What's Up At Christof's

[amberleadavis]

Hi all, finally, here comes the:

 

7. "„hour of the hunter“

 

Last week I was out in the suburbs of my town for visiting a building site. On my way back to the office I took a different route than usual. The weather was fine and riding bicycle in the city is fun. At a place, I never have been before I realised a very small antique shop. Usually, theese shops are closed the most of the time except on week ends, but this one was opened. I stopped and went in. Then the usual dialog started :

 

Me: „ "I am looking for vintage fountain pens, do you have some ? «

Shop guy: "„Fountain what?“

Me: "„pens, you know, for writing, with ink!“

Shop guy: "„nope, never seen one since 50 years.“

Me (disappointed) : « thanks, by…. »

But then, something amazing happened. The guy said:

"..„….ahmm…, wait a minute, I know what you mean. ... it’s all in this box…“

<a href=" title="DSC_0005 von 2" bei Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7094/7295332832_8a422e1876_c.jpg" width="800" height="579" alt="DSC_0005"></a>

Well, usually I’m not interested in vintage tin boxes, but this time… but have a look yourself what was inside:

<a href=" title="DSC_0009 von 2" bei Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8152/7293239242_73bfde57d8_c.jpg" width="800" height="516" alt="DSC_0009"></a>

 

This is really amazing and weird. The first time in my life as a hunter I catched that amount of pens at one time. Seems that I’m a quite good hunter but unfortunately I am a bad actor and the guy realised my blinkin eyes and he doubled the price in the moiety of a second before I could ask about the price. I was in a rush because the next meeting was waiting at the office so I grabbed all the pens, payed the guy what he asked for and went back to work. At home, I opened the box again. Lots of the pens were broken, or missing something. The good thing is, most of them are Parkers, Pelikan and Soennecken. So I can use them as donor pens in the future. But there are lots of nice Pelikan 140/400 100N and 100. Also lots of Parker 51 and vacs.

Here are only the nicest ones:

<a href=" title="DSC_0010 von 2" bei Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7092/7293239942_83aafd7693_c.jpg" width="800" height="544" alt="DSC_0010"></a>

 

…yes, you are right: this is Nassau Green, and yes, the silver grey vac is oversize, and yes again, the Pelikan 100 has a striped jade green binde…..

 

But now the really shocking part oft he story:

Do you know what the guy said to me when I left the shop???

 

Guy: "...„….ahermmm, …I remember now …there must have been about five of this boxes…but once, there was a guy which bought em all…,...all are sold now…“

Me:“….... ahermmm....….“

 

I don't know how I've missed this thread ... DANG ... what a great story and cool pictures.

[christof]

 

I did this little Comic Strip for fountainpenboard. But FPN is also part of the Story so I think it's okay to post it here also. Hope you like it!

 

http://fountainpenboard.com/forum/uploads/1365090782/gallery_19668_246_216312.jpg

 

 

Edited April 5, 2013 by christof

[ethernautrix]

The fish are very charming. :-)

[christof]

The fish are very charming. :-)

 

fish !?! ...that's how I look!

[Soot]

LOL~

 

The comic strip and your reply to ethernautrix is hilarious!

 

And if one day you do decide to post your creative ideas on FB and leave us on FPN, and decide to scale down your collection--- Iam sure most of the FPN members will carry the burden for you. That is one cheap way to go too!

 

I would miss your pen finds/stories/sketches though. That would be most disappointing.

[pmn]

fish !?! ...that's how I look!

 

Cool glasses though!

[christof]

LOL~

 

The comic strip and your reply to ethernautrix is hilarious!

 

And if one day you do decide to post your creative ideas on FB and leave us on FPN, and decide to scale down your collection--- Iam sure most of the FPN members will carry the burden for you. That is one cheap way to go too!

 

I would miss your pen finds/stories/sketches though. That would be most disappointing.

 

Thanks for the kind words my friend.

For sure I will not leave FPN in near future. There's no better marketplace to buy and sell pens than this!

…but fountainpenboard is an interesting forum too. Lots of knowledgeable members and experts in U.S. pens. Why not join both?

 

(…and lets forget about facebook. Nerver been there, never will be there. pens only!!)

[christof]

 

Finally!! …it's official. A part of my collection has gone to the museum. Have a look at here:

 

MUSEUM of DESIGN ZURICH

 

Some years ago the Museum has become a client of the organisation I work for, my client. I had a lot of opportunities to visit their collections. I had to find out that the collection for writing instruments, particularly fountain pens, was poor.

 

We (the manager of the design collection and me) decided to found a fountain pen collection in the next couple of years. We started with a small donation from my collection. That's what you see now online. (partly, my photographs and descriptions were used too. Unfortunately in German only for the moment. English versions will be added soon.)

 

The main focus of the collection will be Pelikan, but also other makers will be represented. Lots of work for the future!

 

Let's see what's next!

 

[mirosc]

Finally!! …it's official. A part of my collection has gone to the museum.

 

Congratulations!

Very well deserved.

[pmn]

I’m not a facebook user either, but allow me to plant a big “like” on this post.

Excellent initiative Christof!

I keep you in the highest consideration, I like people that make things happen and truly appreciate the abnegation it takes to contribute with these fine specimens.

Well done!

[peterpen53]

A very praise worthy initiative, Christoph.

 

Of course I immediately clicked on the link to see the museum's offerings, but... is access Swiss-only? I got nothing but a blank page, both in Safari and Chrome.

 

Anyway, I might come to Zürich later this year. Where do I find this museum?

 

 

Cheers,

Peter

[christof]

A very praise worthy initiative, Christoph.

 

Of course I immediately clicked on the link to see the museum's offerings, but... is access Swiss-only? I got nothing but a blank page, both in Safari and Chrome.

 

Anyway, I might come to Zürich later this year. Where do I find this museum?

 

 

Cheers,

Peter

 

Ausstellungsstrasse 60, Zurich

 

MUSEUM

 

The link seems not to work currently...probably another up date is done. Try later again.

[peterpen53]

Thanks, Christoph.

[BMG]

Wow, that's great and interesting news! Very generous of you IMO to donate pens from your collection. Please keep up posted on how the museum's collection grows, and whatever pen exhibitions there might be.

[christof]

A very praise worthy initiative, Christoph.

 

Of course I immediately clicked on the link to see the museum's offerings, but... is access Swiss-only? I got nothing but a blank page, both in Safari and Chrome.

 

Anyway, I might come to Zürich later this year. Where do I find this museum?

 

 

Cheers,

Peter

 

Ausstellungsstrasse 60, Zurich

 

MUSEUM

 

The link seems not to work currently...probably another up date is done. Try later again.

 

 

The Link seems to work again.

 

MUSEUM of DESIGN ZURICH

 

Edited April 8, 2013 by christof

[dcpritch]

Glad to see all your hard work on the museum project is bearing some fruit. I continue to enjoy your posts and creativity.

[peterpen53]

 

The Link seems to work again.

 

MUSEUM of DESIGN ZURICH

 

Very nice presentation! I love the old pencil sharpener.

[christof]

Time to jump in and Show a new pen again!

 

For this pen, I've been looking and searching a long, long time. It's a Pelikan from 1929. This is the very first Pelikan fountainpen and first Piston filling pen of the world. Yes, I know, it Looks like a Pelikan 100 without cap bands, but when Pelikan came up with their first foutain pen, the number 100 didn't exist yet. It just was called "Pelikan Füllhalter" which means "Pelikan fountain pen".

 

The first year Pelikan is different to the later Pelikan 100 in several main features:

 

1. The Barrel and section are one Piece made of Bakelite

2. The cap is bandless

3. The nib has a heart hole

4. The cap top is cylindrical and not conical.

 

But enough of education, here Comes the pics:

 

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8256/8651569650_29b797f60a_c.jpg

 

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8396/8651600702_5a0cf90f58_c.jpg

 

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8536/8650501751_cff223c26b_c.jpg

 

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8537/8650501621_2b11ac67cb_b.jpg

 

This pen comes from a change trade and I don't have to mention that it cost me an arm and a leg, but I love it!

 

 

 

 

Edited April 15, 2013 by christof

[peterpen53]

This must have been a very satisfying find! On first sight it does look like a 100 that is missing something.

 

What strikes me most is the simplistic beauty of the nib. Great stuff, Christoph!

[Soot]

We all must have lost many arms and legs to acquire the pens we want...

 

At first sight I thought something was not right, and, duh! It's the first year "heart-hole" nib!

 

Great acquire, Christof!