From the Box

Some time ago I spoke about the obscure brand Hifra. Thanks to fellow stylophile Kostas K we could guess it was a South African operation. However, many of the pens labeled as Hifra were, in actual terms, Platinums from 1950s and 1960s, much in the fashion of brands Presidente (Spain) and Joker (Greece), as was shown on these Chronicles.

Later on, another stylophile from Japan –Mr. Sugimoto, aka Paper— showed a couple of brand new, new old stock, Hifra pens with their boxes. Those are the very same pens I am showing now.

Those boxes include some all-too brief manuals that say nothing relevant to the origin of the brand.

Hifra model 4421. Actually, a Platinum Honest.

The pens are well-known Platinums with 10-Years nibs made of steel. Both models –Hifra 4420 and Hifra 4421— implement aerometric filling systems.

Hifra model 4420. Note the unusual Hifra logo on the right hand side of the box.

However, the logo engraved on the barrel is the common globe with letters F and H.

Model 4420 is an obvious copy of the Parker 51.

It might be worth to remember that the usual logo of Hifra was remarkably similar to that of Platinum in the 1950s and up to 1968 (or so): a globe with the letters F and H in it instead of the S and N of Shun-ichi Nakata of the Platinum’s. But on the box of pen model 4420 there is a completely different design even though the pen barrel is engraved with the traditional globe.

In the search for information, reading the pen and its associated information is key, but too often there is not much to read… In this case, not even an address to locate the company.

My thanks to Kostas K and to Mr. Sugimoto.

Waterman CF – Pelikan 4001 Brilliant Brown

Bruno Taut
Nakano, March 26th, 2014
etiquetas: Hifra, Platinum, Presidente, Joker

Back in Town

Yes, I am back in town after some weeks away from these Chronicles. Unexpected hectic times happen now and then… My apologies to all those regular visitors.

And back in town are also some old Sailor inks.

By the end of 2009, Sailor changed its selection of ink colors. And Sailor did this by launching a series seasonal inks: four collections of four inks matching the seasons of 2009 (Winter) and 2010. These were limited releases –that old trick to increase the demand by inducing some anxiety on collectors.

Two of the old (2009-2010) seasonal inks--Miruai and Yama-dori. Both of them are among those marketen again.

Those inks are mostly gone, and are also missed by many.

Now, Sailor has reissued eight of those sixteen inks under the name “inks of the four seasons”. Their package is slightly different to those of 2009-2010, and they show a more colorful box. The colors selected now (2014) are the following:

Winter:
常磐松 - Tokiwa-matsu
時雨 - Shigure

Spring:
匂菫 - Nioi-sumire
海松藍 - Miruai

Summer:
土用 - Doyô
蒼天 - Sôten

Fall:
山鳥 - Yama-dori
奥山 - Oku-yama

The eight seasonal inks now released.

The 2014 edition of the seasonal inks is more colorful.

The price remains the same: JPY 1000, plus tax. There are no news on whether this is, again, a limited release or not.

Platinum pocket pen, manifold nib (18 K) – Platinum Violet

Bruno Taut
Nakano, March 18th, 2014
etiquetas: Sailor, mercado, tinta