Search the Community

Dear FPN, I am trying to learn more about this pen stamped Koshin. It is a Japanese eyedropper with sealing rod. The barrel is marked: Koshin / Made in Japan. The nib is marked: Warranted / Hardest / Iridium / <1> / Special / Pen. Interestlingly the section on this pen is in two pieces. Any information on this mystery pen would be appreciated. Pen_Padawan

Hi FPN, I am trying to find some history on this pen stamped Bunmeisha. It is a Japanese eyedropper with sealing rod. The barrel is marked Bunmeisha / Tokyo. The barrel is black lacquer. The nib is stamped: Special's / Zion Yiu / Hardest / Iridiumpen / -3-. I did not see Bunmeisha under the topic: Pen Manufacturers Current and Past, so does anyone know anything about this pen? Thanks in advance for the education. Pen_Padawan

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

"Dark am I, yet lovely, daughters of Jerusalem, dark like the tents of Kedar, like the tent curtains of Solomon." Song of Solomon(1:5) Black like the last night of the "Nightfall" of Issac Asimov and dark like coal tar with a clip flowing like milky way from the infinite darkness of the infinite space, this is an extremely gorgeous and attractive pen. This pen reminds me of the black coat of a lawyer, which means nothing but business. This classic Cigar shaped design with a continuous flow from barrel to section, the uniformity of the design and the monotone steel coloured nib and the steel clip, speaks of nothing but business. It is a pen with Executive looks. It is a design full of gravity and wisdom. The more I think about it the more I find that it is a very well thought of design for a hand-made pen. What we find is not mere art, not mere uniformity of and seductiveness of curves. Rather we discover efficiency. The Revolution is a regular size pen. The cap comes out is exactly 2 and a half turns. The clip is quite tight but due to its unique curved design it gets in a shirt pocket effortlessly but firmly and comes out equally easily.Word Gama is engraved with a cursive italic font at around middle of the barrel. Usually one would not even notice it. When one does, it just adds to the beauty of the pen. Where the cap comes out in just few turns, the section takes a lot many turns to come out. This has been done apparently to avoid any leak when the pen is being used as an eyedropper. The pen is almost as heavy as Pilot MR. However, in case of ebonite, the weight is more uniformly distributed. Therefore the centre of gravity lies at almost middle. Ebonite pens usually feel better than pens of other materials. Same goes with this pen. What I also notices is that the construction is sturdy. The walls of the section and barrel are really thick.The nib is large. Only a tad smaller in size than the section. Moreover, there is no step from section to barrel. The uniformity of the transition and the size of the nib makes it possible to hold the pen from almost any place. The section is thick enough to be held comfortably and not too thick to hold. The pen feels substantial but not humongous.The pen posts firmly and securely. Not using the pen even up to 24 hours I didn't notice any drying. I chose a fine nib. I like fine nib more than medium or broad nibs. This nib is good. It is a JoWo nib. It looks classy and is outright beautiful. It does not skip even while writing fast. It does not fail. It doesn't dry easily. On scale of nightmare;scratchy;correctable;smooth;super smooth; and ooolalalaaaa!!!, I would call it smooth. The nib is smooth and fine. But less smooth than say a Schmidt fine and a Lamy fine or a Pilot medium. What you feel is not feedback. It feels as if the pen has some affinity with paper. However, going by reports of some of my fellow FPN members the report of M nib is excellent. You may preferably go for medium if you want a nib that writes super smooth. However, even if you go for fine I won't say that you got a bad deal. I have been using this pen for three weeks now and I have had no issues with it. In fact the pen is being used ever since I bought it. While writing you would surely enjoy it. That is the best part. The pen feels like 'The Pen'. Good balance and good grip. Posted or unposted the pen feels just right and looks seriously beautiful. Good pen for long duration of writing. The pen offers little flex. My fellow member Anup Ji had to once use pliers on the nib!! Yes! It's that hard. Thankfully that also means that you can't damage the nib by normal wear and tear. Which is a good thing. Being a triple filler, the pen offers a lots of variation in filling. The pen takes standard converter, standard international converter and comes loaded with a Schmidt K-5 converter. The pen can also be used as an Eye Dropper. I have used this pen with all these options and they all work as they should be. At present the pen is being used as an Eyedropper.Because of advanced threaded nib, I never faced problem of burping or leakage in this pen. Which is a very good thing. For around Rs. 2000/- I got a very attractive ,prim and proper , executive looking pen which is very strong, sturdy and durable. I also got a three in one filling system and a nice Jowo nib. I got a pen that can be used as an Eye Dropper and will not face burping issues. I got a schmidt converter. I think the deal is really a great value for money. Here comes the score board. Looks:- 4.5/5 Build:- 5/5 Engineering:-4.5/5 Nib and Writing:- 3.5/5 Balance:- 5/5 Value for Money:- 4.5/5 Conclusion:- This is a really nice pen. I purchased it from ASApens.in(NAYY). The customer service was excellent. I got this pen with my son's name engraved. I am very sure that he will use it. The pen has the potential of lasting for a very long time. I am a happy and satisfied user.

I recently scavenged myself a Dunn eyedropper with a rather nice nib. It would probably be functional, but the blind cap (which were characteristically red) is missing. I call upon the the collective wisdom of the network to suggest a source for a replacement piece - not necessarily the right piece, either - or give it up and salvage the nib? I await your suggestions.

This review is part 2 of a (mini) series – and will inevitably involve some comparisons to its predecessor. As I explained in the previous review (https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php/topic/267153-the-ranga-cruiser-a-review/), I received the Ranga Cruiser from Kevin at www.justwrite.com.au, free in return for an impartial review. The Cruiser is a really nice little pen – but it sparked my interest in its ‘big brother’, the Duofold. So I purchased the latter at my own expense – and am pleased to be able to review it for the Fountain Pen Network community. Like its ‘little brother’, the Ranga Duofold is an impressive work of craftsmanship, immaculately designed and finished – unfortunately, what both pens also share in common is that they’re let down by a nib that has not been manufactured to the same high standard. Even so, I like the design (and execution) of the pen body so much that I’m happy to see the nib’s shortcomings as a challenge to be overcome, rather than a reason to avoid this pen. Despite the price tag (I paid AU$54.95, or roughly US$50 for it), I’m glad I took the plunge on it. http://i.imgur.com/gemsZix.jpg [From top to bottom (for size comparison): the Ranga Duofold; a TWSBI Diamond 580; and the Ranga Cruiser] ______________________________________________________________________ 1. Appearance & Design (9.5/10) – What can I say? It looks great! I think I can honestly say there’s nothing I don’t like about this pen. Unlike the curves and contours of the Cruiser, the Duofold is all straight lines, with a squared off top and bottom. I went for the ‘dark brown’ ebonite (it was also available in light brown or green). I love the brown-and-black swirls, and the high gloss finish. The clip, though a little on the short side (it starts almost 10mm from the top of the pen) is well-executed, a bright gold colour – while the nib is an attractive duotone. http://i.imgur.com/vA5aXqT.jpg … 2. Construction & Quality (9.5/10) – Absolutely Immaculate Once again, everything about this pen (especially the ebonite cap, barrel and grip section) testifies to the loving care and precision with which the Ranga pen company manufacture their pens. The fit and finish is immaculate, the cap and barrel threads well-executed. http://i.imgur.com/GY7s3xs.jpg … 3. Weight & Dimensions (10/10) – A magnificent monster of a pen This really is a monster of a pen – 150mm capped, 129 uncapped (forget about trying to post it). Weighing in 25.5g, it’s not a heavy pen – but I like the greater ‘heft’, relative to the Cruiser. What stands out to me, though, is the girth of the pen – the barrel diameter around 14mm, the cap diameter around 16mm, while the grip section (from above the cap threads) tapers gradually from a mximum of 12.5mm down to 11mm before flaring out at the base of the nib and feed. I love the way it sits in my hand – massive (comparatively) yet lightweight. Once again, my fingers tend to hold the pen in the vicinity of the cap threads – no problem, they’re well-machined and comfortable to hold. http://i.imgur.com/Sz2bbhc.jpg … 4. Nib & Performance (6/10) – The one thing that lets this pen down – badly! Here unfortunately is where the Duofold falls down: I like the look of the nib, but not the feel of it. The duotone colouring is a nice touch – but I wish more attention had been paid to the tip! Knowing my preference for finer nibs (the Duofold is supposed to be a Medium), Kevin had kindly included a replacement fine nib and a spare feed with the pen – for which I had reason to be grateful. As with the Cruiser, the nib and feed were misaligned – but removing them to realign was far from straightforward. The amount of force required to pull them out was enough to damage the feed. http://i.imgur.com/kBeGkkN.jpg I decided to try and re-seat the original nib (with the replacement feed) first. With a barrel full of Noodler’s Purple Heart, it laid down a fine line and was pretty ‘scratchy’, even on Rhodia paper. But the ‘fine’ replacement nib was worse! So I reinstalled the original nib (again), and spent some time trying to align the tines with the aid of a loupe. Still a bit scratchy on the paper, but it was now bearable – and over the next few writing sessions, it settled down further. There’s still a fair bit of ‘feedback’, but it’s no longer an unpleasant writing experience. If I can find a suitable replacement nib (it’s too big for a standard #5, too small for a #6!), I might swap it in – in the meantime, I’ll see what I can do with some fine-grit micromesh. http://i.imgur.com/DPq4drP.jpg … 5. Filling System & Maintenance (8/10) – A well-executed eyedropper filler The Duofold and Cruiser both rely on an eyedropper filling ‘system’ – fill the barrel with ink, screw on the grip section, and away you go! I found the Duofold had a capacity of roughly 2.5 mL (compared with 1.5 mL for the Cruiser) – that’s a fair bit of writing time, especially given the (extra?) fine line the nib lays down. Both pens have tight tolerances on the barrel threads – and a fair bit of overlap between grip section and barrel means plenty of threads to help minimise the likelihood of leakage. I’m impressed by how well finished the interior of the pen is – even though it’s tucked out of sight between refills. http://i.imgur.com/Yf42rQ2.jpg I wanted to give the pen a 9 or 10 out of 10 for this section – and if the only consideration here were the filling system, I might have: it’s dead simple, but superbly executed. My concern is with maintenance – the nib and ebonite feed are really firmly wedged into the grip section, and require a fair bit of force to remove and to fit back in. That may settle down over time – but I really don’t want to damage another feed! Hence the more modest total of 8/10… … 6. Cost & Value (9.5/10) – Was it worth it? Absolutely! The nib is a real problem in this pen – but the fit and finish of the ebonite body is, I think, deserving of the price tag. I have no regrets about buying it – even if the nib that ‘inhabits’ it is a little regrettable! … 7. Conclusion (Final score [sUM/6]: 8.75) I think it should be obvious by now that, nib problems notwithstanding, I really really like this pen. Sure, I’m going to have to keep working on the nib; and sure, you’d hope they would give more attention to the nib (the pointy end of the project, in more ways than one!), especially given the superb quality of the pen body. I understand that Ranga do supply pens with better quality nibs to other suppliers (and for custom orders?) – and I’d like to think that if they keep getting the kind of feedback I’m giving here, they’ll think seriously about lifting their game in this area. In the meantime, though, I’m happy to see this pen as a worthwhile investment, and as a project to work on – to see if I can get the nib on this pen to a point where its performance is befitting the body it inhabits! …

Hello there!! Hopefully some might be able to help me with an ID of my Waterman My mother bought it YEARS ago, and I just found it after going through storage. I know it's worth something, but I'm having a problem identifying the *exact* model. There are similar pens around, but they are much thinner and shorter because they've all got #2 nibs, and this one has a #10. I've written to Waterman, but have yet to hear anything. I have seen other eyedroppers, but they do not have the overlay. Apparently, according to one guy, there were only 3 made in this era? Who knows if that's correct. Sincerely can't find any information on this one- or maybe I just don't know/can't find where to look? Here are the characteristics: - Thick/fat body and cap - 6.5" long - Warn off "20" with a circle on the base of the body - Hard Rubber body and cap (probably black before, now looks dark chocolate) - Sterling Silver overlay - Trefoil Vine pattern (1907-1923) - "Waterman's Ideal Fountain Pen" and "Sterling." engraved (crookedly) on silver - Clip Cap on lower half of cap (not in middle like on other, shorter similar pens) - "Clip-Cap; Sterling; IDEAL; PAT Sep. 26.05" engraved - Nib #10 - "Waterman's; IDEAL; Reg US; Pat. Off.; 10; Made In; USA" engraved If anyone could help me regarding this model of pen, it would be greatly appreciated!

Dear All This is a group buy effort for the Ranga Bamboo Model - 16 mm dia. Best Prices will be unlocked only after we reach 25 members. So kindly register for a group buy whoever is interested. Details of the pen in two options are as below: Ranga Bamboo (Eye Dropper Version): Finish - Polished or Matte (Bakul)Clip Option - White or Gold Colored Clip or Clip-lessNib Option : Wality F Gold Colored, Wality M Chrome Finish, Bock (With Conklin imprinted) M or B is available Default settings: Wality Fine nib & Clip-less model penColors available: Mottled Brown, Solid Black, Brown Ripple, Green Ripple, Olive Ripple, Yellow Ripple, Blue Ripple,Pink Ripple. Ranga Bamboo Pen with German Screw in nib (Jowo/ Schmidt) and Converter: Finish - Polished or Matte (Bakul)Clip Option - White or Gold Colored Clip or Clip-lessConverter : Schmidt K5 ConverterNib Option : JoWo Nibs ​​/ Schmidt NibsJoWo Nibs options : Gold Color Mono tone M or B nib, Silver Color Mono tone F or B, Dual Tone EF, F, M, B , 1.5 Italic (Steel Nibs)Schmidt Nib options: Gold Color monotone F, M, or B.Default settings: Schmidt Gold Colored monotone F nibColors available: Mottled Brown, Solid Black, Brown Ripple, Green Ripple, Olive Ripple, Yellow Ripple, Blue Ripple,Pink Ripple. Images are as below :

I thought I would start a little thread on the Airmail 69t. This is a pen from India, and is my first foray into that particular area of manufacture. I have had it for a day or so, and filled it with Robert Oster Crimson ink after unpacking and cleaning it. This is an eyedropper, and mine is a demonstrator with a clear body. So far I am very pleased with the performance of this pen. It has a nice heft, and does post (this is important for me, as I tend to lose caps). My purpose for this pen was as a cheap note taking pen for class. I can say that it fills the bill admirably on the price point, but it does not have the feel of a cheap pen. For a hair over sixteen dollars, I ordered this from Fountain Pen Revolution, and I love the semi-wet line that it puts down. For notes I use a fine point, and I have had a lot of trouble finding one that was not scratchy or had a lot of feedback. I prefer a smooth nib with minimal feedback. This little pen has done wonders in that department. I am attaching a couple of photos. Please forgive the penmanship. I have been writing quite a bit today, and my arthritis has started acting up. I write with my weak hand as well, since arthritis has made my thumb pretty much useless on my strong hand. I hope this helps folks looking for a reasonably priced daily user.

I have a Preppy and a couple Charlies in eyedropper configuration, but they live quietly and safely in my pen cup. Decided to eyedropper my clear/green demo Prera with Noodler's Hunter Green (diluted to ~70%) tonight. This is a pen/ink combo I use every day and regularly carry to and use at work. The Prera is a pen without vices, zero drama... But Hunter Green, in my experience, is pretty rambunctious. So, I may well be setting myself up with an ink incident involving a bulletproof supersaturated rogue ink. I'm a teency bit nervous about it. Flourescent too.

What is the best way to convert my jetpens Chibi into an eyedropper...there are three little holes at the botttom - I want to plug them securely and also for it to not be very noticeable! Should I use hot wax, elmer's glue, superglue??

As my ink collection continues to grow, I'm getting more concerned about contaminating my supply. The germaphobe in me is a little anxious about dipping a nib into a nearly full 3 oz. bottle of water-based ink. Plus, if I knock over a 1/2 oz. bottle of ink, I'll be less angry with myself than if I spill 3 ounces of Apache Sunset all over my desk. Anyone know a good source for smaller glass bottles? I've been on the hunt (on Amazon) for some 10 to 15 ml glass bottles for decanting ink, but most of the reviews I've seen are very mixed: cracked or poorly fitting caps. I also plan to keep a few little bottles of ink at work as a backup supply, in case I get careless and forget to check my ink levels.

Is there any reasonable cheap alternative to silicone grease for sealing in eyedropper pens? I am trying to convert my Pilot Parallel into an eyedropper but can't find any silicone grease anywhere (in my home at least). Are there any household products I could use as an alternative? Vaseline?

Greetings, I've come upon a lovely and brassing-free full cone cap overlay...but alas is missing the nib and feed. I've positively identified the nib I'm hunting for as an Aiken Lambert #1. If I find the nib, I can probably fabricate a feed by turning down one I have ... Let me know if you might have one kicking around in a parts drawer! Cheers, Morgan

Hello forum, when converting a fountain pen to an eyedropper fill pen, one of the most common problems is that the heat of your own hand expands the air bubble that forms inside the barrel as you use more and more ink. Has there been found any means to counter this prblem other than refilling/topping-up your ink reservoir when you've only used a little bit? It kind of makes it counter the point and the aesthetic to refill your pen every little while without watching that large amount of ink dwindling and sloshing around. The air bubble is part of the aesthetic if you ask me. I want air bubbles. Large ones too. How do you counter the heat?

This review and others can also be found at my website: www.pensinksandpaper.com The Indian fountain pen market is an interesting dichotomy between cheap, largely unreliable pens, and gorgeous handmade pieces of ebonite that are a joy to write with. This pen falls firmly into the latter category. Appearance & Design (9/10) – The Ranga is absolutely gorgeous in a way no picture I could take will ever convey. There’s something about rippled ebonite that even the most experienced pen photographers (one of which I am most decidedly not) cannot convey in their work. If you have never seen a pen made from rippled ebonite in real life before, go buy one now. I promise you it will not disappoint. The size is perfect for what I was looking for, and Mr. Kandan (the pen turner who created this masterpiece) was very cooperative in making sure the design was perfectly made to my tastes. There was a slight communication error in ordering a color, but it was a happy accident; I love the color I have now more than I think I would’ve liked the other and Mr. Kandan helped to rectify the situation almost immediately with a partial refund. (Which I naturally used to help fund another Ranga… I couldn’t help myself.) The only flaw in the design of the pen is the cap posting. It does post, but not very securely, and the pen feels awkwardly long when posted. Otherwise, the design is flawless; this is a truly gorgeous pen. Construction & Quality (10/10) – You can’t beat handmade. The pen was obviously crafted with great care, and there is an undeniable beauty to having a pen made from a single piece of material with no seams or manufacturing nicks to be found. Although the 2C is the lightest and smallest Ranga available, about the length of a Lamy Safari and a bit thinner, it feels solidly made, and the ebonite of the pen is smooth and well finished. Handmade pens are always special in my opinion, and this one is no exception. They are made with special care and attention that no mass-produced pen can be, and the results are magnificent. Nib & Performance – The nib section of this review is where my experience may vary from that of others who use this pen, so I will refrain from giving a numbered score in this section. I set the stock nib aside almost as soon as I received the pen, and had replaced it before I inked it up for the first time. I did this because I use this pen for small annotations and Calculus, so I replaced the nib with an Extra Fine from JOWO of Germany. The 2C fits a number five nib perfectly as a replacement for its original nib. This is different from most Rangas, which accept number six nibs. The nib I swapped in was purchased from fpnibs.com, who also provide excellent service as well as a variety of affordable nib services. Filling System & Maintenance – The 2C is an eyedropper filler, so for a small pen it has a significant ink capacity, around 2-2.5 mL. This becomes especially significant (and useful) when you use an extra fine nib. I have not experienced any issues with burping, and the pen is relatively easy to clean. Cost & Value (10/10) – A handmade ebonite pen for $18 is unbeatable value. Mine came to a total cost of $28, including shipping, if you factor in the JOWO nib, but when you think about it that is an incredibly low price. It’s a handmade ebonite pen with a very nice German nib used in much more expensive pens smoothed by a nibmeister for the same price as a Kaweco Sport. (I have nothing against the Kaweco, it just happened to be the same price and a good comparison) At that price, the Ranga 2C represents an incredible value and I’m glad I purchased one. Conclusion (9.67/10) – The Ranga Model 2C is both a gorgeous pen and a fantastic value. Mr. Kandan is pleasant to work with, and happy to answer any questions. Should anything go wrong, he rectifies the situation almost immediately. The pen itself writes beautifully, and is both reliable and well made. It has been one of my daily writers since it arrived, and I can’t see it stopping in the near future.

I've collected a few pre-1900s long eyedropper pens: Model 22s, that sort of thing. And they're capless. Is there some collector in an island fortress somewhere who has all the caps? Maybe this cap-Blofeld can come to the LA Pen Show.

Today I am using "Abhay Pen Agencies " made ACRYLIC TANISHQ (eyedropper).. I came to know about them browsing through FPN . They make a lot of different ebonite and acrylic pens and some mixed one too .. This is a pure acrylic pen . A pocket size pen ,it post nicely and well balanced, posted is my preferred writing style with this pen.. I got two of them in different colors.. The pen :- ABHAY PEN AGENCIES ACRYLIC TANISHQ EYEDROPPER http://i.imgur.com/u1JRvL8.jpg A bit of writing sample http://i.imgur.com/vmf6Mjt.jpg closer look at the pen http://i.imgur.com/M9NDJUV.jpg A BRIEF REVIEW http://i.imgur.com/b4PU5WS.jpg NIB - MOHI BRANDED NIB WRITES MEDIUM FINE http://i.imgur.com/ioOd3vf.jpg CAP - ACRYLIC CAP WITH A STRONG CLIP IN CHROME FINISH http://i.imgur.com/XBMW0tA.jpg SIZE COMPARSION WITH ASA ATHLETE UNPOSTED AND POSTED UNPOSTED http://i.imgur.com/7fh2EHy.jpg POSTED http://i.imgur.com/dJBzVIh.jpg ANOTHER COLOUR http://i.imgur.com/4e2LLpH.jpg http://i.imgur.com/ueVjxZi.jpg BOTH TOGETHER http://i.imgur.com/5W5JewH.jpg These are nice smooth writing pocket pens and they are cheap too ..

So, it is your first purchase from an Indian company (other than fountain pen revolution which you didn't like very much) and you are looking at the these 4 big names: Ranga, Wality, ASA, and GAMA. Which do you buy to ensure a wonderful writing experience? An experience that will keep you coming back for more. How much is too much for an ebonite pen? If you want a eye dropper that you can carry and won't leak and it seems that ASA's Athlete looks like the best option with its particularly long feeder, but does it really matter? Do you prefer (like me) to grip the pen rather high or rather low? If given the option between nib makers JoWo, Schmidt or and generic, which do you choose? And finally, if you have the option to upgrade the pen (and thus the price) into a converter/cartridge, do you? Thank you to anyone who takes the time to answer these burning questions Ideally, you have had some experience with more than 1 of these companies' pens so as to be able to make a comparison, but if not I am still interested in your experience any of the pens!

Greetings, I recently was blessed to come across some old pens. This one really caught my eye. It looks to have mother of pearl on it. The nib reads Carey New York 14k No 5. Very little information about Carey to be found. Anyone have any to share? Is this a Carey pen? I have seen others that are similar but of different names. It is engraved. Engraving says A.M. Drum (pretty sure that is a name because the other pens/pencils have the same initial on them). S.C. South Carolina? Armstrong Council No. 92- D of L. Thank you

Unknown eyedropper pen please identify! https://www.flickr.com/photos/126999499@N06/30461484980/in/dateposted-public/ https://www.flickr.com/photos/126999499@N06/30673875551/in/dateposted-public/ https://www.flickr.com/photos/126999499@N06/30725397376/in/dateposted-public/

Hello. I have recently been going through my family's old pen collection and came across a pen that has confused me as to its model. It appears to be a Recife Crystal, however, as minor as it is, its cap appears to be missing the signature "wings" (as I will call them) that the clips on the Recife Crystal. Instead it is just a normal clip which a generic straight edged shape, while all pictures of it show little wings that go out where the clip starts and come back in about a third of the way down. Here is a link to a page with a bunch of different colors/versions of the Recife Crystal: http://www.stylusfinepens.com/crystal-fountain-pen/ All pictures with a wood background are the pen that I have, you will quickly notice that the picture I found online of the "Recife Crystal" have the wings that I speak of on the clip, while mine does not.

Hello everyone. I went for Guider egg acrylic fountain pen impulsively after reading a review by fellow Indian FPN gold member Prithwijit for ASA Santulan. Interested persons might like to first read through the wonderful introduction about fountain pen shapes, which practically went well above my head. So I concentrated more on the pictures, and immediately knew I needed a pen with "pointed top and end" (well, less technically). Obviously I didn't have the Conway Stuart material, neither the ability to design pens on CAD software and implement it. So I had to look for some ready made pen showing the particular traits in shape, which to burrow Prithijit's language is '...a cigar shaped pen with a torpedo like barrel and a pyramid like cap' and I stumbled across one of the current production models from 'Guider' pens, the Guider Egg. Now one disclaimer - This pen is nothing in front of Prithwijit's ASA Santulan, period. I have the propensity to seek small little joys out of nothing when other routes might be temporarily out of reach ( here it was the CS blanks). So, his review inspired me, gave me immense joy and one day I'll make my own version, till then let me review this little beauty. Guider pen was started by Mr. G. Subbarao in 1946 in a place called Rajahmundry, by the banks of river Godavari in Andhra Pradesh. This is the same place where another patron of Indian made fountain pens, Ratnam and Brothers flourished. This small town became a place with rich tradition and impeccable artistry in making hand made fountain pens, just as India was at the threshold of becoming independent, both politically and economically. Its difficult to envision the extreme hardship, endeavor and dexterity of workers to produce completely hand made pens, without electricity, without Government support, in a shrinking market for fountain pens. There were definitely all those golden years for Indian Fountain pens post independence, with stalwarts from every walks of Indian society supporting the industry, but those were short. What followed was something akin to a dark winter, ball pens taking over the world, these facilities shrinking and getting eliminated with stiff competition from more organised and cheaper Chinese, Japanese and other European fountain pens, in whatever minuscule market that remained for these pens. Today, Subbarao's son, Mr. G. Lakhamana Rao oversees Guider's operations. I can feel his love for these pens. They are like materialized emotions, personifying love, care, sweat, joy, hope and heartbreak of Rajahmundry, a small obscure town at one end of this subcontinent, trying hard to keep at least part of its rich past traditions alive. That's enough ramblingsfor now, but this is to emphasize why I go back to these pens, why I overlook their flaws and fight for them. If loving ones own history and heritage is quirky, then using fountain pen in this age is quirkier enough. I bought Acrylic version first, in brown material with white swirls. Later I was so impressed with the feel of this pen in hand, I searched out and bought the ebonite version in matte black as well. I'll review both together. 1. Appearance & Design: Both pens look beautiful in their own way. Obviously the acrylic swirls are more captivating and feels more costly. But the ebonite matte finish is also very good, for an ebonite lover at least. the Acrylic version is smaller and thinner than the ebonite, but that's expected. The cap on acrylic pen is longer than ebonite cap. It is because the pyramid shaped finial on the acrylic cap is larger. both the pens are cigar shaped with gradual smooth tapering to pointed ends. The clips are typical golden coloured flat clips with Guider written on them, the quality of paint is not very good with some small imperfections exposing the underlying metal at some places. Though I haven't found any rusting after some intensive use at humid conditions. Both clips behaves well and secures the pen in shirt pocket without being tight. There is no other branding on body, which suits the design. The acrylic version has two golden rings at cap end, protecting the cap. Ebonite version doesn't have end rings on cap, but the end surface has been made glossy skillfully, so it looks pretty attractive even without the rings. The pyramidal finials are flushed with the cap, that's a nice feature for the design to work well. Both sections are tapered towards the nib and both have a small step just beneath the nib for easy finger rest. The sections are well designed for long writing sessions, and threads don't pose any problem while gripping. Guider Egg in Brown swirl acrylic and matte black ebonite 2. Construction & Quality : I am no authority about acrylic and ebonite quality as I don't have many world class costly pens to compare with, but they don't feel cheap. The trim quality is not very good and this is one of the big problems plaguing Indian hand made fountain pen market. The finish is very good. the acrylic pen don't show ant imperfections in the body and cap. The ebonite matte finish is smooth and warm to touch. Both the caps closes on respective bodies with about two and half turns, no tightness is felt anywhere. The section secures well in both the pens, there is no leaking problem. The acrylic section is easily screwed over its body. Ebonite section faces some stiffness while turning initially, later it screws on rather smoothly. Both the pens are lightweight and much thinner than similar pens from many other Indian makers. 3. Weight & Dimensions : I don't have exact weight, but both are light weight. The measurements are given in the following picture. It is clear the acrylic version is smaller and thinner, with a larger cap. Both have very good balance, the acrylic one is a bit thin for my choice but holds very well while writing quickly for longer periods. The balance improves further after filling both with ink. Secure posting possible in both of them and neither becomes oversize after posting. I use all my fountain pens without posting. Size measurements From left to right: Kaweco sports, Sheaffer no-nonsense, Pilot Metropolitan, Guider egg acrylic, Guider egg ebonite. 4. Nib & Performance: Guider nibs are unpredictable. I had to change the nib of Acrylic version with a #5 Kanwrite fine nib and after some adjustment, it writes in accordance with the feel of the pen. It appears like a spear in hand, and the kanwrite nib writes with just the appropriate balance of feedback and smoothness, just like a spear would behave in my hand. The nib of the ebonite version is a bit larger, but fortunately it was good. After some smoothing on a nail file, it behaved well for daily use. The nibs are one of the disadvantages of these pens, so if one is not comfortable with nib tuning or nib swapping, better not to go for these pens. Both nibs write fine with adequate flow, flow of ebonite version more than acrylic one, but not much difference. Both have friction fit nib and feed. The feeds are probably made of ebonite. 5. Filling System & Maintenance : Both are eyedropper as default design. But I think if requested Mr. Lakhamana Rao can arrange for other filling mechanisms at some extra price. The maintenance is minimum, at most amounting to periodical application of silicone grease at the threads and occasional flushing after pulling out the friction fit nib and feed. 6. Cost & Value : These are cheap pens. Each of them cost around rs 1000-1200 ( 15 $- 18 $ without customs, shipping etc). Even if one has to replace the nibs with kanwrite or Ambitious nibs (both very good quality cheap Indian nib manufacturer), still the price is quite decent for such pens, in my own idea. 7. Conclusion : I love them. I am posting pics and thorough review for others to judge. I'm no expert when it comes to fountain pens, just a plain user who allots some time from his daily routine to these small ceations. The Guider Egg pens, both acrylic and ebonite make me happy when I use them. Why there is no marks given in any segment : Let's face it, these pens are nothing in front of so called 'good' international fountain pens. Even many Indian fountain pen users are not satisfied with them when compared to the high standards set by some of the big names in this industry. So, I don't want to give the impressions that these are very high ranking pens, but at the same time I cannot belittle my own joy and the struggle of our cottage industry. I wrote candidly about them, its upto the buyer to dive into these pens. Contacts: Mr. Rao is very responsive and cooperative, give him some time and he can customise according to ones wishes. His no. for phone and whatsapp-- +91 9390163779.His website (though no direct buying link) Guider pens.

ASA Nauka in blue and red ebonite Can a humble pen offer a homily in human imperfection? This is one of the questions that the ASA Nauka, turned by a penmaker in Chennai, India, makes me want to answer. Lakshminarayanan Subramaniam runs ASA Pens, an online and bricks-and-mortar retailer offering multiple pen brands and at least 16 models specific to ASA. It is difficult to type the 16 letters of his first name, and even tougher to pronounce, so well take his lead and just go with L. In 2015, Subramaniam began collaborating with Joshua Lax, president of the Big Apple Pen Club in New York, to create a pen based on the Sheaffer Crest of the 1930s, and the Oldwin Classic of 2002, created by André Mora for the Paris company Mora Stylos. The Nauka positions the cap threads next to the nib and then gracefully sweeps, unbroken, to the end of the barrel. The Naukas huge cap looks like the stub of a cigar. Nauka means boat in Hindi and Bengali, and I think the name refers to the sweeping sheer line of nautical architecture. Uncapped, its about the size of a Montblanc 149. The development of the Nauka is equally as interesting as its conception, because it relied on a prolific group of Indian pen enthusiasts who worked together to design, prototype, and market the pens first round of manufacturing. Im not all that interested in the minutiae of dimensions, but elegant photographs in a review by FPN contributor Sagar Bhowmick display them all. I ordered a couple of Naukas, including one in a mottled Indian blue-red ebonite and another in a tasteful Conway Stewart acrylic material called Dartmoor. I had hoped the Nauka in Dartmoor would be gorgeous, and a joy to write with, and it is both. But what is remarkable is that the pen I have the most fun with is the humble, eyedropper-filled, ebonite model. This results partly from a gigantic 40-millimeter nib by Ambitious, an Indian company, with a black ebonite feed that supplies ink in reliably generous quantities. Whenever I write with it, at whatever direction or speed, however long its been sitting on my desk, the Nauka's medium nib -- more of a broad, really -- lays down a wet, glistening line of ink. The nib and feed introduce what is most interesting about the ebonite Nauka. The slits that form the fins of the feed, for example, are irregular in length. Maybe theyre hand-cut, maybe theyre not, but theyre definitely not uniform. The gold-colored nib is imprinted with the words IRIDIUM POINT, wrapped around a circle. The letters are a little eccentric. I dont know, maybe there were too many letters to wrap properly around the circle. Maybe the Ambitious nib designers ran out of energy and were rushing to make a deadline. And nothing about the rest of the pen is uniform, either, because this is a hand-made pen, made by a human being on a lathe. There arent all that many Naukas out there Im guessing 500 at the most -- but this eyedropper is different from all the rest. Mine is clipless, and I found a bronze ring in the shape of a lotus, the national flower of India, to serve as a rollstopper. If you squint, you can see imperfections in the ebonite, little dark spots about the size of an opening left by a pin. If you use a macro lens to shoot photographs of the barrel, you see marks left by the tools that created the pen. I can see one tiny nick in the cap, exactly parallel to the cap opening, and when I see that nick I can hear a curse from the lathe operator who realizes the need to spend more time to smooth that out. He Im guessing the operator is a he either smoothed out as much as he could without creating an even bigger divot in the surface, or finally said, screw it, this looks good already. Many of the lathes that turn ebonite pens in India are still foot-pedal operated, and I dont know whether ASA lathes are driven by motors or feet. But I know the humans operating those lathes had a lot more on their minds than a 1-millimeter-long tool mark. In a wonderfully hopeful turn of phrase, the FPN contributor "sandburger" wrote that Indian ebonite is like wood, gloriously inconsistent, with the power to surprise and delight. I agree completely. There is much literature on the subject of human imperfection. Robert Browning wrote a poem called Old Pictures in Florence that, among other things, talks about lesser-known artists and how they contribute to the work of greater artists. The New York-based psychiatrist Dr. Janet Jeppson Asimov, widow of the science fiction author and biochemist Isaac Asimov, wrote an essay this year for The Humanist called In Praise of Imperfection. She writes that the imperfections of human brains actually improve the way we function. We learn more from mistakes than we do from successes. When I was in university I had the good fortune to spend a few days in Venice, and one afternoon I was admiring the irregular lines of a gondola along a bridge where gondoliers were taking a break. The gondola, as you probably know, is an asymmetrical boat, because the single oar sticks out on the starboard side. The port side needs to be longer so the boat doesnt turn left all the time. And the gondola is heavier at the bow than at the stern, to account for the weight of the gondolier. If you look long enough at the polished black sides of a gondola, you see undulations and imperfections. As I was staring at one of these gondolas, hypnotized by the play of light and water on the shiny surface of the wood, I told a gondolier that it was beautiful. He responded that it was beautiful because in it you see the hand of the human being who made it. This review originally appeared on Giovanni Abrate's website, newpentrace.

Dear All, We are offering Famous Oliver F27 Model Colour Acrylic Models in 20 Classic colours and Pilot Eyedropper Pens (Made in Japan) for this Christmas and New year'16 at very good prices. I have attached the details and pictures. Thanks for your support. 1. Oliver F-27 Pens: -------------------------- Material: Colour Acrylics Dimension: 137mm Length when capped. Cap Dia : 15mm . Barrel Dia 13mm Nib: Ambitious White Fine Medium nib. It is friction fir nib. German White Bock (Medium or Broad) Nibs are available at 9$ Extra. Feed: Acrylic Feed Filling Mechanism- It comes with Catridge. It also accepts converters. Schmidt K5 Converters costs 4$ extra Clip& Hardwares: White colour Colour: 1. Yellow/Pink/Red 2. Pink/ Dark blue 3. Black/Blue 4. Red Cracked Ice 5.Green/Pink/Black 6. Red/Dark blue 7.Orange/Dark Blue 8.Chocolate Cracked Ice 9.Purple /Dark Blue 10. Bright Green with Dark Green 11. Sea Blue with Red 12. Chocolate with Dark Blue Swirl 13. Yellow with Chocolate Cracked Ice 14. Yellow with Chocolate Swirls 15. Green With Black 16. White/Red 17. Rose with Black 18. Yellow with Green 19. Orange with Black Cracked Ice 20. Yellow /Blue/Saffron Orange. Price: 1 Pen- 29USD 2 Pens -54USD 3 Pens -75USD 4 Pens- 90USD Payment: Payment can be sent to my paypal id mpkandan@gmail.com Shipping: Free Worldwide registered shipping. It takes 2-4 weeks for delivery.Expedited EMS shipping is available at extra price 2. PILOT EYEDROPPER PEN (MADE IN JAPAN): ------------------------------------------------------------------- Material: Brass cap and Plastic Barrel Dimension: 133mm Length when capped. Cap Dia : 11mm Nib: Gold Coloured Fine and Medium nibs. Feed: Plastic Feed Filling Mechanism- Eyedropper Colour: Black , Blue, Red, Green Price: 1 Pen- 19USD 2 Pens -35USD Payment: Payment can be sent to my paypal id mpkandan@gmail.com Shipping: Free Worldwide registered shipping . It takes 2-4 weeks for delivery. Expedited EMS shipping is available at extra price Oliver F-27 Pen Pictures ------------------------------------ http://i1189.photobucket.com/albums/z437/mpkandan/Oliver%20F27%20%20Color%20Acrylic/DSC05158-1_zpspludcdmv.jpg http://i1189.photobucket.com/albums/z437/mpkandan/Oliver%20F27%20%20Color%20Acrylic/DSC05166-1_zpsxbwqnmpq.jpghttp://i1189.photobucket.com/albums/z437/mpkandan/Oliver%20F27%20%20Color%20Acrylic/DSC05168-1_zpsv9gibjy3.jpghttp://i1189.photobucket.com/albums/z437/mpkandan/Oliver%20F27%20%20Color%20Acrylic/DSC05164-1_zpsy0gmuh7g.jpghttp://i1189.photobucket.com/albums/z437/mpkandan/Oliver%20F27%20%20Color%20Acrylic/DSC05224-1_zpsi6ovgzit.jpghttp://i1189.photobucket.com/albums/z437/mpkandan/Oliver%20F27%20%20Color%20Acrylic/DSC05220-1_zpsf64u4gb6.jpghttp://i1189.photobucket.com/albums/z437/mpkandan/Oliver%20F27%20%20Color%20Acrylic/DSC05221-1_zpsk5z6xrcl.jpghttp://i1189.photobucket.com/albums/z437/mpkandan/Oliver%20F27%20%20Color%20Acrylic/DSC05171-1_zpslgwfhldz.jpghttp://i1189.photobucket.com/albums/z437/mpkandan/Oliver%20F27%20%20Color%20Acrylic/DSC05174-1_zpsotf2rqvg.jpghttp://i1189.photobucket.com/albums/z437/mpkandan/Oliver%20F27%20%20Color%20Acrylic/DSC05178-1_zpsntkfbkkj.jpghttp://i1189.photobucket.com/albums/z437/mpkandan/Oliver%20F27%20%20Color%20Acrylic/DSC05183-1_zps30dh9rqt.jpg PILOT EYEDROPPER PEN PICTURES:----------------------------------------------------- http://i1189.photobucket.com/albums/z437/mpkandan/pilot%20pen/DSC05139-1_zps5d8ywhcc.jpghttp://i1189.photobucket.com/albums/z437/mpkandan/pilot%20pen/DSC05140-1_zpshntzvuqn.jpghttp://i1189.photobucket.com/albums/z437/mpkandan/pilot%20pen/DSC05142-1_zpspwdjyz3k.jpghttp://i1189.photobucket.com/albums/z437/mpkandan/pilot%20pen/DSC05146-1_zpssm7gus1w.jpghttp://i1189.photobucket.com/albums/z437/mpkandan/pilot%20pen/DSC05154-1_zpsjnojmd0d.jpg Thanks,Kandan.M.PRanga Pen Company