Jump to content

Sonnet Comparisons With Lookalikes

richardandtracy

By richardandtracy
in Fountain Pen Reviews

 Share

Recommended Posts

rwilsonedn Antique

rwilsonedn

Posted
Posted

Thanks for the very thorough review! I will probably be ordering one, or two, or three shortly. :rolleyes:

 

Yes, I agree on the lack of originality in the designs that are reviewed here. Its obvious, but not overly concerning to me. At least they do show some originality.

 

Being a Parker fan, you would think I would find fault with all of these Chinese variations, but I don't. As long as none of them are trying to counterfeit a true Parker, I don't see a problem.

 

Yes, they do need to come up with some more original design work to get to the"next level". And I think a couple of the companies are actually attempting it, but you don't necessarily see it in these particular models.

Nicely said. In the USA we are not really in a position to complain about emerging economies copying other people's products, since that is how the USA became a manufacturing power too. I do think the Chinese manufacturers are doing some very original design--for example, some of the overlaid Jinhao pens. But their original designs appear to be done for a distinctly Chinese aesthetic, not a Western one. It may be that the Chinese design offices don't lack creativity, they simply lack confidence that they understand Western tastes. So when they design for North America and Europe, they copy US or European designs. When they design for China, they really cut loose.

ron

Link to comment
Share on other sites
  • Replies 95
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

  • richardandtracy

    18

  • watch_art

    8

  • studiohead

    6

  • rdh

    5

Popular Days

Top Posters In This Topic

Popular Days

watch_art Museum Piece

watch_art

Posted
Posted

Well - I can't speak for the Sonnet or any of the other pens - but I got two K356 pens in the mail today from a very kind FPNer and I have to say they're VERY nice.

Sure they each needed a quick nib adjustment to open the tines, but they're smooth and wet.

 

Great student pens!

:)

fpn_1432247667__cropped-20150427_0641231 http://www.penturners.org/forum/signaturepics/sigpic14481_1.gif http://mob984.photobucket.com/albums/ae327/VintagePen/vanness.jpg?t=1321916122

Link to comment
Share on other sites
oldcbl New

oldcbl

Posted
Posted

An interesting post and very informative. I have struggled with Parker Sonnets on and off for many years. These were all 23k gold plated medium nibs and were indifferent for my handwriting style, either running dry or just not feeling quite right.

 

I was desperate to own a Sonnet that I could enjoy and recently took the plunge and acquired a new pen fitted with an 18k gold fine nib. As a committed medium nib man this was quite a risk but turned out to be a revelation. The 18k nib was unlike any of the previous Sonnets and I have finally found a Sonnet that I can love.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Malcy Vintage

Malcy

Posted
Posted

An interesting post and very informative. I have struggled with Parker Sonnets on and off for many years. These were all 23k gold plated medium nibs and were indifferent for my handwriting style, either running dry or just not feeling quite right.

 

I was desperate to own a Sonnet that I could enjoy and recently took the plunge and acquired a new pen fitted with an 18k gold fine nib. As a committed medium nib man this was quite a risk but turned out to be a revelation. The 18k nib was unlike any of the previous Sonnets and I have finally found a Sonnet that I can love.

 

The gold nibs are really nice. I haven't tried the steel Sonnet nib but the gold nib has a nice amount of spring to it. :)

Link to comment
Share on other sites
wastelanded Collectors Item

wastelanded

Posted
Posted

What a thorough and entertaining review, many thanks!

"I was cut off from the world. There was no one to confuse or torment me, and I was forced to become original." - Franz Joseph Haydn 1732 - 1809
Link to comment
Share on other sites
studiohead Extremely Rare

studiohead

Posted
Posted

Well - I can't speak for the Sonnet or any of the other pens - but I got two K356 pens in the mail today from a very kind FPNer and I have to say they're VERY nice.

Sure they each needed a quick nib adjustment to open the tines, but they're smooth and wet.

 

Great student pens!

:)

 

 

Nice to hear that it arrived safely.

 

 

From The Sunny Island of Singapore

 

Straits Pen Distributors and Dealers of Craft Rinkul, JB Perfect Pen Flush, Ohto Japan, Parker, Pelikan, Pilot Pen, Private Reserve Inks, Schrade Tactical Pens, Smith & Wesson Pens, Noodler's Ink LLC Pens, TWSBI Inc and Waterman in Singapore

Disclosure: I do nib work for others and am affiliated with those which do. I also sell and represent certain brands of pens.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
nickapos Rare

nickapos

Posted
Posted
From what you mention in your review, the original Sonnet does not have much more to offer than the cheaper Chinese replicas....

 

Perhaps, though without all the effort and expense Parker put into designing it, there would be no cheap replicas....

I agree with you of course. I am a Parker fan, but I am also glad that we can find cheap alternatives of the classic Parker designs.

Nick Apostolakis

Msc in IT, University of Glasgow

GPG ID: 0xBDF1848D

e-mail: nickapos@oncrete.gr

Web Site: http://nick.oncrete.gr

Link to comment
Share on other sites
estonian Dipped Only

estonian

Posted
Posted

Me too. :)

 

This is what 80 Kaigelus look like.

 

:yikes:

How much did it cost? I imagine you got a really nice bulk discount.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
seymour Rare

seymour

Posted
Posted

Hi

 

Richard, I enjoyed the review and may try the Kaigelu or the Duke, since I am not enthusiastic about the Sonnet. I have 4 Sonnets, but do not use them much. I see the Sonnet as a mediocre (work-horse) sort of pen.

 

As I understand it, instead of a Parker 75, I was expected to upgrade to a Duofold or down-grade to a Sonnet. I am still sorry that Parker saw fit to stop manufacturing the Parker 75. None of the replacements give me the same pleasure

 

Chaim

Chaim Seymour

David Elazar 8

Givat Shemuel

Israel

54032

Link to comment
Share on other sites
LWW Rare

LWW

Posted
Posted

I now have my BAOER 388 and it is a very nice pen in all ways except for the clip which has some slop init which tightening can't fix.

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed ..."

Link to comment
Share on other sites
atypical Rare

atypical

Posted
Posted

A very interesting comparison.

 

I currently have a Sonnet (90s Moonbeam) and a Baoer 388, neither of which I really like to write with.

However, I do like the basic design and based on your description, I might give the Kaigelu 356 a go.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
rdh Extremely Rare

rdh

Posted
Posted

They were $400 - shipped by DHL and got here in about a week. Very fast shipping! :)

 

What are you going to do with all of them?

 

Dave

Link to comment
Share on other sites
rdh Extremely Rare

rdh

Posted
Posted

Give them to my students in August.

 

NIce. I am sure that you will have some who really appreciate them. I think what we need for a lot of current students is a stylus that looks and acts like a Fountain pen. If they can get the feel of a real pen on their iPads, then they will know why some of us really fuss about our fountain pens.

 

Dave

Link to comment
Share on other sites
studiohead Extremely Rare

studiohead

Posted
Posted

They were $400 - shipped by DHL and got here in about a week. Very fast shipping! :)

 

Unfortunately, I think that most of the cost went into shipping then into the pens at the quantity you ordered but at least they have you the cloth sleeves.

 

Been in and out of the loop due to the traveling and conventions. E3 and WWDC were okay. Returning home tomorrow with a huge order from The Goulets and other retailers. Let me know next year, I see if I can a cheaper price as I know you want to help more students.

 

The iPad is designed for the finger and not a stylus, any requirement of a stylus becomes bad design on the part of the person designing the App.

From The Sunny Island of Singapore

 

Straits Pen Distributors and Dealers of Craft Rinkul, JB Perfect Pen Flush, Ohto Japan, Parker, Pelikan, Pilot Pen, Private Reserve Inks, Schrade Tactical Pens, Smith & Wesson Pens, Noodler's Ink LLC Pens, TWSBI Inc and Waterman in Singapore

Disclosure: I do nib work for others and am affiliated with those which do. I also sell and represent certain brands of pens.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
richardandtracy Museum Piece

richardandtracy

Posted
  • Author
Posted

I have become aware of a problem with the Kaigelu c/c supplied with the K356 and a number of the recent cheaper Kaigelus.

 

Unfortunately due to bad material choice by Kaigelu, they are using unplated metal (probably brass) balls in the c/c. These balls corrode in the ink and produce discolouration of the ink, sludge contamination in the c/c and can cause blockage of the pen. In Pelikan Turquoise (pH 2.1) it took 3 days for visible quantities of Copper Carbonate to build up in the ink, which came through to the nib. In Herbin Rose scented ink, in the space of a week, the ink in the c/c turned an orangey-brown.

The affected c/c's are the c/c's with black central rings joining the fixed part of the c/c to the twist knob. I know these c/c's appear on the recent K300 (but not the older ones), the K353, K356, K360, K362 and K363. I have direct experience of the balls corroding in the c/c in the K356, K362 and K363.

 

The solution is to either change the c/c or to dismantle the c/c to replace the ball with one obtained from an old cartridge.

Good luck Shawn...!

 

Regards,

 

Richard.

<a href="http://www.chestnutpens.co.uk">Chestnut Pens</a>

Link to comment
Share on other sites
watch_art Museum Piece

watch_art

Posted
Posted (edited)

and you dismantle HOW? I can't get the black ring off the converter to take the little BB out.

 

I guess I could just fill them all with ink and leave them sit in a cup or something, then clean them out and wash the BB out.

 

THe one I've been using has a plastic ball in it. Too bad all the new ones have the BB.

Edited by watch_art

fpn_1432247667__cropped-20150427_0641231 http://www.penturners.org/forum/signaturepics/sigpic14481_1.gif http://mob984.photobucket.com/albums/ae327/VintagePen/vanness.jpg?t=1321916122

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share
Go to topic listing

  • Most Contributions

    1. amberleadavis
      amberleadavis
      43844
    2. PAKMAN
      PAKMAN
      33583
    3. Ghost Plane
      Ghost Plane
      28220
    4. inkstainedruth
      inkstainedruth
      26772
    5. jar
      jar
      26105

  • Upcoming Events

  • Blog Comments

    • Shanghai Knife Dude
      Links to web pages or articles about Chinese typesetting, signwriting, etc.

      By Shanghai Knife Dude · Posted

      I have the Sailor Naginata and some fancy blade nibs coming after 2022 by a number of new workshop from China.  With all my respect, IMHO, they are all (bleep) in doing chinese characters.  Go use a bush, or at least a bush pen. 
    • A Smug Dill
      Skeleton of a primer for a budding hobbyist

      By A Smug Dill · Posted

      It is the reason why I'm so keen on the idea of a personal library — of pens, nibs, inks, paper products, etc. — and spent so much money, as well as time and effort, to “build” it for myself (because I can't simply remember everything, especially as I'm getting older fast) and my wife, so that we can “know”; and, instead of just disposing of what displeased us, or even just not good enough to be “given the time of day” against competition from >500 other pens and >500 other inks for our at
    • adamselene
      Skeleton of a primer for a budding hobbyist

      By adamselene · Posted

      Agreed.  And I think it’s good to be aware of this early on and think about at the point of buying rather than rationalizing a purchase..
    • A Smug Dill
      Skeleton of a primer for a budding hobbyist

      By A Smug Dill · Posted

      Alas, one cannot know “good” without some idea of “bad” against which to contrast; and, as one of my former bosses (back when I was in my twenties) used to say, “on the scale of good to bad…”, it's a spectrum, not a dichotomy. Whereas subjectively acceptable (or tolerable) and unacceptable may well be a dichotomy to someone, and finding whether the threshold or cusp between them lies takes experiencing many degrees of less-than-ideal, especially if the decision is somehow influenced by factors o
    • adamselene
      Skeleton of a primer for a budding hobbyist

      By adamselene · Posted

      I got my first real fountain pen on my 60th birthday and many hundreds of pens later I’ve often thought of what I should’ve known in the beginning. I have many pens, the majority of which have some objectionable feature. If they are too delicate, or can’t be posted, or they are too precious to face losing , still they are users, but only in very limited environments..  I have a big disliking for pens that have the cap jump into the air and fly off. I object to Pens that dry out, or leave blobs o

  • Chatbox

    You don't have permission to chat.
    Load More

  • Files






×
×
  • Create New...