What's Up At Christof's

[dcpritch]

Great find! The condition of this pen is fabulous - was it in good shape when you got it or did it require some time on your operating table?

[christof]

Great find! The condition of this pen is fabulous - was it in good shape when you got it or did it require some time on your operating table?

 

As I said, the pen comes from a change trade and it was in near perfect condition. On the other hand... I had to spend several Soenneckens for this, including a Präsident...ouch!

[rhr2010]

Fanstastic rare pen! Congratulations! I love the cap. I would prefer the black binde though...I think you made a model of this pen back in time if I remeber correctly by turning a cap.

 

I saw on eBay one of those heart hole nibs (just the nib) with starting price $500...rare birds indeed!

[christof]

[dcpritch]

Yeah!!! Online AND a new post from Christof, a double blessing! Hello friend, did you find any **new** pens over the last couple of weeks while FPN was having its troubles?

[christof]

David

Actually, there is a new pen...

A recent pen find did allow me to do a very attractive change trade with a well known member of the pen community. I spent my find (and some cash of course) for this wonderful Empire capped Parker “51“!

 

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8232/8556493767_99b6224535_c.jpg

 

The Empire cap has been a long time grail pen for me, and still is. Now I have my own!

 

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8524/8556568263_a13aa3a506_c.jpg

Of course you have noted the personalization on the cap. Although it's nicely done, I was thinking about removing it professionally. (A close friend of mine is jeweller...) But then again, by closer view I noted this. The Initials are: C.M.N. Now guess what are my own initials? It's C.M.Z. So with some imagination (you just have to rotate the last letter 90° cw) are there MY OWN initials on this pen. Funny, isn't it? I think I'll leave them for the moment.

Edited May 6, 2013 by christof

[christof]

In the meantime I was thinking a little bit more about the Empire cap. Beeing an architect, it's a quite cool thing to own a pen which is called after, or which does refer to the famous Empire State Building at New York City.

 

But is this really correct? Actually, I couldn't find any proof for the origin of this Name. The Parker "51" book, dose call these caps "Heirloom" caps, as all the other solid Gold caps too. There are two names for this pattern mentioned: "icicle" and "Emipre", but none of them seems to be an original Parker term.

 

 

Well, as already said do I prefer the term "Empire" cap. A short Research showed me that the Empire State Building has been built in a very short time from 1930 to 1931. It is designed in the distinctive art deco style.

Now, the pattern of the empire cap shows vertical lines in different lenght. Actually, the pattern has similarity to a stylized skyline of a Skyscraper city.

 

 

 

And here's a Picture of the original Empire State Building:

 

http://www.newyorkpersonalinjuryattorneyblog.com/uploaded_images/Empire-State-Build-777631.jpg

 

 

 

The reason for this typical shape is the zoning law from 1916.

Quote from Wikipedia: "The New York City 1916 Zoning Resolution was a measure adopted primarily to stop massive buildings such as the Equitable Building from preventing light and air from reaching the streets below. It established limits in building massing at certain heights, usually interpreted as a series of setbacks and, while not imposing height limits, restricted towers to a percentage of the lot size."

There are lots of other NYC skyscrapers with the same design Feature. For example the Nelson Tower (1931):

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-C1FojEjZ_M8/UOXMdQ1SB0I/AAAAAAAAMS4/KDinBUQeMx0/s640/nelson+007.JPG

The interesting thing in my eyes is that the pattern on the Parker "51" cap does not show the shape of a single building, it shows a graphical illustration of a zoning or building law. So to speak it shows the design key for all the art deco shaped skyscrapers of that time. Ten years after the most of this buildings has been built, art deco came also into pen design. Now that is interesting, isn't it?

 

More about the zoning law can be read here: http://www.skyscraper.org/EXHIBITIONS/FUTURE_CITY/NEW_YORK_MODERN/walkthrough_1916.php

Edited May 13, 2013 by christof

[Soot]

Christof, thanks to you, I've learned something new today. Never knew there was a reason behind the design of Empire State Building: zoning laws.

[christof]

Christof, thanks to you, I've learned something new today. Never knew there was a reason behind the design of Empire State Building: zoning laws.

 

Well, in the most cases, architecture is the sum of all external conditions and circumstances...

[dcpritch]

I work with zoning laws every day but never knew they were the reason for the shape of buildings such as the Empire State Building. Great research, and thanks for sharing it!

[christof]

_{I just wanted to Show you this before the week end. Usually, I do not really care about ephemera...but I really am fond of this fantastic gift box with pen, inkwell and pen stand. Unfortunately it's impossible to get one. That's why I had to have this vintage Advertising brochure. I love this vintage graphics!}

_{http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7290/8743915730_f323f1d395_c.jpg}

<sub>This advert must be from 1935-1937. (The black AUCH Pelikan pencil has been introduced in 1935 and was made until 1938. A black and green one, matching to the pen has been introduced in 1937...)


The language is German and the prices are Swiss Franks.</sub>

 

_{http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7288/8742796719_b2bfc5634d_c.jpg}

[christof]

Last Saturday was flea market day and me and the Kids were there. Except of lots of playmobil, we also found this: It's one of these so called "Swiss Soennecken" wich were made for the Swiss market only. (I wrote about that here...) It's an elegant 1950's pen in great condtion and has marvellous and flexible nib. There's no number on this pen, but probably it's a 116 size.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7331/8780719587_d11964f9df_c.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7423/8780720087_76fc5fa893_c.jpg

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2811/8787292950_cae888b625_c.jpg

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5467/8787293530_b20592630a_c.jpg







Have a look at this writing sample:

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3668/8787294318_056699c3c2_c.jpg



This is one of these pen mysteries I still don't understand. Why did Soennecken manufacture pens for such a small market as Switzerland only?

 

 

 

Edited May 24, 2013 by christof

[Inguz]

That is a wonderful find Christof!

[dcpritch]

... one of these so called "Swiss Soennecken" ...

 

 

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5467/8787293530_b20592630a_c.jpg

 

 

I love this photo - the composition, focus, depth of field, lighting, and especially the subject, with the concentric cap top and gentle curve of the clip, and the beautiful color of the cap and barrel. Fantastic! Thanks Christof for showing us another gem!

[peterpen53]

Great find, Christoph! And what a nib! Was this the condition you found it in?

I'm inclined to ask you where this flea market is, in case I get to Switzerland later in the year.

 

 

Cheers,

Peter

[christof]

Recently, I bought a pen on ebay. Usually, I do not buy pens on ebay and restored pens not at all. But this one I had to have:



http://fountainpenboard.com/forum/uploads/1370027419/gallery_19668_246_29881.jpg


Probably, I payed to much but you'll see why I had to have this...

These smooth black hardrubber Waterman's pens can't be found every day here in Europe, and the vest pocket size not at all!

http://fountainpenboard.com/forum/uploads/1370027419/gallery_19668_246_206372.jpg

The smooth black pen isn't a 52V like the others but it's a 12V PSF which is theoretically the same pen just according to the old numberign system. At least, that is what I think...

As already said here several times, I do not really collect Waterman's pens but I really have a weak spot for this lovely vest pocket pens.

[dcpritch]

Wow Christof, these are great looking pens! I prefer these 52V models to the 52 1/2V as the former are thicker and easier for me to use - short, stubby pens that look fantastic.

 

I'm always intrigued when I see a line-up of same model pens because there are so many tiny variances, such as the placement of the lever box in the barrels, the length of cap, and other nuances. It makes me wonder how such differences came to be, if by design, by chance, by inattention, or what. Regardless, I'd love to have such a wonderful collection of these great pens. Well done!

 

DAVID

[ethernautrix]

Gorgeous photos, as usual. But that writing sample - wow! I LOVE that! I need to look at the vintage pens with those fabulous nibs, for drawing!

[yus2001fr]

What an nice collection of Waterman's !

 

This brand is not my cup of tea but your family of 52V (and the 12V ) is really interesting.

[MisterBoll]

Christof, I got the pen you sent in perfect order. Yoir packaging was very good and it arrived very quickly. I could not be more pleased. Thank you!