Pilot Custom 74 vs Custom 742

[donwinn]

What are the differences between the Pilot Custom 74 and Custom 742, aside from price? I know the 743 is smaller than the 74 or 742, but do not know what differences there are between 74 and 742. I am considering a 74 with FA nib, as it is much less costly, but do not want to give up desirable features/traits just to save some money. I would appreciate some clarification regarding the differences. Thank you.

 

Donnie

[kmpn]

What are the differences between the Pilot Custom 74 and Custom 742, aside from price? I know the 743 is smaller than the 74 or 742, but do not know what differences there are between 74 and 742. I am considering a 74 with FA nib, as it is much less costly, but do not want to give up desirable features/traits just to save some money. I would appreciate some clarification regarding the differences. Thank you.

 

Donnie

 

the nib sizes are different,

743: 14k #15

742: 14k #10

74: 14k #5

 

the FA nibs are only available for Custom 743 and 742.

Edited December 29, 2008 by kmpn

[Deirdre]

The 743 is the largest.

Then the 742

Then the 74.

 

Some of the 74s have #3 nibs, and some have #5 nibs. I don' t know why that is.

 

The common nib sizes for Pilot, from smallest to largest: #3 (e.g. Custom 98 or 74), #5 (74), #10 (742), and #15 (743).

 

74 length:　143mm, diameter 14.7mm

743 length: 146mm, diameter 15.7mm

[CharlieB]

That No. 15 nib on the 743 (and also the 845) is a beauty!

[DanGitlitz]

That No. 15 nib on the 743 (and also the 845) is a beauty!

 

The #15 is also on the 823!

[Deirdre]

That No. 15 nib on the 743 (and also the 845) is a beauty!

 

The #15 is also on the 823!

Yes, but not in the FA form. So you have to buy BOTH then swap the nibs.

[Carlos]

Ujuku's Ebay store has a Custom 74 with a No. 5 FA nib. I was wondering whether the smaller FA nib gives as much flex as the No. 10 nib in the Custom 742.

 

Has anyone tried the 74 with FA nib?

[Deirdre]

I think the 74's FA nib is a new thing. I hadn't heard of it until this thread.

[michael_s]

You might want to double-check with Yamada-san... it might be a typo. According to Pilot's Japanese website, only the 742 and 743 offer the FA nib. Unless this is a new option for 2009.

 

-Mike

 

Ujuku's Ebay store has a Custom 74 with a No. 5 FA nib. I was wondering whether the smaller FA nib gives as much flex as the No. 10 nib in the Custom 742.

 

Has anyone tried the 74 with FA nib?

 

[donwinn]

You might want to double-check with Yamada-san... it might be a typo. According to Pilot's Japanese website, only the 742 and 743 offer the FA nib. Unless this is a new option for 2009.

 

-Mike

 

Ujuku's Ebay store has a Custom 74 with a No. 5 FA nib. I was wondering whether the smaller FA nib gives as much flex as the No. 10 nib in the Custom 742.

 

Has anyone tried the 74 with FA nib?

 

Yamada San posted the 74 with FA nib in response to my email query about the 74 green he has, and asking if it is available with the FA nib. He replied 74 available with FA nib, but Green 74 not available with FA nib, and posted the entry on ebay for the Pirot 74 with FA nib (yes, I noted the misspelling, which is why it had not turned up on my previous searches)

 

Donnie

[michael_s]

That's a pretty good price for a modern flexible nib. If I didn't already have my 742 FA, I'd be very tempted to buy the 74 FA. Let us know how it performs, if you purchase it.

 

-Mike

Edited December 31, 2008 by michael_s

[Rob G]

I sent a question regarding this item:

 

"Are my tired eyes deceiving me? A Pilot Custom 74 with a Falcon nib? How does it compare to the Namiki Falcon?"

 

The response:

 

Dear Rob

 

There is not the Namiki Falcon in Japan.

Custom of Pilot includes Falcon.

This photograph is an article to examine form of Falcon in reference. It is not Custom 74.

Thank you and all best wishes for a Happy New Year.

 

Tadashi

 

If I understand that correctly, none of these pictures are of the pen in question. According to Pilot's website, the FA nib is not listed for the 74 - I just checked it ten minutes ago. I really wish that Tadashi would post a picture...

[NickM]

I sent a question regarding this item:

 

"Are my tired eyes deceiving me? A Pilot Custom 74 with a Falcon nib? How does it compare to the Namiki Falcon?"

 

The response:

 

Dear Rob

 

There is not the Namiki Falcon in Japan.

Custom of Pilot includes Falcon.

This photograph is an article to examine form of Falcon in reference. It is not Custom 74.

Thank you and all best wishes for a Happy New Year.

 

Tadashi

 

If I understand that correctly, none of these pictures are of the pen in question. According to Pilot's website, the FA nib is not listed for the 74 - I just checked it ten minutes ago. I really wish that Tadashi would post a picture...

Hi Rob:

 

There used to be a quantity of 10 pens available at Ujuku's Ebay store, but now there are only 9 listed as being available, since one was just purchased this morning (January 2nd) at 08:53:51 PST. Hopefully the person who bought this pen is a member of this forum so that they can describe what exactly it is that they have purchased after they take delivery of this rather unusual - and somewhat mysterious - item.

 

--Nick

Edited January 2, 2009 by NickM

[Rob G]

Hi Rob:

 

There used to be a quantity of 10 pens available at Ujuku's Ebay store, but now there are only 9 listed as being available, since one was just purchased this morning (January 2nd) at 08:53:51 PST. Hopefully the person who bought this pen is a member of this forum so that they can describe what exactly it is that they have purchased after they take delivery of this rather unusual - and somewhat mysterious - item.

 

--Nick

 

Yep, I noticed that too. "I sure hope that person is one of us," I thought.

 

I have had nothing but good products and service from Ujuku, so that is not even an issue, but two things stand out here:

 

1. The pictures don't match the actual item being sold. Red flag.

2. The manufacturer's website does not list the FA as an option. Another red flag.

 

Remember what Reagan said: "Trust, but verify."

 

So, is this an unannounced option? Or, did someone decide to fit an FA nib to a few of these as a sort of advanced screening (a "custom" Custom, as it were) to see what the response would be? Inquiring minds want to know...

 

I have some Christmas money burning a hole in my pocket, and was all set to purchase a Namiki Falcon (the 742 and 743 being beyond my means right now), but I want to know more about this 74 first.

 

 

[troglokev]

I've sent Yamada san a question asking about this (in Japanese, this time).

I'll let you know what they say (as distinct from what Babel Fish says they say).

 

It's worth clearing this up, if we can.

 

Unfortunately, Pilot seem somewhat lax in keeping their site up to date. You'll search in vain for the M90.

(In fairness, there is a PDF announcement of the pen if you know where to look, but nothing in the product area)

Edited January 3, 2009 by troglokev

[troglokev]

I've sent Yamada san a question asking about this (in Japanese, this time).

I'll let you know what they say (as distinct from what Babel Fish says they say).

 

The answer came back (my translation):

The Fa is not manufactured for the Custom 74.

The appearance on the Ebay site was by accident.

We are extremely sorry for any inconvenience.

It appears to have been removed from Ebay, now.

Edited January 3, 2009 by troglokev

[donwinn]

I've sent Yamada san a question asking about this (in Japanese, this time).

I'll let you know what they say (as distinct from what Babel Fish says they say).

 

The answer came back (my translation):

The Fa is not manufactured for Custom 74.

The appearance on the Ebay site was by accident.

We are extremely sorry for any inconvenience.

It appears to have been removed from Ebay, now.

 

Troglokev,

 

Thank you for clarifying the issue for me. I would like to save some money, but I also want to get what I want, and not be disappointed. Now, if only the Custom 742 was available in Dark Green like I have seen some Custom 74s.

 

Donnie

[troglokev]

Troglokev,

 

Thank you for clarifying the issue for me. I would like to save some money, but I also want to get what I want, and not be disappointed. Now, if only the Custom 742 was available in Dark Green like I have seen some Custom 74s.

 

Donnie

Happy to have been of some help.

 

Just for fun, here's the Babelfish version

It has not produced Fa of custom 74.

It published to the sight of Ebay by mistake.

Applying annoyance, you said and reason were not.

:blink:

Don't imagine that the Japanese produced by machine translation software is any better! Unfortunately machine translation is a somewhat capricious intermediary in most interactions with Japanese web vendors. :bonk:

 

Kev.

Edited January 3, 2009 by troglokev

[donwinn]

Troglokev,

 

Thank you for clarifying the issue for me. I would like to save some money, but I also want to get what I want, and not be disappointed. Now, if only the Custom 742 was available in Dark Green like I have seen some Custom 74s.

 

Donnie

Happy to have been of some help.

 

Just for fun, here's the Babelfish version

It has not produced Fa of custom 74.

It published to the sight of Ebay by mistake.

Applying annoyance, you said and reason were not.

:blink:

Don't imagine that the Japanese produced by machine translation software is any better! Unfortunately machine translation is a somewhat capricious intermediary in most interactions with Japanese web vendors. :bonk:

 

Kev.

 

Kev,

 

It is not restricted to Japanese, though. I do some business with a company in Mali, and my French is not what it once was nearly 40 years ago when I took two semesters of it, so I have had to rely somewhat on Babelfish. Somewhat, because even my miniscule amount of French has noted some horrendous faux pas in translation. What I do now is send my proposed text to a bilingual associate in Mali for clearance and understanding prior to transmitting to the agent with whom I deal in Mali.

 

Also, two of my sons are relatively fluent in Spanish, and have laughed at some of the Babelfish output.

 

Donnie

[Rob G]

I received a similar note this morning. I guess Reagan was right.