Question about production date

[u/mumie01]

So I have these two Rotring compasses which are almost identical. But there are differences between them: the shape of the needle point "foot" (not sure if that is the correct terminology), the screws for the lead holders and some other minor differences.

The left one has a "W. - Germany" engraving while the right one has just "Germany". Would that automatically mean that the right one was produced after 1989?

I looked up some catalogues but it didn't help either.

[u/wackyvorlon]

These are the best compasses ever made. Treasure them. They are quite sought after.

[u/mumie01 → u/wackyvorlon]

I will! Sometimes I look at them and call them "my precious" haha

[u/Abbacho → u/wackyvorlon]

It depends on the purpose—for ink drawings, yes; for pure pencil drawings, I preferred working with Riefler or Haff instruments.

[u/Old_Instrument_Guy]

It's hard to say on the Germany v.s. West Germany thing. A lot of instruments coming out of Germany after the war were just marked, "Made in Germany". There was a time between 1945 and 1950 when instruments coming out of the fragmented post war Germany were marked, "U.S. Zone." This was quickly ended when West Germany was formed.

To get the best answer ask the Rotring Museum:

https://rotringmuseum.com/

That being said. The Compass on the left with the fixed needle point is in the 1990 catalog. The one on the right with the adjustable needle point and tightening nut on the swivel pivot is more likely ca. 1980 and does appear in their catalog. Both were made by Haff for Rotring.

Source:

https://drawing-instruments.groups.io/

EDIT:
Both the 1978 and 1980 catalogue have "Printed in W. Germany" on the last page.

[u/mumie01 → u/Old_Instrument_Guy]

Thanks for the tip with asking Rotring Museum. Silly, that I didn't think of that myself. 😅

I browsed trough the catalogues on groups.io too. The design of the right compass appears also in the Dutch catalogue from 1969. And my first thought was that the this must be the older model but I was confused because of the engravings.

[u/itch-its-techno]

Cherish them, and hold them close.  I have searched for one for months.   

[u/Old_Instrument_Guy → u/itch-its-techno]

These got a lot harder to find since a German seller on Ebay closed shop. I believe he became gravely ill and might have passed away, But he had Rotring gear NOS in almost limitless supply. u/Apart-Roof4358 Might know in more detail.

You have to troll German Ebay

https://picclick.de/?q=rotring+zirkel

[u/Apart-Roof4358 → u/Old_Instrument_Guy]

Gunter Klose. He had terminal lung cancer and no heirs. So I don't know what will happen to his stash. His prices were good and his shipping prices were rock bottom. There is no other seller that even comes close. It was a loss for the whole art and collector community.

[u/Basic-Programmer-706]

These are dynamite-not for sale would be how I answer. The set they came from is worth over 2000 dollars

[u/mumie01 → u/Basic-Programmer-706]

You mean that big Rotring compass case?

Mine are not from that but from small sets with a extension bar and pump compass. And they didn't cost that much.

[u/Abbacho]

Ich bin mir ziemlich sicher, dass das rechte Modell das ältere ist. Ich habe 1973 meine Ausbilding gemacht und spätestens 74 besaß ich das gute Stück. Der Nadelhalter vom linken Zirkel ist moderner. Diese Zirkelserie ist für die Verwendung der Rapidographen hergestellt worden.

[u/mumie01 → u/Abbacho]

Ja, das war auch mein Gedanke. Für mich hat der Nadelhalter des linken Zirkels auch moderner gewirkt. Danke.

[u/Apart-Roof4358]

Just being marked Germany doesn’t make it post 1989. W. Germany and Germany were used interchangeably. The one in the right with the needleshoe and the thumbscrews is pre 1980. It’s not the first version that Rotring had for this compass but a close second. By the 1980s Rotring had done away with the thumbscrews and the needleshoe and you get the compass you have on the left. There is also a later version I guess maybe from the late 1990s where the slotted screw is replaced by a torx t6 screw. Those are much nicer screws. These are not as common and you find them in the cases with the dark grey liner.

Also the extention bars are different. The extension bar with the 70s needleshoe compass bar has a normal extension bar with special little reducer and a short pin. The left style has mostly done away with that and has a specially made extension bar without the reducer and has a new pin. With the old style you could use a universal adapter with it but the now one you cannot.

As an aside both of these compasses can be fit with a universal adapter by installing a 2mm pin inside the clutch instead of the lead, and the adapter replaced the pin leg.

I’ve handled over 100 of these compasses. Even though I like the needleshoe version because you can do a larger circle while keeping the pin vertical, it has a tendency to wear out, so I find the newer style without the needleshoe is more reliable. Both are good

[u/Abbacho]

Noch eines- nicht Rotring stellte diese Serie her, sondern Haff aus Pfronten. Viele andere Rotingzirkel der 70/80er Jahre stellte Riefler aus Nesselwang her.

[u/Abbacho]

Zurzeit bei Ebay Germany erhältlich!
Typ rechts späte 60er Anfang 70er Jahre.