What's Up At Christof's

[dcpritch]

Christof, nicely done repair, especially with only "basic equipment", though I venture your repair desk is more completely equipped than the average hobbyist.

And the pen - not only does the nib have amazing flex but the lovely middle cap band matches the cap top and turning knob - very nice indeed!

[christof]

Some posts ago, I wrote about a Matador and my new love to this brand. Now, I was able to get another one. One oft he most beautiful Matador I ever have seen… (…okay, may be not as beautiful as the blue ones shown here by FPN-pals Azuniga and Kawuska (not to speak of the coral red, the black and pearl and….) grrrrr.)

 

It’s a Matdor Express 815 in gray celluloid. Probably made in the 30’s. The pen is quite big and has a Matador New York nib, size # 6(!). Simply nice.

But the most special thing is that also the mechanics of this pen is made oft he same celluloid as the cap. I never have seen something similar on a German made piston filler. But have a look yourself:

 

 

 

 

 

I really like much! And yes, I definitely need a Turbo Matador now. Right now.

 

…but let’s see what‘s…

 

c

Edited December 12, 2014 by christof

[pelman]

Beautiful pen, that Matador.

 

Love the sketches and work on the Swan was a treat.

[DrCodfish]

Wow! You have got to be very happy with that, a wonderful writer and a great looking pen to boot.

[christof]

Just wanted to show you some quick shots of the newest restoration job I did over the week end. The pen is a Soennecken 510 piston filler in very good condition. Only some cleaning and a new cork seal were necessary to let it shine as new.

 

These pens are not extremely rare. I did found a couple of them in the past, but it has become harder to find them in the last two years. I think that is why I probably will keep this.

 

The uncommon thing on this pen is the nib. It's the first time I have seen such a nib on a Soennecken. The nib size is EF and the tip is ball point. "Kugelspitze Extra Fein" in German, short: "KEF".

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

c.

Edited December 15, 2014 by christof

[Soot]

Wow, real nice! KEF, you don't see them too often!

[Ambien]

Great colors on the Soennecken 510. Also, is the KEF the equivalent to the manifold nib elsewhere? Sorry, as I've never written with one but always curious about them. Thanks.

[christof]

Also, is the KEF the equivalent to the manifold nib elsewhere?

Not at all! Kugelspitze is just the shape of the nib tip. It's German for ball point. Even Waterman's made nibs like that:

 

 

The Soennecken nib is soft and elastic as well.

 

The German equivalent to Manifold would be "D" in combination with the tip size, like DF or DEF.

 

C.

Edited December 16, 2014 by christof

[tmenyc]

Christof --

beautiful Soennecken , beautiful pictures! I have a mint (well, appears to have not ever been filled) Schulfuller with the S19 nib that I'm going to sell, would love to upgrade to the 510 range. Love your photography as well.

 

Tim

[christof]

Thank you Tim.

c.

[Ambien]

Thank you for the correction and reply to my question.

[amk]

Those Matadors are lovely. Damn, Christof, just as I narrow down my German pen collection to Osmia and Kaweco (and a few accidental Pelikans) you manage to find another brand to get me interested again! Wicked, that's what you are :-)

[christof]

 

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Edited December 17, 2014 by christof

[mirosc]

Merry Christmas, too! (and thank you for all the photos in the last year!)

 

PS: Luckily you don't burn the candle from both ends...

[Ambien]

Merry Christmas and Happy NYE

[christof]

[christof]

A Year has gone and lots of pens have crossed my way. The most of the have been resold here but some stayed in my collection too. Time for review. Here are my humble additions in 2014.

 

 

From left to right:

 

Early celluloid/HR Pelikan IBIS from pre war production. Nice little pen and much harder to find in good condition than the after war pens.

 

Pelikan 112 with solid gold overlay from ca. 1935. Mint/boxed condition. A pen which usually would be out of my price range but lucky circumstances allowed me to buy this beauty.

 

Soennecken 110 from 1950's. These pens are rather uncommon and are mostly found in Switzerland.

 

Soennecken 510. Fantastic large pen (largest in series) in great condition with a uncommon KEF nib which means extra fine with ball point tip. I don't really collect Soenneckens but this is a keeper.

 

Matador 915. This is my favourite of all of them.The pen is relatively long and in great condition. It's fitted with a huge #6 Matador nib, made in New York ( the early Matadors have imported nibs...). But the most special thing about this pen is that the whole pen, inclusive cap top and mechanics is made of the same celluloid. I can't remember to have seen this on a similar pen.

 

The Matador 814 is also a great pen with a reliable piston mechanics. It's my first Matador which I decided to keep and build a small Matador collection.

 

The Turbo Matador is a present from a good pen friend. It's a prewar pen probably made in the twenties. It looks a bit like a Montblanc but the Turbo mechanism (which actually activates the pusknob by turning) is way more elegant.

 

Sheaffer Snorkel Triumph. This is my first and probably last Snorkel. I have a couple of PFM and Imperials and like the design and Snorkel mechanism. I always wanted a Snorkel too but it don't feel well in my hands.

 

Danish Parker Duofold Senior, streamlined. I bought this one from another board member because most of the Duofolds made for Denmark have flexible nibs. This one is no exception and a great adition to my small Duofold collection.

 

French Waterman's vest pocket size. I bought this just because I had the opportunity to. The pen is unmarked but exactly 52V size and fits surprisingly well in to my collection of 52V's.

 

Parker Duofold Lady in RHR. This is an early RHR pen from1923, probably a Lady pen with Junior cap. But the imprint is crips as new. I really love the feel of RHR.

 

The Parker Duofold Lady Lapis was a catch from FPN. A true Lady pen and my first Duofold in Lapis Celluloid. Nice.

 

but let's see what 2015 will bring!

 

C.

[Soot]

That 52V, wonderful! Of course, let's not forget that gold Pelikan~ :-)

[Ambien]

Great photos of your latest acquisitions. I'll look forward to seeing new FPs in the upcoming year

[christof]

After a long time I was finally able to complete my color range of Parker "51" Vacumatics.

 

 

The last missing color was mustard. I was able to get one for a reasonable price but the metal parts were in poor shape. That's why I decided to use the plastic parts (which were in fine condition) to upgrade my black Empire capped pen. I always was thinking that mustard is the best matching color to the two toned Empire cap.

 

 

Yep, I think there's a good reason for, why exactly this pen is on the cover of the Parker "51" book!

 

But let's see what's next.

 

c.