Aska Fountain Pen And Watch

Post # 123 ~

They say that the Swiss make some of the world’s best timepieces. They also made Fountain Pens. In this week’s restoration, I have found a combination of the two.

It is an ASKA fountain pen, made in Switzerland.  I have searched high and low, including in both vintage watch and pen sites and have come up with very little in terms of information on the date or history of this pen.

I have seen photos if ASKA pens before, but none with watches on the top, and no historical information.

Below is a photo of the pen after I took it apart.  Note that this is a button filler,  not uncommon in many vintage European Pens and very similar to the Parker button filling Duofolds.  I have documented the restoration of  another European Button filler in my post of September 24, 2009 – P.W. Akkerman Button Filler – a pen from the Netherlands, produced in the late 1930s.

Other button-fill articles that cover the basics of this filler restoration are:

Waltham Pens And Ted Williams –  October 21, 2009

Parker Duette Junior – June 25, 2009

Parker Button Fill Striped Duofold – February 1, 2009

Lucky Curve Feeds – September 4, 2008

Parker Jade .. Pre – Duofold – July 8, 2008

Parker Lapis Duofold… – March 15, 2008

Of particular concern with this restoration were the nib and the pressure bar.  The size of this barrel dictated that I had to trim a large pressure bar by about 3/8 of an inch to assure the right fit.  As I have mentioned before, when trimming pressure bars, make certain to smooth the trimmed edge to assure a clean fit that will not rip the sac.  The nib was a ” NEWFLEX / INOX.DORE No. 3″.  The English translation is that it is Stainless Steel coated with gold.  Well, the gold had worn off, except for that part in the section (as seen below) and the steel has begun to discolor and pit quite badly.  Having solved the pressure bar by measuring a new one and installing it with a size 16 sac, I proceeded to search my spare nib drawer for a perfect fit.  The nib that finally fit like Cinderella’s slipper was a Sheaffer’s Feather Touch Number 5.  I do not recall where I got this nib, but was happy to find that it fit perfectly to the feed and into the section.  When replacing nibs, it is a good idea to seal test the feed/nib/section assembly to assure a leak-proof fit.

I reassembled the pen and cleaned the barrel and cap with scratch remover and polish.  I also polished the clip and cap rings (note that one of the rings is misshapen).  I filled the pen with water and stored it upright to test the feed/section/nib for leaks overnight and none appeared.  Had they appeared, I would have had to look for another nib, or possibly built up the feed a bit.

Below are photos of the pen capped and posted.  It measures 5 1/4″ and 6  1/4″   in these positions.

The logo is interesting.  I am not certain what the artwork is ~ a mushroom with a boot stem?  As I mentioned before, I have seen ASKA pens before, but none with an attached watch.

The clip is gold, as it withstood vigorous cleaning with no color loss and it now stands out.  I like the rolling clip end, seen in the US on vintage Wahl pens.  This feature was to assure that the clip slid in and out of the pocket easily.

Here is a close up of the replacement nib, a lower tier Sheaffer nib.

Now to the watch.   I admit that I know nothing about watches and less about Swiss watches, and a preliminary search yielded little about CERVUS (if that is the print on the watch face).

The next two photos highlight the watch, which surprisingly still runs.  After winding it up, it runs correctly for about six hours.  As you can see, it is Swiss made.  I did not attempt to clean or polish it as I did not want to get any liquids near the watch mechanism for fear of damaging it.

Now that I have this AKSA, I will be able to put it in my pocket with my SPORS and know both the time and direction I am heading with the help of two fountain pens.  Talk about high technology…..

Though not a Mont Blanc, Montegrappa or other valuable Vintage Pen from Europe, this certainly is an attractive, functional, and curious piece of Fountain Pen History.  I look forward to hearing from some of the experts out there to fill in the gaping holes in my research on this one.

Edit (4-26-10) ~ A Reader notes that the logo on the pen is as follows:  “The image you were wondering about depicts a crossbow on a gun stock.”

Edit (1-11-13) ~ Please see this post at Fountain Pen Network, which identifies ASKA brand as Swiss, with ties to Italian Fountain Pen Companies.  Also photos of later model ASKA pens and original nibs.
ASKA Fountain Pen Network Link

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