What's Up At Christof's

[ethernautrix]

Bravo!

[mallymal1]

Really enjoyed your Inktober series, Christof, Thank you.

[markiv]

Wonderful series C though now I miss the fish-y

[dennis_f]

Sad to see the Fish go... I hoped it wouldn't end badly...

D.

[christof]

After Inktober some pen and pen stuff pics...

 

My latest vintage Pelikan is not a pen but a case!

...not necessary to mention how rare this item is, but since I detected it in the Pelikan catalog from 1938, I always wanted one but was almost sure that I wont never find one. Thanks to the generosity of a friend it still happend!

extraction from catalog of 1938

The shape reminds of a Kaweco Sport case with a zipper...

But the really genious thing is a tiny crescent punched into the leather to plug the clip through the case to pin the case to jour jacket. How cool is that?

case filled with Pelikan 100N and Auch Pelikan 200 mechanical pencil

...with other accessory from the same time

It's a pleasure to see how my small Pelikan cosmos is growing.

C.

Edited November 6, 2019 by christof

[markiv]

That case is nifty! Such simple but effective design!!

[christof]

I‘ve done some homework....

 

 

 

 

 

 

there are still two missing...

 

c.

[christof]

Thank you Vik.

When october finished, I hopefully have someting interesting (for you) to show here.

Just an appetizer:

 

OSMIA Supra Extra_ von -c_m_z-

 

C.

 

 

Here comees the stuff you're waiting for:

 

Finally finished the restoration of the OSMIA SUPRA EXTRA from 1937.

Osmia continued to produce models similar to Parkers Duofold, even after the separation of the U.S. manufacturer. Large pens, simply designed with push button filling mechanism.

OSMIA Supra Exrta by C.M.Z, auf Flickr

important detail: Osmia improved the mechanism in terms of ergonomics and ease of maintenance.

OSMIA Supra Extra by C.M.Z, auf Flickr

the button is attached to the pressure bar.

Osmia Supra Druckknopf by C.M.Z, auf Flickr

OSMIA Supra Extra by c_m_z, auf Flickr

This is a pen of highest quality and very prestigious. Maybe the three cap bands wanted to compete to Montblancs Meisterstück serie? I specially like the enamel OSMIA logo on top of the cap.

OSMIA Supra Exrta Feder by C.M.Z, auf Flickr

Some writing samples with the huge nib (which still strongly reminds to Duofold nibs in terms of geomettry and imprints).

Catalog from 1937:

C.

Edited November 17, 2019 by christof

[markiv]

Your photos bring the best out of pens! Beautiful.

Here is one of mine that I like quite a lot.

[christof]

Thank you Vik - it‘s almost the same - except the name and the clip!

C.

[christof]

Inktober is long ago...but I was still missing two prompts.

Since I didn't get a reasonable idea to fullfill the missing prompts in all the time, I decided to let it be.

Instead, I made a final "end of october" sketch to show you at least one source of my inspiration:

 

 

C.

[ethernautrix]

That's fantastic!

[christof]

[christof]

 

This graphic of different Pelikan nibs and nib points is often shown or quoted. It shows that before, penmakers attached importance to individuality and professional need. At this time, there were no computer programs or applications available to imitate any graphic expressions. So far, I didn't pay attention to nibs only. When I was collecting, I concentrated more on different pens. However, this chart made me take a look to see what types of nibs I own. Surprisingly, I even found some of the rather rare special nibs in my collection.

 

I’d like to show you some of them and will start with some special nibs, the “Scheibenspitze - S/SB/SBB” which means “disc-tip”:

Pelikan Scheiben Federn by c_m_z, auf Flickr

 

On the picture can be seen a Redis-nib (predecessor) and one of my own creations, a Pelikan “double-nib” for comparison.

Pelikan Scheiben Federn by c_m_z, auf Flickr

 

The disc-tip is producing an entierly broad line without any variation of line width. As far as I know were these nibs used for creating advertisings and price tags in show cases. The excessive consumption of ink made the use of these nibs in a fountain pen more then useful.

Pelikan Scheiben Federn by c_m_z, auf Flickr

The shape of these tips can be seen the best from aside. The shape of the tip looks like an unbelievable huge “sweet spot”. The characteristic of these nibs is accordingly. It’s smooth and glides effortless on the paper while producing an enormous trace of ink….

Pelikan Scheiben Federn by c_m_z, auf Flickr

 

Pelikan Scheiben Federn by c_m_z, auf Flickr

I like these nibs a lot although I do not use them realy often during my daily work.

 

I continue with the “hard” or “rigid” nibs, the “H” or “D” nibs. D stand for “Durchschreib-Feder” which means carbon copy-nib.

 

Pelikan 400 DF

Pelikan 400 DF by C.M.Z, auf Flickr

Pelikan 400 DF S by C.M.Z, auf Flickr

 

Pelikan 400 DEF

Pelikan 400 DEF by C.M.Z, auf Flickr

Pelikan 400 DEF S by C.M.Z, auf Flickr

 

Pelikan 400 HEF

Pelikan 400 HEF by C.M.Z, auf Flickr

Pelikan 400 HEF S by C.M.Z, auf Flickr

 

What I notice is that although both of the carbon nibs are harder, they also glide very nicely on the paper. That means you can write with them without pressure. The DF can even be written extremely "smooth". A very pleasant nib in my opinion.

The HEF is hard for this, but it shows a little more teeth on paper. A nib that needs some pressure, but then writes very pleasantly. It is suitable for writing very small numbers and block letters. Quasi a mathematical nib!

 

I will continue with the K-nibs, which stands for Kugelspitze = Ball Point.

Pelikan 140, KM-nib Pelikan 140 KM by C.M.Z, auf Flickr

Pelikan 140 KM by C.M.Z, auf Flickr

 

Pelikan 100N with K-nib

Pelikan 100N K by C.M.Z, auf Flickr

Pelikan 100N K by C.M.Z, auf Flickr

Pelikan 100N K by C.M.Z, auf Flickr

 

Pelikan 101 with uncommon 18 carats nib (which has been made in England for the French market….strange!). The nib has a “K»- point as well.

Pelikan 101 K by C.M.Z, auf Flickr

Pelikan 101 K by C.M.Z, auf Flickr

Pelikan 100 18 Karat Nib Kugelspitze by C.M.Z, auf Flickr

 

I must admit that I was very surprised by the distinctive character of these nibs while writing and I have decided to use some of them a little more often.

 

Oblique nibs are actually not unusual. Nevertheless, for the sake of completeness here is an early Pelikan 100 with a distinctly slanted OM nib (...not so easy to write with it.)

Pelikan 100 OM by C.M.Z, auf Flickr

Pelikan 100 OM by C.M.Z, auf Flickr

 

This Pelikan R-nib (right-oblique) is quite unusual, since it's the only one I have seen so far. It came (and still is) in a Pelikan 300: Pelikan 300 R by C.M.Z, auf Flickr

Pelikan 300 R by C.M.Z, auf Flickr

Although the usual left oblique nibs do not suit me so much, I get along surprisingly well with this right oblique nib. - It even fits me very well and is certainly one of the nibs I wouldn't give away so quickly. I especially like the clear handwriting, which remains easy to read despite the wide lines. This is also a nib which deserves a little more use...

 

Pelikan 101N, ST-nib (Stenographic)

Pelikan 101N Steno 1 by C.M.Z, auf Flickr

Pelikan 101N Steno 2 by C.M.Z, auf Flickr

Pelikan 101N Steno 3 by C.M.Z, auf Flickr

This nib is really extraordinary. ST nibs are rare in themselves. But this one is also exceptionally flexible. In its elasticity, it easily takes on a Waterman's EF-flexible from the 1920's. The tip of the nib is wonderfully smooth and does not scratch even when writing very fast - just as required for shorthand.

 

… will be continued…

 

C.

Edited December 22, 2019 by christof

[dennis_f]

Christof - thank you for posting this incredible analysis of nib types. It's a great resource.

 

Merry Christmas, and best wishes for the new year.

D.

[mana]

Thank you, Christof! As per usual, another excellent and informative post!

 

Happy holidays!

[christof]

same to you.

Thanks.

c.

[christof]

As every year, I made a short revue of all the new pens of 2019:

 

 

from left to right:

Waterman's 52V RHR, broad capband

Montblanc Safety No.4 (1910-1914)

Osmia Supra Extra, 1937

Parker Duofold Special, Mandarin Yellow, 1928, Fountain Pen and mechanical Pencil (only the pencil is new)

Greif Gold, mechanical Pencil and Fountain Pen, 1950/1940

Pelikan 400NN, Light Tortoise, 1956

Montbllanc 234 1/2, Malachite Green, 1936-1939

exceptional (to me) are this three:

I wish a very successful 2020 to all the collectors out there!

C.

[WLSpec]

Beautiful pens! Good luck to everyone with their 2020 pen purchases.

[christof]

Recently, I got a new Parker 61 Desk pen. I already had one, but this one has its original and first generation socket and trumpet:

 

 

Taking pictures was the reason to take all my desk sets to the photo studio as well. Got some nice photos as I think:

 

Desk pens are COOL!

C.