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Authentic Hero 329 With Arrow Head Logo?


k_sze

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Hi,

 

A quick question:

 

Does anybody know if authentic Hero 329 with arrow head logo at the nib hood can still be found? A quick search on Google suggests that there are two versions: 329 and 329-2, where the former doesn't have an arrow head logo and the latter does have an arrow head logo. The cap also looks different between the two versions. I know it's a cheap pen, but some (not all) of my Chinese compatriots would stop at nothing to counterfeit even the cheapest products.

 

There are many shops on Taobao and Tmall who sell the Hero 329-2 with the arrow head at the hood. I wonder if they are authentic. Somehow the official Hero store on Tmall doesn't carry the version with the arrow head, so I wonder if the other vendors are all selling counterfeits.

 

Now, I know that there at least was an authentic model of Hero with an arrow head logo, and it was not the Hero 100 (the arrow head on that one looks different). I used to have one more than 20 years ago in primary school. It was bought from Yue Hwa Chinese Products Emporium in Hong Kong back in the days. I miss it. And I want to own one again.

Edited by k_sze
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That situation arise from the fact that Hero had 329 on the catalog for literally decades and still had it on catalog today. The original version of the 329 , as stated had no arrow inlaid, and the 329-2 had; and having different styled barrel and cap end. And yes those 329-2 with the arrow inlaid is correct as far as current catalog item goes, as Hero had already remove the original version from production and catalog, and since having only the 329-2, that's what they would show up mostly ( although there are still a hugh stock of old 329 on the market ).

 

And speaking of that, Hero 100 never had arrow inlaid, arrow inlaid was actually first come around on the model 329-2 / 330 , and I believe you are referring to the 330 which is highly tuned export version of the 329-2 usually with gold plated cap. In fact its still possible to find these locally ( Hong Kong ) in the good old black / burgundy / green varieties. The export version might be any of 330 / 331/ 332 / 336 if you are looking for the plastic barrel ones, and 338/339 for the flighter steel version, 340 for the gold plated aluminium version, and although rare ( on HK market ), the 335 is the version with the fude nib

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Hold on. Hero pens can still be bought in brick-and-mortar shops in Hong Kong today?! Could you tell me where?

Edited by k_sze
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And just to be "completely" sure:

  1. You're implying that the 330/331/332/336 export models already existed some 20 years ago, and that Yue Hwa was already importing those, correct?
  2. You also mentioned "catalog". Do you mean catalogs printed on paper? Does anybody happen to have scans of the paper catalogs? The official website at http://www.hero.com.cn/products_list.html doesn't show any of those export models anyhow.
Edited by k_sze
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Last time I was in HK, some small "provincial" stationers still had stock; when I was surfing around in Apliu St, an old-style stationer on a street off the main stretch had a fair stock of 330.

No, I am not going to list my pens here.

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Last time I was in HK, some small "provincial" stationers still had stock; when I was surfing around in Apliu St, an old-style stationer on a street off the main stretch had a fair stock of 330.

Interesting. How long ago was that? I never paid attention to anything other than electronics on Apliu St. Were the stationers in the hawker stalls in the middle of the road or in the stores on the ground floor of the buildings?

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Interesting. How long ago was that? I never paid attention to anything other than electronics on Apliu St. Were the stationers in the hawker stalls in the middle of the road or in the stores on the ground floor of the buildings?

 

I think it was about two years ago; it was an old-style stationary store packed with cards and various paper goods, and I spotted the box of pens in the glass cabinet with the cash register.

No, I am not going to list my pens here.

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I think it was about two years ago; it was an old-style stationary store packed with cards and various paper goods, and I spotted the box of pens in the glass cabinet with the cash register.

Thanks for the tip. Definitely checking it out.

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Actually plenty of good old small independent brick and mortar store still have them, at least two of them in my area do .. some are just NOS, but some are definitely new , I've seen colorful 007A on display. The basic 329/330 family had been around since the early 80's .. on export market and of course now the big name store no longer carry them .. I know only the old department store in North Point being the only one still left having any and even that the stock and choice is slim at best.

 

And I've seen them all over the city in those small stores, of course almost always in old town area or old residential areas ; just try poking around

 

And as for the catalog, well Hero's web site is of no use as they clearly do not show their season offering or their trade catalog which is where most of these pens are placed. Those catalog are only shown to and shown through retail and dealer channels. Hero really having too many models and they do not seem to have a coherent source of info for customer to refer to.

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Actually plenty of good old small independent brick and mortar store still have them, at least two of them in my area do .. some are just NOS, but some are definitely new , I've seen colorful 007A on display. The basic 329/330 family had been around since the early 80's .. on export market and of course now the big name store no longer carry them .. I know only the old department store in North Point being the only one still left having any and even that the stock and choice is slim at best.

 

And I've seen them all over the city in those small stores, of course almost always in old town area or old residential areas ; just try poking around

 

And as for the catalog, well Hero's web site is of no use as they clearly do not show their season offering or their trade catalog which is where most of these pens are placed. Those catalog are only shown to and shown through retail and dealer channels. Hero really having too many models and they do not seem to have a coherent source of info for customer to refer to.

Would you mind telling me the name of the department store in North Point? Could it be 華豐?

;-)

Edited by k_sze
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I think it was about two years ago; it was an old-style stationary store packed with cards and various paper goods, and I spotted the box of pens in the glass cabinet with the cash register.

I just went to Apliu St. and looked through both pedestrian walkways and the hawkers in the middle of the road. I couldnt spot any seller of Chinese fountain pens. There are a few 2nd-hand watch stores and miscellaneous hawkers who had some 2nd-hand pens, but none of them were Chinese pens.

 

Maybe I just dont know where to look?

Edited by k_sze
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I just went to Apliu St. and looked through both pedestrian walkways and the hawkers in the middle of the road. I couldnt spot any seller of Chinese fountain pens. There are a few 2nd-hand watch stores and miscellaneous hawkers who had some 2nd-hand pens, but none of them were Chinese pens.

 

Maybe I just dont know where to look?

 

If memory serves: get out of the underground from one of the exits facing Apliu St, there are a few streets perpendicular to it; one of them - cannot remember which one - has that shop on the right hand side of the street. Sorry for not being able to be more specific!

No, I am not going to list my pens here.

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Would you mind telling me the name of the department store in North Point? Could it be 華豐?

;-)

Yes, but it was ar least half a year ago that I've visit the place, do not hold any hope that they might even be much or even any now

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If memory serves: get out of the underground from one of the exits facing Apliu St, there are a few streets perpendicular to it; one of them - cannot remember which one - has that shop on the right hand side of the street. Sorry for not being able to be more specific!

Oh, so you mean it's on one of the streets perpendicular to Apliu St., not on Apliu St. itself?

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Oh, so you mean it's on one of the streets perpendicular to Apliu St., not on Apliu St. itself?

 

Yes, I did say "off the main stretch" at the beginning after all :P

No, I am not going to list my pens here.

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Actually plenty of good old small independent brick and mortar store still have them, at least two of them in my area do .. some are just NOS, but some are definitely new , I've seen colorful 007A on display. The basic 329/330 family had been around since the early 80's .. on export market and of course now the big name store no longer carry them .. I know only the old department store in North Point being the only one still left having any and even that the stock and choice is slim at best.

 

And I've seen them all over the city in those small stores, of course almost always in old town area or old residential areas ; just try poking around

 

And as for the catalog, well Hero's web site is of no use as they clearly do not show their season offering or their trade catalog which is where most of these pens are placed. Those catalog are only shown to and shown through retail and dealer channels. Hero really having too many models and they do not seem to have a coherent source of info for customer to refer to.

When you say "good old small independent brick and mortar store", do you mean mostly small independent "neighborhood" stationers? Or 2nd-hand/antique stores?

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When you say "good old small independent brick and mortar store", do you mean mostly small independent "neighborhood" stationers? Or 2nd-hand/antique stores?

Yes, those neighborhood store alright

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Yes, I did say "off the main stretch" at the beginning after all :P

Thanks for the tips! I went back to SSP again this evening and I am now a happy owner of not one, but three Hero 330. I got one of each barrel colour: black, burgundy, and green. :D

 

0EF5FoV.jpg

 

Given that I held a black one when I was a kid, I'm keeping the black one for myself. I'll give the burgundy and green ones to my two daughters when they are old enough to not make a mess out of the inkwell.

 

In fact, although I went to SSP Wednesday evening (two days ago) and couldn't find any stationer, I did not come back home empty-handed. I located Master Poon Yuen, on Ki Lung St. Master Poon specialises in servicing and selling 2nd-hand Parkers and Sheaffers. I picked up a nice 2nd-hand 1997 Parker Insignia Custom Green in great shape.

 

9IiF9In.jpg

 

H4KCQaD.jpg

 

The Hero 330, by the way, is amazing. Despite its appearances, the nib absolutely glides on paper like butter on a teflon pan. It's smoother than both my Staedtler Initium Lignum and Parker Insignia. Truly astonishing.

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k_sze,

 

Glad that you have found the shop and they still have that stash of 330s; hope you did not pay too much for them!

No, I am not going to list my pens here.

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