What's Up At Christof's

[Josele]

Thank you Christof, as always. The logical question: how do you make the hole in the perfect center of the seal?

[christof]

Thank you Christof, as always. The logical question: how do you make the hole in the perfect center of the seal?

 

As already written: First I do cut the outer diameter half way ( and as can be seen on the pictures) then I set the smaller cutting tool in the middle of the circle. That is not geometrically perfect in the middle but precise enough.

[christof]

...hope you did lots of cork seals in the meantime...

 

Well, I'm back with some pictures of my collection again. As already said before, I didn't collect boxes. Until now. I recently had the oportunity to catch an original Pelikan 100 box from 1932-1937 complete with illustrated instruction manual in German language. I just couldn't resist. I always loved this boxes, which are quite cleverly designed. The dimensions of this simple card board boxes are exactly the lenght of the pens, diagonally! This prevents the pen from rolling around in its box. How clever is that!?!

Here the pics:

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8467/8124373422_f2f4cd599a_c.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8050/8124374266_66bff93ec2_c.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8473/8124369559_39fb4d6bad_k.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8472/8124354805_cb73f8f713_c.jpg

And this is a 100N box with a manual in Croatian language. Note the different proportions: That's because the Pelikan 100N is longer than the 100.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8323/8124372304_f237231284_c.jpg

Now I think in general, matching boxes can be a quite cool adition to a collection. What do you think? Have also a look at this cool Lamy box:

http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6061/6161971213_c96175c0b6_z.jpg

 

...perhaps, I should have more of these. But let's see what's next.

Edited October 26, 2012 by christof

[markiv]

Well it is not that bad to be MIA especially when one is greeted with such wonderful posts. Your illustrations are always great and I think they are a valuable resource for the Pendom. Please keep 'em coming.

Here are some pictures of Prasident pens to give yours company.

http://i.imgur.com/U9SRd.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/fG7ao.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/OBjCX.jpg?2

[christof]

Thank you Vik for adding your excellent pictures. Together, we have a great "presidential" collection…

 

I just note that the older one of your Präs. has also an 18 ct. nib...

Edited October 28, 2012 by christof

[christof]

I just have fixed my first Snorkel!

 

...and wanted to share the pics of it. It's a quite basic model, a Admiral I think. Not a big deal for the most of you, I know, but hey, this was the first time I got one in my hands!

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8331/8135276511_0029638c15_c.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8327/8135274353_bc130259ff_c.jpg

 

Unfortunately this is not my pen, bt I think I should have one or two in my collection. What do you think?

[fountainbel]

Hi Christof,

Just found this post, ........AMAZING !

What a beautiful collection, such excellent restorations, and then your nice sketches...

Hats off for you my friend !

Francis

[christof]

Thank you Francis.

I feel honored to get such compliments from a skilled and professional repair man like you are! I also love your technical sketches and section drawings of pens. I've learned a lot this way from you.

Christof

Edited October 31, 2012 by christof

[christof]

Perhaps you remember one of my older posts here - #102 "12.Got pens!" from July... Click Here

 

I was showing two new pens of mine but admitted that I wasn't that happy with the quality of my pics. The reason was that the pens are quite difficult to photograph, a shiny Parker 61 presidential and a Waterman's 100 year pen made of lucite.

After several of attempts, I decided to try a different background. For the lucite Waterman's I did choose a glossy white surface and for the Presidential a black one. Here are the results:

 

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8467/8115329546_cb24157496_c.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8044/8137936082_e8358e0a5c_c.jpg

 

I think the picture of the Waterman's is not that bad but the Presidential still shows to many black reflections... So I'll have to try again. I'll let you know...

[peterpen53]

Well, IMHO, the Waterman looks great. It clearly has a dark blue, transparent air about it.

and that

Parker is a (polished?) metal pen. That would always be difficult. Perhaps with very subdued and diffuse lighting? (I'm not a good photographer, so this may be all wrong)

 

 

Cheers,

Peter

[raging.dragon]

To suppress the bright reflections on the polished metal Parker, would probably require a light box to diffuse the light, plus multiple light sources from different angles. If you can accept the bright reflections and just want to get rid of the dark reflections of the background, the glossy white background might work, or perhaps a less glossy (satin or matt) light grey background.

[karmakoda]

Oh my, went exploring and look what I found....I'm late to the party...

This thread is a Gift to the FPN....WOW...Thank You Christof!

I just spent a captivated hour from Page 1 to here.

Incredible pens, stories, and information, love your drawings, and your photography is an archive of excellence.

Thank You for your generosity!

I feel soooooo fortunate!

Now, would you please write a book on time management, how do you do it all? :hmm1:

Greg

[christof]

Now, would you please write a book on time management, how do you do it all?

Greg

 

Greg, this is not a difficult questions and there's no book needed to answer. Just this: No Television.

...hope this helps

Edited November 5, 2012 by christof

[subramaniyam]

Now, would you please write a book on time management, how do you do it all?

Greg

 

Greg, this is not a difficult questions and there's no book needed to answer. Just this: No Television.

...hope this helps

 

Absolutely gorgeous work.... Is it possible you could some pictures of your workshop? I would really like to see the 'atelier' from which such jewels are produced; I am sure others on this forum will concur. :-)

 

Regards,

Subramaniyam

[christof]

Absolutely gorgeous work.... Is it possible you could some pictures of your workshop? I would really like to see the 'atelier' from which such jewels are produced; I am sure others on this forum will concur. :-)

Regards,

Subramaniyam

 

I have no idea why this could be of interest for you but here is an Iphone pic:

 

...perhaps I should mention that this is not a "Pen only" workshop. Most of the time my kids bungle around here and there's always lots of kids stuff and toys for repair. A usual pen working session takes one hour of cleaning up and 15' for pen repair...

...ahh, an I forgot to mention the thousands of bicycles I have to fix all the time.

 

Sometimes, I wish it would look like this:

Edited November 6, 2012 by christof

[kaushla]

...hope you did lots of cork seals in the meantime...

 

Well, I'm back with some pictures of my collection again. As already said before, I didn't collect boxes. Until now. I recently had the oportunity to catch an original Pelikan 100 box from 1932-1937 complete with illustrated instruction manual in German language. I just couldn't resist. I always loved this boxes, which are quite cleverly designed. The dimensions of this simple card board boxes are exactly the lenght of the pens, diagonally! This prevents the pen from rolling around in its box. How clever is that!?!

Here the pics:

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8472/8124354805_cb73f8f713_c.jpg

And this is a 100N box with a manual in Croatian language. Note the different proportions: That's because the Pelikan 100N is longer than the 100.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8323/8124372304_f237231284_c.jpg

One assumes that the green box on top is meant for the Pelikan 100N and the turquoise box below it for the Pelikan 100. I have a box with Romanian and German instructions almost exactly like the box on top. The green seal inside has four chicks instead of the two in this one. The Pelikan 100N (two chicks pre-war logo) fits a little loosely and diagonally into the box. One assumes that it was meant for the first generation Pelikan 100N. Is it possible to display the instructions in the Pelikan 100N box as well?

I should also mention that I identified and disassembled the 100N pen with your assistance.

Best wishes,

Kaushla

Edited November 8, 2012 by kaushla

[christof]

Is it possible to display the instructions in the Pelikan 100N box as well?

 

It is not possible, I am sorry. I do not have the box by the hand and I couldn't scan the instructions properly because it's glued in to the box. But It's identical to the instruction of the Pelikan 100 except the language of course and the last illustration of the pen stand. It shows the newer trumpet-style pen stand. Otherwise, it's identical.

 

I should also mention that I identified and disassembled the 100N pen with your assistance.

 

This is good to hear! Congrats.

[karmakoda]

Now, would you please write a book on time management, how do you do it all?

Greg

 

Greg, this is not a difficult questions and there's no book needed to answer. Just this: No Television.

...hope this helps

Thank You Christof

 

When I find the time, I will polish up my old Pelikans and try to make some good photographs.

Television, oh my mis-spent youth. These days I am addicted to the British crime series, such as "A Touch of Frost", "George Gently", and "Dalziel and Pascoe", and rarely watch non PBS programming.

Thanks to Subramaniyam, very much appreciated the work area photos.

This is an old photo of mine. The two pens to the right are BHR, Bohler and Hardtmuth.

Thanks for the inspiration.

Greg

 

http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz218/Valaccar/P1010238.jpg

[peterpen53]

If there is any more of that I do hope you will find the time, Greg.

And there are much worse addictions than British crime series.

[christof]

Here I am again with the last and finale report of "Swiss Connections #IV"

 

For the ones of you who missed the parts #1-3 here are the links:

#I can be found HERE

#II can be found HERE

#III can be found HERE

 

The pen of this report is well known to the most of you. It's the Pelikan 300 made between 6/1953 and 11/1957.

This pen was made in green striped and black striped only. One say that the Pelikan 300 was sold in Switzerland only but there's no proof and no reason known why...

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8488/8181960054_0ca94c6154_c.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8477/8181923303_727ce0f312_c.jpg

 

The special thing about the Pelikan 300 is a combination of the design of the 140 and the size of the 400.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8069/8181393805_59f00d0b0e_c.jpg

Theoretically, it is possible to build a Pelikan 300 from parts of Pelikan 140 and 400. But original 300 are marked with imprints on both, capband and barrel as well.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8202/8181429208_dfb1b6c7d8_c.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8477/8181429050_d3a27fa591_c.jpg

 

Perhaps Swiss people was known for conservative taste and that's why Pelikan decided to produce this model...? Would be interesting to know more about this story.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8059/8181394149_d27756696c_c.jpg

 

...but let's see what's next!

Edited November 13, 2012 by christof