Romillo Sil #9 Bb Arrived! -Previously Loved!

[Sketch and Doodle]

Here is Sil #9 that was previously loved and I inked it up and test wrote it to see if it live up to it's hype.

 

When I hit the sweet spot it writes well and sometimes hard to start and skips on first stroke and sometimes it kept getting thinner and finally ink had stopped.

And I was wondering why and looked close with loupe and found the tines are uneven and cut at an angle. It looks like Oblique I think.

 

I tried to even the tines with my thumbnail to push up the lower tine a bit and it came very close to even now, as I had experienced with my other pen.

Left tine is obviously thinner than the other.

 

This is first time writing with Oblique if it is what I think it is.

I think it writes smoother and better if I rotate the pen15º CC'wise.

If I write like normal position then I can feel a slight uneven feel and some lines skips and less smooth.

 

So maybe it's not BB maybe it's BBO?

 

Can anybody enlighten me with Oblique?

 

I've also received warranty letter and on it, it says "2B Oi #9"

What does "Oi" mean? There's no such a thing on Romillo's site.

 

I took the shots before I adjusted the nib.

 

For size comparison.

The Sil looks slim but has some hefty feel and the grip section is very similar to other pens, so it's comfortable to write.

The capped length is almost the same as uncapped length and that's why it's the longest uncapped.

 

Nakaya Portable Cigar F, Romillo Sil #9, MB 146 EF, Pelikan M805 IB

[Keyless Works]

I am just guessing that it means double broad oblique izquierda?

[Sketch and Doodle]

I am just guessing that it means double broad oblique izquierda?

"izquierda" translated "Left"

It make sense.

I wrote more and more and if I get past the first letter then it's smooth sailing ever after. It's creamy and juicy but hard start on the first.

Any easy fix?

[Lyander0012]

Perhaps a pic of the nib/tipping material's underside would help? If it's a left foot oblique nib, then you really will have to adjust your hold in order to ensure that the pen writes well. When you said that the pen has hard starts, does that only happen when you're using your regular orientation, or is it still a hard starter when you rotate the nib?

 

 

Cheers!

Kevin

[Sketch and Doodle]

I tried writing again before I answered this one.

It doesn't matter if I rotate or not. Sometimes it completely stopped and I had to open up and squirt some ink out to get going and then it became super wet.

 

I think it may have an ink flow problem. When it writes it writes really creamy.

 

Sorry for the lousy photo.

 

I can see it's hand made. It's very organic.

 

On the front top nib it has a beauty dimple mark on the cheek.

[PabloAU]

Did you get this pen from a trustworthy source?

 

It may just be the photos, but it looks more than hand made... it looks like it may have previously loved the floor... from a height... and been re-tipped?

[Sketch and Doodle]

Did you get this pen from a trustworthy source?

 

It may just be the photos, but it looks more than hand made... it looks like it may have previously loved the floor... from a height... and been re-tipped?

I believe it's authenticity and came with documents that matches the previous owner's name and Alvaro Romillo's signature on it. IIt's made 2013 less than a year and hasn't been used much I was told.

Also was told that it might not even broken in yet.

 

I had MB 149 re-tipped to 1.3mm stub and it's very clean and sharp.

I don't think anyone crazy enough to touch this expensive nib. I can see that this nib has a personality. It has a lucky charm dimple on the cheek.

You could buy 3 or 4 used MB 149 with pen.

[Keyless Works]

That nib does look a bit messy though I admit that my Romillo isn't finished as well as most nibs.

[Lyander0012]

Looks like a case of baby's bottom. Maybe some polishing will help, though you may wish to have a professional attend to that if you're not entirely confident about DIYing it.

[Sketch and Doodle]

Great news!

 

Mr. Romillo offered after-service after he read this post.

 

He's offered to fix the nib to my specification as if I'm ordering new. Yay!

I just submitted the form and wait for his reply.

 

Soon, my Romillo Sil would be on the trip to Spain.

[Sketch and Doodle]

Mr. Romillo will make the nib into juicy BB and soft-flex and get rid of dimple etc. Replace CC filler and tighten the push in cap.

While refurbishing the pen, I had ordered to have solid gold lentil roll stopper installed.

 

When I get it back, it'll be like new pen for me and my hand writing.

I'm packing today.

 

Much thanks to Mr. Romillo.

[PabloAU]

That's fabulous news! Looking forward to hearing about the results upon its return.

[da vinci]

Mr. Romillo will make the nib into juicy BB and soft-flex and get rid of dimple etc. Replace CC filler and tighten the push in cap.

While refurbishing the pen, I had ordered to have solid gold lentil roll stopper installed.

 

When I get it back, it'll be like new pen for me and my hand writing.

I'm packing today.

 

Much thanks to Mr. Romillo.

Thats good news, looking forward to seeing the results of your pens European trip soon!

[Lyander0012]

Agreed! Hope to see a writing sample (or doodle, as befits your avatar ) when your pen gets back!

 

 

Congrats!

 

Kevin

[gerigo]

Woah, that looks like a mangled nib! It would seem like someone did not like the original nib and took pliers to it and tried to do some surgery. I am guessing based on feedback from some that own Romillo's this is not the case.

 

For someone who comes from the world of mass produced pens, I find hand made pens problematic because of their inherent "marks of the maker". I guess you could call the nib "rustic" or "organic". The only pens that I can deal with that's hand made are the ones from Japan. I'm sure you can guess which company this is. I have 4 pens from them and love them dealy. Even the higher end US made ones are too unevenly made for me to understand how people can charge so much for something that is in my opinion, half finished.

Edited September 29, 2014 by gerigo

[Sketch and Doodle]

Woah, that looks like a mangled nib! It would seem like someone did not like the original nib and took pliers to it and tried to do some surgery. I am guessing based on feedback from some that own Romillo's this is not the case.

 

For someone who comes from the world of mass produced pens, I find hand made pens problematic because of their inherent "marks of the maker". I guess you could call the nib "rustic" or "organic". The only pens that I can deal with that's hand made are the ones from Japan. I'm sure you can guess which company this is. I have 4 pens from them and love them dealy. Even the higher end US made ones are too unevenly made for me to understand how people can charge so much for something that is in my opinion, half finished.

I can understand your opinion because I have many other pens that are beautiful to look at. MB 149, Miya, Nakaya, Pelikan...

But they are rather mass produced, aren't they? They lack the personality? or character. The same pen for everyone. Cookie cutter stamping?

 

The lousy photo made the nib look more messy but with naked eyes I can't see much especially when using black ink. I never look at underside nib when I'm writing.

Nakaya feels premium over Platinum. Nakaya feels better in hand and writes smoother especially after Mottishaw's tune up.

The same goes with Romillo. It feels premium not cheap. The nib is gigantic.

Even with it's imperfection, I still like the fact that it's handmade by the artisan and especially after-service like Romillo offers I'm sure they have a line ups with people trying to order.

I was the one tried to order but a little hesitant because of it's steep price and in the mean time this previously used one came into my possession which fits in my budget.

Now, Mr. Romillo will refurbish the pen to my specs I'm more than happy. I would buy another Romillo if my budget permits.

 

Ah! then, there is Nakaya DF2

What about Hakase I heard about.

They are all great pens but none make their own nibs.

 

Isn't the nib the soul of the pen? A heart? I want to believe that when I get it back from Romillo's.

I look forward to it.

 

Edited October 1, 2014 by Sketch and Doodle

[gerigo]

Sketch and Doodle

 

Thanks for your thoughts. You helped clarify my desire to add more custom pens and perhaps even a Romillo to my collection.

 

I very much agree about the nib being the soul of the pen. I now own 4 Nakayas' which I dearly love. I am particularly taken by the fact the nibs for my Nakayas, though rebranded Platinums, have all been modified to my liking. Even the one I bought from Maruzen was a modified soft broad.

 

I am now looking for a pen made to the same caliber with a nib that has that unique soul you're talking about. I would never consider a Hakase for the very reason you mentioned because I just can't fathom the idea it would have the same nib as a pen 1/3 of the price you can buy any where in Japan. I am quite taken by Romillos because I really love the design, and love the idea the nibs are all hand made. But I am deathly afraid the pens will be "rustic". I can't deal with a $1200 pen looking like it was made by a "high school kid in a garage." An gross exaggeration I know but I am so spoilt by the meticulousness of Japanese craftsmen who make things to the precision level of machines. I had a pen "custom made" by a very well known American pen maker that I never look at because it looked like it was made by a "high school kid in a garage."

[Keyless Works]

I can assure you that a Romillo is not an amateur's attempt at a fountain pen. Álvaro Romillo is one of the best nibmeisters in Europe (....from what I have heard). My pen thus far as functioned perfectly. Handmade items are inherently less perfect than ones made by entirely machines. The fit and finish of my Essential is very good. There is a number on the end of the barrel that doesn't look amazing, the numbers 3 6 7 are not well lined up but you have to look for them to find them. The threading on my pen was initially on the rough side but with use ( I am on my third fill up of ink) the threading feels very nice. Similar to that of my Nakaya.

[watch_art]

The mess on the bottom side of the nib (if you can really call it that) looks to me like the seam where the two materials were welded together.

I think it's very nice and shows a hand crafted piece of art.

[Sketch and Doodle]

Sketch and Doodle

 

Thanks for your thoughts. You helped clarify my desire to add more custom pens and perhaps even a Romillo to my collection.

 

I very much agree about the nib being the soul of the pen. I now own 4 Nakayas' which I dearly love. I am particularly taken by the fact the nibs for my Nakayas, though rebranded Platinums, have all been modified to my liking. Even the one I bought from Maruzen was a modified soft broad.

 

I am now looking for a pen made to the same caliber with a nib that has that unique soul you're talking about. I would never consider a Hakase for the very reason you mentioned because I just can't fathom the idea it would have the same nib as a pen 1/3 of the price you can buy any where in Japan. I am quite taken by Romillos because I really love the design, and love the idea the nibs are all hand made. But I am deathly afraid the pens will be "rustic". I can't deal with a $1200 pen looking like it was made by a "high school kid in a garage." An gross exaggeration I know but I am so spoilt by the meticulousness of Japanese craftsmen who make things to the precision level of machines. I had a pen "custom made" by a very well known American pen maker that I never look at because it looked like it was made by a "high school kid in a garage."

I know what you mean. Compared to Nakaya it feels less perfect but Nakaya feels a bit delicate and frigile.

 

I just got an email from Mr. Romillo that he just received the pen and he will work on my pen to my specs. I just hope it irons out all the blemishes up there.

I'm really looking forward to it and once I have it back I'll share the final look of the pen for sure.