The 65 was the first (::1::, ::2::, ::3::) of those anniversary pens that later became a regular model, albeit with some minor differences.
The Pilot 65. Standard Pilot ball clip with "PiLOT" engraved on it.
So, in the year 65 of the Pilot era, 1983, Pilot launched a limited edition of 6500 pens –6460 in black, 20 in red and 20 in blue— in the well-known balance shape that many insist in associating to Montblanc. Pilot’s argument is that it follows the style of some Pilot models produced in the 1920s and 1930s, which is undeniably true.
On the cap band, the number 65 and the unit number. This was a limited edition of 6500 units.
The Pilot 65 is made of plastic with a barleycorn finish, with a wide golden cap band with an intricate decoration. The nib is made of 14 K gold and its size is not marked—this was the first of the future Custom models with a whole new set of nibs. But in actual terms, the 65’s nib corresponded to a current size 10.
The 14 K gold nib. The inscription: "PILOT / 14K-585 / < M > / (JIS):, plus the manufacturing date.
What is more interesting on this pen is the filling system—a captive CON-70 converter. Captive, I say, because it is built in the gripping section of the pen. This is, in fact, the first version of what later would become the CON-70 converter.
The captive CON-70 before this converter existed as such.
These are the dimensions of the Pilot 65 together with those of the Custom 67 and Custom 74, the natural evolutions of this anniversary pen:
| Pilot 65 | Custom 67 | Custom 74 | |
| Length closed (mm) | 140 | 142 | 143 |
| Length open (mm) | 126 | 125 | 126 |
| Length posted (mm) | 159 | 160 | 159 |
| Diameter (mm) | 13.5 | 14.0 | 14.6 |
| Weight (g) | 17.9 | 18.3 | 22.5 |
The Pilot 65, with its 6500 units, is now a well-sought after collectible pen. And that seems to be the fate of anniversary pens.
My thanks to Mr. NK.
Parker 50 – Sailor Tomikei Blue
Bruno Taut
Nakano, May 15th 2018
labels: Pilot, soluciones técnicas, conversor
Bruno Taut
Nakano, May 15th 2018
labels: Pilot, soluciones técnicas, conversor
7 comments:
Hello. This article you say the Custom 65 has a "current" size 10 nib, in https://estilofilos.blogspot.com/2014/07/music-evolution.html you say it has a size 5 nib. Is a current size 10 an old size 5?
No, James. What happens is that early size 10 nibs were not labeled as such, and they seem to be the first is seeing the market among the current line of sizes 3, 5, 10, 15, and 30.
Cheers,
BT
Hello,recently I bought some pens from Japan, a Pilot 65 was in that group,you say that this model has a size 10 nib, but this pen has a numer 5 < M > nib, the same engraved, but in the in the left there is a "A197" , it can be possible ?
It can be a genuine nib for this pen ?
How can I share a picture?
Thanks
Anonymous,
If it is really a Pilot 65, the nib should not be labeled with any size, but should correspond with a size 10. Those labels --3, 5, 10, 15, etc-- came later. And the problem is that swapping nibs od sizes 5 and 10 is very easy.
And the date of that nib --Jan of 1997-- is really off.
You can send me pics to my email: katsura.rikyu at gmail (dot) com.
Cheers,
BT
Hello Bruno, I've sent and email,please check the pics,so, what model of Pilot does this nib belog to ?. Cheers
Hello Bruno. Can you please tell me the source that indicates there were 20 in blue and 20 in red produced? I see the same numbers in the FPoJ book. I ask because I recently obtained a blue one.
PithyProlix, congrats on your pen! I think we were checking the same source.
On this case --relatively modern pens-- it is very reliable as Pilot preserved the records and Sunami Masa did consult them to write the book.
Cheers,
BT
Post a Comment
Your comments are welcome and appreciated.