Value Soennecken?

[pompa]

Hi, I have stumbled upon a black Soennecken 222 Superior that I might be able to buy for what seems like it might be a good price...but I know nothing about the brand or what it might actually be worth.

The seller describes it as being in excellent condition (yes, I would buy it unseen), see the pics.

So, could anyone tell me how much one of these would sell for on ebay?

[Bo Bo Olson]

I'd guess 100-150 euro. If it was a Herringbone @ 300.

A 111/222 Lizard will go for 500 euro.

 

Hopefully my wife played the lottery yesterday.

 

I don't have one, the basic other Soennecken's were over my limit, and have increased in price lately. The once I chased 111/222 Herringbone, I was a distant third.

 

The nib should be a maxi-semi-flex/'flexi' nib,like a Pelikan 400NN.

 

at least a semi-flex.

 

Soennecken made very grand nibs.

 

 

 

The 111/222 Soennecken was the best pen made in it's era; The era of the MB 149 and the Snorkel.

 

Soennecken was the first German Pen maker. After the turn of the century, it fought it out with Kaweco, who used the American best in the world Morton nib...(Kaweco made a deal with Morton, importing a Morton nib factory and the American nib makers and families to teach the Germans in April 1914...then came August).until 1930 when Kaweco first went bankrupted...I think the nib quality had to be sacrificed.

MB was up there but not the Top Two according to Kaweco a historian poster here. Number 3.

 

From the 30's to the mid 50's Soennecken and MB fought it out in Germany.

Soennecken was too late getting into the ball point market, so the Office supply company Soennecken closed down pens in 1960.

MB went bankrupt in @ 1980.

The new owners stopped MB from making pens for everyone, positioning it solely in the high market.

Edited June 30, 2012 by Bo Bo Olson

[pompa]

Thank's for a great answer Bo Bo! Like the 400NN you say? Well you did talk me into getting one of those hehehe

Do you know how old this 222 might be?

[markiv]

A very lovely example.

I am curious about its filling mechanism - is it the click piston filler or a regular piston filler?

This year at the Chicago Pen Show Gary Leher (gopens.com) had a bunch of the usual lizard skin/herringbone Soenneckens but without the click piston. These are cheaper than their complicated brethren.

I have to double check but these were produced during late 40s and 50s

[Bo Bo Olson]

In the early '50's the small 444 in (black only), come out, next came out the slightly bigger 333( is solid tones...more than likely black, but in red and green also), there after 222 in five colors; black, lizard in silver gray, turquoise, rose-red, and a silver lines on a black background.

There were many nibs.

Finally the 111 came out in Black, Fish-bone( Herringbone also, fish bone is not only herringbone)Silver-black, silver-green, sea-green, rose-wood (color), light and dark tortoise.

 

Info from Lambrou's book. Didn't quite date the pen.

 

So I'd thing a 222 first came out in say '54-55, and was done by 1960.

 

The market was poor for expensive fountain pens.

 

Soennecken tried making cheaper pens with a French company...but pulled the plug on pens @1960.

 

To misquote Freddy, "Ball points killed the Radio Star."

Edited July 1, 2012 by Bo Bo Olson

[tenney]

I see a few books by Lambrou. Which one contains the most information on Soennecken pens? Are there any online sources that describe the differences / features of the various models? I've found http://wiki.penciclopedia.it/Soennecken/en which is interesting but doesn't get "into" the differences of models.

[pompa]

It's a click piston. I tried to snipe it as a target of opportunity, but someone else got it for $100.

The same seller had a Pelikan 400NN that sold for the same, and couple of MB's that sold for $260 each.

[Soot]

...the usual lizard skin/herringbone Soenneckens but without the click piston. These are cheaper than their complicated brethren.[/font]

Simpler, yes. Cheaper, no. Perhaps during its production days...

 

pompa, for $100 it's bargain. Better luck next time~

[pompa]

It was not in my budget to bid higher this time (like I said, I just stumbled upon them and thought I would give it a go), so I guess I can just be glad for the guy who got it, and there will be other opportunities down the road.

[georges zaslavsky]

a very good pen congrats

[simp]

I see a few books by Lambrou. Which one contains the most information on Soennecken pens? Are there any online sources that describe the differences / features of the various models? I've found http://wiki.penciclopedia.it/Soennecken/en which is interesting but doesn't get "into" the differences of models.

There are few informations on Soennecken, at least in Italy where I live. And Lambrou books are, at least for an historical point of view, quite bad.

 

I got some from some German friend, but all I could find is it that page. Anyway 111 were the top line, followed by the 222, then 333 and also 444. But the ones having the "click" piston filler are the 222 and the 111 (not sure about 333, I don't have any). They are at least 3 size, Extra (big), Superior (medium) and Lady (small).

 

That for the '50s period. But they made very good pens also before, and there are some Rheingold with wonderful celluloid colors.

 

I'll put more info if I can get more.

Simone

[tenney]

Thank you for the information. Loving to find out more about these great pens.

So, there's a 222 with a click piston, without a click piston, and in three different sizes?

 

I have an S4 and guess that it's much more of a student's pen, and "below" the 444. True?

[simp]

Thank you for the information. Loving to find out more about these great pens.

So, there's a 222 with a click piston, without a click piston, and in three different sizes?

 

I have an S4 and guess that it's much more of a student's pen, and "below" the 444. True?

I think so, but I don't have that one so I cannot be sure 100%.

 

Simone

[tenney]

Well, if the S4 is a student pen or a starter pen, I don't care -- it's a lovely smooth flexy writer and I love it.