Rotring Tintenkuli Stylographs

[Sam Powrie]

On 4/30/2007 at 5:08 AM, MYU said:

"The very end of the tips were slightly rounded, so that the pen would write smoothly for every day use. Eventually it was clear that smaller tip sizes appealed to various professionals using technical pens, so a "spezial" (or "special") version was released with different sized stylo tips provided. These had less rounded tips, for greater drawing precision."

Hi Gary,

Thanks for this detailed summary of drawing per history. I have had my (mainly Rotring) piston-filler Rapidographs since university in the 1970s. However it wasn't until about 10 years ago that I started to use them every day when I discovered they could be converted to use Osmiroid (along with some other) fountain pen nibs. 

 

I was interested to read your comment above that some of the original fine-point drawing nibs had rounded points designed for regular writing use. I have a box of style drawing nibs I've removed from my pens - is there anyway the 'rounded' versions can be easily identified other than by installing them & trying them out (I presume they behave & feel quite different?).

 

Many thanks,

 

Sam (Adelaide, Australia)

[halffriedchicken]

Thanks Gary for the interesting post! 

 

I am also interested in stylographs and have Kohinoor Rapidographs, a Rotring Variant (which uses the same nibs as the Kohinoor Rapidographs), and a stash of nibs from Kohinoor and K&E Leroy. Since I have many nibs and not enough holders, I modified a few nibs to fit a Noodler's Ahab and a Noodler's Konrad brush pen for drawing. Technical pens definitely have a different take on line variation.

[Sam Powrie]

On 12/26/2018 at 11:20 AM, Dickkooty2 said:

"I do have a question. I am trying to obtain a Tintenkuli from the 50s with a regular non-stylographic nib."

Just get yourself a Rotring Rapidograph or Tintenkuli (or similar) piston-filler pen, preferably one of the later ones with a keyed nib (they have flats on the side of the plastic nib). Remove the needle-like nib (they just unscrew if not too stuck with Indian ink) & replace with a commonly available Osmiroid Rolatip or Rolatip 65 in your choice of width & stiffness. Some Esterbrook nibs fit as well. Put a tiny dab of silicone grease on the piston while you have the pen apart (the top part also unscrews & pulls out). You may have to unscrew the dome at the top of the cap & poke out the translucent plastic humidity seal as it can interfere with proper cap fit. Voila - you have a great fountain pen! Just use ordinary fountain pen ink! I find the Rolatip 65 Broad nib works best...

[MYU]

Once again, another image hosting problem. At least the thumbnails are showing. Here's the larger resolution photos of the rOtring Tintenkuli stylographic pens:

 

[Bo Bo Olson]

On 4/29/2007 at 9:38 PM, MYU said:

Stylographs were a rather interesting variation on writing instruments that appeared around the start of the 20th century.

I'm writing a western, and Stylograph pens were popular in the 1870's and into the 1880's.

[g33klibrarian]

Did Rotring make the Tiku into the 1990s?

 

I recently purchase a Rotring stylograph — labeled on the red band as "- Tintenkuli - Tiku"— out of sheer curiosity from a Japanese online market. I'm quite happy I did as it's a surprisingly nice writer and could easily see myself picking up another given the opportunity.

 

However, I'm stuck as to when it was made.

 

Reading this thread, it seems like Rotring quit making them in the early 80s? However, my pen included filling instructions stating the pen was "Made in Germany" by Rotring-Werke. That would put the pen as made in the 90s.

 

Does this sound right for approximate date?