What's Up At Christof's

[christof]

Got a new project-pen:

 

 

This is a beatiful and huge italian Ancora lever filler from the 1940's (146mm when closed!!).

Unfortunately, the original nib is defect, so this is also the begining of a long an difficult search for a replacement nib, an Ancora 14 carats Nr. 5...

 

Will come back to this topic in a couple of years when I found one...

 

C.

Edited January 24, 2020 by christof

[christof]

I lately took three pen of different manunfacturers to the studio to take a picture comparison:

 

Pelikan PK 30, 1966-1968

Lamy 68, 1971-82

Parker Arrow 45, 1964-?

All of them were made during the same era and shows the same design features:

- tapered and cut of ends

- semi-hooded nib as a design attribute

- plastic body, plastic cap with molded-in tapered cap lip

- the same design attribute where the cap connects to the body (I call this the half and half solution: the diameter of the cap is half integrated into the body and applies half to the body)

...just details, but this is what I find interesting. (Sorry that I'm boring you.)

C.

Edited February 3, 2020 by christof

[RoyalBlueNotebooks]

Ahh, I miss my Pelikan MK now

Don't worry, you're never boring us! I take in every single detail you write!

[Mags]

Lovely pictures above. I do like the Parker 45 style and if these pens came back with a slightly wider barrel I would love to purchase a new 2020 style special release.

[ralfstc]

Christof said:

 

All of them were made during the same era and shows the same design features:

- tapered and cut of ends

- semi-hooded nib as a design attribute

- plastic body, plastic cap with molded-in tapered cap lip

- the same design attribute where the cap connects to the body (I call this the half and half solution: the diameter of the cap is half integrated into the body and applies half to the body)

And the same features show up on Kaweco and Montblancs of the era. Were all the companies using the same designers? Or was there maybe rationalization of the production facilities? It's very striking.

R.

Edited February 19, 2020 by ralfstc

[christof]

 

 

And the same features show up on Kaweco and Montblancs of the era.

Were all the companies using the same designers?

 

 

The Sheaffer Imperial I was similar too...but I rather think it was the design-spirit of that time.

 

C.

Edited February 20, 2020 by christof

[christof]

 

"my trace is H-EF..."

Edited February 23, 2020 by christof

[markiv]

That's funny

[christof]

Thank you. The nib belongs to this cute Sailor Sapporo Mini:

 

 

...not vintage but still cool.

C.

[christof]

Got a new project-pen:

 

 

This is a beautiful and huge italian Ancora lever filler from the 1940's (146mm when closed!!).

Unfortunately, the original nib is defect, so this is also the begining of a long an difficult search for a replacement nib, an Ancora 14 carats Nr. 5...

 

Will come back to this topic in a couple of years when I found one...

 

C.

 

 

Here I am again. The search was much faster than expected, thanks to the help of Tom Westerich. And here is the pen:

 

the nib writes like a dream!

But the really cool thing is the size of the pen. It is really BIG. That's why I took a picture for comparison with my other "black giants":

from left to right: Montblanc Meisterstück 138, Parker Duofold Senior pencil and pen, Ancora, Osmia Supra Extra and Conklin Endura OS.

The Ancora isn't only the largest, it is also of great quality. For example the celluloid: no shrinkage but tank solid walls and material. The clip: spring loaded! But also the nib is finest quality, smooth, soft and juicy.

Really a cool pen! More of such please...

C.

Edited March 10, 2020 by christof

[TassoBarbasso]

 

 

 

Here I am again. The search was much faster than expected, thanks to the help of Tom Westerich. And here is the pen:

 

 

the nib writes like a dream!

 

 

But the really cool thing is the size of the pen. It is really BIG. That's why I took a picture for comparison with my other "black giants":

 

 

from left to right: Montblanc Meisterstück 138, Parker Duofold Senior pencil and pen, Ancora, Osmia Supra Extra and Conklin Endura OS.

 

The Ancora isn't only the largest, it is also of great quality. For example the celluloid: no shrinkage but tank solid walls and material. The clip: spring loaded! But also the nib is finest quality, smooth, soft and juicy.

 

Really a cool pen! More of such please...

 

C.

Spectacular!

[christof]

newly arrived:

 

 

 

more pictures coming soon!

 

C.

[streeton]

newly arrived.

 

more pictures coming soon!

 

C.

Best photos I've seen so far...all three look great to my eyes. Really looking forward to getting these.

Thanks for posting.

[christof]

Thank you, but I think there are some even nicer photos on the goulet pen blog. see here:

 

https://blog.gouletpens.com/2020/03/sneak-peek-lamy-safari-candy-collection/

 

c.

[WLSpec]

newly arrived:

 

 

 

more pictures coming soon!

 

C.

Very nice! I particularly like the mango one. Might have to try the mango ink out too...

[christof]

Thank you.

 

I think it's love...

C.

[RoyalBlueNotebooks]

Oh damn I wasn't expecting the colors to be so vibrant, wow!

[christof]

I've got the virus - but it's called "pokettopen" (ポケットペン) !

 

Pilot Pocket Pens by C.M.Z, auf Flickr

 

Pilot Pocket Pens _ by C.M.Z, auf Flickr

 

Pilot Myu striped by C.M.Z, auf Flickr

 

Pilot and Elite by C.M.Z, auf Flickr

 

Pilot and Elite - by C.M.Z, auf Flickr

 

Pilot Elite Steel by C.M.Z, auf Flickr

 

Pilot Myu by C.M.Z, auf Flickr

 

Pilot Elite Victorinox Army 91 by C.M.Z, auf Flickr

 

More about these cool pens on Richard Binders (since decades) excellent site:

 

http://www.richardspens.com/ref/profiles/pocket_pens.htm

 

...let's see what's next!

 

C.

Edited April 8, 2020 by christof

[cunim]

Christof, what's your story? I am sure it's in here somewhere but 82 pages ...... Did I read that you curate a pen museum?

[christof]

Yes, I understand. There should be a way to index the main posts somehow...

But the beginning of the story can be found here:

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/220855-whats-up-at-christofs/?p=2652929

...here

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/220855-whats-up-at-christofs/?p=2653788

...here:

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/220855-whats-up-at-christofs/?p=3451641

and here:

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/220855-whats-up-at-christofs/?p=3550308

there are probably much more posts about, since it's an ongoing process. I am still working as a volunteer on the collection of writing instruments, which is part of the design collection and it is my goal to transfer and integrate my private collection into the Museums collection.

But this is a lot of work to do, restoring, documenting, photographing etc... and will take a couple of years.

C.

Edited April 9, 2020 by christof