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This pen is sold by Gem and Co in Chennai. I first noticed this with my friend Jai (Shrujaya). After a long wait finally I could buy one. Stock Gama 1mm nib. It writes very well. Sheaffer Ebonite feed. This cigar version that I called the Gama Himadri was bought in 2014. I had done a DIY section threading for JoWo and M800 nib units. JoWo and Gama nibs. cheers Hari

The late ex CM of Tamil Nadu M Karunanidhi also known as Kalaignar (scholar of the arts) was extremely fond of the 69T fountain pen made by the Airmail pen co. of Mumbai. The pens were purchased for him by his staff from Gem and Co. in Chennai. Karunanidhi with his 69T (pic from the Internet) After his death, the demand for this pen skyrocketed amongst his followers. Unfortunately, the Airmail pen co. at Mumbai also stopped making pens prompting Gem and Co. to recreate the 69T as the Gama Kalaignar. Recently they have recreated the Wality 71JT as the Kalaignar Neo. Here are both the Gama versions together. This post documents the Gama versions and compares them to the Airmail originals. Gama Kalaignar Vs 69T: Gama pen sleeve. The Gama Kalaignar. The Gama nib. Stock gama feeder. Kalaignar with 69T. The Kalaignar features 4 start cap barrel threads, just like the 69T. The section is faulty on my example. There is a gap even when the section is closed fully. There is no such gap in the Airmails or the other Kalaignar. The Airmail cap has a breather hole. Gama Kalaignar Neo Vs 71JT: The Neo with the 71JT. Same 4 start threads as Airmail. The Airmail cap has a breather hole. The Gama versions are made of an odourless plastic. Wality/Airmail pen’s smell is quite (in)famous. The Kalaignars have a larger inner cap and can support nib exposed lengths of 23mm. This is an advantage over the 69T. Given the Airmails are now getting scarce, the Gama versions can substitute. I paid 750/- inr per pen in an across the counter purchase at Gem and Co. The nibs were tuned in front of me by Pratap ji and they write quite smoothly. Hope this post is useful. cheers Hari

Sharing some pics of the Gama Manifold Cheers Hari

Having introduced Gama pens to the world more than 15 years back, their popularity has only grown. Here is another vintage Celluloid eyedropper filled Gama, called the Special, which Pratap Chetty the present owner of Gem and co tells me is from the pre-independence era ( before 1947). It’s a full sized pen as you can see from the 440 kept beside it. cheers. Hari.

Gama is the house brand of the Gem and Co, an exclusive pens store in Parrys corner, Chennai. South India. You can read more about the shop here: link. Gamas are typically short, thick pens. My grandpa and particularly my uncle had told me about the gundu (Tamil word for fat) Gama pena when I used to pester them with questions about the pens that they used in their days... I think the name Gama has also come from the common word for strong, after the undefeated Indian wrestler Gama Pehelwan. link The pen in the review is called the Supreme and its construction befits the name Gama. It is a very big and strong pen and is very well engineered IMO. Available in two colors: Green, brown Ripple: http://i1313.photobucket.com/albums/t543/hari_317/GamaSupreme/IMG_9117.jpg http://i1313.photobucket.com/albums/t543/hari_317/GamaSupreme/IMG_9119.jpg http://i1313.photobucket.com/albums/t543/hari_317/GamaSupreme/IMG_9123.jpg ED pen: http://i1313.photobucket.com/albums/t543/hari_317/GamaSupreme/IMG_9126.jpg Well made in-situ inner cap: http://i1313.photobucket.com/albums/t543/hari_317/GamaSupreme/IMG_9124.jpg Thick construction for long life: Barrel walls: http://i1313.photobucket.com/albums/t543/hari_317/GamaSupreme/IMG_9127.jpg Section walls: http://i1313.photobucket.com/albums/t543/hari_317/GamaSupreme/IMG_9128.jpg The names are deep engraved on the barrel, perhaps by using old pantographic machines... http://i1313.photobucket.com/albums/t543/hari_317/GamaSupreme/IMG_9129.jpg http://i1313.photobucket.com/albums/t543/hari_317/GamaSupreme/IMG_9130.jpg The pen comes with a Standard Indian no 10 (35mm) IPG nib, I switched the nibs out with my favorites, Indian no 10 on one and Indian no 12(40mm) on the other. http://i1313.photobucket.com/albums/t543/hari_317/GamaSupreme/IMG_9131.jpg http://i1313.photobucket.com/albums/t543/hari_317/GamaSupreme/IMG_9132.jpg http://i1313.photobucket.com/albums/t543/hari_317/GamaSupreme/IMG_9133.jpg Some comparison of the Supreme with other Indians and one German in the stable: http://i1313.photobucket.com/albums/t543/hari_317/GamaSupreme/IMG_9134.jpg L-R: Brahmam, Deccan White MP, Gama, Gama, the puny 149. With some foreign heavyweights: http://i1313.photobucket.com/albums/t543/hari_317/GamaSupreme/IMG_9135.jpg L-R: Gama, Gama, DT Sho Genkai, DT Mikado and the 149. I know, this pic makes the 149 seem like a 144. The writing: The pen is very well balanced, i have used it for fast jotting during review meetings as well as extended writing over the last week. It has performed really well for me. http://i1313.photobucket.com/albums/t543/hari_317/GamaSupreme/IMG_9136.jpg http://i1313.photobucket.com/albums/t543/hari_317/GamaSupreme/IMG_9138.jpg Dimensions: Capped: 158mm Open: 148mm Posted: 180mm Cap Dia: 19mm Barrel Dia: 17.5mm Section Length: 22mm Section dia: 15.5mm tapers to 13.4mm Nib exposed length with the stock no 10 IPG: 22.3mm These are fully handmade pens and I have observed some piece to piece dimension variations. Cost, and most important answer to the question which most of you ask me, where to buy this from: The pen is sold by Gem at a very reasonable price considering the workmanship, materials and the size. If you cannot visit Gem and co personally, Chennai based ASAPENS (link1 link2) are doing an excellent service of making Indian brands available at Indian prices widely. My several transactions with them have been flawless. NAYY. I hope you enjoyed this review. Cheers! Hari

Sharing some pictures of the new Gama Ergo. It is an attempt to achieve a pen the same size as the Raja, but with a long tapering ergonomic section (The name Ergo comes from here) and a matching smaller sized nib so as to keep the barrel threads to paper distance the same for writing comfort. The longer section with just a 1mm taper allows the writer to find their preferred gripping position more easily. The use of the German Schmidt nib unit allows C/C capability, the pen of course, is fundamentally designed with ED use in mind and the modern Schmidt feeder allows reliable and controlled flow performance even in ED mode. http://i991.photobucket.com/albums/af39/hari3171/Gama%20Ergo/IMG_9951.jpg http://i991.photobucket.com/albums/af39/hari3171/Gama%20Ergo/IMG_9952.jpg http://i991.photobucket.com/albums/af39/hari3171/Gama%20Ergo/IMG_9953.jpg Along with the Raja/Padpad: http://i991.photobucket.com/albums/af39/hari3171/Gama%20Ergo/IMG_9954.jpg http://i991.photobucket.com/albums/af39/hari3171/Gama%20Ergo/IMG_9955.jpg The long tapering section and the matching nib, the threads to nib tip distance remains the same. http://i991.photobucket.com/albums/af39/hari3171/Gama%20Ergo/IMG_9956.jpg http://i991.photobucket.com/albums/af39/hari3171/Gama%20Ergo/IMG_9957.jpg Heavily finned modern feeder: http://i991.photobucket.com/albums/af39/hari3171/Gama%20Ergo/IMG_9958.jpg Cheers! Hari