What's Up At Christof's

[dcpritch]

That's about the perfect nib for me - flexible, broad and stubbish. I'll take the burgundy one.

 

Beautiful pens as usual Christof and thanks for this unique slice of FP history.

[Soot]

Is it coincidence, or do pens destined for the Swiss market have similar top mounting pen clips. That round circling crown appears on those Swiss Soenneckens also.

[christof]

Is it coincidence, or do pens destined for the Swiss market have similar top mounting pen clips. That round circling crown appears on those Swiss Soenneckens also.

 

I can't see any reasonable reason for that. I'd say: coincidence. The Pelikan 300 was different.

Edited June 25, 2012 by christof

[ethernautrix]

Your information is always so interesting -- and beautifully presented, christof. I love the line variation of those stubs!

[bphollin]

Christof, are you taking requests? If so, please show off some of your lovely non-Safari Lamys.

[christof]

Christof, are you taking requests? If so, please show off some of your lovely non-Safari Lamys.

 

Do you mean these?

I do not have that much Lamys. Only this 70's/80's stuff, two 27 and some Safaris. Will show the 27 with some others as next. Okay?

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3053/5868908168_45c1d9400b_z.jpg

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

Edited June 30, 2012 by christof

[GemMayhem]

Christof,

 

I love this thread! Thank you very much for the time and talent you invest in it - photos, stories, artwork. First Class! It's my favourite post on FPN!

 

All the Best,

Gem

[bphollin]

I love that 81! It looks so good next to the 2000s. Thanks for sharing.

[christof]

Okay. Here comes the Lamy 27, with some other pens with…

 

11. hooded nibs

 

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7251/7495055702_b35a59a8a5_c.jpg

 

For me it's an important part of the hobby, to study the differences between similar pens of different makers, or pens of the same period but from different makers. The difference in design and technic are pretty interesting I think. Hooded nibs have been very popular during a quite long period, from the 1940's to the 1960's. What have started with the Parker "51" in 1941 became a quite popular fashion feature. Pen makers from Germany, Italy and France jumped up to this. There are lots of other pens with hooded nibs. This is just my humble collection

 

Edited July 3, 2012 by christof

[tenney]

Are these pictures done "to scale" so that each pen's size is correct vs the other pens? (i.e. in the picture the P51 and Aurora 88 appear to be the same length... are they actually the same length?)

[christof]

Are these pictures done "to scale" so that each pen's size is correct vs the other pens? (i.e. in the picture the P51 and Aurora 88 appear to be the same length... are they actually the same length?)

 

yep, done to scale. that's pretty important to compare I think...

[tenney]

Indeed it is. I just wanted to check... you never can tell. Thank you very much for the photographs and all of the ongoing information!

[christof]

and next is:

 

11. Pelikans „wet noodle“

 

Some people say that vintage Pelikan nibs are the best because of the flexibility and softness. Well, to be honest, I have not seen many Pelikan nibs which really could be called flexible. Of course, most of them are really nice semi flexible nibs which means that there is lots of springyness while writing. But these nibs comes never to real vintage flexible nibs like Waterman’s did or Swan for example.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7262/7508478410_1d26f962a9_c.jpg

Well, I said most of them…. Recently, I made an amazing spotting. I found an early Pelikan 400 with a nib which has been stamped with „ST“. I have never seen this before and a little research learned me that this probably has to be a Stenographic nib. Steno is a short hand writing which uses line variation to indicate double letters for example.

I restored the pen in a hurry, impatient to try the nib. The experience was really amazing. A Pelikan 400 with a nib like my Waterman’s 52 from 1920 – a real wet noodle. But have a look your self.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8009/7512904524_115f450969_c.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7114/7512904118_d2a002204e_c.jpg

And here some writing samples:

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8431/7508477680_a982fdb4d8_c.jpg

 

This is really an amazing pen. And although I usually write with stiff nibs like Parker „51“ for example, I have a weakness for these flexible nibs. I did use the pen the whole week, and will also do the next…

[Soot]

I wish the ST nib that I had had flex like yours, too bad it didn't, thus I sold it and never looked for another one.

So, I guess I didn't find the "right" one. Oh well~

 

Christof, thanks for sharing! Now I know they exist.

[ethernautrix]

Wow, Christof! I love that Pelikan! You make it look so easy.

[hari317]

Interesting to note the clarity of the ink view window of the 1966 Lamy2000. Wonderful thread Christof!

[opus7600]

Interesting to note the clarity of the ink view window of the 1966 Lamy2000. Wonderful thread Christof!

 

+1 I've got a much more recent model, and I love the pen but hate the all-but-useless ink window.

[christof]

...this is just a quick note to show you a preview of my newest pen! I had to find out that this smooth shiny surface is nearly impossible to photograph with my usual set up, so I'll have to think about different lighting and background. Also, I should use the D700 instead of the D80. So this will take some time...

 

But here's the preview. Enjoy:

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8164/7541295564_13c2c837dd_c.jpg

Edited July 10, 2012 by christof

[wangwei]

Artist you are

[christof]

12. Got pens!

 

Although there is no need to buy pens currently (neither the time and money also…) I couldn’t withstand two great offers recently. Both are premium pens compared to the pens I already own.

This very nice and well kept Hundred Year Pen came from FPN. Still one of the best places to buy vintage pens in my opinion. Although I do not collect vintage Waterman’s, I had to have this. The Hundred Year Pen is one of the most iconic examples of the design oft he 20th. century.

 

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7269/7581377718_1cd3ddcb9e_c.jpg

 

Second is a Parker 61 Presidential in smooth 14ct. solid gold. I just love the 61 in general and had to have this top oft he line model. It’s a later production with c/c filler. (pretty hard to photograph…This picture is just a draft, I’m still working on it.)

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8025/7581378322_4cef8d07e8_c.jpg

 

That's all for the moment. Sorry.

 

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8019/7581369774_f16565bde1_c.jpg

Edited July 16, 2012 by christof