Czechoslovakian made FP

[Khufu]

Guys, no offense, just to make things clear: We are not Czechoslovakia anymore, now we are the Czech Republic and Slovakia. These two countries separated in 1993, just to let you know about the fact

Have pens been made in the Czech Republic since 1993? I think there is a pen still made in Slovakia. The Czechoslovakian pens of the communist era were much better than the Soviet made pens and were something of a status symbol in Soviet satellite countries. I suspect German influence in the Czechoslovakian pens.

 

Yes, there is a brand Koh-I-Noor Hardtmuth, I thought they make pens, but Google didn't find one so I'm not sure. I know that they make pencils, rubbers and so on, but I'm not sure about fountain pens, sorry.

 

So, I found out that they make fountain pens, at least Hardtmuth (which is probably the same as Koh-I-Noor Hardtmuth) and they make luxurious pens, for example for our president to sign something. And what I heard, they make documentary inks but in horrible quality, the ink destroys a nib.

 

 

Hi,

 

here is the actual production of

Hardtmuth

 

http://www.hardtmuth.cz/

 

it was limited edition only... 1790 pieces were made

 

unfortunatelly they produce nothing sold on market

 

luckily we have the prewar L&C production

Edited January 9, 2012 by Khufu

[Khufu]

Guys, no offense, just to make things clear: We are not Czechoslovakia anymore, now we are the Czech Republic and Slovakia. These two countries separated in 1993, just to let you know about the fact

 

 

Yes, but we are talking about Czechoslovakian fountain pens.

 

There are unfortunatelly no Czech fountain pens to talk about

(except Centropen school pens)

Edited January 9, 2012 by Khufu

[Khufu]

Guys, no offense, just to make things clear: We are not Czechoslovakia anymore, now we are the Czech Republic and Slovakia. These two countries separated in 1993, just to let you know about the fact

Have pens been made in the Czech Republic since 1993? I think there is a pen still made in Slovakia. The Czechoslovakian pens of the communist era were much better than the Soviet made pens and were something of a status symbol in Soviet satellite countries. I suspect German influence in the Czechoslovakian pens.

 

Hi,

german (Sagitta Ultra Vacuum for example:), italian (some Ripets, Centropen 10014 looks italian to many people, too) and also very important american influence on some prewar CZ pens (some early Barclay button fillers and of course Barclay Vacuum, all bullet-proof pens.

But the prewar high-end brands as L&C Hardtmuth, Prestige (the most expensive prewar brand) and some Ripets (silver/amber oversized Ripet Hermetic with art-déco snake clip is something i have never seen anywhere else, really) were their own original conceptions/styles. Terrible and outstanding designs! Today extremely expensive pens.

 

Of course there are many brands i know nothing about yet. It is all somewhat opaque, informations are hard to find. I have some prewar czechoslovakian FPs, but know nothing about the brands.

Such as: Fravos (František Vosáhlo pens?), Milevia (some very interesting pens), Omega, Ocean, Astra, Praga, Smaragd, Domator and so on.

 

There is a lot of investigation work to do. There were many pen making companies for a country of its size.

Edited January 10, 2012 by Khufu

[Khufu]

Josef Zeman´s PEROP company also produced very good quality pens. He was former Ripet´s manager who left the company and founded his own (with two associates)in České Budějovice, than expanded in Prague. He had some patented technologies for multicolor mechanical pencils and for some new way to make irridium tips on gold/steel nibs. He and his comapny was also persecuted by comunists and closed in early 1950..

Now I am in contact with his grandson, he will provide me the copies of all the archive files of Josef Zeman´s PEROP! I hope to buy some pens, he does have some in working order.

 

Great day for paleopenelogy, today!

Edited January 10, 2012 by Khufu

[Kaweco]

 

There is a lot of investigation work to do. There were many pen making companies for a country of its size.

Hi Khufu

Try to find onlins versions of the official adress books. Possibly you will find some, surely for Praha. Than search for the branches "fountain pen". In the big citys there is a branch list for fountainpens since ca 1905. Go go go 5% inspiration, 95% transpiration. (And don`t trust sellers).

Edited January 10, 2012 by Kaweco

[Khufu]

 

There is a lot of investigation work to do. There were many pen making companies for a country of its size.

Hi Khufu

Try to find onlins versions of the official adress books. Possibly you will find some, surely for Praha. Than search for the branches "fountain pen". In the big citys there is a branch list for fountainpens since ca 1905. Go go go 5% inspiration, 95% transpiration. (And don`t trust sellers).

 

 

Hello Kaweco,

 

"online versions of the official adress books" what do you mean by that? Adress/telephone numbers books? Remember that i am looking for companies all closed n 1948-50. Some of them in 1945 or even earlier. I think there are no online versions of whatever adress books of that period here.

But, i was thinking to make research in selected city archives. In Prague i will find something obviously. In nearby town, there were Centropen facilities and some prewar brands too, so i will visit the archive building there. I can do this tomorrow. I´ve been there already in past (not for pens), they´re very competent. I think i may find some prewar catalogues there or even blueprints for pens, who knows:)

As for pen buying, i am asking people what they got. It works well. I am planning to do more buying actions. People get rid of things in time of crisis.

Edited January 10, 2012 by Khufu

[Kaweco]

Hi Khufu

There are lots of books for German cities and some from eastern German provinces or German languaged provinces before 1945 to be found here:

http://wiki-de.genealogy.net/Kategorie:Online-Adressbuch

Perhaps such books or such a register exists for Czech Republic

K.

[Khufu]

Hi Khufu

There are lots of books for German cities and some from eastern German provinces or German languaged provinces before 1945 to be found here:

http://wiki-de.genealogy.net/Kategorie:Online-Adressbuch

Perhaps such books or such a register exists for Czech Republic

K.

 

Wow, it is huge and for free Thanks!

 

There are some registers in Cz but all i can check are the names and it is not complete. No categories, nothing. It seem not even to be centralised.

 

I think i will find some clues in the archives. And i will do some advertising, this may be very useful too. Many people do have interesting old pens and related materials in their drawers.

Edited January 11, 2012 by Khufu

[coffe_cup]

Great thread! If I may suggest something, is to search also magazines archives, if exist of course. Advertisement and articles are sometimes to be find.

 

Khufu, you mentioned Omega ... it might be also Polisch brand, would you please post a picture of this pen. And also Astra.. Astra was one of Hardtmuth's models, but should have Hardtmuth's imprint on it. I have one - it's button filler.

 

Greetings,

M.

[Khufu]

Great thread! If I may suggest something, is to search also magazines archives, if exist of course. Advertisement and articles are sometimes to be find.

 

Khufu, you mentioned Omega ... it might be also Polisch brand, would you please post a picture of this pen. And also Astra.. Astra was one of Hardtmuth's models, but should have Hardtmuth's imprint on it. I have one - it's button filler.

 

Greetings,

M.

 

 

Hi,

 

i will post Omega pics tomorrow.

It is in bad condition, but imprint is on. I have seen more of them in some Antique shop, but i left them there- too bad cond.

Btw tomorrow i go to check to Antique stores in nearby towns. In one of shops there should be a box full of FPs and parts :roflmho:

As for Astra i will post photo, too. My astra is piston filler and maybe post-war. The other Astra is Actually Hardtmuth (logo H on clip), button filler.

[Khufu]

Hi,

 

as i´ve said, here is the Omega cap, check it out.

It was cork piston filler, rather slim design, with classic litte yellow ink window. Celluloid.

I have recupered the piston mechanism because the barrel was ruined. I think it is local brand (or sub-brand), as i have already seen quite many of them of various models. But always in terrible shape. It is matter of time to find a good one. The filling mechanism was used on yellow Sagitta/Imperial franken-pen, which is very cool actually.

 

http://inlinethumb34.webshots.com/48801/2887474580105163080S600x600Q85.jpg

 

http://inlinethumb39.webshots.com/49254/2298507590105163080S600x600Q85.jpg

Edited January 12, 2012 by Khufu

[Khufu]

Here we have two Astra pens. The blue one is oversize, huge pen. The design is very very similar to late (1945-1950) Sagittas, same clips, cap designs. Actually i think it is made by Budweis Hardtmuth (or Centropen) in 50´s as its subbrand. The manufacturer of those pens very probably used some of confiscated Sagitta machinery and supplies.

Fitted with Centropen nibs. Very nice to write with. Piston operated.

 

http://inlinethumb56.webshots.com/49207/2115120940105163080S600x600Q85.jpg

 

http://inlinethumb32.webshots.com/47135/2374644110105163080S600x600Q85.jpg

Edited January 12, 2012 by Khufu

[JimB]

[Double post]

Edited January 12, 2012 by januaryman

[Khufu]

and one hyper rare item:

 

Žák 1303

 

early Czechoslovakian small school pen in great shape. There are not many to have survived school years. I am very happy to have it in functional shape. I have just put ink in it and started to write, after some 60 years in drawer.

 

Hard rubber, celluloid window, torpedo-like design.

Fitted with Ripedium Point, writes very softly for a school pen!

 

http://inlinethumb31.webshots.com/47966/2357777540105163080S600x600Q85.jpg

 

http://inlinethumb34.webshots.com/50593/2425157770105163080S600x600Q85.jpg

Edited January 12, 2012 by Khufu

[Khufu]

[Double post]

 

 

Hello,

 

sorry i don´t understand.

Have I done something wrong with posts?

Edited January 13, 2012 by Khufu

[Khufu]

Whew....the good old days 2008...$5 for a good pen.

 

 

Yes. I would pay much much more than 5 dollars for the box only

 

Sagittas are very hard to find.

Yesterday I was lucky to have bought one boxed Sagitta, late 1930´s model. Very nice pen, i will post some pics later.

Edited January 14, 2012 by Khufu

[Khufu]

recent finds rehydrated/lubricated/cleaned:

 

Yellow one is extremely rare (because of color) "Imperial 51 I" (imprint on cap).

Couple Days ago i have found the missing original Imperial blind caps (box full of local vtg FPs in bazar store, many Imperial FPs again:). Before i used old Sagitta caps. I put also original Imperial piston in it. Now it is in 100% original and working shape. Recently i have seen Imperial adverstisement in local 1941´s newspapers, exactly same pens as i have. It says "quality Imperial pens are made in Pardubice in eastern Bohemia Moravia" + pictures. My research will continue, for now i know the Imperial production was started by Nazis in confiscated FP factory in Pardubice town. There are more possibilities of what was the original company. For now i know there was small FP producer Polak&Co before the war and there was also at least another one (i have heard about one relatively big FP factory at subburbs of this industrial town). Polak had a small manufacture in medieval center of Pardubice. I have not seen yet any of Polak&Co pens (maybe i did without knowing it:).

Imperial pens are in "big" quantities in eastern part of Bohemia. But definitelly not yellow ones. I put a vintage 14ct nib (original steel Massag nib was ruined) on it and i like it very much!

 

http://inlinethumb34.webshots.com/50465/2932572690105163080S600x600Q85.jpg

 

 

This pen is a mystery. No markings at all. It Was found with 14Ct hallmarked Kroutl/Ripet nib, as usually extremely cool to write with it. I certainly will identify it later. Maybe it is Sebek pen.

http://inlinethumb16.webshots.com/49551/2409582740105163080S425x425Q85.jpg

 

Two Sagittas 2030 (sagitta - means arrow in latin)

Blue one with very nice colored celuloid

and black one with guilloched barrel/cap. It looks very in contrast with semihooded nib! Somewhat strange but good-looking!

Both piston fillers. As usually it is hyper-solid.

Btw today i was testing the solidity of old Barclay Vacuum barrel, with standard pliers i was NOT able to break it :yikes:

Then i tested one Waterman old barrel and it cracked easily, parker vacumatic resisted little more but absolutelly not as solid as Barclay, too. I will post some images of "destruction" test later.

http://inlinethumb32.webshots.com/17247/2647618900105163080S425x425Q85.jpg

http://inlinethumb07.webshots.com/18886/2598648660105163080S425x425Q85.jpg

http://inlinethumb01.webshots.com/49792/2914561340105163080S425x425Q85.jpg

http://inlinethumb63.webshots.com/48382/2366470930105163080S425x425Q85.jpg

Edited January 16, 2012 by Khufu

[Khufu]

Hello,

 

check this auction of very nice Bohemia-Works fountain pen:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/230777996499?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1586.l2649

 

They were made in same place where Sagittas FPs were in production until 1950.

Exactly here but 15 years after this map was done.

http://inlinethumb52.webshots.com/37043/2664292830105163080S600x600Q85.jpg

 

Here we have L&P Sagittas original letter paper:

http://inlinethumb17.webshots.com/43920/2644963590105163080S600x600Q85.jpg

Edited April 18, 2012 by Khufu

[georges zaslavsky]

very interesting. A friend of mine who was czech told me that vintage czech made fps were close in quality to german pens

[Khufu]

very interesting. A friend of mine who was czech told me that vintage czech made fps were close in quality to german pens

 

Yes it is definitely true.

In fact in some(not all) best prewar Czechoslovakian companies there were german engineers hired in leading positions in developement workshops. I suspect there was maybe also one american engineer in one company in Prague. It was because they generally exportated pretty much all around the world (even North and South America countries) and they needed real top quality (and they got it) which can compete with other worldly sold fountain pens. This situation lasted until 1939. Third reich occupied the territory and installed Protectorat of Bohemia-Moravia. At this moment two different kinds of situations happened: companies runned by jewish owners were confiscated and runned from now by german treuhandlers (another very interesting chapter of history of local FP brands) and the other ones continued their production. Some of them even increased volume productions during WW2. Then war ended leaving the pen industry somewhat changed. In fact Germans during WW2 had installed many things around here, their best technologies:) In Pardubice where i live, there is famous Synthesia factory, the biggest chemical industry in country and one of the biggest in central Europe. This factory was established very early in 1900 but when germans came, they made it ten times bigger with new very huge production halls equipped with best german machinery and tec. All the postwar celluloid for our pens was made there on germans press machines for composing celluloid plates of 4 meters wide, runned by people having originally german formation from WW2. And Synthesia was exporting its (not only:) celluloid even to non-communist countries.(my current ongoing research indicates Aurora or Montegrappa pens producer had bought a stock of local material. It is very logic because Pardubice town had excellent friendly/economic relations with some italian towns during 1950-1989. (as a kid i saw 2 times Marcello Mastroianni visiting our school) It was orchestrated by the regime, because it was one of rare opportunity to get some dollar cash. The german machines were in good condition until famous explosion at Synthesia gun powder storages in 1984 when it was desintegrated with other things and workers. I remember it very well, sound and pressure wave were terrific breaking windows around the town. That´ s how best german stuff from 1940´s ended. It is somewhat symbolic for the sad ending of FP production in Czechoslovakia in late 1980.

Edited April 19, 2012 by Khufu