Chelpark ANTIC

[hari317]

Introduction:

 

Chelpark is primarily an ink manufacturing company which also made some good fountain pens. One of them was a piston filler called the Moti which I had reviewed earlier. This pen under review is a Eyedropper filled pen called the ANTIC probably to mean antique based on its classic looks and filling system.

 

http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii197/hari317/Chelpark%20ANTIC/IMG_2408.jpg

http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii197/hari317/Chelpark%20ANTIC/IMG_2424.jpg

 

Looks and finish:

 

The pen has a pleasing look; sober and understated. The cap jewel seems to be inspired from Eversharp. The clip is a nice curved one which is very functional and easy to use. The overall finish is quite good, on the lines of a very sturdy school pen.

 

http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii197/hari317/Chelpark%20ANTIC/IMG_2425.jpg

 

Size and ergonomics:

 

The size is comfortable and can easily ride in the pocket at 5 1/4 inches capped. It is similar in size to a Wality 52 piston filler.http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii197/hari317/Chelpark%20ANTIC/IMG_2406.jpg

The gripping section is generous and the pen feels very balanced in my hand when posted, the diameter of the section and the pen barrel feels just right.

 

Filling System:

 

The pen fills by ED, however the ink capacity seems to have been restricted by design to around 1.5ml to avoid overflow under low ink level conditions. The section has a step just before the threads as an additional protection against leaks.

 

http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii197/hari317/Chelpark%20ANTIC/IMG_2432.jpg

http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii197/hari317/Chelpark%20ANTIC/IMG_2433.jpg

 

Nib:

 

The stainless steel nib and feed are friction fitted into the section. The feeder is of the regular fissured ebonite type. The nib on the pen I am using is a smooth Fine with a hint of feedback. The flow is quite generous and I am thinking of tweaking it to make it wetter.

 

http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii197/hari317/Chelpark%20ANTIC/IMG_2429.jpg

 

The cap engravings:

 

http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii197/hari317/Chelpark%20ANTIC/IMG_2427.jpg

http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii197/hari317/Chelpark%20ANTIC/IMG_2428.jpg

 

Some colors I found:

 

http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii197/hari317/Chelpark%20ANTIC/IMG_2405.jpg

 

Conclusion:

 

This is a good quality pen, solidly built. Can make a very nice and inexpensive daily writer. The ink capacity could have been made a little higher, but even the present ink capacity is in line with most C/C pens. I only wish Chelpark resumes making these pens available again.

 

I hope you enjoyed reading about a lesser known school pen from India.

 

Regards,

Hari

 

[Abhik]

Hari, this one is good looking and sturdy! Frankly, I never seen any Chelpark pens, but used their good quality inks of different shades many years!

From your thorough review, I feel the same that 1.5ml max allowed to avoid overflow at low ink capacity. Other Indian ebonite pens suffer from that ailment IMOH!! That's really positive.

Photos as usual are fantastic!!

Keep finding and sharing with us Hari!

Warm wishes.

Abhik.

[hari317]

Keep finding and sharing with us Hari!

 

Abhik, Chelpark made some fine pens but don't know why the pens did not do well, maybe the price? Hope they resume making these FPs.

 

Best,

Hari

 

[Taurean]

I was browsing through the review section and found this one..I acquired a couple of Chelpark Antics(black and teal) in Ahmedabad a couple of months ago.

Great review as usual, I find these pens to be understated and highly functional, excellent writers.

The nibs on my Antics, however, are somewhat different from the conventional gold toned ones you have.

Let me see if I can capture it.

 

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_u-MWAN6-Mm4/S7ZKM7jgVLI/AAAAAAAAAVE/1WUgGU-yYt8/s640/DSC03592.JPG

 

The word 'Ambitious' is engraved on the nib.

 

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_u-MWAN6-Mm4/S7ZKMplDi9I/AAAAAAAAAVA/QrxuUKozDQ4/s640/DSC03606.JPG

 

The nib is unconventional, it circumscribes the feed almost entirely, leaving a small gap.

[Ed Ronax]

Nice review, thanks.

[hari317]

Nice find Taurean, Ambitious is a well known manufacturer of fountain pen Nibs in India and the nibs for many Indian pen manufacturers are in fact made by Ambitious and one another nib company. Chelpark is in fact a Bangalorean Company, if possible, do visit their ink and pen works.

 

Best,

Hari

[Brian]

Interesting and informative. A great review of a pen I'd never get to see otherwise. Thanks.

 

 

[kethiemann]

You seem to have reviewed almost all the pens I bought last week. Very good stuff. I'll keep looking and maybe I'll find something I can comment on to add to the mix.

[PenFan95]

Hmmm...not bad! If I ever get my hands on one, incidents like the Sonnet Snap won't take place, anymore...at least, not to a relatively old pen with almost impossible-to-find parts! :bonk:

[Rishi]

well thts another nice pen ...hope to get one of these as m going for a month long trip to various parts of the country..

[hari317]

 

Chelpark is unfortunately now defunct. And the nice student's fountain pens like the Antic are no longer available. A few days back I was pleasantly surprised to learn of the V'Sign Antic which is just like the Chelpark Antic but with the TIO (three in one) filling system. I purchased an example to try it out.

 

 

With the Chelpark examples.

 

 

 

 

The nibs.

 

 

 

Stock converter.

 

Unfortunately in case the stock converter conks off and you want to put in a good quality Schmidt replacement, that will not be possible.

 

The stock converter is slightly shorter and the barrel has space only for the stock converter. The Schmidt converter fits but the barrel does not close fully.

Other than this lacuna the pen is a good writer for the 120rs asking price and very suitable for a student. One very good thing about this pen is the odourless plastic used in its manufacture.

 

Cheers

Hari

[Savit]

Chelpark is unfortunately now defunct. And the nice student's fountain pens like the Antic are no longer available. A few days back I was pleasantly surprised to learn of the V'Sign Antic which is just like the Chelpark Antic but with the TIO (three in one) filling system. I purchased an example to try it out.

 

 

With the Chelpark examples.

 

 

 

 

The nibs.

 

 

 

Stock converter.

 

Unfortunately in case the stock converter conks off and you want to put in a good quality Schmidt replacement, that will not be possible.

 

The stock converter is slightly shorter and the barrel has space only for the stock converter. The Schmidt converter fits but the barrel does not close fully.

Other than this lacuna the pen is a good writer for the 120rs asking price and very suitable for a student. One very good thing about this pen is the odourless plastic used in its manufacture.

 

Cheers

Hari

 

Thanks, Hari, for the wonderful pictures and description.

What is your opinion about the nib and writing of the Beena Antic (compared to the Chelpark one)?

The Chelpark one may have a slight edge because of the ebonite feed [although that limits the pen to being an eyedropper..].

Just curious to hear what you think of nib and writing of the 2 pens. Also, between Chelpark Moti and V'Sign Neo.

Thanks,