Pilot / Namiki Vanishing Point — Round 3

[Steven]

Great review! My VP never squeaked but it did wear out. I bought my VP from the Northeastern University Book Store while in college some thirty plus years ago. I thought it would be nice to use a fountain pen instead of a Bic to take notes along with my slide ruler. I have used this pen for the last twenty plus years and retired it when the side wall of the nib assembly (see photo) corroded through. This pen was always smooth with enough wet to take notes fast but not so wet as to blot through some of the cheaper pads and notebook papers I have written on. The feel of this pen felt fragile to me but it has managed to keep together over all these years. I think fragile feeling is due to the lightness of the aluminum shell and the long through of the pushbutton to deploy the nib. I don’t remember what I paid for it way back when but is was no $100 pen then.

 

I thought they didn’t make this pen anymore but luckily I found this web sight and learned that the Pilot VP is still going strong. The nib assemble is still made the same way as then and I was able to order a replacement nib to get my old friend back on the road.

 

As you can see from the photo that this older model has a flush mounted pen clip and thus you fingers don’t butt up against it as in today’s model. By the way I did purchase the Blue Ice limited edition along with the replacement nib and have not put ink to pen yet. Maybe the new one will squeak and when out old faithful wears out in another twenty five years I may give the Blue Ice a try.

 

 

[MYU]

Great story there, Steven. Thankfully, Pilot was smart enough at that point to make a refined enough nib assembly design to last for future Vanishing Point versions. Earlier models have a different nib assembly, so new ones won't work with them.

 

Also, if you're interested, there are some nib specialists who customize these nibs into some interesting configurations. Have a look at Richard Binder's website.

 

~Gary

Edited June 4, 2007 by MYU

[Deirdre]

This isn't meant as a joke, even if it sounds liek one. The tines of a VP are so close, that there are many that squeak when you write with them. This seems to be caused by vibration of the tines rubbing against each other while writing, often in a specific direction. It normally goes away with use. They either do or they don't and you seem to have one that doesn't/didn't do it.

I apparently have a squeaker. I wonder if there's something I can do other than wait. I think I'll try flossing a bit.

[Brian]

Good review. Thoughtful and well laid out. Thanks!

[tisfortorrey]

How is it that your pens squeak? In the several months that I have had my Vanishing Point, I've never had it squeak, nor have I had difficulty with the converter? But do you prefer the Namiki cartridges to the converter and ink bottles? Suus cuique, perhaps?

 

I'm with him, my pen has never squeaked But I have a Pilot Capless Décimo, so, who knows, maybe the Japanese part of the company has better QC? Or maybe I'm just one of the lucky ones.

[misterh]

How is it that your pens squeak? In the several months that I have had my Vanishing Point, I've never had it squeak, nor have I had difficulty with the converter? But do you prefer the Namiki cartridges to the converter and ink bottles? Suus cuique, perhaps?

 

I'm with him, my pen has never squeaked But I have a Pilot Capless Décimo, so, who knows, maybe the Japanese part of the company has better QC? Or maybe I'm just one of the lucky ones.

 

You were just one of the lucky ones! I have a friend that has a Decimo that is a squeaker.

Edited August 21, 2008 by misterh

[kudzu]

Both my VPs were squeakers, but over time that's stopped. My Decimos have never squeaked. These pens are wonderful.

[thibaulthalpern]

As you can see from the photo that this older model has a flush mounted pen clip and thus you fingers don’t butt up against it as in today’s model. By the way I did purchase the Blue Ice limited edition along with the replacement nib and have not put ink to pen yet. Maybe the new one will squeak and when out old faithful wears out in another twenty five years I may give the Blue Ice a try.

 

 

Wow, wow, wow! I have to say the older model of the VP looks way better than the current model that looks like a fat cigar to me. I like the styling of the old one! :-)

 

[Pippin60]

I agree. Thats a great looking pen, I have a few VP's 1 with a Binderized nib. I think I'll keep an eye out for some used ones in good condition.