A Geha School Pen

[Deb]

I don't subscribe to the view that the most expensive pen is the best one – or at least not always. The pen I'm using to write this is a Geha. As it was a gift it has exceptional sentimental value but I couldn't say what price would be put on it – no more than £45 at a guess.



It's a school pen, I suppose. The nib was gold plated but is no longer. The plating has rubbed off over the years. It's quite a small pen at 12.4 cm but it suits my hand quite well, even unposted. The nib is fine and precise, just what I like.

Gehas have a little trick that no other pen has, so far as I'm aware. There is a little button on the underside of the nib which gives access to an "emergency supply" of ink – enough to write another couple of pages. I read somewhere that there was competition for the school student market in Germany and this little gimmick of the Geha gave them the edge over Pelikan for a time. However when the fountain pen market began to fail, Geha was taken over by Pelikan. I think my Geha predates that takeover.



Many post-war German piston fillers can be had for very little and often they are exceptionally good pens, even the unknown ones or ones with no name. There are more expensive gold nib Gehas but even they are quite cheap compared with Pelikans, for example.

[migo984]

Very nice pen, Deb. I have a real penchant for understated & inexpensive ‘little black numbers’. I’d much rather have one of those than the modern swirly, brightly-coloured acrylic pens so prevalent today.

I only have one Geha, a more modern 1970’s Steno, in teal blue with a stainless steel cap. It takes cartridges, which are an unusual size. But happily I found that the old Pilot CON-20 converter fits it perfectly.

[Deb]

I only have one Geha, a more modern 1970’s Steno, in teal blue with a stainless steel cap. It takes cartridges, which are an unusual size. But happily I found that the old Pilot CON-20 converter fits it perfectly.

Good that you found a converter that will fit. Those very manufacturer-specific cartridges can make for problems nowadays. I try to keep a few unusual carts around to go with pens I may come across. 1970s Conway Stewarts are a case in point.

[Blue Note]

I don't subscribe to the view that the most expensive pen is the best one – or at least not always. The pen I'm using to write this is a Geha. As it was a gift it has exceptional sentimental value but I couldn't say what price would be put on it – no more than £45 at a guess.



It's a school pen, I suppose. The nib was gold plated but is no longer. The plating has rubbed off over the years. It's quite a small pen at 12.4 cm but it suits my hand quite well, even unposted. The nib is fine and precise, just what I like.

Gehas have a little trick that no other pen has, so far as I'm aware. There is a little button on the underside of the nib which gives access to an "emergency supply" of ink – enough to write another couple of pages. I read somewhere that there was competition for the school student market in Germany and this little gimmick of the Geha gave them the edge over Pelikan for a time. However when the fountain pen market began to fail, Geha was taken over by Pelikan. I think my Geha predates that takeover.



Many post-war German piston fillers can be had for very little and often they are exceptionally good pens, even the unknown ones or ones with no name. There are more expensive gold nib Gehas but even they are quite cheap compared with Pelikans, for example.

Nice example, Deb. I have the same one. Bought it in a thrift store about 30 years ago. The imprint on the cap says: "Geha Schulfuller mit reservetank." It's a great little writer and I use it in regular rotation. The clip is totally brassed, but the nib still has all its plating. I've never seen another one until yours. Thanks.

[penwash]

I have something to add here.

Apparently these Geha pens are also used for companies to hand out to people because I remember having (had?) one with a company name engraved on the cap.

[Deb]

I have something to add here.

Apparently these Geha pens are also used for companies to hand out to people because I remember having (had?) one with a company name engraved on the cap.

A lot of fountain pens were used in that way. Now the best you can get is a cheap ballpoint - if you're lucky.

[Deb]

Nice example, Deb. I have the same one. Bought it in a thrift store about 30 years ago. The imprint on the cap says: "Geha Schulfuller mit reservetank." It's a great little writer and I use it in regular rotation. The clip is totally brassed, but the nib still has all its plating. I've never seen another one until yours. Thanks.

Yes, mine has that inscription on the cap too, though it's rather worn.

[Cob]

Deb: that's a really stylish design and rather more elegant than a run-of-the-mill German school pen.

I had a Geha with a gold nib, and it too, had the splendid ink reserve feature - I love those radical ideas that makers came up with to make their pens different, but this was a really good idea I think and rather more practical than elaborate filling systems (especially the loathsome Parker Vacumatic!) . Sadly it lost its tipping and I gave the pen to a piston-filler enthusiast.

Cob

[Deb]

Deb: that's a really stylish design and rather more elegant than a run-of-the-mill German school pen.

I had a Geha with a gold nib, and it too, had the splendid ink reserve feature - I love those radical ideas that makers came up with to make their pens different, but this was a really good idea I think and rather more practical than elaborate filling systems (especially the loathsome Parker Vacumatic!) . Sadly it lost its tipping and I gave the pen to a piston-filler enthusiast.

Cob

That's a shame. I've had the occasional gold nib Geha, rather larger than my wee pen. They're really good quality. The ink reserve reminds me of the reserve tank you used to have on motorbikes.

[KrazyIvan]

I have the same Geha pen and it also was a gift. It is a really good writer. I just don't understand how the spare ink reservoir switch works.

[Deb]

I have the same Geha pen and it also was a gift. It is a really good writer. I just don't understand how the spare ink reservoir switch works.

I haven't pulled it apart to find out.

[Pterodactylus]

An illustration how it works can be found here:

http://photobucket.com/gallery/user/...MjMwMjU=/?ref=

The description is in German, but i think the picture show clear enough the mechanism.