I posted this yesterday on the market place board, but being new here have just discovered this board devoted to pens from Japan..! So if you will excuse the double posting, I want to repeat my question here:

I have been searching all over the internet and have only seen one 1994 Namiki Vanishing Point FP in good condition (it was actually NOS) on Fleabay. I was outbid and now can't find any at all. Does anyone know a good place to buy one of these great pens? If I wanted a new model it would be simple, but I much prefer the slimmer look of the slightly older (retirement) model, and especially the clip. I am after preferably a 1994 model, but will look at anything earlier too.

Thank you,

Mr B.

There was a nice looking burgundy one on the marketplace not long ago... it appears to be available still. The seller says he bought it in 1977 but I think that is a typo. This model was made from 1981-1994, as far as I know.

Other than that, they pop up in the marketplace now and then. You can try to email some of the Japanese pen sellers on eBay. Sometimes they will sell pens direct but expect to pay a bit higher than you might snag one for from an auction.

/Woody

Thanks Woody, I have sent him a PM to see if it is still available. He can't have bought it in 1977 though can he? And I am also a bit confused because I thought that they were Namiki if they were Capless, and Pilot if they were Vanishing Point... Plus they weren't called Pilot until they took over in 1994.

Oh well, it still looks nice.

Mr B.

Pilot and Namiki are the same company, Namiki was just a name Pilot used overseas for their high-end pens. Namiki is Pilot's founder's family name. Capless name is used domestically, thus goes with Pilot, and Namiki goes with VP. But newer VP's have Pilot imprint on the barrel.

The pen says Pilot on the clip, not Namiki, which suggests to me that it is a more modern pen than 1977 - it is a lovely looking pen though, and still available. I have heard such good things about them that I think it is worth the $150 asking price.

Mr B.

I've checked the Namiki/Pilot Vanishing Point history and it is a pen from the 70s; it's medium nib and in great condition, so I'm going ahead with the purchase. Thanks for the advice Woody and Taki - I'll let you all know how I'm getting on with it when I receive my new pen!

Please post reviews when you receive the pen :-)

Probably there will be a date code on the nib to indicate when pen was made, unless the nib is a replacement.

The nib says:

Pilot
14K 585

Then a logo of some sort and H488

I think it's the original nib after talking to Dan, but it's now past his bedtime in Israel and I can't check.

the pen (or at least the nib unit) was made in April 1988. Let us know how you are getting on with it. I have several VPs and i am finding the slimmer faceted ones to be the nicest ones to use.

Nikolaos

Hi,

I must admit that I love those marks on the nib that indicate the date. My Capless were made in November 2007 and December 2007, then I have a Custom from February 2008. I also have a pocket pen from March 1978

Let us know how you like the pen!

Dillon

That is an uncommon model. The faceted Capless pens were made mostly with the "Namiki" brand on it. This might be one that was created during the transition to the Vanishing Point Pilot branded version, unless the nib assembly is just a modern replacement and this is actually a pre-Namiki branded model.

Anyway, these older style Capless pens with the Pilot brand are nice to have. Congratulations.

Morning Myu,

I have just had another message from the seller, Dan, and the nib is original to the pen. So that dates it to April 1988 - I assume that it is one of the transition pens then.

Thank you for the help!

I really don't think that the Pilot or Namiki brand indicates a date but rather the market it was sold in. I have faceted VPs branded Pilot with dates of 1982 and 1997. I have some with Namiki brands from 1986 and 1998. I am quite sure the nibs in each pen are original. If there was a transition period it lasted nearly the full production life of the pen.

I checked Riviera pens to see if I could find a definitive answer to this but the information is confusing. The faceted pens shown are mixed Pilot and Namiki too. One pen has a Pilot brand on the clip but Namiki on the nib... the incorrect nib I guess.

No matter, I hope you enjoy your pen Mr. B!

/Woody

Hi,

The date is marked on the nib of the pen, and is often fairly accurate (although Pilot sometimes uses old stock nibs in new pens)

Dillon

Congratulations on your new faceted pen.

I have at least 9 Capless pens ... (problem ? it's not a problem ....... ) including some Decimos, a Fermo and one of the black faceted ones and I keep going back to the Black faceted one...

Enjoy

Take care and best wishes

HK

I have a blue faceted one and it says Namiki on the clip. Can't tell you which nib came with it, because I have several VPs and sometimes switch the nibs around. I love everyone of my VPs, they are all special in their own right. Enjoy your pen.