The Odd Relative: Platinum Glamour

After writing about the Platinum 3776 and its more than 40 years of history, it is only natural to mention its weird relative, the Platinum Glamour marketed in 1987.

The reason for this is clear—not only the Glamour follows the style of the original 3776 of 1978, but also Platinum described it as a modification of that model “by giving it a thicker body but making it compact”. And on the pen box Platinum added “a sense of proportion in deformation”.

"A sense of proportion in deformation. An attractive design”. Platinum dixit.

Well, not the strangest argument in marketing, but certainly paradoxical.

In any event, the interesting detail of the Glamour, beyond its deformed shape, is the fact that Platinum had to create a specific nib –with its corresponding feed—to create that pen. In this regard, it relates to the limited release 3776 Decade and its original nib.

The gold nib (14 K) of the Glamour. It also exists in steel.

Back in 2010 I published a review of the Glamour with a gold nib—more comfortable than what its shape and size might suggest, a stiff nib, and a high price. And right now, even more expensive.

Sailor Mini (1971), 21 K - Sailor Blue

Bruno Taut
June 10th, 2023
labels: Platinum

New 3776 Nib

The Platinum Decade pen described on the previous entry implements, as we saw, a new nib. And this nib represents a new step in the evolution of the 3776 nib.

So this is a good time to revise that evolution of nibs and feeds along forty-something years of history.

Early models, (between 1978 and some time in the early 1980s) had very cylindrical nibs and ebonite feeds. The first year model had a feed with no fins at all. There were also music nibs with this geometry.

Nib and feed of a Platinum #3776 from 1978. Note the ebonite feed.

The feeds of these early models changed quickly. By the second year, they had implemented some fins.

Later on, the nib became flatter on the top area, but there were few, if any, changes on the ebonite feed. This detail changed at some point and from then on all Platinum feeds have been made of plastic.

Nib and feed from 1984. The nib is obviously flatter on top while the feed is still made of ebonite.

Nib and feed from 2002. The nib is apparently identical to the previous one (1984), but the feed is now made of plastic.

Nib and feed from a #3776 Century. Labeled as manufactured on November of 2011. Note the shorter nib and the very specific feed. Needless to say, it is made of plastic.

The #3776 Century was launched in 2011. On this newer edition, two-tine nibs (i. e., non music nibs) changed with respect to previous models. Now they are shorter than before, and the feed had been modified to anchor the nib on the right position.

On the left, a music nib of a #3776 Century, dated on 2012. On the right, a music nib of a #3776 of 2009. The feeds are identical. The nibs share the same basic geometry.

Music nib and feed of the Wagner 2015 pen. Note the absence of holes in the tail of the nib.

These changes, as I said, did not affect the three-tine music nibs. In some occasions, some gold was removed from the tail of the nib –that area hidden under the section-, but is also seems not to be always the case. The feeds of these music nibs are more cylindrical in shape and have no fixed position for the nib.

Two and three tine nibs dated in 2009 and 2010. They were interchangeable in their sections. I am well aware that the two tine nib is a Nakaya, but Nakaya implements #3776 nibs.

And in 2022, the model released to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the 3776 Century sported the following nib:

It is slightly narrower and longer than the previous nib. The feed remains untouched.

Now, the question is whether this new nib will become the standard for all 3776 Century and associated products (::1::, ::2::). Time will tell.

Pilot Custom 742, S nib – Diamine Imperial Purple

Bruno Taut
June 1st, 2023
etiquetas: Platinum, plumín, plumín musical

Decade

One of the most interesting pens released in 2022 was the Platinum Decade, made to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the model 3776 Century. And it is interesting because it somehow departs from the very trite trick of rehashing a well known model by simply changing the color.

The Platinum Decade in the box.

For this pen Platinum changed two elements with the result of a more attractive pen:

The first is the overall shape and style—gathered ma-non-tanto. Like the first edition 3776 of 1978, but not too much. The gathered style, let us remember, remains in the Platinum catalog to this day after a numerous adaptation to the successive changes in the model.

A collection of 3776 models, plus the Platinum Glamour.

Platinum Decade (bottom) and 1978 Platinum 3776 (top).

The result, the Decade pen, recalls the old model while also being new.

The second detail that makes this pen different is the nib. As can be seen on the picture, Platinum took the effort of designing a new geometry for the nib instead of simply implementing the old Century unit.

The two nibs, side by side. The Platinum Decade on the left, a regular 3776 Century on the right.

This is a lot more than what Platinum has been doing in the last years—endless variations of the 3776 Century by changing colors and textures, all of them with the same nib.

So Platinum now deserves some recognition.

Parker 51, burgundy – Sailor Tomikei Blue

Bruno Taut
May 31st, 2023
etiquetas: Platinum, plumín, mercado

Brazilian Capless (III)

The following ad appeared June 1968 in the Brazilian magazine Realidade:

Realidade. June 1968.

We see two different Capless models on it. On top, a C-300GW made in Brazil like the one described on a previous Chronicle. And right under it, a long RW unit.

Just like the pen shown on the following picture—a RW Capless marketed in Brazil:

Capless C-100RW.

It is made in Japan and its manufacturing dates are June 1st 1967 (HF01) for the body and June of 1967 for the nib. A converter is included, and in fact it is of the type we saw attached to the model C-3000GW made in Brazil.

Steel nib made June 1967.

So all looks fine, right? Well, not really.

As we have also seen on these pages, the RW pens could implement both steel and gold nibs, And the external difference was on the clip: a golden clip was associated to gold nibs, and silver clips to steel nibs. And this pen has a steel nib and a golden clip.

I am well aware that replacing the nib in a Capless pen is a trivial matter. However, the manufacturing dates of nib and body match perfectly –June of 1967-, and a second RW unit also marketed in Brazil had this same association of clip and nib.

Therefore I think there are grounds to consider that the RW Capless sent to Brazil were somehow special in the combination of clip and nib. And this is a question our Brazilian friends could answer.


My thanks to TM.

Sailor Profit Sr, 18 K HB nib – Sailor Blue

Bruno Taut
April 27th 2023
etiquetas: Pilot, Capless, Brasil

New Izumo (II)

As we saw yesterday, Platinum has announced a new Izumo series of pens with a relatively new nib—a #3776 made of 18 K gold.

It could be argued that Platinum had paid attention to a typical complain—the President nib looks small on the Izumo pen. But how do President and #3776 nibs compare? Is the #3776 unit going to correct that perception?

The fact is that the #3776 is just slightly bigger than the President, as the following table shows:

	. President . 18 K Au	.#3776. . 14 K Au .
Total length (mm)	25.5	29.1
Exposed length (mm)	20.9	21.8
Width (mm)	8.1	8.6
Weight (g)	0.6	0.7

And a similar effect can be seen when comparing a #3776 Century and a President pen side by side. These two pens are very similar in dimensions.

President (top) and #3776 Century (bottom).

Izumo Akatamenuri (top) and President (bottom).

On the Izumo, the problem is the actual girth of the pen, significantly larger than that of the regular President:

	Izumo .Akatamenuri.	.President.	#3776 .Century.
Length closed (mm)	155	143	140
Length open (mm)	134	122	120
Max. diameter (cap) (mm)	17.5	16.0	15.3
Barrel Diameter (mm)	15.7	13.4	13.3

So, will the #3776 nib correct the perception of a small nib attached to a big pen? Only marginally, I'm afraid.

The actual problem of Platinum is the lack of a big nib, a nib comparable to the Sailor super big (King of Pen) or to the Pilot size 30 (Custom Urushi). And that is a serious handicap if you wanted to design and produce a big pen.

Pilot Custom 74, Yamada Seisakusho – Diamine Teal

Bruno Taut
Yokohama, April 26th, 2023
etiquetas: plumín, mercado, Platinum

New Izumo (I)

Platinum has just announced a new release of the well-known Izumo series of pens.

The name of this new variations is Iro Urushi, colored lacquer, and is composed by two models –Aitetsu Iro, a bluish green pen; and Budô Nezu, brown with greyish tones.

Platinum Izumo Iro Urushi Aitetsu Iro.

Budô Nezu Izumo. Note the silver trim on both pens.

But what might be more relevant to this new pens is the implementation of a different nib with an additional nib point. Traditionally, Izumo pens sport President nibs of 18 K gold with points F, M and B. The exception are the models made of weaved bamboo –the Yokoajiro and the Gozame with catalog references PBA–120000Y, and PBA-120000G, whose nibs are of the #3776 type.

The new nib. Or not so new. And for the first time, there will be Izumo pens with BB points.

And these #3776 nibs, rhodiated and made of 18 K Au, will also be used on the new Iro Urushi Izumo pens with the options of F, M, B and BB points.

Two questions remain open: will these #3776 nibs be implemented on the existing spindle-shape Izumo pens? How much will these Iro Urushi pens cost?

Parker 51 burgundy – Tomikei Blue (Sailor)

Bruno Taut
Yokohama, April 26th, 2023
etiquetas: plumín, maki-e, mercado, Platinum

Brazilian Capless (II)

NOTE (April 23rd, 2023): I have added a couple of sentences and a picture of the instruction sheet to show the lack of mention to ink cartridges re how to ink the Brazilian Capless.


There is nothing like reading the pen.

Some months ago I published a text on the very obscure Pilot Capless made in Brazil. Now I have on such pen in my hands and can look further into the details.

The Brazilian Capless. A revolutionary pen, apparently.

A direct comparison between these two pens shows some subtle differences:

Brazilian on top (teal), Japanese on bottom (red).

– The Brazilian pen implements a steel nib, and both nib and body are labeled as products of the “Industria Brasileira” (imprints “IND. BRAS.” and “IND. BRASILEIRA).

On its side, the Japanese Capless sports a 14 K gold nib marked with the JIS logo and imprint “MADE IN JAPAN”.

The Brazilian engraving is fainter than the Japanese. Note also the old Pilot logo --with the L underlining the O-- on the Brazilian nib.

– The central ring on these Capless are different. It is a groove on the Japanese pen, and is flat on the Brazilian unit.

The very different central ring. Brazilian on top, Japanese on bottom.

– Contrary to what I had said, the Brazilian pen does use a converter. It is a form of CON-W, as the nipple corresponds to a double-spare cartridge.

In this regards, both the Japanese and the Brazilian Capless are not different. However, the Japanese pen was not marketed with the converter attached.

The nib unit with the red tail corresponds to the Brazilian pen, with the converter attached. The Japanese unit shows a metallic sheath to cover the cartriges and provide the necessary length for the release mechanism to operate.

We could question then whether double-spare cartridges were actually marketed in Brazil or these pens –and others like later Capless and the model 77- relied solely on inkwells as ink supply. In fact, the instruction sheet of this Capless pen does not mention the use of cartridges at all.

Instruction shet of the Brazilian Capless written, obviously, in Portuguese. To fill the pen, it says, immerse the nib in the inkwell and pump ink into it. There is no mention to any type of cartridge to ink the pen.

All this is relevant because there exist the question of whether this Brazilian Capless was actually made in Brazil or merely assembled in Brazil out of parts sent out from Japan. An obvious third option would have been that the whole pen had been manufactured in Japan and sent to Brazil for the local market.

So far it is not possible to know which one of those possibilities was the right one. Only a peek onto the Brazilian records of Pilot do Brasil would give us a complete answer, but they seem to be off-limits now. In Japan, Pilot does not have records related to the foreign production.

But the details above described, especially those on the different central ring, do point out at a different manufacturing line for the Brazilian Capless.

Because in the absence of records there is nothing like reading the pen. Instruction sheets are also helpful.


My thanks to TM.

Parker 51 aerometric, burgundy – Tomikei Blue (Sailor)

Bruno Taut
April 20th 2023
etiquetas: Pilot, Capless, Brasil