Is My Ranga Wonky?

[Rewpert]

Hey all,

 

This is a bit of a weird one - but I've just got my first Indian pen, a Ranga Model 3 Duofold.

 

Its not only my first Indian pen, but my first ebonite pen and my first handmade pen. All the pen's I've owned before this one have been 'mass produced in a factory' out of metal or plastic.

 

The thing is, it has a bit of a bend to it. Its hard to show because of the matte finish and the mottling of the ebonite, but to my eye the cap sits at a wonky angle to the barrel of the pen.

 

The best way I found to show this was to roll the pen on my desk on its cap. I've taken a little video to try and show this. (Sorry about the quality - its the first time I've ever tried taking a video like this!)

 

"https://www.youtube.com/embed/CN6PUWBNgSc"

 

The cap is a perfectly round cylinder, so rolls flat as a wheel. If you look at the far end of the barrel as I roll it across my desk, you can see that it wiggles up and down rather than rotates around the central axis, which indicates to me that the barrel and the cap are not very well aligned.

 

Being my first handmade pen, I've no idea what I should expect from it - is this sort of 'wonkyness' normal? Or is my pen an exception to the rule? I've heard great things about the master craftsmanship employed by Ranga in their pens and was a little surprised for it to have a 'bend' in it like this.

 

Just to be clear - this isn't a 'dig' at Ranga in any way. I've really enjoyed the pen since I got it. Its a wonderful writer and its been my go-to pen all this week. I'm just interested to know if its normal or not!

 

Thanks for any insights,

 

Rewpert.

Edited February 24, 2017 by Rewpert

[Rewpert]

Sorry - few edits to the original post to get the link to the video working.

 

Rewpert.

[mhguda]

I've never before seen a pen like that - wonky is right, I guess...

Is it very bothersome? If so, maybe contact Ranga and ask...

If not, you might enjoy having a very unique pen!

[T4TEXAS]

Not normal. Contact Ranga and see what he says.

[GardenWeasel]

Sounds like threads cut, I don't know, maybe at an angle or something. I presume cap is seated properly...no cross threading. No one has tried to remove cap by pulling instead of doing it properly? Wonky is nicely descriptive. 😀

[Rewpert]

Thanks for the replies,

 

I've never before seen a pen like that - wonky is right, I guess...

Is it very bothersome? If so, maybe contact Ranga and ask...

If not, you might enjoy having a very unique pen!

 

It is a bit bothersome. I ordered the pen after cooing over the lovely pens people were receiving from the FPN group-buy. All the reviews made a point of Ranga's fantastic level of care and craftsmanship, and I was rather taken with the idea of having something so lovingly crafted for myself. The pen works just fine as a pen, its just a bit of an ugly duckling.

 

Not normal. Contact Ranga and see what he says.

 

That's good to know. I'm not sure what good contacting them would do though - I can't imagine that my pen being wonky is grounds for them sending me a replacement (well, unless their customer service is remarkable), and I'm not sure cap-threads are the sort of thing that could be 'repaired' if I was to return it to them (though, I don't know much about this sort of thing.)

 

Sounds like threads cut, I don't know, maybe at an angle or something. I presume cap is seated properly...no cross threading. No one has tried to remove cap by pulling instead of doing it properly? Wonky is nicely descriptive. 😀

 

The cap and the barrel are certainly both strait, so I assume it is the threads having been cut at an odd angle. The cap goes on just fine and the threads are wonderfully smooth...its just got a bit of a bend to it.

 

Thanks for the posts,

 

Rewpert.

[mhguda]

It cannot hurt to contact Ranga and ask them what they can do to make your pen better... because normally their pens are great, and they especially look great. Let us know what develops...

[Rewpert]

It cannot hurt to contact Ranga and ask them what they can do to make your pen better... because normally their pens are great, and they especially look great. Let us know what develops...

 

I suppose it cannot hurt, though I hate to cause a fuss. I'll shoot them a message and see what they say. Will let you know how it goes.

 

* * *

 

Since people are interested, I've uploaded a photo too, with the pen against some squared paper. I tried to line the cap of the pen up against the line of the grid as best I could. You can see how much of a 'wonk' there is in the pen by the time it gets to the other end of the barrel. And looking closer, I'm pretty sure now that the 'bend' comes in at the intersection of the barrel and the cap, which makes me think its an issue with the alignment of the cap-threads.

 

Cheers for the help, all,

 

Bests,

 

Rewpert.

[Kelly G]

I have the same pen, Model 3, green/black ebonite, except mine has a clip. Mine does not have the bend. Given how these pens are made, I suppose it is not surprising to have an occasional aberration show up. I'm also guessing you will have good results from Ranga.

 

Good luck with your pen.

[T4TEXAS]

I am 99.9999% sure Ranga would rather have you talk directly with them to resolve the problem than for you to "hate to cause a fuss" and leave readers not knowing whether they stood by their product. I am pretty sure they will make it right. I have the same pen in red/black ebonite, and if it wobbled I certainly would have spoken up to Ranga directly.

Edited February 26, 2017 by T4TEXAS

[matteob]

He is a good guy. He offered to replace a nib I was having problems with. I am sure he will listen and offer to replace the pen. They are very mindful of their reputation. It is fully handmade and all craftsmen can have an off day.

 

I would get in touch and send pen back for an exchange.

[mehandiratta]

Kindly make a contact with MP Kandan he will surely resolve the issue...

[Rewpert]

Hey all,

 

Just by way of an update - I got in touch with Ranga and they had hesitation no hesitation (edit) in offering me a replacement pen. Really quite impressed by that level of 'customer care'.

 

Its never ideal to have to test a company's aftersale service, but when they are that forthcoming with a solution it really is hard to be downhearted about it!

 

Bests,

 

Rewpert.

Will be two weeks or so before the thing arrives, but will update when it does.

Edited March 3, 2017 by mehandiratta
correction

[T4TEXAS]

I assume you mean they had "no hesitation".

[Rewpert]

I assume you mean they had "no hesitation".

 

 

Yes. Yes I did mean "no hesitation". And the 'edit post' feature has expired. Isn't that embarrassing.

 

That'll teach me to post on forums at half-two in the morning!

 

Bests,

 

Rewpert.

[Pickwick]

 

 

Yes. Yes I did mean "no hesitation". And the 'edit post' feature has expired. Isn't that embarrassing.

 

That'll teach me to post on forums at half-two in the morning!

 

Bests,

 

Rewpert.

 

Or don't be in a hurry to post before editing.

[mehandiratta]

 

 

Yes. Yes I did mean "no hesitation". And the 'edit post' feature has expired. Isn't that embarrassing.

 

That'll teach me to post on forums at half-two in the morning!

 

Bests,

 

Rewpert.

 

ve corrected that for you

[Rewpert]

 

ve corrected that for you

 

Thank you very much.

 

Rewpert.

[matteob]

It's a nice pen the Ranga 3 glad you have got it sorted.