The following pen seems to have been made in the 1960s. It is an “Onoto-type” pen, so popular in Japan even nowadays. On the information sheet accompanying we can read that this is a pen inspired on the Onoto model of 1918, with a plunger filling system. Needless to say, the Japanese pen does not use any self-filling operation but the very dear Japanese eyedropper system (::1::, ::2::) derived from the old Onoto plunger.
On this picture, both threads of the ink deposit and of thr shut-off valve are half unscrewed.
This pen is designed to be posted, although the final length is quite long--180 mm.
Classical design of the section of an "Onoto-type" Japanese pen.
The information sheet also states that the pen is the work of just two people—Kabutogi Ginjiro, nib, and Sakai Eisuke, body. And the two other regular actors of the Ban-ei group, Tsuchida and Takahashi, are absent, which points out at the idea of this being a precursor of what later would become the Ban-ei/Tsuchida brand of pens. But, to what are we calling Ban-ei or Tsuchida pens?
The information sheet signed by Kabutogi Ginjiro (兜木銀次郎) and Sakai Eisuke (酒井栄助).
The nib, made of 14 K gold, is engraved with the name of one of the Kabutogi’s registered brands—Steady: “K14 / Steady / Special / Perfect / -<3>- / Pen”.
These are the dimensions of this Onoto-style pen:
Length closed: 147 mm
Length open: 142 mm
Length posted: 180 mm
Diameter: 11.0 mm
Weight: 11.8 g (dry)
Ink deposit: 2.8 ml
This particular pen was commissioned by Seibu Department Stores in Tokyo.
The weak point in the Japanese eyedropper pens--the point where the rod operating the shut-off valve enters the ink deposit.
The weak point of this pen is the back seal between the valve rod and the ink deposit. This is the main source of problems in Japanese eyedropper pens.
Sailor Profit, Naginata Togi – Tomikei Blue.
Bruno Taut
Nakano, March 21st, 2017
etiquetas: Ban-ei, Kabutogi Ginjiro, Steady, Onoto, Sakai Eisuke
Bruno Taut
Nakano, March 21st, 2017
etiquetas: Ban-ei, Kabutogi Ginjiro, Steady, Onoto, Sakai Eisuke
5 comments:
Thanks for showing this pen and for the write-up! Have you ever come across any Onoto-type Japanese pens with the actual plunger filling system (not counting Pilot or any of the major brands) ?
What a find! Especially with the paprwork!! Is the box original too?
Thank you both, Nikos and Tinjapan, for passing by and commenting.
Answering Nikos, I have not seen any Onoto-type made in Japan with a plunger filler system. Actually, as you know, plunger fillers in Japan are rare, albeit they did exist. Those I know are balance-type models.
Yes, Tinjapan, the box is also original.
Cheers,
BT
Pick up such a gem in a Singapore Pen Show in 2019. A vintage. Had a little problem, but Mr. Eizo Fujii of EuroBOx fixed it immediately.. He is such a pro !
Love the grib, the lightness, the guiding of nib.. all are perfect.
Was it made for Hiragana? I used it to Write Chinese - perfect.. but not a signature pen or writing English is no good, feel is different.
Had a problem with the filling system.. learning some tricks with the plunger.
Thanks for your comment, Anonymous.
Some people might disagree, but I do not believe pens are made to write Japanese or English. That is a very typical excuse that goes both ways to justify a faulty product. Namiki, back in the 1930s, said that Japanese writing was the ultimate test to prove the quality of a pen... So, I would say that your pen --its nib-- has a problem. Period.
I explained all this on this text: https://estilofilos.blogspot.com/2019/08/a-pen-is-pen.html . You can see the Namiki ad on that with those claims on that text.
Thanks for passing by and commenting.
Cheers,
BT
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