Pilot Vanishing Point Help

[Dadster]

Hello All. I'm new here & new to Fountain pens.

 

I have a couple of questions. What is a ball park worth of a old matte black Vp pen? (pick below I hope) I got it as a gift & was wondering. I do not want to sell it. The other question is it safe to use? Not in "I'll lose my eye" but older & might break. I would hate for it to become inoperable.

 

The second pen is my daily driver plus I just ordered a copper vp & I can wait to test drive it

 

Thanks for any help. I really like these pens. I've tried to turn a few people on to them but I guess it's an acquired taste.

[rutherfordr]

That's the Namiki Vanishing Point with the faceted matte-black plastic barrel. It was sold in the US in the 1990s.

One problem with them is that the barrel of the pen might start to crack at the threads where the two parts come together.

Also, if it gets a lot of use, the matte black coating can wear off.

 

I've seen them sold on Ebay for $400.

[Siv]

It has a plastic body so I would be more careful with is than the newer all metal ones.

http://carmenriverapens.com/Vanishing_Point_images/87Dec.htm

 

A NIB example may sell for more than $300 to the right buyer. There is a NIB one on ebay right now for $350. A used model less...

[Dadster]

Thank you both for the reply

 

Is it over tightening or a lot of clicking that cracks the threads....or both?

 

I guess I'll keep it around the house. I want to use it but not wreck it. It would seem a waste to just leave it in a drawer.

 

I have a felling these might be gateway pens....

[Ink Blotto]

You could always contact Ron Zorn and see if he would do the brass thread insert as discussed on his blog.

 

http://mainstreetpens.com/wordpress/?p=27

 

I don't know what the charge would be but if the pen has sentimental value it would be one way of strengthening the thread area.

 

Edited to add- the price appears to be $50.

http://mainstreetpens.com/pricelist.htm

Edited January 29, 2015 by Ink Blotto

[Dadster]

Thank you. That would be great. That way It can get used & the only thing to worry about is the coating coming off.

[alex137]

I didn't know there'd ever been a plastic version. But then I got mine in 2006... Great pens, aren't they?

[Algester]

I didn't know there'd ever been a plastic version. But then I got mine in 2006... Great pens, aren't they?

older capless pens are plastic there's also one in ebonite (all I know it has a maki-e finish) but I can't say for sure but thats the beauty of the search

[Dadster]

I'm bummed. A closer inspection I found a crack. Is there anything that can be done for this?

 

I do think these are great pens....but it's the only Fountain pens that I own. I need to fix that.

Edited February 4, 2015 by Dadster

[Algester]

contact Pilot US then if they dont respond with in a week or so contact Pilot Japan...

the next best option buy a body but I'm not sure if the new bodies will fit the old unit on this version a lot of hear say yes it fits... if so Engaika? maybe...

Edited February 4, 2015 by Algester

[Ernst Bitterman]

the next best option buy a body but I'm not sure if the new bodies will fit the old unit on this version a lot of hear say yes it fits... if so Engaika? maybe...

 

 

I'm just looking into a new body for a client who asked if I could fix the cracks in the barrel at the joint... and reattach the metal fore-piece... and get the spring back under the trap-door. I ran his writing unit into my 2011 body, and it works just fine.

[Dadster]

I was looking at the one I have and both the male & female (threads & receiver?) parts are plastic. Does that change the date?

[gregglee]

I didn't know there'd ever been a plastic version. But then I got mine in 2006... Great pens, aren't they?

I also have a 1990's all black faceted "stealth pen." Often called the "original" Stealth Pen in ads, but in fact the earliest Pilot VP was in 1963. You might find this interesting:

 

Pilot Vanishing Point Pen History

Edited February 5, 2015 by gregglee

[gregglee]

I was looking at the one I have and both the male & female (threads & receiver?) parts are plastic. Does that change the date?

The outer shell of both cap and barrel are plastic. The nib has a date on it. Small, lowest line on nib markings. Letter is plant where it was made, next are three or four numbers which are month and year. e.g. A997 is Sep 1997, A1097 is Oct 1997. 1990's US pens were branded Namiki on both nib and clip.

 

Nib/converters have been same design for several decades. Today's nibs are the same as then. But now you can get a black nib to go with the black pen.

 

Also see the history link I posted just above.

Edited February 5, 2015 by gregglee

[Dadster]

Thanks for the info

 

14K585 so 14 K nib but 585?

 

A893 so Aug 1993

[Algester]

no 14kt automatically marks it 58.5% gold hence 585 its different for 21KT, 18 KT and 23.9kt gold nibs

PS that 23.9kt nib is an elusive sailor nib back in the karat wars

 

pretty much your pen is from 1993 thats a given...

 

http://estilofilos.blogspot.com/p/blog-page.html

another one for your capless history...

Edited February 5, 2015 by Algester

[alex137]

Thank you @gregglee and @algester for the history links. Fascinating stuff!

[Dadster]

Yes thank you all that have posted. I love learning.

 

Got a new one. It's the one in the middle. I carry & use the two new ones daily. EF nib for writing on bad paper & a M nib for bolder marks.

[gregglee]

I'm bummed. A closer inspection I found a crack. Is there anything that can be done for this?

 

 

Are you sure that's a crack rather than a scratch? It doesn't seem to cross the ridge and groove that is part of the same piece. Look to see if it reaches the threads, also part of the same piece, or if you can see it on the inside of the barrel.

[Dadster]

So I took a much closer look at it. Yep it's a crack. It goes to the ridge & makes a 90 degree turn. I can not tell if it goes all the way thru the pen barrel. It does not go into the threads. Now what?