Czechoslovakian made FP

April 18, 2012

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 (i know about 3 so far) 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 (during imperial times) but when germans came in 1940, 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 postwar Synthesia was exporting its 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 unfamous explosion at Synthesia gun powder storages in 1984 when it was desintegrated. I remember it very well, the 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.

Sorry for double post, i misclicked.

Edited April 19, 2012 by Khufu

April 19, 2012

This is Emanuel Hartman nib from year 1948/9.

He had his workshop at Pardubice suburbs, in Nemosice.

After 1950 Centropen nibs were designed by him.

One of the rare nibs with Pardubice coat of arms logotype. Until 1947 Hartman used his own logotype.

http://inlinethumb43.webshots.com/48170/2645365320105163080S600x600Q85.jpg

Edited April 20, 2012 by Khufu

April 23, 2012

Hi,

i am getting new infos every day, so i updated UMA Pardubice realia:

During the WW2, in 1942 the brand new UMA factory(part of Herman Goring werke) was established in Pardubice. It was in Synthesia company site with tradition in chemistry industry back to 1920. I have discovered that the giant press machines (for making blocs of celluloid up to 4-5m wide/1-2m thick)designed for high end celluloid production were made on UMA command in Zbrojovka Brno (legendary machine company in Moravia) in 1941/42. UMA site in Pardubice was never bombarded during WW2 and high-end celluloid line of 8 press machines survived! One machine was like 2-3 level building high, with special features and accessories for celuloid making. I hope get some pictures and further info soon.

Pardubice UMA was one the biggest producers of plastic materials in Europe after 1945. In post 1950 the natural camphor was bought in China. The celluloid line was fully operational until 1984 and UMA was selling its celluloid around the world when celluloid fabrication was generally left over since some time.

I am in contact with a veteran chemistry engineer who worked in UMA and have seen this celluloid line operational until 1984. I have met him this evening for a quick 20minutes discussion. He is polyhistor and knows/understands things. He helps me incredibly in my research with incredible amount of things

Edited April 24, 2012 by Khufu

May 14, 2012

Hi

I bought this fp below last Saturday. #1 is a German Hermann Böhler and #2 is a Ripet Popular 420 C. The snake skin celluloid pattern is nearly the same but the Ripet is really stunning, nearly like glow- in - the- dark.

Thomas

http://i844.photobucket.com/albums/ab1/Thomasnr/HermannBhlerRipetPopular.jpg

May 14, 2012

Cool pattern

May 25, 2012

Hi
I bought this fp below last Saturday. #1 is a German Hermann Böhler and #2 is a Ripet Popular 420 C. The snake skin celluloid pattern is nearly the same but the Ripet is really stunning, nearly like glow- in - the- dark.
Thomas
http://i844.photobucket.com/albums/ab1/Thomasnr/HermannBhlerRipetPopular.jpg

Hi!

very nice pattern!

Does the Ripet have imprint "Made in Czechoslovakia" or it is war years pen and it have "Made in Protectorat Bohemia-Moravia" on barrel?

It is interesting to see german and czechoslovakian pen together in one picture.

If one wants to see a typical Central European design - Bohemian pens are a good example of it.

Bohemian FPs design is usually sofisticated and has its own style. (I have hypothesis about it)

Soon i will write a couple of comparative pen profiles: some interesting Czechoslovakian fountain pen with some German and American famous FPs. It will be interesting!

Edited May 26, 2012 by Khufu

May 25, 2012

Here is one of my 1960´s Centropen on Ebay:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/230796839253?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1558.l2649

This model was made in Centropen Dačice, introduced in mid 1960´s. The Dačice factory know-how was mainly based on prewar companies Ripet, Barclay and Milevia. They were nationalised and absorbed by Centropen Dačice in late forties/early fifties. That´t why many experienced people of the original teams worked for Centropen.

This pen was the last classic piston filler made in Czechoslovakia.

Edited May 25, 2012 by Khufu

September 4, 2012

Hi,

I was lucky to have bought this original pack of BARCLAY matches!

From prewar times, maybe the very last existing Barclay matches.

There are still some matches inside:)

One can see the name of the company owner Karel Barth and the store adress and company description. On the other side there we can see famous Powder tower in Prague center and a pen and a pencil. Beneath it we can read company motto "BARCLAY - forever and ever" - which is true. Karel Barth was a man in a right place.

http://inlinethumb39.webshots.com/51302/2577814430105163080S600x600Q85.jpg

http://inlinethumb45.webshots.com/49836/2993643740105163080S600x600Q85.jpg

Edited September 5, 2012 by Khufu

October 18, 2015

Hello, I have Centropen 10010 (1951) - it was very faded with broken piston filler and cracked nib. I gave that to repair. The change after they returned to me is amazing. Now i am very proud owner. :-)

Before:

After:

Edited October 18, 2015 by Derchan

November 10, 2022

Looking through these posts is very interesting and hopefully someone can confirm what I think I have here or give more information.

I just purchased this which says Prestige, Made in Czechoslovakia 025. It has a nicely shaped clip.

Forgive me but am I right in thinking this is a twist filler - it’s the first pen like this I’ve seen in person. And am I right in thinking that people seem to be saying Prestige are pre-war pens. We’re talking WW2 I presume?

Any help at all is greatly appreciated.