Z24 Converter - Now Called Z28

[R531]

Anyone else noticed that Lamy(and slowly the retailers) are now calling the Z24 converter the Z28.

Anyone know if there is a design change or are they exactly the same. I haven't bought a 'Z28' but they look the same to me.

 

I wonder if anyone can shed any light on the reasoning behind it ??

 

Cheers

[MJSchuelke]

Comparing pictures, the Z28 seems to have a bit of metal at the end where the Z24 has black plastic. No idea whether this has functional reasons, or is just for looks.

 

Z28 (on Lamy's own site; note that the URL still has Z24 in it): http://www.lamyshop.com/konverter-lamy-z24.html

Z24 (on Amazon): http://www.amazon.de/Lamy-1206671-Konverter-Z24/dp/B000FA5EDS

[RMN]

Note, that the lamy website does NOT show the old Z24 and Z26 any more, but has the Z27 and the Z28, which are apparently identical apart from the two guiding nubbins on the Z28.

 

 

D.ick

[FOUR X FOUR]

I bought a Z28 back in the 80s.

[AndreZA]

So both are crystal clear instead of the the red one being frosted. That is a good thing.

[twdpens]

There's a side-by side photo of the Z24 and new Z28 converters here. Functionally the new converters are identical to those they have replaced.

 

What Lamy is doing currently is sending Z24 converters to retailers in bags labelled Z28, presumably while they use up old stock. Therefore, at this time, if you buy a "Z28" converter, the retailer may supply you with a "Z24" converter. They do the same job and cost the same so there's no problem really.

 

As to the reason for the change, I don't know (and we haven't asked). They look nice though!

 

HTH,

 

Martin

[Ayoungentrepreneur]

Thank you Martin for the pic comparison.

[samba]

The Z24 converter has recently been updated by Lamy.The new name is Z28.The plastic tube of Z28 is much transparent,The black ring of Z24 has changed to chrome finish in the newer version and lastly the red turning knob is more squarish now.But no significant functional change has yet been noticed.

[RMN]

I have not yet seen one of the new converters live.

But from the pictures I think they use the more clear and hard type of plastic as used in the Schmidt K5 and K6.

That would be a shame, as that type of plastic is more prone to electrical charge which would mean airbubbles sticking to the walls, I fear.

 

 

 

D.ick.

[inkstainedruth]

Hmmm. When I got the Dark Lilac Safari, I clicked on the link on the Goulets' website saying, yes, add a converter onto my order. Pretty sure it was listed as a Z24, as it was on *every* site I looked at ahead of time while pricing the Dark Lilac out along with a list of what else I might want to buy (in order to get the most bang for my buck, since not every retailer carries everything I want).

I'll have to look at it now and figure out which model it *actually* is. Haven't tried it yet -- I figured I'd inaugurate the pen with the enclosed cartridge, just to get it out of the way (boring Lamy Blue, but it seems well behaved an ink).

And this thread comes on the heels of the one about the different Pilot converters... [it's times like these when I miss the old "blink" .gif the most....]

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[MrsGouletPens]

The new Z27 / Z28 converters haven't hit the US market yet. I have no ETA on that, but we'll be sure to announce it. So everything we've sold so far (and have on our site now) is Z24 / Z26.

[Dillo]

Comparing pictures, the Z28 seems to have a bit of metal at the end where the Z24 has black plastic. No idea whether this has functional reasons, or is just for looks.

 

Z28 (on Lamy's own site; note that the URL still has Z24 in it): http://www.lamyshop.com/konverter-lamy-z24.html

Z24 (on Amazon): http://www.amazon.de/Lamy-1206671-Konverter-Z24/dp/B000FA5EDS

 

 

The "black plastic" is not actually black plastic. It is a metal ring with black chrome plating. I've taken apart a good number of the Z24 converters, and it has always been a metal ring. If you grab it, you can slide it off, and this will allow you to pull the piston mechanism. The Lamy converters are made for them by Schmidt. If you have a Schmidt K2 converter, you can pull the ring off that converter and swap it with the Lamy one. You can also take the ring off the Lamy Z26 (Now Z27) converter and swap it with the one on the Z24/Z28. It's possible that it is cheaper to only make one type of ring and fit them on the converters.

 

 

Dillon

Edited May 9, 2016 by Dillo

[Anne-Sophie]

Is it a necessity to use a red converter with Safaris, Al-Stars and especially Vistas?

 

I really don't like the color and find the black converter much classier, unlike school children I don't throw my fountain pens into a case then the case into a backpack.

[Dillo]

Is it a necessity to use a red converter with Safaris, Al-Stars and especially Vistas?

 

I really don't like the color and find the black converter much classier, unlike school children I don't throw my fountain pens into a case then the case into a backpack.

 

 

You can also get a Lamy Z26 or Z27 with the black knob. Remove the metal rings on both converters, pull out the piston assemblies on both, and swap them, then put the rings back to secure the piston assemblies in place. That way you can get a converter with the two securing nubs that the Safari, Al-Star, and Vista use but have the black knob (and if you want, the silver ring).

 

Dillon

[twdpens]

Alternatively:

1. use the Z26 (or Z27) unmodified. Cartridges don't fall out so the converter won't either.

2. take a black Sharpie or similar to the red piston knob.

 

HTH,

 

Martin

[Tritanx]

Do the little side nubbies help all that much? My sister got a Safari but got the z26 with it. Is the difference noticeable?

[888007888]

Just received the new Z28 from Montgomery Pens. It's crystal clear. Love it. You can really see the difference through the pen window. Much better than the old Z24.

[Fuellerfuehrerschein]

 

 

You can also get a Lamy Z26 or Z27 with the black knob. Remove the metal rings on both converters, pull out the piston assemblies on both, and swap them, then put the rings back to secure the piston assemblies in place. That way you can get a converter with the two securing nubs that the Safari, Al-Star, and Vista use but have the black knob (and if you want, the silver ring).

 

Dillon

 

Excellent idea. I removed the semi-shiny metal ring and red piston knob of a Z 28 and exchanged them with the shiny metal ring and black piston knob of a donor Z 27. I noticed the Z 28 and Z 27 tube seals at the opening are not identical. That made me decide not to swap the actual piston mechanisms from their original ink tubes.

 

The Z 28 with its non-stock shiny ring and black piston knob look nice inside my Lamy Vista demonstrator, as the Vista features similar looking chromed and black parts.

 

The Z 27 with its now non-stock semi-shiny ring and red piston knob was mounted in the Lamy Studio it came from. The different looking Z 27 fitted just as well as an unmodified Z27.

[CheesyWalnut]

Is the piston mechanism in the z28 any better than the other converters in terms of keeping ink from getting behind the seal?

[Sasha Royale]

The Z24 has the two "nibbins" that fit into the Safari section notches. The Z26 does not have the "nibbins", and functions fine, in all LAMYs. If the Z28 has the "nibbins", is the Z27 without ?