Hi All,
I've been very busy with my pen.
Aiming for reasonable prices , the pen is now under serial production on CNC machines by a Belgian company named "Conid".
For the serial version we will use 18K Bock screw-nib assemblies, Bock just delivered the first 50 F & M nibs.
I already successfully ground a few to OM, and I can assure you they are butter sweet !
Attached some pictures from the prototype of a "sleek" version of my pen;
Dimensions & technical spec's are identical to the earlier version, specifeid in my earlier postings.
The barrel in this II version is larger in diameter so the step between cap & barrel is only 1 mm in diameter.
The clutch ring on the barrel is still made from bronze on the picture, although for the serial fabrication - which will start in August- the clutch will be made from stainless steel. Intensive tests revealed no problem in using SS.
Note there are 6 ink view windows in the barrel, just above the section.
I've made the ink view windows on the prototype manually, so they are not prefectly shaped, however made on CNC they will be perfect.
Note we will use blank 18K Bock nibs engraved & equipped with our CONID logo in the future.
On the cap top you can also see our logo, made in back & white HR.
The pen will also become in black HR, grey/blue marbled celluloid (asTibaldi IMPERO), & yellow brown acrylic
I would surely appreciate your comments ,thoughts & critique on this newer version.
Thanks in advance for your valued input !
Francis
http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h89/foun...uteIIcapped.jpg
http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h89/foun...uteIIposted.jpg
http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h89/foun...teIIcaplogo.jpg

Great work, Francis!!!

Outstanding work, Francis. When are you shooting for a production release?

Beautiful piece, Francis. I'd love to see a pic of the version with the SS clutch band.

What's the fill system that you've got in there?

Lovely pen!

Francis, those images are great. The pen looks to be spectacular. I cannot wait to see how the production version will look but in the mean time, here is a Photoshopped version to tide you over.



I left the nib gold toned, but if you want I can change that to platinum masked as well.

Cheers,
Sean

To be honest I like the first version of the pen much better. I think that it is mainly because the first version looked more vintage-like - that is simpler and unlike most of the contemporary pen production...

But still the pen looks incredibly well made and imminently usable!

Regards, Zed

I'd agree with Zed. Although it is fundamentally a good looking pen I think it needs to be simplified starting with the furniture. IMO there is too many bands making the pen look too "blingy".

I agree. Take out some of the bands - at most, no more than two bands should be visible with the pen closed, IMO.

Erick

Thanks all for your valued input.
Sean, thanks for photo shopping the cap clutch, looks nice !
RRoossinck : CONID, the manufacturer, expects the pen will become available as from mid October.
Deirdre : the pen features an upgraded plunger filling system
Zed, the "standard" version will also remain available
There will be 2 basic versions : streamline & flat top , both obtainable in "standard" or "sleek"
As for the transparent demonstrator, it will NOT become available in the "sleek" version, only "standard"
Rufus & Langere :I can't do much about the rings, the wide cap band a the clutch ring on the barrel are eminently needed.
The reinforcement ring under the blind cap will be reduced to half its shown width on the next batch.
I could remove this ring when deemed neccesary.
Thanks a lot & looking out for more feedback!

thanks Brian, in fact I was inspired by your pen designs when making this "sleek" version !

Francis, I'm glad your project continues.

More choices of material and colors are great; even I have to admit that I might still go for a hardrubber version - just fits the pen the best.

Maintaining a choice of flattop and streamlined version both available in Sleek and Standard + a demonstrator is simply great.


Right now my choice would be a sleek Flattop model in hardrubber (maybe even blue&black ??? ).


Cheers

Michael

A plunger filler is great. I'd argue against trying to expand the models too quickly. Inventory is an issue and can be very costly.

I think you are right Deirdre, as always I'm to enthousiastic !
I'll discuss this with the manufacturer, thanks for pointing me to this fact!

this pen is perfect.

Hi all ,
I've received critique on the engraving from a few European pen friends & from collegues from the Pencraftsman forum.
In fact I think these nice people are right, the engraving is to heavy and looks overdone .
And, as suggested I better use "script engraving".
This morning I've already made a sketch for a new clip which I want to shear with you for comments
My questions to all of you are:
Is the clip with the more subtle "script engraving" looking better?
Should I make the engraving even smaller as indicated ? What do you think?
Is the extra logo in the clip end perhaps overdone?
Thanks again to all of you for your great help in optimizing my pen design !

Best regards, Francis
http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h89/foun...bel/Newclip.jpg

Hello Francis,

I definitely find this new and more delicate logo much better - and also much more distinctive and yet in tradition of pen logo tradition. I only wonder why you do not place it in the centre of the clip? I presume that it is because this way the logo will sit in the middle of the cap rather than clip - but I wonder whether it is the best solution...

But the logo itself is really first class.


Regards Zed

PS Now that I look at the drawing again - do you insist on doubling the written logo on the clip with the black and white logo at the end of the clip and top of the pen? I cannot help looking at it as something appropriated from Montblanc - even though you may have been inspired by something else - when I look at the pen. This little detail somehow spoils the pen's originality and chance to stand - so to say - on its own in my eyes. It is petty quibble but I just had to voice it. Sorry.

Francis is that not the symbol for "origin" in drafting that you are using? It looks really familiar.

Cheers,
Sean

Zed ,Thanks for your honest comment on doubling the logo, in fact your statement is very logical
I looks you are not alone having this viewpoint.
I'll probably skip the extra logo on the clip & restrict engraving of the clip to the manufacturers name, although more "centered" or in the middle of the clip, as per your suggestion.
Sean, I'm not aware of any similar "symbol of origin", can you clarify?
Thanks again !
Francis

beautiful francis beautiful!

Beautiful. It keeps getting better. Best David K