New Twsbi's Being Shown

[Laura N]

If they sell that VP copy for half of what the real one costs, imitation or not I'm investing in a few.

 

I'm the opposite, I guess. It bothers me, ethically.

[fabrimedeiros]

If they sell that VP copy for half of what the real one costs, imitation or not I'm investing in a few.

 

I'm the opposite, I guess. It bothers me, ethically.

This kind of thing happened all the time in the pen history, even among the famous american and european brands like Sheaffer, Parker, Montblanc, Pelikan, Aurora etc. The famous Aurora 88 from the 50's is very, very close to a Parker 51, to not say a copy with some little changes.

[Laura N]

If they sell that VP copy for half of what the real one costs, imitation or not I'm investing in a few.

 

I'm the opposite, I guess. It bothers me, ethically.

This kind of thing happened all the time in the pen history, even among the famous american and european brands like Sheaffer, Parker, Montblanc, Pelikan, Aurora etc. The famous Aurora 88 from the 50's is very, very close to a Parker 51, to not say a copy with some little changes.

 

Yes, that's a good point. I hadn't thought of it like that.

[dannzeman]

If they sell that VP copy for half of what the real one costs, imitation or not I'm investing in a few.

 

I'm the opposite, I guess. It bothers me, ethically.

This kind of thing happened all the time in the pen history, even among the famous american and european brands like Sheaffer, Parker, Montblanc, Pelikan, Aurora etc. The famous Aurora 88 from the 50's is very, very close to a Parker 51, to not say a copy with some little changes.

 

Little changes?! You mean like using ebonite and celluloid? Or increasing the size of the pen? Or the ability to use flexible nibs? Or the addition of a piston? Yeah, those are little changes. If anything, Aurora just built a better pen.

[JonSzanto]

If you want to make a fountain pen with a retractable nib, there are only so many ways to do it.

Being that you want that stored in the pocket nib-up, there are only so many ways to have it clip.

And etc.

 

If the VP could somehow have a global patent on the concept of a retractable nib, I could see some issues, but as long as they've made some design and cosmetic differences, at the end of the day they are still two different pens that function in very similar ways.

 

All cars have steering wheels, too. (Well, at least I think they all do!)

[fabrimedeiros]

If they sell that VP copy for half of what the real one costs, imitation or not I'm investing in a few.

 

I'm the opposite, I guess. It bothers me, ethically.

This kind of thing happened all the time in the pen history, even among the famous american and european brands like Sheaffer, Parker, Montblanc, Pelikan, Aurora etc. The famous Aurora 88 from the 50's is very, very close to a Parker 51, to not say a copy with some little changes.

 

Little changes?! You mean like using ebonite and celluloid? Or increasing the size of the pen? Or the ability to use flexible nibs? Or the addition of a piston? Yeah, those are little changes. If anything, Aurora just built a better pen.

 

I really agree with you. This is the difference between a great brand (with brillant designers and engineers) and a forger one. They improve the previous design into something better. A company that just makes counterfeits does not try to improve the original piece. All this forger brands don't worry about the customers satisfaction, wishes, communication etc. In this aspect, TWSBI is far ahead from Pelikan. And we see that Speedy and cols are always working hard to improve their pens and products, with a transparency never seen in a pen company.

Edited January 4, 2012 by fabrimedeiros

[John Cullen]

So is the click pen available? Or are the photos teasers?

[dannzeman]

So is the click pen available? Or are the photos teasers?

 

The Click won't be available for at least 6 months. Those pics are just mockups.

[Ad_Astra]

If you want to make a fountain pen with a retractable nib, there are only so many ways to do it.

Being that you want that stored in the pocket nib-up, there are only so many ways to have it clip.

And etc.

 

If the VP could somehow have a global patent on the concept of a retractable nib, I could see some issues, but as long as they've made some design and cosmetic differences, at the end of the day they are still two different pens that function in very similar ways.

 

All cars have steering wheels, too. (Well, at least I think they all do!)

 

Agree 100%.

 

Two products using the same base idea does not present much of an ethical conundrum for consumers, IMO. They aren't copying any particularly unique or innovative technology...there are only so many ways a retractable pen can function.

 

And if at a discount to boot relative to the VP too? Sign me up.

Edited January 4, 2012 by Ad_Astra

[Ernst Bitterman]

I've often pondered at the way Lamy ripped off the Waterman Taperite line for its 2000 I think my ethicsometer would start buzzing it the Click looked rather more like the VP, in a more clear effort to fool folks into getting them mistaken one for the other. As it is, I'm pretty tickled at the notion of a mass-market-accessible retractible pen.

 

Some cars has tillers, but that proved a somewhat unresponsive mode of control.

[ehemem]

If they sell that VP copy for half of what the real one costs, imitation or not I'm investing in a few.

 

I'm the opposite, I guess. It bothers me, ethically.

This kind of thing happened all the time in the pen history, even among the famous american and european brands like Sheaffer, Parker, Montblanc, Pelikan, Aurora etc. The famous Aurora 88 from the 50's is very, very close to a Parker 51, to not say a copy with some little changes.

 

Little changes?! You mean like using ebonite and celluloid? Or increasing the size of the pen? Or the ability to use flexible nibs? Or the addition of a piston? Yeah, those are little changes. If anything, Aurora just built a better pen.

 

I really agree with you. This is the difference between a great brand (with brillant designers and engineers) and a forger one. They improve the previous design into something better. A company that just makes counterfeits does not try to improve the original piece. All this forger brands don't worry about the customers satisfaction, wishes, communication etc. In this aspect, TWSBI is far ahead from Pelikan. And we see that Speedy and cols are always working hard to improve their pens and products, with a transparency never seen in a pen company.

 

And that's why some call the original Aurora 88 "the Better 51."

[Glenn-SC]

I've often pondered at the way Lamy ripped off the Waterman Taperite line for its 2000

The Taperite?

The Taperite was a lever operated (invented by Sheaffer) sacked pen with a slip cap and a clutch ring (copied almost directly from the Parker "51") and a nib made to look like a "51".

The 2000 is at least a pistol filler, made from all Makrolon, with "ears" to engage the cap.

Hardly a "rip off".