Capless Nibs (I)

Six are the nibs Pilot manufactures nowadays for its very successful line of Capless pens –Vanishing Point in the US. However, only three of them are widely available outside Japan: 18 K gold nibs in F, M, and B. To these nibs we might add some made in 14 K gold available in the past in some markets; the US among them.

The six nibs currently on production.

F and M points in steel are, in Japan, remarkably cheaper than those in gold, but how do they compare? To answer this question, I inked three Capless nibs with Diamine Teal: 18 K, 14 K, and steel; all medium points.

The three nibs under review.

The differences among them can be summarized as follows:

— The steel nib is a lot thinner than those in gold. There is no significant line variation between the 14 K and the 18 K gold ones.

— The steel nib is also drier than those in gold, as is often the case.

— None of these nibs is truly flexible, but all of them show some springy character. The steel nib is the most rigid of the lot, and the 14 K shows more flexibility (even if very limited).

— Smooth-wise, both gold nibs work better than the steel one—ink flow and wider line favor smoothness. But the steel nib still scores very high on this department and it is very pleasant to use.

The steel nibs, available in Japan.

In conclusion, we must admit that gold Capless nibs work better than the cheaper steel one. But is the gold nib worth the price difference? Gold nibbed Capless pens come in Japan at a premium of JPY 5000.

The two possible trimmings on a Capless pen. Originally, the silver-color pen came with a steel nib. All the nibs shown on the first picture fit inside these empty boxes.

There is, however, another detail to take into consideration. Steel nibs come only as gold plated and their Capless bodies, as sold in Japan, are silver-trimmed and, therefore, mismatched in color. Gold nibs, on their side, can either be golden or silver (rhodiated) in color, and they are always matched with the body trim.

Writing samples of the three M nibs under study.

The answer to the previous question on the price difference, as usual, belongs to each of us—provided we could buy any of the options anywhere. Unfortunately, Pilot’s marketing policy does not allow that. But we have Internet and online shopping to overcome the short-sighted attitude of the company and of the importers.

An analysis of the Capless F nibs can be seen on the chronicle Capless Nibs (II).

(Pilot Capless, 14 K gold M nib – Diamine Teal)

Bruno Taut
April 16, 2011
[labels: Pilot, mercado]

Jentle

Los cambios en la política de tintas de Sailor en los últimos años (véanse las crónicas Indecisiones, Dyes y April Inks) han dado mucho protagonismo a la marca. Pero tantos cambios desconciertan a muchos, sobre todo a los comerciantes que deben estar al tanto de todos ellos. Pero no suele ser el caso y al final es el cliente el que sabe más.

La situación creada por Sailor es especialmente complicada: pasó de ocho a cuatro tintas en ediciones limitadas para cada estación, más tres colores básicos disponibles de forma ilimitada. Y ahora vuelve al esquema inicial, si bien con colores diferentes.

Este texto tiene como objeto reseñar todas estas tintas así como el orden en el que aparecieron en el mercado.


Hasta otoño de 2009:

Lavables, no pigmentadas:
Black – negro.
Blue-black – azul-negro.
Blue – azul.
Brown – marrón.
Red brown – marrón rojiza.
Green – verde.
Yellow orange – amarillo anaranjado.
Grey – gris.

Estas tintas dejan de reponerse en otoño de 2009.

Cinco de las tintas que estuvieron en el mercado hasta finales de 2009. Nótese el tono oscuro de las cajas.

Tinta verde de la serie existente hasta 2009 junto con la tinta miruai de primavera. La caja ha sufrido un cambio de diseño.

2009-2011:

A finales de 2009, Sailor cambia la caja y el tintero de sus tintas al tiempo que sube el precio de JPY 600 a JPY 1000 (más impuestos). Lanza sucesivamente cuatro series limitadas, una por estación, al tiempo que mantiene tres tintas básicas.

Tintas básicas, sin limitación de disponibilidad:
Black – negro.
Blue-black – azul-negro.
Blue – azul.

(Diciembre de 2009) Invierno:
時雨 - Shigure: lluvia suave – morado.
雪明 - Yuki-akari: luz de nieve – azul celeste.
囲炉裏 - Irori: hogar, en el sentido de fogón, chimenea - rojo.
常磐松 - Tokiwa-matsu: pino de Tokiwa - verde.


(Abril de 2010) Primavera:
若鶯 - Waka-uguisu: ruiseñor joven - verde.
桜森 - Sakura-mori: bosque de cerezos - rosa.
匂菫 - Nioi-sumire: fragancia de violetas - azul.
海松藍 - Miruai: azul de pino marítimo - verde.


(Julio de 2010) Verano:
藤娘 - Fuji-musume: la hija de la glicinia - violeta.
蒼天 - Sôten: azul cielo - azul.
土用 - Doyô: fin del verano - marrón.
利休茶 - Rikyû-cha: te de Rikyû - verde.


(Octubre de 2010) Otoño:
仲秋 - Chu-shu: luna llena de otoño – gris azulado.
奥山 - Oku-yama: montañas en el horizonte – rojo violáceo.
金木犀 - Kin-mokusei: oliva de olor - naranja.
山鳥 - Yama-dori: pájaro silvestre - azul.



Abril 2011:

Y ahora, en abril de 2011, aparece la nueva selección de tintas, de las cuales tres son las habituales negra, azul-negra y azul:
ブラック – burakku – black – negro.
ピッシエ – pisshie – peach/pêche – rosa.
ブルー – burû – blue – azul.
スカイハイ – sukaihai – sky-high – azul celeste.
ブルーブラック – burûburakku – blue-black – azul-negro.
ウルトラマリン – urutoramarin – ultra-marine – azul marino.
グレナーデ – gurenâde – grenade – rojo (oscuro).
エピナール – epinâru – epinard – verde.
アプリコット – apuricotto – apricot – naranja.

La gama de tintas para el año 2011. Foto extraida de la página web de Sailor.

Todas estas son las tintas denominadas Jentle, que es el nombre que Sailor da a las tintas lavables, no permanentes. Las permanentes las denomina “pigmentadas” y no han cambiado desde finales de 2009, cuando apareció la tinta azul-negra permanente:

Arriba, las dos tintas pigmentadas: kiwa-guro y sei-boku. Debajo, las tres tintas básicas no sujetas a los caprichos de las ediciones limitadas a lo largo del año 2010.

Pigmentadas, permanentes;
極黒 – Kiwa-guro – black – negro.
青墨 – Sei-boku – blue-black - azul negro.

(Katoseisakusho 800 F – Sailor “Hiroko’s Green”)

Bruno Taut
April 7, 2011
[labels: Sailor, tintas, mercado]

Against Collecting

I must admit my condition of collector over that of user. One-hundred-plus pens stored in boxes and cases definitely say so. But that is not a label I feel comfortable with.

I was raised in a time in which consumerism was frown upon. It was not only that we should not demand luxuries—we were somehow told that consumerism was alienating. Little we knew then how much more demanding this society would become over the years. The country, in the meantime, has also become wealthier and the opportunities to spend money have increased. As a result, younger generations have never received those messages and feel more at ease in the ludic act of shopping.


Collecting has a number of interpretations but it is not possible to deny its consumerist and superfluous dimension. There is hardly any way to justify the possession of more than a couple of pens and inks. And we know it—at least, I know it. But we also create the fantasy –the denial—of believing in our condition of users, regardless of the size of our collection.

Beyond certain number of pens, we all know, it is simply not possible to use all of them. Some pens might never see any ink, and many others are inked only once. Then, what are we buying? I am afraid we end up buying ornaments in the shape of pens. But these were meant to be tools, utilitarian tools.


In a sense, all these feelings explain why I write these chronicles using my pens. By writing, I feel more of a user and I can ease my bad feelings as a victim of consumerism.


In any event, the pen will never become mightier than the sword if kept in a display window. But that is what many of us, pen collectors, do with our beloved jewels.

(Pilot Vortex, M nib– Sailor Red Brown)

Bruno Taut
April 5th, 2011
[labels: estilofilia]

April Inks

It is just perfect to start the new school year with the cherry trees blooming, many Japanese think. So, many things in Japan start in April.

Sailor’s inks for 2011 are already in the market. After the sixteen seasonal inks in limited releases, this company seems to have returned to a more stable selection. Nine inks compose the new gamut, out of which three are the very traditional black, blue-black and blue. The remaining six are more creative colors.

Interestingly enough, after one year of very Yamato names, these new inks have very Western denominations, all of them written in Katakana.

(Pictore taken from Sailor's website: http://sailorshop.jp/SHOP/13-1000.html)

These are the new colors for 2011 (from left to right, from top to bottom):

1. ブラック – burakku – black
2. ピッシエ – pisshie – peach/pêche
3. ブルー – burû – blue
4. スカイハイ – sukaihai – sky-high
5. ブルーブラック – burûburakku – blue-black
6. ウルトラマリン – urutoramarin – ultra-marine
7. グレナーデ – gurenâde – grenade
8. エピナール – epinâru – epinard
9. アプリコット – apuricotto – apricot

The price in Japan has not changed: JPY 1000, plus tax. The two pigmented inks by Sailor, black and blue-black, have not changed.

(Pilot Volex demonstrator – Diamine Evergreen)

Bruno Taut
April 7, 2011
[labels: tinta, Sailor, mercado]

Mitsukoshi

I have already mentioned on these chronicles how stationeries and department stores in Japan used to sell pens under their own name or, eventually, their own brand. Those pens were produced by some of the important manufacturers of the day. Maruzen’s pens, branded as Olivier or as Athena, were made by companies like De la Rue in the early 1920s; and we have already seen a Pilot pen labeled as Pilot Matsuzakaya, the name of a very traditional department store in Japan.


Today’s pen is a similar case: A Pilot-made OEM for Mitsukoshi, another department store. This is a beautiful BCHR eye-dropper with hoshiawase (星合せ) shut-off system.


The embossed decoration has been nicely smoothened over years of use. The cap has a detachable clip in steel that shows some signs of wear. All this give the pen a nice shibui look.


The barrel is engraved with the seal and the name of the department store: "MITSUKOSHI" / FOUNTAIN PEN. The nib is a14 K gold in size 3, very flexible, signed by Pilot.


The most interesting feature of this pen, however, is the Pilot proprietary shut-off system in the form of “crossed stars” or hoshiawase. This system was not very reliable and was phased out around 1928. But on this particular unit, the concentric cylinders in the section fit very well and provide a nice seal.


The pen dimensions are as follows:
Diameter: 12 mm
Length capped: 122 mm
Length uncapped: 117 mm
Length posted: 156 mm
Weight (dry): 13 g


This pen was made in 1927, and its overall condition is very good, albeit used.

(Pilot Volex, M nib – Montegrappa Turquoise)

Bruno Taut
April 5, 2011
[labels: Pilot, soluciones técnicas]

Kato's Pens

Not much information is available about Kato Seisakushô pen company, but it attracts a lot of expectation among pen enthusiasts. Possibly, its rarity makes it all the more appealing.

These pens have a very irregular distribution. The main sources are two websites –Pen House and Pen Meister. Lately, Kato Seisakushô pens could be seen at a only couple of shops in Tokyo, which is the only Japanese city I truly know, and in the catalog of an eBay vendor. Most of the information come from those websites and is written in Japanese. However, some translations can be found in some fora. And that is basically it.

The scarce literature on the Net is a mixture of facts and myths. Mr. Kiyoshi Kato founded his workshop in Osaka after –they claim— fathering fountain pens in Arabia and creating some pen factories in Egypt. All in the years of the Second World War… Mr. Kato was also responsible for some pens of the Italian brand Visconti.


This company’s selling point is that the pens are hand crafted in celluloid: “Celluloid Pen / Hand Crafted / Made in Japan”, that is all we can read on the cardboard boxes. On the pen, the only written sign is on the nib: they are either Schmidt –those in steel— or just “made in Japan” for those in 14 K gold. Again, that is all the information we can get from the pen itself.

Now, how interesting are these pens? Yes, they are made in celluloid. Other than that, most of them employ the international cartridge/converter system and implement steel nibs. Higher grade pens use 14 K gold nibs, ebonite feeds and integrated piston self-filling systems. Such is mine—a 800F model about which I should write a full review.

(Katoseisakusho 800F – Sailor Hiroko’s Green)

Bruno Taut
March 28, 2011
[labels: Japón, Katoseisakusho]

Vortex

Pen review: Pilot Vortex.

The pen under review today is a cheap one. One of the cheapest made by Pilot but, still, a very reliable tool and, therefore, worth to look at.


1. Appearance and design. (7.5/10)
The Pilot Vortex is probably the last pocket pen still on production—other than the German equivalent the Kaweco Sport, that is. The Pilot M90, should we remember, was a limited edition no longer marketed.

So, this is a short pen with a long cap. But this time, contrary to the standard trend of pocket pens, it has a cheap plastic look. It is indeed a very informal looking pen, probably aiming at a young user.


The transparent cap screws in the barrel, and the pen, as a whole, is on the thick side. Both features make this pen unique among pocket pens. Posted, the cap secures itself tightly to the barrel with a clear sound. The section is made of rugged plastic with a soft feeling to it, making a pleasant grip, albeit not a nice look.


The Pilot Vortex is available in five different colors and two nib points.

Personally, I do not like the looks of this pen, but I reckon that its design works very well and is matched with a good construction quality.

In summary, it is an ugly pen with a good design


2. Construction and quality. (9.5/10)
Everything fits perfectly in this pen, and no clear signs of wear can be seen despite the regular handling of a pen that is never attractive enough to inspire any special care.

The thread for the cap, and the groove to secure it when posted. On the right hand side, the rugged section.

When posted, the cap leaves the thread uncovered.

3. Weight and dimensions. (9.0/10)
A compact pen, albeit bigger that it really looks—the long cap makes it look shorter than it really is. A Parker 21, for instance, is one centimeter longer.

It is also fairly thick, easing the grip for extensive writing. The balance is very correct either posted or unposted, although in this second case it might be a bit too short for some hands.

Dimensions:
Length capped: 125 mm.
Length open: 115 mm.
Length posted: 150 mm.
Diameter: 15.5 mm
Weight: 16.0 g.


4. Nib and writing performance. (8.5/10)
Only two very rigid steel nibs are available on this pen: F and M. But both are very smooth and provide a slightly wet flow.

In conclusion, a very correct set of nibs for an inexpensive pen.

M nib (top) and F nib (bottom).

5. Filling system and maintenance. (9.0/10)
Pilot-proprietary cartridges and converters (CON-20 and CON-50) are the way to ink this pen. Nothing fancy, but the right solution for a daily workhorse, for a pen to carry around at all times in a pocket or a purse.

The Vortex on the top was inked refilling a Pilot cartridge. The one on the bottom sports a CON-20 converter.

However, this pen could easily be transformed into an eyedropper. It even has windows on the barrel and section to check the remaining ink.

Maintenance-wise, this pen shows no problem other than the difficulty to remove the nib and feed set, which not many users attempt to do in any pen. Flushing the section with water is the standard procedure in any cartridge/converter pen.


6. Cost and value. (7.5/10)
This pen costs, in Japan, JPY 1500, plus tax. And you get a loud pen that never fails to write and seems almost unbreakable, with a very smooth nib. It is not a fancy jewel, but a reliable and pleasant writing tool.

Some points are deducted, though, due to the unappealing look.


7. Conclusion. (51/60=85/100)
The only weak point of this pen is the appearance. The rest is outstanding given its price. Many more expensive pens do not perform this well.

(Pilot Vortex, M nib – Sailor Red Brown)

Bruno Taut
March 24, 2011
[labels: Pilot]