though you may have noticed - clearly someone with a sizeable collection who is either shedding his collection ....or downsizing it.

[fyldepenne]

Here is a Tower Superior pen

in rare marbled brown with

14K TOWER cap band.

Definitely Soennecken.

Definitely for export to the Scandinavian market.

Enjoy.

[mr goldfink]

Here is a Tower Superior pen

in rare marbled brown with

14K TOWER cap band.

Definitely Soennecken.

Definitely for export to the Scandinavian market.

Enjoy.

 

Hi Fylde

 

Very nice picture but hang on till I get my new camera delivered as I have quite a few Tower pens of my own to share with you (including a quite excellent green marbled Extra with 14kt TOWER cap ring and one of the LARGEST nibs you will come across in the vintage German kingdom!!).

 

Watch this space......

 

Tower pens weren't made just for the Scandinavian market - I have a Tower nib which clearly states 'Made in the USA'.

I think it is super rare specimen...as all the other Tower nibs I have seen have the same old written on them. Either 'Tower 14kt' or 'Tower 14kt 585.'

 

BTW I also have a brown marbled Major which is very nice..and like yours in quite glossy condition.

 

Cheers,

 

Goldie

Edited July 5, 2007 by mr goldfink

[fyldepenne]

Hi, Goldie.

I look forward to seeing your Tower collection.

Perhaps you have other Scandinavian pens? For example, Conway Stewart's Svangstrom's pens?

As you can see, my Tower has the "Tower 14 Kt" variety of nib.

I seem to recall a brand called "Tower" from the USA as distinct from Soennecken, perhaps a 3rd tier pen, but I am not certain?

Best regards.

 

 

[mr goldfink]

Hi Fylde

 

Here is a photo of a few of my many Tower pens. Check out my post in the new Members thread to see the other photo.....of a fantastic Tower Extra in marbled green....(which I'm thinking of selling on Ebay this week btw).

 

Best regards

 

Goldie

 

 

http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f181/dasdaman/Julypens030.jpg

Edited July 6, 2007 by mr goldfink

[mr goldfink]

Hi Fylde

 

I am aware of Svangstrom and Big Ben, but it hadn't clicked that Svangstrom was a Swan sub-brand. Another similar brand you might like then would be Hoover which also made very nice pens from a similar period.

 

My Tower USA nib is clearly Soennecken. It not only came fitted to a vintage Soennecken Tower Minor pen (with signs of build up on it concomitant with its age) but is identical to all the other Soennecken/Tower nibs (which were made in the same factory but with different imprints) except it also says Made in USA. The separate Tower USA brand made cheap drab pens with poor nibs that look nothing like the one I have.

 

I will consider your offer for the Tower Extra but I have already been offered £200 for it. I think it go for about a bit more than that though so am holding out.

 

Have you seen the UHU pens - they also are very interesting and high quality. I have a few and they are among my favourites for build quality and stylish design. Here is a photo of a nice large UHU 'Die Feder' from the 1930s. It is stunning with a yellow marbled clip screw and is very large- almost as big as a 1950s Montblanc 149.

 

Cheers

 

Goldie

 

http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f181/das...Julypens028.jpg

 

http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f181/das...Julypens027.jpg

Edited July 7, 2007 by mr goldfink

[eckiethump]

There seems to be plenty coming up on electronicBay UK with the same sales blurb each time.

 

I am pretty sure I know the seller you are talking about, he is an avid collector, his knowledge an information is also very good for european brand pens. He has a fine eye for detail and quality, quality being the pre-requisite

 

et

 

 

[mr goldfink]

There seems to be plenty coming up on electronicBay UK with the same sales blurb each time.

 

I am pretty sure I know the seller you are talking about, he is an avid collector, his knowledge an information is also very good for european brand pens. He has a fine eye for detail and quality, quality being the pre-requisite

 

et

Thanks Eric

 

I'm rumbled - Thought it wouldn't take long for you to find one of my Soenencken related posts!!!

 

Are you going to be about today as we could go for a coffee if you're free. I have some nice new additions to the collection which you might like to see.

 

Cheers

 

AS

 

 

Edited July 7, 2007 by mr goldfink