uncommon Swiss pen brand

[christof]

In my official first thread here, I would like to show you something rather unusual, a vintage Swiss made pen. There are not many traditional Swiss fountain pen brands known, and none of them still exists nowadays.

But one of them, and one oft he most misterious brands is ASKA. There is not much known about ASKA except that its founder called Adolf Sinn and his company was called „ASKA, Adolf Sinn & Cie, Fabrik für Füllhalter und Füllstifte, Kreuzlingen“. (This information comes from the official archive of the state of Thurgau, Switzerland -> https://query-staatsarchiv.tg.ch/detail.aspx?ID=475767)

My ASKA is a very nice and well made pen in Duofold Senior size. It’s a button filler and probably made in the 1930’s. I can see strong influences in design from Italy (OMAS) or/ and the U.S.A. (Wahl), which is quite uncommon fort he conservative taste of Swiss people during this period.

But here comes the picture:

https://c4.staticflickr.com/9/8578/28760269243_f3dd078bf0_o.jpg
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49963485926_9a506b74f1_k.jpg

The cross bow was (and still is) a symbol for Swiss quality products.

https://c6.staticflickr.com/9/8077/29302601021_66c86bcefe_o.jpg

My friend, Daniel C. Holzer is doing some serious research job about ASKA and other gone Swiss brands on his homepage http://www.swiss-pen.ch/schweizer-marken/.

Hope that this was interesting for you.
C.

[Pelikan-Vera]

Beautiful celluloid and a lovely greek key ring. does this possibly reflect an Italian influence, i.e. Omas ? Vera

[penwash]

This is very interesting.
It is articles like this that adds to our collective knowledge and for that I really appreciate it.

The pen itself is gorgeous, just by the number of bands on it, I'd guess that this is the top-of-the-line model from that company.
And the logo itself. I didn't know that crossbow is held in such high regard in Swiss.

[christof]

This is very interesting.
It is articles like this that adds to our collective knowledge and for that I really appreciate it.

The pen itself is gorgeous, just by the number of bands on it, I'd guess that this is the top-of-the-line model from that company.
And the logo itself. I didn't know that crossbow is held in such high regard in Swiss.

Thank you. Yes, that is what I think too. The pen has nearly the size of Duofold Senior, which is uncommon for a Swiss pen from that time.
The cross bow got its meaning from the saga of William Tell (and the play by F. Schiller). Following the saga, Tell won Swizterlands sovereignty with one shot from his crossbow...
http://www.sam-h.info/tell/tell.jpg
C.

[penwash]

Ah, so that's where William Tell's overture came from :)

[christof]

Right, the ouverture is from the opera "Guillaume Tell" by G. Rossini and this was composed following the play "Willhelm Tell" by Schiller.
The funny thing is: both, Rossini and Schiller were no Swiss...
Even more funny is that there is no proof for the existance of Willhelm Tell, but Swiss people are completely in love with this story for more than 150 years. There is a William Tell monument in Altdorf:
http://www.aladin-brienz.ch/Katalog/Bilder/d26820.gif
and even more: Tells picture is on the 5 Franks coin:
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8a/F%C3%BCnffranken.jpg
This is real linkage of history and poetry I'd say... and William Tell the most famous Swiss.
C.