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Delta 365 -an Italian in Black, White & Silver


dandelion

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http://i636.photobucket.com/albums/uu90/petraplutten/Delta-365_0013.jpg

 

Introduction

This is my first Delta and my first Italian pen and it was bought on pure impulse - at a bargain price. Thus, I was mostly curious about it - I didn't really have any particular expectations. What sealed the deal - beside the great price - was the pics of the cap band and the pics of the nib - after checking it up here at FPN. It is a more "blingy" pen than I usually buy, but there is something with it that made me buy it.

 

First Impressions

"It is a huge, fat pen!" This pen makes the Duro (which isn't a petite pen) look small and slender. The cap, with the small silver mark on the top and the special cap band, is beautiful and has simple, clean lines. The barrel - cracked ice white is nice and well made, but this pen is all about the cap and the nib. "It is not my ordinary style, but I like it. Like it a lot actually". The box is neat and smart. Not over designed, but fills its purpose as a simple and stylish package for the pen.

8/10

 

Accompanied by a Pelikan M605 and M215 to get a picture of the size.

http://i636.photobucket.com/albums/uu90/petraplutten/Delta-365_0043.jpg

 

 

Design & Build

This is where this pen shines - the attention to details is impeccable! It is very solidly built. Beside my instant love for the cap I'm also especially fond of the 18k white gold nib. Clean, simple, big and beautiful with an exquisite heartshaped hole (and very nice to write with, but I'll write more about that in the nib part). The clip with a wheel is both clever and beautiful - combining beauty and function.

 

There is nothing flimsy about this pen - everything fits together very well. The cap screws on and off easily, but when the pen is capped it isn't likely to come off spontaneously if you have capped it properly. The only drawback is that you must use some "force" to get it posted without risking that the cap falls off. It is well balanced - both posted and unposted.

 

In the leaflet that comes with the pen Delta emphasizes that this pen is made for everyday use - thus the name 365 - and I find that very sympathetic and would say that it really feels like it is built to last. The more I look at this pen (and use it) the more it grows on me. It has a quite original - yet classic - design.

8.5/10

 

 

http://i636.photobucket.com/albums/uu90/petraplutten/Delta-365_0022.jpg

 

Dimensions

Weight: 28 g

Lenght capped: 15 cm

Length uncapped: 13.2 cm

Lenght posted: 16.5 cm

 

It is really a big pen. The grip section is really nice and I'm surprised that it could be so nice writing with such a big pen.

 

http://i636.photobucket.com/albums/uu90/petraplutten/Delta-365_0040.jpg

 

Nib and Performance

 

http://i636.photobucket.com/albums/uu90/petraplutten/Deltaskrivprov.jpg

 

As it was bought on an impulse, I had only a vague idea on what to expect from a Delta nib. I chose a F nib and I can happily say that this F nib is a real F - almost on the verge to an EF, which I like very much. It gives more feedback than My Pel with a F nib, which suits me very well for notetaking as I write very fast. It seems to drink Diamine and Pelikan inks without any hesitation, but was more reluctant to Noodler's El Lawrence - with El Lawrence it had some starting problems, but no flow problems once started. Flow is generally good - not too wet nor too dry. It puts down a very distinct line - I'd overall say that this nib has a very distinct feel to it without being toothy - which is a pleasant experience.

9/10

 

http://i636.photobucket.com/albums/uu90/petraplutten/Delta-365_0034.jpg

 

Filling system

This is a cardridge/converter filler which takes international cartridges. It had been nice with a piston filler, but the converter works fine and I like that they stick to international cartridges/converters.

8/10

 

 

Price/Value

I bought this new (I'd guess that it is NOS, since it has been out of production for a while) for a bargain price (£100 at GBA pens) for this kind of pen. It is a pity that Delta doesn't manufacture them anymore, since it is a very pleasant acquaintaince.

10/10

 

Conclusion

I'm very happy that I gave in to the impulse to buy this pen. It is a very special pleasant writer and I do believe that it is a keeper. It is a pen with a somewhat specia design. I like the attention to details on the cap, which is very nice to look at when I'm writing.

43.5/50

 

http://i636.photobucket.com/albums/uu90/petraplutten/Delta-365_0016.jpg

*****the dandelion blog is right here*****

*****the dandelion flickr is right here*****

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Dandelion, very nice review and pictures (and great handwriting). I have recently been thinking about buying a Delta, and your comments about the build quality of your 365 might have tipped me over the line into starting to look for the pen I have in mind. I hope you enjoy the pen.

JN

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Thanks. I have been looking forward to your review of the 365 from the discussions in the Italian pen forum.

 

I like larger pens, and I was so pleased when I got my first 365 and compared it to a Pel M-1000 only to find they were almost exactly the same size. I agree that the fit and finish on this model are excellent, and the weight and balance are very much to my liking. I am up to four 365's - amber, red, violet and white. I think I will stop with those four.

 

The 365 has a smaller nib than the M-1000, but it still looks good on the pen and writes like a dream. I have M and B nibs at the moment, and I find they do write a narrower line than I might have expected. But I like those narrower lines, and the smoothness of the factory nibs. My pen project this week is to see if Delta will swap one of my M nibs for a factory stub. Ghost Plane keeps talking about the Delta stub nibs and how much she likes them, so I am convinced I must try one.

 

Welcome to the wonderful world of Italian pens. I hope you continue to enjoy your 365 and I know more Italian pens will follow. :cloud9: :thumbup:

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Thanks for kind feedback!

 

This nib is a dream - one of the best Fs I've ever tried. It is very precise and distinct and I really enjoy writing with it.

GBA has a very good offer on this pen right now - more than 50% off. I've purchased two pens from them the last week and they are great. Speedy delivery, serviceminded, reasonable shipping costs. (no aff etc - just a very happy customer).

 

*****the dandelion blog is right here*****

*****the dandelion flickr is right here*****

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It looks a gorgeous pen. I am hoping that GBA have some left on my pay day, next Monday.

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Thanks for kind feedback!

 

This nib is a dream - one of the best Fs I've ever tried. It is very precise and distinct and I really enjoy writing with it.

GBA has a very good offer on this pen right now - more than 50% off. I've purchased two pens from them the last week and they are great. Speedy delivery, serviceminded, reasonable shipping costs. (no aff etc - just a very happy customer).

 

Just contacted GBA, very helpful, but they have sold out of the white with black :crybaby: Will have to try and decide on a different colour.

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Great review and photos, Dandelion! That is a gorgeous pen; no wonder you succumbed. It's hard to resist!

_________________

etherX in To Miasto

Fleekair <--French accent.

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Dandelion:

Beautiful pictures with that serene background. I have the Dolce Vita Medium size (which has NOTHING to do with medium!) and I believe it is the same size as the 365. The marbled white looks very elegant on this pen.

Congratulations!

 

Thanks. I have been looking forward to your review of the 365 from the discussions in the Italian pen forum.

 

I like larger pens, and I was so pleased when I got my first 365 and compared it to a Pel M-1000 only to find they were almost exactly the same size. I agree that the fit and finish on this model are excellent, and the weight and balance are very much to my liking. I am up to four 365's - amber, red, violet and white. I think I will stop with those four.

 

The 365 has a smaller nib than the M-1000, but it still looks good on the pen and writes like a dream. I have M and B nibs at the moment, and I find they do write a narrower line than I might have expected. But I like those narrower lines, and the smoothness of the factory nibs. My pen project this week is to see if Delta will swap one of my M nibs for a factory stub. Ghost Plane keeps talking about the Delta stub nibs and how much she likes them, so I am convinced I must try one.

 

Welcome to the wonderful world of Italian pens. I hope you continue to enjoy your 365 and I know more Italian pens will follow. :cloud9: :thumbup:

 

Ha! You should then move to the Dolce Vita if you like orange/black combination.

sonia alvarez

 

fpn_1379481230__chinkinreduced.jpg

 

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For the record, if dandelion ever decides to sell this pen, I've got first dibs!

I came here for the pictures and stayed for the conversation.

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alvarez wrote:

 

"Ha! You should then move to the Dolce Vita if you like orange/black combination."

 

Yup! Got one and love it. Depending on how large a pen dandelion likes, I bet she would love it, too.

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alvarez wrote:

 

"Ha! You should then move to the Dolce Vita if you like orange/black combination."

 

Yup! Got one and love it. Depending on how large a pen dandelion likes, I bet she would love it, too.

 

I'm afraid so...

*****the dandelion blog is right here*****

*****the dandelion flickr is right here*****

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Thanks for kind feedback!

 

This nib is a dream - one of the best Fs I've ever tried. It is very precise and distinct and I really enjoy writing with it.

GBA has a very good offer on this pen right now - more than 50% off. I've purchased two pens from them the last week and they are great. Speedy delivery, serviceminded, reasonable shipping costs. (no aff etc - just a very happy customer).

 

Just contacted GBA, very helpful, but they have sold out of the white with black :crybaby: Will have to try and decide on a different colour.

 

For me, it was an unplanned impulse buy, too. :rolleyes:

 

I knew I had to be fast after I saw Dandelions post & pics about the white Delta 365 this last weekend and had checked the sale price at GBA. I ordered the same pen, a white 365 with a F nib. Since I haven't heard from the seller so far, but my credit card was charged on Monday, I think there's one coming to my place. :D It seems these are the last NOS 365 pens in the market.

 

I was in need of a cartridge/converter pen which can take international cartridges (they're piling up), as most of my c/c pens take some other size. This pen offers excellent value for this money, big size and a wide sterling overlay cap band crowned by a 18K gold nib. :thumbup: (think about what CS charges for such a fine pen)

 

We have a local Delta dealer here, so I've seen some of their pens personally. I couldn't make friends with the Dolce Vita family, the prices and the protruding cap ring weren't so desirable in my eyes. Now this 365 attracts me more. I didn't have a white bodied pen so far, the other 365 colours weren't acurately represented in pictures to have a reliable impression of them and the orange/black combination is already perfectly represented by my full size Aurora Optima Sole set.

:)

Edited by saintsimon
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Help - I bought an orange/black version of this pen (though it's really more yellow, which is fine by me!) but after having left it for about a week, I came to write with it yesterday and horror - found ink had leaked into the cap and barrel, and had stained the thread (which is visible when the cap is off) ....

 

Anyone else experienced this? The converter seems to be pushed firmly into place. Also, anyone know if the pen is likely to suffer if I soak the barrel to try to remove the staining?

 

(Sorry - didn't mean to hijack a 'good news' thread, so am creating a separate one ...)

Edited by bbs

I chose my user name years ago - I have no links to BBS pens (other than owning one!)

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  • 1 month later...

Thanks Bobby - the converter was indeed cracked, so I contacted the vendor, who replaced it and cleaned up the stained pen, so all is well now. It's a lovely writer ...

I chose my user name years ago - I have no links to BBS pens (other than owning one!)

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  • 3 weeks later...

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