What's Up At Christof's

[christof]

There even exist a Swiss single malt!

 

http://www.saentismalt.com/de/service1/home.html

 

C.

[abstract49]

I am aware of this development, as well as the fact that Japanese makers are making whiskey in the Bourbon tradition. I am only saying that to be labeled Bourbon and sold in the U.S., it must be made in the U.S., and the same with Scotch being required to be of Scottish geographical origin.

 

I see you live in GB, and I do not know what is allowed there, but I have been led to believe that there is a similar restriction, at least on the use of the word "Scotch."

 

Here, some of the Japanese whiskies/whiskeys are shelved with the Bourbons and Scotches, but they are not labeled Bourbon or Scotch. I have not seen it, but perhaps a suitable way to describe and/or label these would by whisky in the style of Scotch or whiskey in the style of Bourbon.

[DrCodfish]

Here is a link to photos of that yellow pen I mentioned earlier. [still have not figured out how to post photos to FPN.]

[christof]

Here is a link to photos of that yellow pen I mentioned earlier. [still have not figured out how to post photos to FPN.]

 

 

This is a great pen Doc! Congratulations.

Thanks for sharing.

 

I added your picture here:

 

P1020278 by Doctor Codfish, auf Flickr

 

 

...and a quick instruction how to link in pictures from Flickr here:

 

 

Hope this helps.

C.

 

EDIT: Just recognise there's missing step 3....hmmm....getting old....

Edited July 4, 2016 by christof

[DrCodfish]

Hey, sort of working.

 

 

 

Thanks for the tip, this seems too easy!

Edited July 5, 2016 by DrCodfish

[christof]

wow, the pen seems like new....

c.

[christof]

The Duofold project goes on (see here: https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/220855-whats-up-at-christofs/?p=3630431). Here my newest:

 

 

A Duofold Special from 1930!

 

C.

Edited July 5, 2016 by christof

[DrCodfish]

OK, OK, I am not worthy!

 

 

Actually I now am on the hunt for a black and pearl, and a Lapis to go with the Mandarin and the Big Red. I know this will take some time, I am a patient man.

[christof]

Got an interesting new pen:

 

 

The Seneca looks like a German student pen from early 1930's. It's well but economic made. Some sources from the internet say that Seneca was a subbrand of Soennecken. Although there is no proof for this, there is a certain similarity to this early Rheingold from 1930:

 

 

Would be interested in learning more about...

 

C.

 

 

Remember this? I found a vintage Soennecken pamphlet. There is besides the Rheingolds a picture of a Soennecken 305(!) which looks exactly like the SENECA 305. Have a look here:

 

 

Of course, this is still no scientific proof, but it seems most likely that SENECA was a Subbrand of Soennecken. According to the Catalog, the Soennecken 305 came in Black, Blue, Green, Red and amazingly Black and Pearl!

C.

Edited July 6, 2016 by christof

[christof]

Saturday was flea market day - and a good day!

 

Here are my finds:

 

 

 

Pelikan M20 Silvexa, 1965

Soennecken 333, Superior, 1950's

Conway Stewart 28, 1950's (mint, boxed!!)

 

Three completely different but not bad pens at all. When I finished restoring, the one and other will make it to the classifieds probably. So keep an eye on it (although it can be difficult to find nice single pens there currently......between the mass sales.)

 

C.

Edited July 11, 2016 by christof

[christof]

Over the week end I worked on the Soennecken 333 Superior.

As Montblanc, Soennecken used the digits 1-3 to grade their better pens in three categories:

 

111 = top of the line, click-mechanism

 

222 = second best with slightly smaller nib, click-mechanism

 

333 = more economic but still great celluloids and flexible gold nibs, common piston filler

 

444 = injection molded plastic in solid colors, smaller nibs with „S“-Logo

 

 

555 = economic model in solid colored plastic, smaller nibs with „S“-Logo

 

The 111/222/333 came in three sizes

 

Standard size = SUPERIOR
Oversize = EXTRA

Ladysize = LADY

 

But here comes the freshly restored 333 SUPERIOR:

 

 

It’s always a pleasure to work on this well built and perfectly serviceable pens.

 

 

All parts are made of sturdy celluloid and joints are theraded solidely.

 

 

Soenneckens are often made of semi transparent celluloid with fantastic patterns. That’s what makes these pens unique!

 

 

 

But the best part of restoring these is to adjust and test write the nibs – pure pleasure and lot of fun!

 

 

This pen goes to the classifieds tomorrow.

 

Let’s see what’s next.

C.

[da vinci]

Very informative post Christof, thank you

[christof]

I have to say that I am quite in love with my two new pens - two AURORA Hastil*

 

 

The one is the classical stainless steel variant from 1970:

 

 

The second one is kind of a bronze coating over brass (don't know the correct english term). I have seen lots of silver, gold plated and lacquered variants, but never one like this. And I like it much!

 

I think that these pens are different in age, because of the different imprints. Have a look at the "R" in AURORA.

 

 

Also the clips and cap tassies are slightly different:

 

 

But both are exceptional good writers:

 

 

And the most attractive part of the Hastil is in my opinion the nib - really sharp design!

 

 

But let's see what's next, before the summer break.

 

C.

 

* (Even the name Hastil is pretty cool. "ha stile" is italian for "has style". How cool is that?)

Edited July 25, 2016 by christof

[christof]

Had a pretty successful thrift shop visit yesterday afternoon. Here's the haul:

 

 

From top down:

 

_Conklin Endura Senior size with oen of th emost flexible nibs I have ever seen. (Could be a wet noodle...)

_Greif piston filler with rolled gold overlay.

_Parker T1 ballpoint pen

_Parker "51" Aerometric. (Yes!! it is a 1948 Plum)

_Parker 45 Coronet

_Parker "51" Aerometric Black (will be a nice donor cap for the plum wich has a ding.)

 

I'd say: Not that bad!

 

C.

Edited July 28, 2016 by christof

[markiv]

Nice haul indeed. Looking forward to more of the Greif.

[christof]

Nice haul indeed. Looking forward to more of the Greif.

 

Here's another picture*. I guess the pen is from the 1950's?

 

 

(Remarkeable is the size I think. The pictures are scale.)

 

I don't know much about Greif and it's not restored yet. I think the ink window will be nice when cleaned up.

Do you know what model this could be?

 

C.

 

*click on the picture for larger view.

Edited July 29, 2016 by christof

[markiv]

Not sure about the model but hope Ariel chimes in here. He has a nice collection of these.

 

See his post here; could be the 8th pen from the left - https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/303512-greif/?p=3552701

[christof]

here's a picture of the dismantled Greif:

 

 

and here is one of the nib:

 

 

c.

Edited August 8, 2016 by christof

[christof]

Finally, I found the time to fix the Conklin Endura from the latest thrift shop haul. I really was looking forward for testing the nib. The result was no disapointement. But have a look yourself:

 

 

This was written with almost common writing pressure. The nib opens wide with only minimal pressure. Simply FANTASTIC! It's really one of the most flexible nibs I have ever tested. I guess that this is a real wet noodle!

 

 

And, I was told that flexible Endura nibs are at least somewhat uncommon. I think this pen will be a keeper (sorry Bob).

 

 

C.

[Old_Inkyhand]

Wow, you are a really lucky man... And you know where to look! The only discontinued pens I managed to find in local shops are Rotring Esprit retractable and Parker Frontier, both NOS...

This nib is a dream. Just wow.