What's Up At Christof's

[Soot]

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

 

C.

 

Haha, no worries~ I will be around, just in case, who knows. :-) Enjoy the Conklin!

[christof]

Next is…

8. “the swiss connection 1“

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/61764212@N02/7166007067/" title="Soennecken_115_1 von 2" bei Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8166/7166007067_b94564db14_c.jpg" width="800" height="266" alt="Soennecken_115_1"></a>

It is well known that some manufacturers did made some special models and variants for specific markets. Like Pelikan did with the 300 for the Swiss (and Scandinavian ?) market, or Waterman’s with the piston fillers also exclusively for Switzerland.

So did Soennecken with an entire Series of pens in the 1940’s and 50’s. The most significant feature is a clip which is fixed at the top oft he cap, like military clips. The clip screw is a flat and grooved brass part. There is not that much known about this pens. They came in different colors, sizes and models but all of them that I have seen have this sort of a military clip.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/61764212@N02/7351218388/" title="Soennecken_115_2 von 2" bei Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7100/7351218388_afa27c07b8_c.jpg" width="800" height="413" alt="Soennecken_115_2"></a>

I do not collect Soennecken pens but, of course I am interested in its history, specially when it comes to the so called Swiss-market models.

In this huge lot of pens have been also three of this „swiss“ Soenneckens. Two oft hem I have seen before, but one is a little bit different. It’s a Soennecken 115 which is significantly larger than all the others that I ever have seen.

For size comparison there’s also a well known Pelikan 400NN on the picture.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/61764212@N02/7351217432/" title="DSC_0013 von 2" bei Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7085/7351217432_b7def6ca77_c.jpg" width="800" height="520" alt="DSC_0013"></a>

Soennecken are quite well designed pens and always a pleasure to work on.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/61764212@N02/7351216972/" title="DSC_0003 von 2" bei Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7234/7351216972_eb7c6ea0ca_c.jpg" width="800" height="535" alt="DSC_0003"></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/61764212@N02/7166006491/" title="DSC_0008 von 2" bei Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8168/7166006491_2b0ef99e5f_c.jpg" width="800" height="483" alt="DSC_0008"></a>

Also the celluloid is completely different. It’s sort of a red „platinum“ pattern which I never have seen before on a Soennecken and not at all. The shape of the pen is typical for this models and the nib is a huge flexible which writes (and draws) amazingly well.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/61764212@N02/7351218754/" title="Rhino_1 von 2" bei Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7101/7351218754_a981328ed4_c.jpg" width="800" height="491" alt="Rhino_1"></a>

Hope you did enjoy this and let’s see what’s next…...

 

Maybe you remember this post of mine? Yes I know, it's quite old...

 

But I've made a pretty cool find. A document that proofs that Soennecken had a business in Zurich, and at least a "Füllhalter-Reparatur-Werkstätte" which means a repair center for fountain pens.

On the top of the paper is a picture of a boxed so called Swiss Soennecken,

 

 

and the person from the repair center is writing in his letter that he just has fixed two pens (and sent one of them directly to the customer back). He also writes that he doesn't deal with lever fillers (as one of the customers has asked) but he assures that Soennecken piston fillers are great when properly serviced. He ask the guy of the shop to send him (his complete!!) stock of Soennecken pens to service them, to assure that the next customers will be satisfied by Soennecken pens.

 

How cool is that? (He should have asked me, haha...)

 

 

Now, I have to go to the Löwenstrasse 17 and make a picture of that building.

 

C.

Edited August 22, 2016 by christof

[markiv]

Very cool find. The hand written note makes me wonder about life without computers...

[christof]

[Bluey]

The title of this thread says that there's something amiss at Christof's. It suggests scandals and mysteries....

Edited December 22, 2016 by Bluey

[christof]

The title of this thread says that there's something amiss at Christof's.

 

 

haha, what insight!

c.

Edited December 22, 2016 by christof

[markiv]

Long time no see.

 

Merry Christmas and happy holidays.

[Dickkooty2]

Now, I have to go to the Löwenstrasse 17 and make a picture of that building.

Christof on the Soennecken post (above)

[/url]">http://http://s271.photobucket.com/user/dick168/media/zuerich_22_zpse1qxl1p2.jpg.html'>http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/jj157/dick168/zuerich_22_zpse1qxl1p2.jpg

#17 must have been a few doors down. #11 is a Tax Expert ... kill two birds with ein stein.

Ahhh, the Miracle of Google!

Merry Christmas!

Dick

[christof]

Long time no see.

 

Merry Christmas and happy holidays.

Yes Vik, long time no see. Since this board has developped away from my main interests, I spend most of my time on other forums. And I feel that other active members have stopped posting or even left FPN too.

 

But lets have a look to things more positive....

Here's a picture of the most interesting pens I collected in 2016. Feel free to show us one of yours.

 

 

C.

Edited January 6, 2017 by christof

[fountainbel]

Thanks for shearing the interesting story on the Swiss market Soennecken Cristoph, very interesting !

Nice harvest during the past year, congratulations!

But the Swiss Rhino Soennecken really is the cherry on the cake for me, what a beauty !

The red/black celluloid pattern is just stunning, i'm envy you !

Did you also found this one the past year?

Francis

[christof]

No, the find of this exceptional Soennecken was long ago. And it also sold long ago...

Unfortunately, I cannot keep all the pens I buy or find. Building my collection (and the one of the Museum of Design Zurich) is an ongoing process which makes it necessary to procure financial resources from time to time.

 

Sad but necessary. On the other hand, it helps to focus the collecting very closely and that's a good thing I think.

There are not many pens I regret having sold them.

C.

[DrCodfish]

"Yes Vik, long time no see. Since this board has developped away from my main interests, I spend most of my time on other forums. And I feel that other active members have stopped posting or even left FPN too."

I cannot speak for others but as for myself I can only say I hope your interest continues at such a level that you will continue to post here. I learn something every time I read one of your posts, and too the pictures are phenomenal.

 

Wishing you good hunting in the new year Christof.

[christof]

"Yes Vik, long time no see. Since this board has developped away from my main interests, I spend most of my time on other forums. And I feel that other active members have stopped posting or even left FPN too."

 

I cannot speak for others but as for myself I can only say I hope your interest continues at such a level that you will continue to post here. I learn something every time I read one of your posts, and too the pictures are phenomenal.

 

Wishing you good hunting in the new year Christof.

 

 

Thanks for the good wishes Doc.

 

Well, as I wrote, it's not my interest that has changed, but I feel that on this board is less interest in sharing knowledge and pictures of vintage pens than in the past. Lots of people with great knowledge have stopped posting here. That is fact.

 

Another thing of great interest for me were the "classifieds". But since the troubles with Claudio, most of the private sellers stayed away and only the semi professional sellers, which are flooding the forum with their mass sales (almost every week the same stuff!) left over. I can't remember when having seen the last interesting sale (al least for me) there...Sad but true.

 

But never give up hope! That's why I am still a member here.

Wish you all the best Doc....and FPN needs more people like you!

 

C.

[markiv]

Yes Vik, long time no see. Since this board has developped away from my main interests, I spend most of my time on other forums. And I feel that other active members have stopped posting or even left FPN too.

 

But lets have a look to things more positive....

Here's a picture of the most interesting pens I collected in 2016. Feel free to show us one of yours.

 

 

 

C.

That is quite a diverse group of pens. All are wonderful but the Monte Rosa and green Parker are quite exquisite.

 

2016 was not a bad year for me. Here are few interesting ones. Soennecken Extra, Omas CS and Oldwin Classic.

http://i.imgur.com/3xC9D7W.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/KfYov7A.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/exbdYcj.jpg?1

 

 

 

Thanks for the good wishes Doc.

 

Well, as I wrote, it's not my interest that has changed, but I feel that on this board is less interest in sharing knowledge and pictures of vintage pens than in the past. Lots of people with great knowledge have stopped posting here. That is fact.

 

Another thing of great interest for me were the "classifieds". But since the troubles with Claudio, most of the private sellers stayed away and only the semi professional sellers, which are flooding the forum with their mass sales (almost every week the same stuff!) left over. I can't remember when having seen the last interesting sale (al least for me) there...Sad but true.

 

But never give up hope! That's why I am still a member here.

Wish you all the best Doc....and FPN needs more people like you!

 

C.

 

I am in agreement with your assessment of FPN's current state and similarly have cut down my frequency.

 

But I have always found your contributions educational and am sure there are several others who feel the same. Please do share your findings whenever you get a chance.

 

Cheers!

V

[Ambien]

Yes Vik, long time no see. Since this board has developped away from my main interests, I spend most of my time on other forums. And I feel that other active members have stopped posting or even left FPN too.

 

But lets have a look to things more positive....

Here's a picture of the most interesting pens I collected in 2016. Feel free to show us one of yours.

 

 

C.

 

I like the Striped Monte Rosa set. Do you have any photos of them? Thanks.

[christof]

 

I like the Striped Monte Rosa set. Do you have any photos of them? Thanks.

 

No I don't, but I will do a closer shot for you when I find the time.

C.

Edited January 9, 2017 by christof

[christof]

 

 

I am in agreement with your assessment of FPN's current state and similarly have cut down my frequency.

 

 

Vik

 

That's the dilemma. If all members thinks alike, it happens what happened...

No one can hope for interesting contributions if he is not willing to invest himself.

I think that I have invested much in the past years. But since nothing is contributed by other members anymore, I can no longer see any meaning in it.

It's the members who makes the board...

BTW:

Thanks for your pictures. These are fantastic pens. You had quite a good year I'd say. The Soennecken is great. What is special about the capband? I have not seen this before...

C.

Edited January 9, 2017 by christof

[christof]

 

 

I like the Striped Monte Rosa set. Do you have any photos of them? Thanks.

 

No I don't, but I will do a closer shot for you when I find the time.

C.

 

Here comes the promised picture of the Monte Rosa pen. It's probably made around 1940:

 

 

C.

Edited January 11, 2017 by christof

[Otter1]

Love the Monte Rosa--particularly the color.

 

I always find it fascinating to see the style changes in the vintage pens--this one being a case in point.

That striped pattern was used by several makers at that time (I have an Osmia), and it makes you wonder who did it first.

I'd love to see a pic of pens with that pattern from various makers just to see the differences.

 

-Otter1

[christof]

 

I'd love to see a pic of pens with that pattern from various makers just to see the differences.

 

 

Have a look at here and scroll down to post #37

 

http://fpgeeks.com/forum/showthread.php/17880-mini-collections?p=186314&viewfull=1#post186314

 

C.