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It's hard for the central European to pretend that getting a fountain pen produced in India is easy. Such a fountain pen doesn't lie on the shelf in the first store with office supplies. In truth, collector's forums also treat writing instruments from India as... exotic ones. Sometimes you will find the opinion of a passionate who claims - and you believe only in his assurances - that these fountain pens represent such values as quality, good looks, pleasure of possessing. From a certain point of view, this is good, because fountain pens from India are "rare goods" - i.e. they are in possession of a relatively small group of users. The reviews published by the sites: Atelier Novotny, Mehandiratta and Peytonstreetpens are good inspirations. As you can see, Ranga 4c was not a "blind date". In addition, the visit of the Pen Show Day Poland 2017 event - and contact with Japanese ebonite pens - decided that when the opportunity arose (the Group Buy ), the purchase was obvious. The pen ordered in April last year was sent around May 20 and arrived in Poland on June 5. All customs and tax formalities have been reduced to a minimum. Blue premium ebonite. German system: JoWo two-tone color nib #6 B and Schmidt converter. Price fully acceptable - 75 USD. Ranga 4c looks great. It has been beautifully handmade. The color is indeed premium - the same as in the case of Japanese ebonite pens. The body has been thoroughly polished, although it is not the maximum polisher. Ebonite did not carry any imperfections. Small, irrelevant scratches was created as a result of manual processing. The solid structure of the material enables engraving - without any problems. My writing instrument was engraved on the Gravograph M40G machine - the text itself, deep, several dozen precise engraving angles, without enamelling. This way of personalization is effective and very nice. The geometry of the pen is perfect - which deserves to be emphasized because it is really big pen. Ranga 4c is properly balanced and comfortable in the hand. It is not heavy. The edges of the pen are machined straight, but the fingers do not encounter sharper edges. The clip is very easily deflected, among others for this, to wear a pen in a jacket or apron pocket. The thread of the pen is very long - which works well with an eyedropper (the pen is obtained with a tight, greased thread). The pen went to my daughter as a memorial of matriculation examination passed great. Engraver contains a dedication for her.

Hi Fellow FP Addicts Welcome to Mega Group-Buy 2 of Ranga Pens This is an effort for Ranga Handmade Pens with Bock Nibs. For those who missed out on earlier group buys this is the right opportunity to buy various models from the past Groupbuy with the Bock nibs.. This Group Buy is Valid till 28-Feb-18 In order to participate in the group buy just fill the Google Form (Link Below) and Reply in the thread with "Form Submitted or just repost the choices in thread LINK: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScF0Hcwm7A8idJoGCfrj3av-c_QIdg6PLI1dWx8NBhnfNtLFQ/viewform?c=0&w=1&usp=mail_form_link MODELS: Different Models are available for this Group-Buy. The option of various models are as follows: Model 3 ( Previous Group-Buy Link: https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/315721-closed-ranga-model-3-and-3c-group-buy-dec-2016/?hl=ranga) Model 4 ( Previous Group-Buy Link: https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/320907-closed-ranga-model-4-and-4c-group-buy-april-2017/?hl=ranga) Model 5 ( Previous Group-Buy Link: https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/318187-closed-ranga-model-5-varuna-gajendra-group-buy-2017/?hl=ranga) Model 3C ( Previous Group-Buy Link:https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/315721-closed-ranga-model-3-and-3c-group-buy-dec-2016/?hl=ranga) Model 4C ( Previous Group-Buy Link: https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/320907-closed-ranga-model-4-and-4c-group-buy-april-2017/?hl=ranga ) NIBS: We(Ranga Pens) are providing the Bock Nibs in CC Mechanism for this Group-Buy as Second time. So for this group buy only Bock nibs will be available and the option for the nibs are as follows: #6 Steel Nib – Gold Monotone Finish: EF, F, M, B, 1.1, 1.5 #6 Steel Nib – Chrome Monotone Finish: EF, F, M, B, 1.1, 1.5 #6 Steel Nib – Dual Tone Finish: EF, F, M, B #6 Gold 18K Nib – F, M,B (@ extra US$ 185) Without Nib But Pen threaded to take Bock Nib (@ less US$ 14) MATERIAL & COLORS: Like the previous Group-Buys, both ebonite and acrylic are available in this group-buy. The various finishes available are as follows: Regular Ebonite: RE Series (Polished or Matte Finish) Solid Black Brown Ripple Olive Ripple Green Ripple Mottled Brown Mottled Olive Brown (Available for Model 3 ,4 , 3C, 4C Alone) Special Ebonite: SE Series (Has Black Specks) (Polished or Matte Finish) Solid Forest Green (Available for Model 3 ,4 , 3C, 4C Alone) Forest Green – Black Ripple Forest Green – Honey Ripple (Available for Model 3 ,4 , 3C, 4C Alone) Forest Green – Khaki Ripple Forest Green – Mustard Yellow Ripple Forest Green – Teal Blue Ripple Teal Blue – Black Ripple Teal Blue – Khaki Ripple (Available for Model 5 Alone) Mustard Yellow – Black Ripple Khaki – Black Ripple (Available for Model 3 ,4 , 3C, 4C Alone) Solid Cherry Red (Not Available) Rose Red – Black Ripple Rose Red – Mauve Ripple (Available for Model 3 ,4 ,5, 3C, 4C Alone) Rose Red – Blue Ripple (Not Available) Rose Red – Forest Green Ripple Rose Red – Bottle Green Ripple (Available for Model 5 Alone) Rose Red – Mustard Yellow Ripple Brick Red – Khaki Ripple Brick Red – Black Ripple Teal Blue – Orange Ripple Solid Bluish Green (Available for Model 5 Alone) Solid Crimson Red (Available for Model 5 Alone) Solid Olive Green Premium Ebonite: PE Series (Polished or Matte Finish) Solid Blue Black Yellow Swirl (Not Available) Blue Pink Swirl Solid Pale Green White Blue Swirl (Not Available) Pale Pink Black Swirl (Not Available) Green Yellow Swirl (Available for Model 5 Alone) Solid Pink Blue Green Orange Swirl (Not Available) Solid Orange Clear Acrylic Demonstrator: Brushed Clear Acrylic – Complete Brushed Clear Acrylic with Polished finial PRICE:The cost of the pen is at par with the earlier Group-Buys. And payment is accepted only via Paypal. Our Paypal id is mpkandan@gmail.com The price is as follows: Model 3 Regular / Special Ebonite: US $55 Premium Ebonite: US $70 Acrylic Demonstrator: US $62 Model 4 Regular / Special Ebonite: US $60 Premium Ebonite: US $75 Acrylic Demonstrator: US $67 Model 5 Regular / Special Ebonite: US $65 Premium Ebonite: US $85 Acrylic Demonstrator: :US $70 Model 3C Regular / Special Ebonite: US $55 Premium Ebonite : US $70 Acrylic Demonstrator : US $62 Model 4C Regular / Special Ebonite: US $60 Premium Ebonite : US $75 Acrylic Demonstrator : US $67 Shipping:Shipping period will be 4 to 5 weeks after payment via Registered Shipping. For Shipping within India kindly PM me In order to participate in the group buy just fill the Google Form (Link Below) and Reply in the thread with "Form Submitted or just repost the choices in thread

Dear All, Today is Holi fesival in India. It is festival of colours. So Ranga Pens have decided to introduce more vibrant ebonite colours for this Holi festival to FPN Community Please reach us at mpkandan@yahoo.co.in for queries. We have limited quantities. This is not grop buy offer. All old colours that were in demand are available now. We have 14 colours in Premium Ebonite now for our Handmade pens 1. Solid Blue 2. Black / Yellow Swirl 3. Blue/Pink Swirl 4. Solid Pale Green 5. Blue/White Swirl 6. Black/Red Swirl 7. Green/Yellow Swirl 8. Solid Pink 9. Blue/ Green/ Orange Swirl 10 Solid Orange 11 Blue/White/Green/Orange Swirl 12 Black / Orange Swirl 13 Green/Pale Pink Swirl 14 Blue/Pink/Pale yellow The Pens are mutely polished .The mottled pattern are gloriously inconsistent from pen to pen. It varies drastically but beautifully. We also provide many Nib choices and many models for the above ebonites. Nib Choices for C/C: -------------------- German BOCK Screw in Nib -------------------- 1. #6 Steel Nib – Gold Monotone Finish: EF, F, M, B, 1.1, 1.5 2. #6 Steel Nib – Chrome Monotone Finish: EF, F, M, B, 1.1, 1.5 3. #6 Steel Nib – Dual Tone Finish: EF, F, M, B 4. #6 Steel Nib – Black: EF, F, M, B ,1.1,1.5 (@ more US$7) 5. #6 Gold 18K Nib – M,B (@ extra US$ 185) 6. Without Nib But Pen threaded to take Bock Nib (@ less US$ 14) German Jowo Screw in Nib ------------------- 1. #6 Steel Nib – Gold Monotone Finish: F, B 2. #6 Steel Nib – Chrome Monotone Finish: F, M, B 3. #6 Steel Nib – Dual Tone Finish: EF, F, M, B,1.1,1.5 4. #6 Steel Nib – Black: EF, F, M, B ,1.1,1.5 5. Without Nib But Pen threaded to take Bock Nib (@ less US$ 14) German Schmidt Screw in Nib ------------------- 1. #6 Steel Nib – Gold Monotone Finish: F,M,B 2. #6 Steel Nib – Chrome Monotone Finish: F, M, B Nib Choices for Eyedropper (#6 Nibs): --------------------------------------- 1. #6 Steel Nib – Gold Monotone Finish: F, M, B 2. #6 Steel Nib – Chrome Monotone Finish: F, M, B 3. #6 Steel Nib – Dual Tone Finish: F, M, B Models for Reference: --------------------------------- Model 3 (Eyedropper : 50USD , C/C: 88 USD) Model 3C(Eyedropper : 50USD , C/C: 88 USD) Model 4 (Eyedropper : 55USD , C/C: 93 USD) Model 4C (Eyedropper : 55USD , C/C: 93 USD) Model 5 (Eyedropper : 70USD , C/C: 108 USD) Model 8 (Eyedropper : 50USD , C/C: 88 USD) Designer (Eyedropper : 70USD , C/C: 108 USD) Bamboo (Eyedropper : 70USD , C/C: 108 USD) Thin Bamboo (Eyedropper : 60USD , C/C: 98 USD) Giant Bamboo (Eyedropper :85 USD , C/C: 125 USD) Zeal (Eyedropper : 55USD , C/C: 93 USD) Model 8B (Eyedropper : 55USD , C/C: 93 USD)- It is bigger version of Model 8 Clip Option: White Clip or Gold Coloured Clip or Clipless. Bamboo , Thin Bamboo , Giant Bamboo, Model 5 are available only in Clipless Finish : Polished Or Matte finish Making Time: 10-12Days Shipment: Worldwide free shipping with India Post Register Post (2-4 weeks delivery) Payment: Payment to paypal id mpkandan@gmail.com Regards, Kandan.M.P Ranga Pen Company

Does anyone know if Nikko (=Eboya) sells their marble (?) ebonite rods to other makers? I'm wondering if there are any makers -- other than Eboya -- either in Japan or overseas, which have access to this style of pen blank: https://www.nibs.com/pens/eboya/eboya-natsume-small-kumpuu-green-cc I've never seen any non-Eboya pens made of this stuff or its color variants. As nice as the Eboya pens are, it would be cool to see some designs by other makers in this material too, which is why I'm asking. Thanks!

A new pen Ive been using recently reminds me of a concept in psychologist Daniel Kahnemans book, Thinking, Fast and Slow. The book starts with the idea that we have two ways of thinking. System 1, the fast way, is instinctual, prone to snap judgments (which are often valuable and sometimes not), and kind of lazy. System 2, the slow way, is methodical, detail-oriented, analytical, and focused. The Ranga Emperor is a System 2 pen. The Emperor is capable, understated, elegant, and precise. The lines, proportions and materials stake the pen at the polar opposite of flash and exhibition. The Emperor is for people who need a pen to write with reliability and integrity, without calling attention to itself. If accountants, investment analysts, and aircraft engineers still used fountain pens, this would suit them. I bought the Emperor in solid olive green ebonite in a recent group buy organized by the architect Vaibhav Mehandiratta, a moderator on Fountain Pen Network, and MP Kandan of the Ranga pen company in Chennai. It was created to the specifications I requested, which included flat ends and a no. 6 Bock 1.5 mm italic nib. The pen is about 145 mm long, 139 mm uncapped, with a barrel diameter of 14 mm and a section diameter ranging between 11 and 12.5 mm. Its fairly large. This is the first Bock italic nib Ive used. Its smooth, the feed supplies ink reliably, and its backed up by a Schmidt converter. Precise machine work and threads are some of the pens most remarkable qualities. I can see the joints between the olive ebonite and the black ends, but theyre almost imperceptible to the touch. The immaculate tolerances in the junction between the chrome clip and the ebonite cap are worthy of a watch from Switzerland or Japan. The only complaint I can muster is with the chrome rings that reinforce the cap. Theyre not flush with the lines of the cap, and not consistent with the quality of the rest of the pen. But theyre robust, and it takes a macro lens or an awfully studious eye to spot the imperfection. On these photographs, a macro lens also picked up my fingerprints. This is my third ebonite pen from Ranga. The others are a Model 5 and 8, and all three are consistent and reliable performers. The Ranga Emperor is a pen for someone who wants an unusual combination of qualities in a tool made by a human being, with the imperfections that carries, but executed with competence and integrity. It would be perfect for a psychologist who studies flawed behavior in people and economic markets.

What are the differences between ebonite made in Japan and elsewhere? I learned that a pen using Indian ebonite I was planning to purchase will soon be available in Japanese ebonite for about $10 extra. I'm guessing the Japanese ebonite has less imperfections/impurities in the ebonite -- correct me if I'm wrong -- but I'm wondering if it's merely aesthetic or if the Japanese ebonite is otherwise superior; for example, less likely to discolor, more durable, less prone to cracking over time, etc. I read on the Eboya (=Nikko Ebonite) site that they are the only ones in Japan still producing ebonite (with only 2 other factories in Germany and I'm assuming a few in India outside of Japan), so I'm guessing the ebonite will be sourced from them. I have hitherto only purchased resin and celluloid pens and still have much to learn when it comes to ebonite. Any info or links to threads which discuss this would be greatly appreciated!

Dear fellow FP users After successful group buys of BAMBOO MODEL & RANGA MODEL 4C & Model 3 & Model 5 & Zeal & Model 8 & BAMBOO MODEL (ROUND 2) & DESIGNER in last two year. This is a group buy effort for - RANGA MODEL 5 (also famous as Varuna Gajendra). This is the second time for Model 5 and the first group-buy for Ranga Pens this year. The Group Buy will be available until March 5, 2017. Model 5 comes in two variants and is clipless: Flat Top ( 6.5 to 6.75 inches in length, thickness varies from 17 to 18.75 mm depending on rod) Round End (7 inches in length, thickness varies from 17 to 18.75 mm depending on rod) Available Colours are as follows: A. SpecialRegular Ebonite Colours (SE Series) Solid Forest GreenForest Green - Black Ripple (Not Available)Forest Green - Honey Ripple (Not Available)Forest Green - Khaki RippleForest Green - Mustard Yellow RippleForest Green - Teal Blue RippleTeal Blue - Black RippleTeal Blue - Khaki RippleMustard Yellow - Black RippleKhaki - Black Ripple (Not Available)Solid Cherry RedRose Red - Black RippleRose Red - Mauve Ripple (Not Available)Rose Red - Blue Ripple (Not Available)Rose Red - Forest Green RippleRose Red - Bottle Green Ripple (Not Available)Rose Red - Mustard Yellow RippleBrick Red - Khaki RippleBrick Red - Black RippleTeal Blue - Orange Ripple B. Regular Colours (RE Series) Ref 1 : Link Ref 2 : Link Solid Black MatteBrown RippleOlive RippleGreen RippleMottled BrownMottled GreenMottled Olive Brown C. Premium Ebonite Colours (PE Series) Solid BlueBlack Yellow Swirl (Not Available)Blue Pink SwirlSolid Pale GreenWhite Blue Swirl (Not Available)Pale Pink Black Swirl (Not Available)Green Yellow SwirlSolid PinkBlue Green Orange SwirlSolid Orange D. Demonstrator - Clear Acrylic (CA Series) Matte with Polished FinialsMatte with Matte Finials Prices are as follows: RANGA Model 5 (ED Version)REGULAR or SPECIAL EBONITE: US $39PREMIUM EBONITE: US $55DEMONSTRATOR: US $ 44RANGA Model 5 (CC Mechanism)REGULAR or SPECIAL EBONITE: US $65REGULAR or SPECIAL EBONITE without nib threaded to take JoWo/Schmidt/Bock: US $50PREMIUM EBONITE: US $85 PREMIUM EBONITE without nib threaded to take JoWo/Schmidt/Bock: US $70DEMONSTRATOR: US $ 70DEMONSTRATOR without nib threaded to take JoWo/Schmidt/Bock: US $ 55Finish - Polished or Matte (Bakul) Clip Option - Only Clipless Nib Option: For EyedropperAmbitious Nib 35 mm - Fine Nib - Dual Tone (included in price) Bock (With Conklin imprinted) M or B is available (extra @ 8 USD) Kanwrite Nib 35 mm Flex - Chrome Tone ( extra @ 5 USD) Nib Option: For C/C mechanism (with Schmidt K5 Converter) #6 Nib Options (included in price) JoWo Fine Nib - Gold Tone or Chrome Tone or Dual Tone JoWo Medium Nib - Gold Tone or Chrome Tone or Dual ToneJoWo Broad Nib - Gold Tone or Chrome Tone or Dual ToneJoWo 1.1 Calligraphy Nib - Dual ToneSchmidt Fine Nib - Gold Tone or Chrome ToneSchmidt Medium Nib - Gold Tone or Chrome Tone Schmidt Broad Nib - Gold Tone or Chrome ToneNo Nib - Threaded for Schmidt #6 No Nib - Threaded for JoWo #6No Nib - Threaded for Bock #6 Shipping: Via Registered Post which is included in Price and takes 2 -4 Weeks.Making Time: 4-5 Weeks after payment Additional Offer: Oliver F27 (ver 2) Kindly note that there is an offer to purchase Oliver F27 (ver 2) with this group buy for 19 USD. And there are approximate 20 colors available. The pen can be purchased only if you participate in Model 5 Group Buy. Oliver F27 is also made in India Pen and comes with #6 Ambitious fine Nib. I have updated the google forms below. Colors available for Oliver F-27 are as follows: Yellow-Pink-Red Swirl Pink-Dark Blue Swirl Blue-Black Swirl Red Cracked Ice Green-Pink-Black Swirl Red-Dark Blue Swirl Orange-Dark Blue Swirl Chocolate Cracked Ice Purple-Dark Blue Swirl Bright Green-Dark Green Swirl Sea Blue-Red Swirl Chocolate-Dark Blue Swirl Yellow-Chocolate Cracked Ice Yellow-Chocolate Swirl Green-Black Swirl White-Red Swirl Rose-Black Swirl Yellow-Bright Green Swirl Orange-Black Cracked Ice Yellow-Blue-Saffron Orange Swirl In order to participate in the group buy just fill the Google Form (Link Below) and Reply in the thread with "Form Submitted or just repost the choices in thread Link: https://goo.gl/forms/lVI5Bv7HaFbkJ3bZ2

This morning I had a very pleasant conversation with Mr Rao of Guider Pen works on WhatsApp. I've always loved his pens and wanted to get a few for Christmas. He sent me lots of pictures of his current pens and I would like to share it with the wider community.

I searched the web but I did not find anything about the prints in ebonite, how the factories put their name or the typical ripples in the black ebonites like the one in the photo, I guess it would be with a specific machine? Maybe with heat? Does anyone know anything about this data? Thanks

Hello knowledgeable pen people, I just received a Click all-ebonite eyedropper pen (section is also ebonite, feed is ebonite) I ordered from India on eBay, and the ink flow is poor, so I need to pull the nib and feed in order to do some troubleshooting. However, I CANNOT pull it out. I contacted the seller, and he confirmed the nib and feed should just pull out. I enjoy cheap Indian and Chinese pens for practicing nib and feed adjustment and modifications, and I've turned a few into really nice writers, so I'm not new to the process of pulling a nib and feed. I've encountered a few that needed some very controlled muscling with a grippy pad/cloth and/or a warm water soak to get out of the pen, but never anything this tough. I've spent hours and literally given myself blisters and stabbed myself pretty badly with the nib trying to get it out. Before I initiate a return and have to wait two months to replace a $20 eyedropper, I'd like to try to solve the issue. I did do an overnight soak in some water with mild soap in it. No go. I'm leery of trying hot water because of the ebonite. I've never had to resort to hot water to get out a stuck nib and feed. I'm even willing to sacrifice the nib if I have to because I can easily get a cheap replacement from Fountain Pen Revolution or try to fit one of the nicer spare nibs I have lying around, but I'm concerned that, if I pull the nib out by gripping the tip with pliers or some such, I risk breaking the section. Any advice?

Introduction:The inception of this pen began with my curiosity of Titanium Nibs and I was able to put together this "customized" pen from my purchases made over a brief visit to the United States. Having read many reviews and opinions about Titanium Nibs online,being a different writing experience from Gold and Steels nibs, I started looking for an An American Vendor for titanium nibs. While doing my research I came to know that they are available in #8 size too. So as everyone knows, "Bigger IS better", I asked around for a #8 Bock Titanium Nib.Thanks to Shawn Newton who pointed me to Karas Kustoms and I was able to order one from them quickly. [bock #6 Gold, Bock #8 Titanium] Next step was to decide on the pen material. Being an Orange Fanatic I always wanted to have an Orange Ebonite Pen. I found some on the ExoticBlanks.com website and ordered 2 rods.They were pretty expensive and there is some uncertainty as to the Country of origin of these Blanks *cough* India *cough*. This pen was made from a single 10 inch rod. Having obtained the nib and blanks, I had to decide on a pen model and the pen manufacturer. The nib being a #8,the pen had to be an oversized pen and the first Indian oversize pen that comes to (my) mind was the A.S.A Galactic. Which I had owned for a while but sold off as it was too big for my grip and was too back heavy.Being a Happy multiple repeat customer of A.S.A Pens in Chennai,India I started looking at other A.S.A Models and found the Popsicle to be of much "manageable" proportions. After a brief chat with Mr. Subramaniam,the owner of A.S.A Pens I was told that the Popsicle could be customized. So to maximize the usage of my "expensive" Orange Ebonite blanks I asked an A.S.A Popsicle to be made but with Flat Ends which I have christened "FlatSicle". I have been using the Flatsicle for almost a month now and here is my review. [Montblanc 149, A.S.A Flatsicle, A.S.A Nauka] Construction:The material feels,and smells, like most of the Indian Ebonite I have handled. Smooth,hard and warm to the touch but ofcourse I have not been able to source Indian Ebonite in Orange Color.The ends have flat polished surfaces.The Clip is pretty basic and can be customised on demand.I went for a chrome clip.The cap has a very minimal step down,of about 1mm,to the barrel which tapers by about 3 mm towards the end of the barrel.The cap takes 3 turns to uncap.The #8 Nib looks well proportionate to the pen body. The section has a very prominent lip towards the nib and tapers up towards the Cap threads and barrel.The step up from section to barrel is about 1mm and not noticable, allowing you to grip the pen higher up,even over the step up.The uncapped pen has the highest diameter at the exact middle of the pen which lends to an almost middle centre of gravity.The section unscrews from the barrel in 10 turns.This is kept so high because this pen can be used an an Eye Dropper (with some Silicone grease) where it holds a massive 5ml of Ink! The pen also takes standard converters for about 1ml of ink. I enjoy the "ritual" of filling ink so I prefer C/C pens over the huge capacity E.D mode.The Pen can be used posted but becomes unwieldy and comical. Some Dimentions of the Pen:Capped Length: 170mmUncapped Length: 128mmPosted Length: 175mmMax Cap Diameter: 17mmMax Barrel Diameter: 16mmMin Barrel Diameter: 13mmSection Diameter: 11-14mm [A.S.A Flatsicle, TWSBI Vac700, A.S.A Nauka, Pelikan Twist, Lamy Al-Star, Parker Duofold Centennial, Caran d'Ache 849, Pilot Metropolitan] Writing Experience:Having used the #8 Titanium nib for almost a month I can see what the fuss is about. It is definitely a very different and unique experience from a Gold or Steel nib. The first thought I got was how similar the "feedback" was to a Mike Masuyama Needle point I got to try at a Pen Show,almost "like a Pencil". This "feedback" I feel to be very dependent on the type of paper used. Another quality of Titanium nibs has been its "soft" nature and to experience just this I got mine in an Extra Fine grade which is a departure from my preference of Medium to Broad Nibs. During regular writing,the nib is soft enough to impart some line variation to almost resemble a Western Medium. Keeping in mind the tendency of titanium nibs to spring, the nib can be pushed to give a Broad Line. I would recommend spending a lot of time getting to know the Point of Spring Back of your nib before attempting any serious "flex". But the general users should be more than satisfied with the "casual" line variation due to the soft nature of the nib. The ebonite feed of the Nib Unit has kept up perfectly with the my extensive Flexy Loopy Loop tests in C/C Mode,I think it would be the same,if not better in E.D Mode. Balance in my hands is right inbetween my finger grip and the web of my hand where the pen rests letter me grip the section at the perfect distance from the lip so that the large nib is right on the paper. In Comparisson to my Montblanc 149,to get the perfect balance,I need to grip the pen over the Cap threads and that can get uncomfortable over time.If I hold the pen at the most comfortable area of the section,the pen gets angeled to a steep degree and making the pen back heavy. So I find the Flatsicle more comfortable than the 149!Compared to the Visconti Casanova, I find the Visconti Very back heavy and honestly I bought it only because I got it for a steal!If only I could compare the Flatsicle with a Popsicle. The Little Things:This Pen is a Monster! Be prepared to get a lot of queries about it and attract a lot of attention.The Orange Ebonite can appear different hues under different Lights and is difficult to Photograph.Nib creep on the Titanium Nib looks very nice (for those who ar'nt O.C.D about it)No,I have not sprung the tines during my Loopy Loop tests.The softness of the Nib allows it to go from an Extra Fine to a Broad line width comfortably.The pen will be a tight fit when clipped in to shallow shirt pockets and tend to "stick out".No issues in Jeans Pockets or Clipped onto the middle of the shirt (between buttons). Conclusion:What started as a curious experiment turned out to be one of my most Enjoyable Pen. Obtaining a #8 Titanium Nib in the U.S seems to be a bit difficult so I would like to thank Shawn Newton for pointing me in the right direction.Thanks to Mr. Subramaniam of A.S.A Pens for letting me "customize" one of his most popular models and doing a good job on working with the Bock #8 Nib. Nibs of this size ar'nt common in India and I'm happy mine was in good hands. As I progress through my Fountain Pen journey I find myself gravitating towards specific models,which have mostly been slim pens or pens with tapered sections and having sold off most of my oversize pens, the A.S.A Flatsicle was a very pleasant surprise as I found it very comfortable for use considering its dimensions. Its pens like these that make you stick around in a hobby.

Hello Everyone, I don't announce this kind of thing very much, but I wanted to share it with you kind people because this is one of my favorite places to go on the internet, and the FPN community is what makes it so for me. I am coming out with my latest production pens since the Icarus. I am very pleased with how they both are coming out. Those of you who know me personally know that I am not very easily pleased. It's been a long time since I used a pen that felt as comfortable as these. 1: As some of you know, I love wood. I think it's beautiful, has an unsurpassed feel, and makes an excellent construction material for many things, but it poses unique challenges when used for a fountain pen. I've been struggling with that problem for years, but now, I've finally gotten good enough that I can work with tolerances tight enough to make the dream a reality. For years I've wanted an all-wooden pen, and now I have one. Wooden cap, wooden barrel, wooden grip. Hands down, this is the most comfortable pen I've ever made. Wood can stain, and that's been accounted for in the design. When you get your hands on this, I think the pen will disappear into the experience of writing with it. I want to use it all the time, but for the work I do, I often need a clip for my pens. This pen will come with the option to install a functional, designed steel clip. My first release of this pen is just about 8 units, but I'll be making more in the future. They all fill with a simple, reliable aerometric sac. The beauty of an aerometric sac is how easy it is to fill and clean, but the ink capacity (around 2.5ml) isn't as voluminous as you might get with an eyedropper filled pen, so to prevent you from getting caught with an empty pen, some of these will have an ink window. Three, to be exact. 2. The first run you'll have available are made from highly patterned fancypantz german ebonite. The material has a black base color and has green, red or blue ripples in it. The big problem with this material (besides it being very expensive) is that it's so dark that it really doesn't photograph well, and even in person, it's hard to get a clear fix on what's going on with the color pattern. Well, I've solved that problem through faceting. The way the light glints off the sides attracts the eye in a way that's hard to describe. The pen has 12 gently tapered, faceted, painstakingly-finished-by-hand sides on the cap and on the barrel. Ink windows are optional, as are clips with this model. So, I've been talking about how these pens feel while writing. What nibs can you use? Jowo F (more of a "Western fine"/medium; .4-.5mm)Pilot XF (a true extra fine .2mm)Zebra G flex nib units (with my usual, handmade, purpose-designed ebonite feeds)Nemosine .6mm italicAll these pens come with interchangeable nib units, so you can switch nibs within one and the same pen. Just unscrew (or, if you want, just use a simple hex/Allen wrench you probably have at home). These will come out this week. I think "Black Friday" is stupid, but if you want to be the first to know when these pens will be available for sale, please consider signing up for my mailing at the top of this FAQ page here. Price? I can't speak to that right now, but I'd be interested in hearing your thoughts on that subject. Please email me at DesiderataPens <<<AT>>> JEE-MALE <<<DOT>>> com., or leave a comment.

Dear FPN'ers, Happy Thanksgiving to all of you. We are happy to introduce "Emperor"as a new model of Ranga Pens. RANGA EMPEROR MODEL: Ranga Emperor is a Handmade pen and is available in various ebonite rod colors. The pen has a dual-band around the cap and has black ebonite finials at the bottom and top. the pen is available in two versions: Round End Flat End It is approx 145 mm in length and the barrel dia of the pen is 14 mm and dia of the cap is 16 mm. The pen is available only in chrome finish clip along with chrome trims. NIBS: Only Bock Nibs along with the Schmidt Converter is available for this Group Buy #6 Steel Nib – Gold Monotone Finish: EF, F, M, B, 1.1, 1.5 #6 Steel Nib – Chrome Monotone Finish: EF, F, M, B, 1.1, 1.5 #6 Steel Nib – Dual Tone Finish: EF, F, M, B #6 Gold 18K Nib – F, B (@ extra US$ 185) Without Nib But Pen threaded to take Bock Nib (@ less US$ 14) MATERIAL & COLORS: For this Group Buy, Regular series and Special Series Ebonite are available in both Polished and Brushed Finish. Regular Ebonite: RE Series (Polished or Matte Finish) R1- Brown Ripple R2 – Green Ripple R3 – Olive Ripple R4 – Solid Black R5 – Mottled Brown R6 – Mottled Green R7 – Mottled Olive Brown Special Ebonite: SE Series (Has Black Specks) (Polished or Matte Finish) S1 – Solid Forest Green S2 – Forest Green – Black Ripple S3 – Forest Green – Honey Ripple S4 – Forest green – Khaki Ripple S5 – Forest Green – Mustard Yellow Ripple S6 – Forest Green – Teal Blue Ripple S7 – Teal Blue – Black Ripple S9 – Mustard Yellow – Black Ripple S10 – Khaki – Black Ripple S12 – Rose Red – Black Ripple S13 – Rose Red – Mauve Ripple S15 – Rose Red – Forest Green Ripple S17 – Rose Red – Mustard Yellow Ripple S18 – Brick Red – Khaki Ripple S20 – Teal Blue – Orange Ripple S23 – Solid Olive Green 1 Ranga Emperor – Flat End – All Colors 2.Ranga Emperor – Round End – All Colors Some more images of the pen are as below: 3 Ranga Emperor – Regular Colors – Close up 3 Ranga Emperor – Flat End – Special Ebonite Colors – Close up PRICE, PAYMENT & DELIVERY: The Special Introduction Price of the pen is US $ 64 including Registered shipping for FPN'ers . It's regular Price is 78$. We have limited nos. of these pen in stock and the pen is shipped immediately after payment within 1 week. Payment to be done via Paypal only for international customers and for domestic via bank transfer Paypal ID is : mpkandan@gmail.com Please contact mpkandan@yahoo.co.in for any queries Regards, Kandan.M.P Ranga Pen Company

Hi, I just noticed that the two rings on one of my Heritage LE1906 ebonite FP were partially eroded, despite the fact that I never used it. So I have two ebonite FPs with different nib sizes. I use one of them regularly and the rings are intact. The other one has been sitting in the original box for half a year and never inked. Today I took it out and found noticeable rust/erosion on the rings. Do any of you encounter the same issue? Left: the one I've never used

Hi pen friends, I have searched online to get an answer for this but I haven't had any luck finding it... The ebonite on my Ryan Krusac's L-14 fountain pen (I want to make a note that there is no problem with the pen that Ryan makes, just wanted to specify the pen I am having the problem with) started smelling like a dirty towel. I have soaked the section in soap water for a day, dried it well and the smell was gone for a couple of days, but the smell is now back. I am using tissue papers only to wipe the section. I wash my hands before using the pen, so I don't think the smell is comming from my hands either... Do you have any suggestions? This pen is so awesome that I want to use all the time, but I don't want to offend others by the smell... Thank you!

First, I just wanted to say these two pens that I recently received went well above and beyond my already high expectations of Ranga Pen Company. I had never purchased a pen from India before, yet had lusted after one after seeing @Bobje's beautiful Model 8 review here: https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/310374-ranga-model-8-in-blue-orange-and-green-ebonite/ From which (and a year later), I took the plunge- oh my should I have done so sooner! Keep in mind this is not a nib review - the focus of this write-up is upon the pens, nib threading, construction, finish, quality etc. This is for several reasons. Firstly, because I ordered JoWo nib threading and Ranga is not a nib manufacturer, although they have various nib types from which one can choose. I already had several Edison, Pablo stubs (fpnibs.com) and Goulet nibs around, so there was no need for me to order any, and better to make use of the lonely ones I had. Seeing this mans' 149 nib which The Ranga Pen Company included in a similar order has convinced me my next project with Ranga will be either a discontinued 14k Visconti nib, or Pelikan M1000 nib. Likely within a Model 4. https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/243220-ranga-pen-with-montblanc-149-vintage-nib/ Let's look at some photos ^.^ (The camera phone does not do justice to the beautiful hard rubber pens or their flawless construction) EyeCandy 10/10 Ordering Process, Communication and Timeframe 10/10 I contacted Mr Kandan about making a bit of a custom order in that I wanted no clips on either pen; the Model 8 to be 'upsized' so that it would be similar to the Model 3, be heavily polished, take 2 rotations to uncap (if possible), and be threaded for JoWo #6 nibs/international converters and/or eyedropper. Thankfully, my requests were obliged and I was offered a range of ebonite colours to choose from. My first preference for the Model 8 was the same beautiful ebonite as Bobje's, but that was not available at the time and I went ahead with a beautiful mottled brown tan for the 8 and red ripple with black section and cap on the other. Mr Kandan was very thorough, professional and detailed. But most impressive is the turn around time, absolutely amazing I did not think it possible! Only 30 days after deciding my order with Mr Kandan they were already at my door in Australia!! Quality, Construction and Cost 10/10 I cannot overstate how well made these pens are, they are suitable for any collector. Those whom collect celluloid montblancs would appreciate a Ranga, those who are just entering the fp world and have a safari or metro. And especially those yet to have a hard rubber pen - these are amongst the best you can have of pens under 500 USD IMO. My thoughts upon watching the Ranga video that these pens are made entirely by hand - right down to the threads being 'hand chased',(an almost extinct technique), I was curious of how the threads would turn out. They are smoother and more precise than modern Montblancs and Pelikans. I kid not. Even if one were to hold there fingers over the threads with quite some force, one may not be aware of their presence. Another telltale of the quality of the threading is capping and uncapping takes less than two rotations, but even after one rotation the precision of the thread is obvious because I 'held' the body of the pen at one rotation and tried jiggling the cap up and down, and voila, almost no movement (try doing that with some of the best threaded pens in the world - you will be surprised what pens perform best). Once more I was very impressed. The nib threading is as magnificent as the capping. The nib unit fits almost exactly flush with the bottom of the pen section, very sleek. Both my pens are from the 'regular' ebonite range. There is also a 'premium' range, which is a few dollars more expensive. But, there is nothing 'regular' about these pens or the ebonite... Some have mentioned that there may be 1 or 2 'micro-pits' in the ebonite. But this is certainly not the case in mine. Others have said they are not 100% the same polishing all over the pen. Once more I could not notice this... Until, I spent 10 minutes under bright light literally inspecting the body looking for any imperfection, alas perhaps the smallest tool polishing mark, which I would never have noticed under normal use. Finding such a tiny indiscretion is for review purposes. If one spent this much time actively looking for a fault within an object, the fault is more likely in oneself and not the object, but I digress, back to the pen. Knowing the pen is not entirely flawless absolutely increases my appreciation for the pen. I think of it like I do the lacquer on my 'neostandard' Nakaya step and threads, the Nakaya lacquer is not exactly uniform around the edges there, but this is not a fault it is something to appreciate and treasure. So too, are my Rangas. As far as cost goes - Ranga are literally underpriced for the quality and materials that you receive. My 'duofold' was $59, whilst model 8 was $64 [uSD] (no nibs, but threaded for JoWo). Considering each pen takes several hours to craft by hand as well as the cost of materials... What can I say - I would be as happy if I paid 2x as much? Because you bet I would. The pens are turned from solid hard rubber rods, some other 'hand made pens' are not necessarily this handmade, I will post a video of their construction below. Utility/Comfort/Mass/Size (subjective for everyone but for myself 10/10) Both these pens are large. Similar to a Visconti HS Maxi, slightly larger than a TWSBI vac700/r, yet a touch smaller than an Edison Huron or Herald Grande. They are both light weight and exceptionally well balanced, my comparative hand scales tell me approx. 20grams with converter, add a potential 7mL of ink in the ol' eyedropper and you have 27g . Although, I will not be doing that. In recent years I have grown more and more fond of the simplicity and ease of cleaning that a simple converter pen offers. The wide, long section, the gentle and smooth threads, and almost no 'step' make this pen a true writer. A long, novel writer. Which section shape you prefer is totally up to you, but I enjoy both these equally The pens do post and there has clearly been quite a lot of work and thought about the structural integrity of the post mechanism. This is because if one shines a light into the cap it is clear that the inner diameter of the rear of the cap is explicitly designed for being posted and to prevent the cap threads from being in contact with the barrel when posted, thus pressure cracks should never develop. But would one want to post these pens in practice? I do not really ever see the need. The pens become too unreasonably long for me, you will see in this comparison (not that anyone would post a vac700 cap) be assured the posted Ranga is much better balanced than the TWSBI. Lastly, some comparative side by side pics with other pens I had in nearby acess Overall, Ranga get a 100% recommendation from me! Thanks for reading if you got this far - this was actually my first FPN review Thanks Ranga Pen Company for the great experience! This is a link to the video of Mr Pandurangan making the pens which I found very impressive. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D2x_KoAO1SM

Ebonite. We keep using that word. I do not think it means what we think it means. We love pens made with ebonite, but ebonite was originally a brand name for hard rubber. Now it’s the name of a company that makes bowling balls, mostly from polyester, polyurethane, or reactive resin. Bowling balls haven’t been made from hard rubber since the 1970s. But the blue, orange, and green hard rubber of the Ranga Model 8 is so evocative of time and place that it reminds me of going to the Fireside Lanes in Wichita, Kansas, with my Cub Scout den in the late 1960s, lacing on soft leather shoes with red, ivory, and green panels and a great big number on the heel, and picking out a swirly Brunswick bowling ball. Beyond the fact that the Ranga Model 8 writes smoothly and well, and that it displays charming hand craftsmanship, for me, the defining characteristic of this pen is the material. If I stick my nose close to the pen and sniff hard enough, I can smell burnt rubber, like the tires on my older brother’s 1970 Plymouth Barracuda. (On a curmudgeonly note, why are the tires on performance cars now so low-profile and skinny? They look like the wheels on Conestoga wagons. Why is that fashionable? But I digress.) One other thing about hard rubber pens -- as FPN contributor Sandburger so eloquently put it, they are gloriously inconsistent. Like ceramics, like wooden boats, like anything made by human hands, they are imperfect and completely unlike each other, and that is what makes them spectacular. Writing Performance This pen uses an eyedropper filling system, a black hard rubber feed (now that I think about it, writing ‘hard rubber’ is kind of tedious, so I’m just going to stick with ‘ebonite’), and a Bock broad nib. The imprint says ‘Conklin.’ I assume that means Bock manufactured a whole lot of nibs that didn’t get used by some iteration of the Conklin company and Ranga picked them up for clearance sale prices. The nib on this pen is so broad and so well lubricated that I might as well be writing with a really slick bowling ball, and I mean that in a positive way. I bought the nib partly to learn more about Bock and partly to have enough tipping material to be ground into an italic, and succeeded on both counts. The Model 8 also taught me something about ebonite feeds and eyedroppers. Initially, this pen’s nib and feed were seated in the section in such a way that the nib was a little ‘spongy,’ pushing back from the feed under pressure. That really screwed up the ink flow. But after pulling the feed, playing with it, adjusting its position with the nib, re-inserting it, and heat-setting it, this German Bock nib now slides across paper like white-soled shoes on waxed maple, baby. The eyedropper version is not a pen for beginners. They’re better off with the Model 8 versions equipped with Jowo or Schmidt nib units. I inked this pen with Rohrer & Klingner Königsblau, thinking that a somewhat dry ink might help counteract the wetness of an eyedropper, and I was right. Design The Model 8 is not a large pen. It’s about the size of a Pilot Metropolitan, in the Goldilocks category of not too large and not too small. Posted or unposted, it’s well-balanced in the hand. The aesthetics of the feed are a little chubby. In profile, the feed is all chin, like, I don’t know, John Goodman in ‘The Big Lebowski.’ It’s so chubby that I keep expecting it to drag on the paper, like one of those sweepers with brooms on Canadian curling teams. It doesn’t – drag on the paper, that is -- but the feed certainly makes its presence visible. Maybe the ebonite feed should go on a diet, or maybe, like John Goodman, it just doesn’t care. This pen came without a clip, because I usually carry pens in a case, not in a pocket, and I like the way roll-stoppers personalize a pen. In this case, an inexpensive silver-plated dolphin protects this swirly, ocean-like pen from the depths of gravity. Or maybe the pen’s true habitat is a bowling alley in Miami. Size comparison with the Pilot Metropolitan and the Airmail Wality 69eb. One centimeter longer than the Pilot Metropolitan, but barrel is about the same diameter. Service Experience I bought the Ranga Model 8 in a group buy organized by FPN contributor Vaibhav Mehandiratta, as well as MP Kandan of the Ranga company in Chennai, and I consider group buys to be the most special of limited editions. The pens are not numbered, and group buys are not technically limited or even special editions. But they’re made to order in a specific edition created only for Fountain Pen Network members. Basically, that means a hundred or two hundred obsessive-compulsive pen people, each of whom probably know each others’ tastes and preferences, and all of whom really like the same pen. Everybody can converse with each other and with the people who make the pens, talk about the product, improving both the pen and the experience. This is amazing! Imagine creating a group buy for a Plymouth Barracuda in 1970! Ranga shipped the pen within a few weeks, and it arrived with some of the most unusual packaging. The box was sewn inside a white fabric sleeve, the shipping information written directly on the fabric, and the fabric seams were sealed with wax. It felt like being on the receiving end of a package shipped 150 years ago. My assumption is that this tamper-proof packaging discourages overzealous postal employees from opening it up and obliterating the shipping information. It also reminds me that it’s been 20 years since I received brown paper packages tied up with string. A guy at the post office told me that packages just don’t come that way any more, except sometimes from Europe. Probably Austria. A bowling alley near Salzburg. Or maybe Chennai.

It took almost 18 months but they finaly reached our shop : the Eboya Japan fountain pens ! An "Eboya" has everything you expect from a Japanese fountain pen. It is zen, pure, rich, sober and masterful. We are more than happy to present you these beautiful pens ! https://www.sakurafountainpengallery.com/en/boutique/eboya-japan-japanse-pennen If you happen to be in Diest, you are more than welcome ! Catherine

Hello, One of my acquaintances will be in Japan in the next couple of months and has very kindly offered to bring back a small package for me. As part of this package, I was looking to buy a Japanese FP that is challenging to get in India. We either have to buy it from online sources) from Japan (Engeika, Rakuten, direct seller, etc.) or ship it from US/UK or buy it at a premium in India. In all three cases, we end up paying customs duty and/or shipping costs which make the pens anywhere between 10%-30% more expensive. I thought this would be a good opportunity to buy a pen from Japan for myself. I've listed the criteria below and would appreciate any suggestions: Budget: USD 100 to USD 200 Nib: EF, UEF (or thinner) or one of the special nibs (Fude, etc.) as I do own other kinds of nibs. I draw occasionally (I've posted a few at https://www.instagram.com/flumm0x3d/) and would love the finer nibs to learn and practice the lithograph style better. Material: I have a preference for wood, ebonite and other forms of rubber and have only 2-3 pens (out of a little over 30) which are made from celluloid, acrylic, plastic or resin. I do understand that it might be a challenge to Filling system: Any! Maintenance: None to High. I use all my pens, being careful with them and have so far had no breakages, cracks or bent nibs. I have never bought one as a showpiece so far and am not judging anyone who does so.While there seem to be a lot of options in the budget range I have mentioned, I am unsure about them as the material does play a very important role for me to decide (As an example, though I have bought nibs from Franklin Christoph in the past, I am waiting for them to make a pen in these materials before I buy). However, I do understand that handmade (or otherwise) Japanese pens in these materials tend to cost much higher. The order of preference will be budget, nib and then material, as an example if there is a superior nib in the given budget range that you think is definitely worth a go, I am willing to buy only the nib unit and then get a custom body built around it in wood/ebonite in India. Any and all suggestions for pens or better ways to do this are welcome. Thank you!

I came home today to my latest pen haul from ASA pens. I ordered these pens in early June and Mr Subbu made them to my personal specifications. Some of these pens have already been reviewed by other, so I'll only review the novel ones when I get to using them. Packaging In wrappers Unwrapped Japanese-styled ebonite My Indian fountain pen collection (even the case is made in India) Collection right side Collection left side

Dear FPN'ers We are happy to share that we (Ranga Handmade Pens) have been Covered in India's Leading English Daily Times of India's Video News. Kindly watch this video http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/videos/news/meet-the-family-that-keeps-ink-pens-relevant/videoshow/59216083.cms https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xyHb9P7betM Regards, Kandan.M.P Ranga Pen Company

Hello everyone. This time my review is for Ranga Thin Bamboo ebonite pen. Ranga pen is one of the most well-known brands in fountain pen world, they have ardent followers both in India and abroad. They are manufacturing ebonite and acrylic fountain, ball point and roller ball pens for more than 50 years. I was quite late in buying from them considering my fascination for ebonite pens, just because their ebay site doesnt have any option for paying in Indian currency. The price list is entirely in USD, so I contacted them over email and whatsapp. Mr. Pandurangan was generous to respond within a short time, and he did help me a lot. ASA pens and Ranga pens are two of the most customer oriented fountain pen companies that I have encountered. I chose the thin bamboo model as it was a bit on the smaller side for ebonite pens, I do have problems with jumbo pens. Also, I have many pens from ASA which are similar in design to some other Ranga models. Bamboo model has a unique design which is still available exclusively with Ranga pens in Indian market. I asked for a clipless cap as in my opinion the clip was hindering the complete display of its beauty. I am satisfied with the pen. 1.Appearance & Design (9/10): First of all, I must admit, Its a gorgeous ebonite pen. This is a rod shaped pen with bamboo-like slightly swollen nodes on the body. Each node has a groove running through it. There are five nodes altogether. Both the ends look similar and have large grooves for the clip and presumably for posting, which as I would explain is not a feasible option. As I ordered for a clipless design, my pen looks symmetrical. I dont know the exact origin of this bamboo design, but as a fountain pen this design is unique. There is no logo or branding, which is a wise decision as it would have hampered the actual aesthetics of the design. The cap is a bit shorter than the body, and the distance between individual nodes is smaller on the cap than the body. But unless you compare them side by side (as I have already alerted your mind) its difficult to notice at first glance. I chose the yellow-black swirled one and the colour is great. Its not the highest quality of ebonite on offer from them, but still its better than most other Indian ebonite pens. That will give a fair idea about the quality of these pens. The thin Bamboo The cap and body- side by side 2. Construction & Quality (9/10): I dont find any fault with the design or construction of this pen. The finish is absolutely flawless. The ebonite is top class, with almost no extra inclusion or impurities visible. No lathe mark, scratch mark or inconsistencies found. The material is of good quality. The body is well polished and sturdy. Its a light weight pen. The cap secures on the body with three and quarter turn, which in my opinion is excess, but the threads are well crafted, so there is no tightness or problem while closing and opening the cap. The section is also made of ebonite with gentle tapering towards nib. The grooves at the nodal regions are consistent in width and well made. The cap creates a small gap with the body looking similar to the grooves above and below it. 3. Weight & Dimensions (9/10): The dimensions are as follows Pen Length Capped 14o mm Pen Length Uncapped 130 mm. Pen Length Posted 195 mm (so one have to use it without posting, unless one has hands like a giant). Average section diameter : 10-11 mm. This pen feels very comfortable and well balanced (unposted). No problem with long writing sessions. As evident from the measurements, its not a very big pen, but not a small pen either. Its a bit smaller and thinner than most standard ebonite pens, but has a decent length to it. from left to right: The Pilot Metropolitan, Ranga thin bamboo, Jinhao x750 and ASA Daily 4. Nib & Performance (6/10): The stock nib is a bit disappointing. If you are a user of Indian fountain pens, by now you must have been introduced to Wality nibs. The stock nib is a Wality monotone nib, smooth with lots of feedback. It writes Indian fine line. These are cheap nibs without much character to the writing. I hope to change this nib for a better one. The flow is generous. There is much feathering on cheap papers. The nib has very little flex. I would suggest them to use Kanwrite nibs which are cheap Indian nibs but much smoother. Wality monotone stock nib (Indian fine) 5. Filling System & Maintenance (6/10): This pen is eyedropper pen. There is no provision for a cartridge or converter in this model. There are costlier versions with German JoWo and Schimdt nibs and converters. 6. Cost & Value (9/10): This pen is valued at INR 2300 (45 USD ). I find the price quite appropriate. There will always be comparison of Ranga pens with ASA, the other major Indian ebonite pen makers. I find these comparisons a bit futile, thats because each product is priced for its buyers. If the buyer is happy with the finished product, I dont see why it would not be priced at the current value. ASA pens are a bit on the cheaper side, almost all pens have cartridge converter system, the finishes are comparable (with Ranga having a slight edge), the material from Ranga looks better, and if ASA were to launch a bamboo design of their own (I have no idea whether this design is copyrighted to Ranga pens) it would come at a lower price. This doesnt mean that if that becomes a reality (ASA launching bamboo design), this pen will lose its value. Ranga pens are one of the most internationally successful fountain pen makers and they stood the test of time. The communication is well maintained from their end and there are some little things, like getting a link in email about to how these pens are made - these small things build a relationship with the seller. So the buying experience get enriched beyond the product value. 7. Conclusion (Final score, 48/60): This pen is a must have for every fountain pen and ebonite pen enthusiast. I would suggest, if budget is not a constraint, one must go for the cartridge convertor German nib variety, plus one may look into the premium ebonite models. The whatsapp no is 9444357967 Email id: mpkandan@yahoo.co.in Ebay site: Ranga pens

I have what might seem like a dumb question. I understand that ebonite is made from rubber that has been vulcanized. It is very hard yet still porous. Has anyone every experienced an allergic reaction to ebonite? There are many people who are allergic to latex and other rubber substances, of which I am one. I am curious if anyone else is allergic to latex and other rubber substances has ever owned an ebonite pen and had a reaction.

Hello Everyone. Recently there are a few exciting new developments in Indian fountain pen scenario. Lotus pens is an Indian company who mainly offered quality hand painted fountain and roller ball pens and also customized painting jobs on pens. There USP is their stress on quality of the products and paints. Recently they decided to venture into the fountain pen scenario and launched Lotus Excel line of fountain pens. I received a prototype of their Lotus Sublime fountain pen. Its a short review of the product. 1.Appearance & Design- Lotus Sublime is a large pen. Its body is shaped like a torpedo and the cap has a cylindrical type appearance. The cap sports a large finial on top and a solid metal ring at the other end margin. The clip is a standard springy tear drop shaped clip and has a clip ring which separates the finial and the body of the cap. Uncapped the body of the pen has more symmetrical and pleasing shape. The section starts with a notch, followed by cap threads and then gently tapers towards the nib end. Just at the nib end of the section, there is a small flaring. I have seen these flaring in some pens with threaded nib units, and presumably these impart extra strength to the margin as changing the nib units put pressure on the margin . Overall the look is simple, elegant and reflects the utilitarian yet attractive nature of the product. I have only one concern about the pretty large cap. The pen is difficult to fit in small pockets, so I had to carry it in a large pen pouch, where I was able to barely fit the length of the pen. So, my suggestion to the makers is to provide a compatible pen sleeve with every sublime so that carrying the pen becomes easier just after unpacking it. Recently I bought a limited edition acrylic pen from constellation 88 named 'Sulpher' which they shipped inside their two pen accommodating 'Orion' pen pouch. So that's a nice gesture and makers of Sublime pen can follow the example. 2. Construction & Quality : Lotus Excel brand stresses on the quality of the products they sell. The Sublime is made of Nicco ebonite. Its a dark brown pen with subtle black patterns and lines and look attractive. I must admit the finish is superb. Although my pen was a prototype and not the finished product, I don't have any complaint regarding finish. The polish was great, the pen felt solid and strong. The ring at the end of cap, the flaring at the nib end of section- these all impart subtle touches of quality. The threads on section were smooth and didn't bother while gripping the pen. I took out the nib unit effortlessly as the inner threads are very smooth as well. Its a cartridge converter pen accommodating standard schimdt converters. The nib unit in my prototype appeared to be a dual tone JoWo unit. The clip is springy and functions great. Lotus claims the trims are high quality, gold plated and they will resist easy rusting and wear. I had this pen for a few days only before I had to return the prototype, so I can not comment on the durability of trims. But keeping in mind the overall quality of the rest of the pen and care taken in small things like threads, the trims must fulfill their pledge for quality product. 3. Weight & Dimensions : Its a large pen. The following are the measurements. Length capped- 165 mm Uncapped length- 143 mm section length- 30 mm Maximum barrel diametre- 13.5 mm Section diametre on top flaring- 10 mm Cap length- 80 mm Weight- Capped about 28 gram, without cap- 15 grams. Now, the cap finial itself is 12 mm thick, and cap protrudes 22 mm above the nib end. But considering the shape and size of body, I do think that the large cap was required simply to maintain symmetry and balance as well as aesthetics. Its a lightweight pen compared to its size as its made of ebonite. I have written a few pages in the short span it was with me and its comfortable to hold and use. Posting not possible and not required as well considering the design and size. 4. Nib & Performance: My pen was a prototype and had a what appeared to be a JoWo medium nib unit. They say it was not tuned and their final product will have better nib options. So I refrain from commenting on the nib of this pen. Their website lists this pen with JoWo nib units. I don't know whether they can provide Schimdt or Bock nib units apert from listed JoWo units with their pens on customer request. But considering their generous care in details, that might be a possibility. 5. Filling System & Maintenance : The pen is standard cartridge converter pen and functions well. No leak or burping in the few days of my usage. 6. Cost & Value : The pen is listed at $95, which makes it a higher range pen for consumers. So, the question is whether this ebonite pen can offer sufficient quality at the intended price point. As far as the prototype pen is concerned, the quality was very good and small detailing made this pen a candidate for a durable EDC pen that will serve its buyer for a long time. Value and price is individual perception in the fountain pen world, and the decision to buy any particular pen rests with the buyer alone. But in my opinion, the pen is very good product with all expected qualities in a single product. My suggestion- 1. remember the pen sleeve. 2. Makers can think of providing a 'Gold' nib option. Link to Lotus website here Disclaimer: I received a prototype pen from Lotus pens for reviewing purpose. but had to return it after a few days for some production issue. This review is done with the belief that the final product is similar to the prototype. I would definitely like to do a full review of their finished product in future. Buyers are advised to clear any confusion regarding the product before buying. Thank you.

Hello Everyone Its an intimidating task to write something about the famed Gem & Co. from Chennai, the creator and seller of some truly world class Indian fountain pens since 1920s. That's enough time for the world to spin a lot around its axis, witnessing rise and fall of different eras and trends, embracing changes with open hands but at the same time discarding some sweet little memories and moments to the endless flow of time. In another kind of world, Mr. M.C. Cunnan, and his business partner S. Venkat Rangam Chetty, started one store for writing instruments in the bustling Parry’s Corner area in Chennai. At that time India was under British rule, Chennai was Madras, and it was the capital of the whole Madras Presidency. Fountain pens were the means of writing, and business flourished. Gem and Company gradually became one of the largest pen stores in southern parts of India and were dealers in most of the famous brands of that time like Parker, Sheaffer and Pilot. They also carried out repair work on these pens. After a few years into the business, they decided to start designing and producing their own brand of high quality fountain pens. And thus the brand "Gama" was born. The 'Great' Gama Pahelwan was the stage-name of Indian wrestler Ghulam Muhammad. He defeated most of the big wrestlers from all around the world during the first three decades of the twentieth century. Gem and company decided to name their own pens in reverence of this amazing strongman, signifying both the strength and the performance of these pens. It was around 1940s that these pens were introduced in the Indian market. Initially these pens were made in England. Made of good ebonite material and having quality gold nibs, Gama brand quickly gained popularity among Indian fountain pen users and gradually became a big name for our fountain pen Industry. Long gone are those golden days, with advent of Ball point pens, fountain pen industry declined steadily. After Mr. Cunnan, his son Mr. M. Prabhat Kumar became the owner, followed by his son, the third generation in the family, Mr. Pratap Kumar. The shop stands at the same location witnessing the rise and fall of fountain pens, the workshop for repair and production stands a few blocks away. The number of skilled repairmen and shop workers going through steady decline, the number of people interested in fountain pens dwindling by the day. Mr. Pratap is a through gentleman, responding to queries and greetings heartily. Many models are not produced anymore, steel nibs has taken the place of golden ones, still Gem and company remains creator of some of the best fountain pen models from India. Presently GAMA pens are available online through ASA pens website, and either Mr. Subramaniam or Mr. Pratap can be contacted for customization. Today I am going to review GAMA Kuyil. The word 'Kuyil' in Tamil means Cuckoo bird. Most probably the name of this elegantly designed pen drew inspiration from the beautiful singing of the bird. This is a large, strong, beautiful looking eyedropper ebonite pen in matte black finish, with a reasonably smooth 'Indian' fine nib. 1. Appearance & Design: The pen came in a black velvet pouch with Gama written at the lower end. This pen looks very impressive. It is a flat topped rod shaped pen with slight tapering towards both ends. The top of the cap is a bit larger than the bottom of the pen. The cap has a chrome clip with the top finial flushed with the body, thus concealing the ring of the clip. There is no end ring at the base of the cap, but that actually matches the overall design of the pen. The clip is a flat sturdy clip with good springiness. The cap takes about two and half turns to screw on the body and there is no tightness.The section is glossy black finish and it compliments the brushed body. The section gently tapers towards the nibs and ends in a chrome coloured monotone no 6 nib. Just before the end, the section has a small flaring ring like finger rest for easy support of fingers. The section is quite thick in comparison to other ebonite pens. Branding in the form of the word 'Gama' is written on the barrel in italic script, and the quality of this engraving is very good. The words are put down with crisp margins. To compliment the brushed body, both the top and bottom of the pen is of glossy black surface. The Cap ends in a beveled edge which is again polished. The Gama Kuyil 2. Construction & Quality : The first thing I noticed with most Gama pens is the thickness of the ebonite. The walls of both the body and section is very thick. This makes the pens quite heavy in comparison to other ebonite pens, but at the same time the feel is amazing. It does the name Gama full justice as the pens appear very strong and tough. The brawny pens looks premium in hand. The brushed finish is very well executed and the feeling is great to the fingers. I didn't find any lathe marks or impurities in the ebonite, which is a common complaints with Indian ebonite pens. The cap has one minute breather hole, which is in line with the Gama branding on the barrel. The monotone nib has some simple designs and Gama written beneath that. No nib grade is written. The feed is a simple ebonite feed. The section screws on the body by about 4 turns, there is some tightness initially while turning and there is no leak if some silica gel is used carefully. Overall this pen will last a lifetime if used with due care and the brushed look would prevent scratches and marks appearing on body or cap on extensive use. 3. Weight & Dimensions: This is a jumbo sized pen. I think this is meant to be used un-posted, as the length gets ridiculous for proper gripping when posted, unless, obviously one has a giant palm. Its a bit heavy pen, but the balance is perfect. The section is very thick due to thick ebonite wall, but this doesn't feel uncomfortable while long writing sessions. I personally prefer pens with a section thickness of around 11.5 mm, but still didn't have much problem while using it for the last few weeks. From Left to Right: Pilot Metropolitan, Lamy Safari, Gama Kuyil Length capped: 152 mm Length of uncapped pen: 138 mm Posted length: 180 mm (!!!!) Nib length: 24 mm Diameter of section: 16 mm- 13 mm Cap length: 70 mm Ink capacity- 3.5 ml 4. Nib & Performance: The pen comes with a friction fit Monotone #35 steel nib with Indian fine grade by default, which is between European medium and Japanese fine. Its a smooth nib with a hint of feedback which helps good control during writing. The nib had a bit of scratchiness out of the box, but these feeds take some time to get primed as well, so after using it for three days, it became very smooth and pleasant. One thing I stress here, Indian fountain pen makers can accommodate any International nib as per customer's choice these days, if requested at the time of order. So, one can get this pen made with other nib grades as well. Personally, I am a big fan of Indian smooth fine nibs and thus have many of the pens in their default states. There is no flex in the nib. I don't know whether golden nibs are still available with Gama, but they might have some left with them. 5. Filling System & Maintenance: This is an eye-dropper pen with huge ink capacity. I encountered no burping issues, but as a precaution I keep the ink level more than one third of the barrel. Even then, the ink capacity is very helpful for long writing sessions. There is occasional burping if there is large fluctuations in outside temperatures all of a sudden. Custom fitted Schimdt nib and feed can prevent these occurrences. I think the maker can accommodate other filling systems as well on request, though I personally haven't asked for any such changes in my Gama pens. 6. Cost & Value: The pen is priced at around INR 1200-1500 ( around US $38 ) according to customization. Its a fairly cheap pen with simple design but great appearance and strong built. One can use this cheap pen as a daily writer without compromising on the quality side. The Cons: The big size, thick section and weighty feel may not appeal to some users, particularly fans of slim pens. Eyedroppers are meant for advanced users as there is every chance of some leaking or burping, which may vary from particular copy to another copy. Only 'fine' nib grade by default is a problem that may require customization. 7. Conclusion : The hallmark of 'Gama' brand is the quality in materials and performance, in this respect the Kuyil is a great value for money pen. This one is a must have pen for every Indian fountain pen lover. One can contact ASA pens and Gem and company to check for availability and customization for nib and filling mechanism. Mr. Subramaniam from ASA pens have one particularly helpful option of 'fountain pen testing', under which he tests the nibs of particular pens before dispatch. So, if one is not sure about the Gama nibs, they can opt for the testing option I have six Gama pens at present and hardly faced any problems regarding Gama nibs. ASA website ASA Whatsapp no of Mr. Subramaniam - +91 9176607660 ASA email- asapens.in@gmail.com, unik.services@hotmail.com No of Mr. Pratap- +91 9884209055