A Wrong Turn On Highway Lb5

[whichwatch]

Andy Lambrou and Classic Pens' LB5 has been a huge crowd pleaser since its initial release. The 50 pens in each of six different colors long ago sold out and have virtually disappeared from the market except for a few examples that can be found from time to time.

 

I was on the road to assembling a set of the six colors when I seemed to have made a wrong turn as can be seen in the photo below, although it is hard to call having any LB5 a "wrong turn". Darn GPS! One thing for sure - I wish I hadn't sold the Amethyst LB5 I had at one time!

 

 

http://www.fototime.com/%7B3D9CBEF5-08FC-4609-815C-0B09CAC90212%7D/origpict/LB5.png

 

 

 

And here is my current collection from the Lambrou Highway. Left to Right are LM1, LB3, six LB5's and an LB6 (facetted). The open slot is reserved for the red LB8 I have on order.

 

http://www.fototime.com/%7B92D1737F-D9CF-44FD-BE4C-F82EFB9BC6E7%7D/origpict/coll.png

[Bo Bo Olson]

Quite a nice collection. Some very pretty pens.

 

What flex of nib do they come with? Nail, semi-nail, regular flex (what the Japanese call 'soft') or semi-flex?

[Honeybadgers]

They're sailor king of pen nibs, Bo Bo. So a little soft but by no means flex. I have heard that they're utterly stupendous writers though.

Edited March 18, 2019 by Honeybadgers

[whichwatch]

They're sailor king of pen nibs, Bo Bo. So a little soft but by no means flex. I have heard that they're utterly stupendous writers though.

Yes, Honeybadgers is correct in all respects

[Honeybadgers]

Yes, Honeybadgers is correct in all respects

 

Woo

 

Wanna give me one?

[A Smug Dill]

Gorgeous pens! I must say I wish Sailor produced Profit21 and/or KOP models that look that those, instead of all the gimmicky clear colours the company seems to favour (especially) for shop-exclusive editions.

 

I can definitely be talked into buying Japanese pens from any of the 'Big Three' that look as beautiful as your LB5's. Aurora models, too, since that company has proven it can make a properly narrow Extra Fine nib, and I've been mostly happy with the six Aurora pens I have.

Edited March 19, 2019 by A Smug Dill

[Honeybadgers]

Gorgeous pens! I must say I wish Sailor produced Profit21 and/or KOP models that look that those, instead of all the gimmicky clear colours the company seems to favour (especially) for shop-exclusive editions.

 

I can definitely be talked into buying Japanese pens from any of the 'Big Three' that look as beautiful as your LB5's. Aurora models, too, since that company has proven it can make a properly narrow Extra Fine nib, and I've been mostly happy with the six Aurora pens I have.

 

+1 to this. the big three are really too conservative with their materials. Well, platinum isn't conservative with materials (a solid platinum fountain pen, including the nib is pretty f**kin cool, even if it's 11 grand, that's probably 500 bucks in platinum alone) they just need to come out with more models. I want a 3776 that's like an inch longer and piston filled. I'd pay like $200 for that.

[A Smug Dill]

... they just need to come out with more models. I want a 3776 that's like an inch longer and piston filled. I'd pay like $200 for that.

I don't want to 'disrespect' or be seen as 'belittling' you, but let's look more closely at the numbers.

 

US$200 is 'like' ¥22,266, which when divided by 1.08 (to remove the consideration of 8% Japanese domestic consumption tax, and skim over how much mark-up North American distributors and retailers would want to make on top of the base price) makes ¥20,617. Reinterpreting and paraphrasing what you wrote, my interpretation is that you think Platnium "need to" offer piston-filled models (obviously not favoured the majority of its, and the Japanese Big Three's, customers with regards to the filling mechanism) with a longer form factor by 'like' 25.4mm (which is very uncommon for Japanese pens at 165mm, a full 15mm longer than my Platinum Izumo akatame), at an MSRP of ¥20,000 or ¥20,500 exclusive of tax.

 

The 'basic' Platinum #3776 Century pens now have a tax-exclusive MSRP of ¥13,000. ¥20,000 wouldn't even get you a slightly larger (but still converter-filled) rhodium-trim Platinum President.

 

If Platinum produced a #3776 Century (without changing the form factor or the filling mechanism) using the materials shown for the O.P.'s LB5 pens, I'd expect the tax-exclusive MSRP to be ¥35,000 or higher.

[ParkerDuofold]

Hi WW,

 

Such beautiful pens... congratulations.

 

Be well.

 

 

- Anthony

[Honeybadgers]

I don't want to 'disrespect' or be seen as 'belittling' you, but let's look more closely at the numbers.

 

US$200 is 'like' ¥22,266, which when divided by 1.08 (to remove the consideration of 8% Japanese domestic consumption tax, and skim over how much mark-up North American distributors and retailers would want to make on top of the base price) makes ¥20,617. Reinterpreting and paraphrasing what you wrote, my interpretation is that you think Platnium "need to" offer piston-filled models (obviously not favoured the majority of its, and the Japanese Big Three's, customers with regards to the filling mechanism) with a longer form factor by 'like' 25.4mm (which is very uncommon for Japanese pens at 165mm, a full 15mm longer than my Platinum Izumo akatame), at an MSRP of ¥20,000 or ¥20,500 exclusive of tax.

 

The 'basic' Platinum #3776 Century pens now have a tax-exclusive MSRP of ¥13,000. ¥20,000 wouldn't even get you a slightly larger (but still converter-filled) rhodium-trim Platinum President.

 

If Platinum produced a #3776 Century (without changing the form factor or the filling mechanism) using the materials shown for the O.P.'s LB5 pens, I'd expect the tax-exclusive MSRP to be ¥35,000 or higher.

 

 

Way to nitpick a completely extraneous detail

 

I was just giving it context since the standard 3776 is $70 in the US as sold direct from japan through amazon, that I'd pay roughly 3x what the standard 3776 costs for a piston filler. The sailor 1911 realo is just about 220 from japan, so my ballpark estimate is roughly correct, assuming we're using the basic plastics like chartres blue and normal furniture. Platinum could get a piston filler using their standard 3776 nib to the JDM for around $200-250. They just have things weirdly skewed because they have hyperinflated the cost of a few of their 3776 models like the rhodium trim, which has no reason to cost double. We're also talking shop about something that is not being made and likely will not be made, so why are we even having this discussion? I just said I'd give a stripper $20, and you told me she's worth at least $35.

 

 

I think 35k yen is a little on the low side for an equivalent to the LB5. Didn't they retail north of $500?

Edited March 19, 2019 by Honeybadgers

[A Smug Dill]

... I'd pay roughly 3x what the standard 3776 costs for a piston filler. The sailor 1911 realo is just about 220 from japan, so my ballpark estimate is roughly correct...

The tax-exclusive MSRP for Sailor Profit Realo and Professional Gear Realo is ¥30,000.

 

I think 35k yen is a little on the low side for an equivalent to the LB5. Didn't they retail north of $500?

I have never seen or heard of the O.P.'s LB5 pens or more broadly that brand/family of pens, so I don't know how much they retailed for at the time. ¥35,000 is the current MSRP of most of the Platinum #3776 Century celluloid models.

[Honeybadgers]

The tax-exclusive MSRP for Sailor Profit Realo and Professional Gear Realo is ¥30,000.

 

 

I have never seen or heard of the O.P.'s LB5 pens or more broadly that brand/family of pens, so I don't know how much they retailed for at the time. ¥35,000 is the current MSRP of most of the Platinum #3776 Century celluloid models.

 

I paid $220 for both my realos (well the second was about 180 but he gave me a discount since he accidentally sent me a medium when I wanted a fine, and I told him I'd just buy another.) Sooooooo that's what I'd pay for a piston filler 3776 (and I'd want one just a smidge longer just because I often find the 3776 just a hair shorter than I want it to be)

 

I am pretty sure the LB5 was on the high end of price. They're not celluloid, they're a specially formed acrylic, and they use the KOP nib and some could be gotten with the Nagahara nibs for another premium.

 

Yeah, I just did a little digging, I was way under. They retailed for $1200 with a standard KOP nib. Crazy expensive but crazy beautiful.

Edited March 19, 2019 by Honeybadgers

[Bo Bo Olson]

Aurora has always been of the narrowest of the Euro nibs.

 

Once in semi-vintage times ('82-97) Pelikan made a narrower EF than Waterman....much less Parker and Sheaffer.

Once Waterman was known for it's narrow nibs.....now no one says a word about them here on the main section. But a decade ago, there were big hot flame wars between narrow nib Waterman fans vs nib swapping Pelikan fans.

 

At the time....or eventually, many of the Parker pens were made at the Waterman factory. How ever none then bragged a 'narrow' Parker nib...................in then it was fatter than Sheaffer, the narrower Pelikan had two widths, one the 400 and the other the narrower 800, then came Waterman..............outside the EF....where Pelikan was narrower.

 

So suggest getting semi-vintage or Vintage Pelikan in EF for a """""proper narrow nib."""""

No, actually I don't...........do suggest semi&vintage for proper widths...............but for a real narrow nib one should buy Japanese nibs designed for a tiny printed script, and not waste any money on Western nibs designed to write cursive. Many folks here on the com are still printers so Japanese pens make the most sense for them.

 

Up to @ 2005 Aurora made semi-flex nibs....so if one didn't have a real light hand....semi-flex can easily write a width wider. I checked out one of the many Verdies (surprised me how many there were, when I went recently to look up the one I checked out...way back then.)....it on sale 1/3 off 'only' E750....bought a cheaper one. (MB Woolf)

I had taken a vintage Geha 725 semi-flex F to the B&M to have a nib to check against; vintage & semi-vintage German nibs are 1/2 a width narrower than modern.. The Aurora was as spoken about back then rather toothy......it was a narrow nib, perhaps EF....but for me (1/3 noobie still) a bit too scratchy/toothy.....a bit too thin. Prettier than hell though.

 

A 'properly thin' nib for Laid or Linen Effect paper would be a M....or perhaps a fat modern Euro F. Think an M rides the bumps and ridges better.

Would have to dig out a toothy nib and have packs of those papers, but don't think toothy is all that good for Laid or Linen paper.....'butter smooth' might finally have a use, on such paper.

Edited March 19, 2019 by Bo Bo Olson

[Honeybadgers]

I've written on toothy, bumpy watercolor board and I can confirm thata razor fine XXF is completely worthless on it.

[CoolBreeze]

I love these pens! They are so beautiful. I have only spent a short time with a friend's KOP nib but it was fantastic. The blue and green would be my fav. What a great collection. I wish they were still in production so I could scarf one up! Thanks for posting!