Rotring 600 - Made In ?

[dex138]

I'm looking to get me a set of the old style, preferably Series 1, pen and pencil. 'Til now I was of the understanding that all Series 1s were made in Germany..... apparently that is not the case. I've always been of the opinion that 'Made in Germany' was the best. Not being sure whether that applies to writing instruments, I thought I would put it out there.

 

What do you have? 'Made in Germany' or 'Made in Japan'? Is there a consensus here as to which is better? more desirable? For those who have both, when compared is there a noticeable difference in quality? - construction? durability? finish?

 

I tried to search the forums for any previous posts on this subject but found nothing. If I missed it, my apologies for the double post. If you could please provide a link that would be great. Otherwise, this new-to-FPN and new-to-pen-collecting newb waits with baited breath for your insight, comments, recommendations, etc.

 

Cheers!

[mana]

rOtring 600, 600G, Newton were made in Germany. So yeah, the first gen pens were made in Germany and their production ceased long time ago.

 

More recent versions (a reproduction under license) of rOtring 600 series mechanical pencils are manufactured in Japan. They also make their own version of the 600G in the form of 800 series pens.

 

There are some differences in the construction and labeling and the later versions produced in Japan are not parts compatible with pens manufactured in Germany. The Japanese manufacturer has also introduced models that were not part of the original lineup (2mm clutch pencils).

[Scrawler]

My old style 600 was made in Germany. I did not even know they were reproducing them in Japan. The reason I bought mine in the first place in 1987 was because of the solid German engineering. It looked like an engineer's pen. It looked like it could be used as an emergency tool or as a weapon if called upon.

[flight878]

I'm looking to get me a set of the old style, preferably Series 1, pen and pencil. 'Til now I was of the understanding that all Series 1s were made in Germany..... apparently that is not the case. I've always been of the opinion that 'Made in Germany' was the best. Not being sure whether that applies to writing instruments, I thought I would put it out there.

 

What do you have? 'Made in Germany' or 'Made in Japan'? Is there a consensus here as to which is better? more desirable? For those who have both, when compared is there a noticeable difference in quality? - construction? durability? finish?

 

I tried to search the forums for any previous posts on this subject but found nothing. If I missed it, my apologies for the double post. If you could please provide a link that would be great. Otherwise, this new-to-FPN and new-to-pen-collecting newb waits with baited breath for your insight, comments, recommendations, etc.

 

Cheers!

 

Please read this relevant thread to avoid some repetition of information. Not all Series 1 writing tools were made in Germany. In fact, Rotring has been licensing Holbein Works of Japan to manufacture some of these products since the early 1990s. I own a Rotring 600 Series 1 (featuring the red inscription on the barrel) ballpoint pen with "Japan" engraved on the clip. I have seen listed on eBay Rotring 600 Series 1 Trio multi-pens with "Japan" printed on the bottom of the barrel just above where the knurled grip is screwed in.

 

Today, Holbein Works is now the sole licensee to manufacture the Rotring 600/800 mechanical pencils exclusively for the Japanese market. The other 600 products on the line (FP/BP/RB/Trio, letter opener), as well as Rotring Dutch-made packaging, and sale/display stands have been permanently discontinued ever since Sanford bought Rotring in 1998 (which is now owned by Newell-Rubbermaid). You can still find these rarities on eBay Germany.

 

To my knowledge, the Rotring 600 manufacturing of the pencils has largely remained the same. For example, the Japan-made silver pencils continue to be painted via electrodeposition coating. The knurling is still the same. The inside has changed, however, and some minute aesthetic differences have emerged. More detailed information is in that thread I linked above. IMO, if you have a Rotring 600 unit made in Japan, it is just as good as the one made in Germany. I've found no difference in performance and durability. The only ones worried about this would be those serious collectors.

[mana]

Thanks for the clarification. Interesting info that I somehow missed in the thread you linked... even though I posted in there... :embarrassed_smile:

[Manege Master]

Fascinating, I am a Rotring fan and have something like 12 pens/pencils that I bought years ago. I had no idea, however, that they were ever made in Japan. I looked at my collection and it appears to be about half and half. I just never noticed. They were all bought around the same time and from the same vendor, so it comes as a surprise.

 

Thanks for this post!!!

[dex138]

Hiya folks, thanks for all your input. Between the link for that other thread and that semi accurate info sheet thats floating around I should have enough to make an informed decision. I'm getting the impression that the serious collectors out there prefer the original German version so that is probably the route I'll go, but I'll read through everything again before I take make my final decision.

 

Thanks again, Cheers.

[Zoe]

You might add to your reading pleasure about the Rotring 600, made in Japan, at Dave's Mechanical Pencils. I just did an exhaustive search on mechanical pencils and after reading many reviews, I think I would go with this one over the other 9 he mentions as his top 10. While several others got better marks on some issues, this pen was reviewed by another mechanical pencil collector who gave it a rather sterling review. Also from among the other recommendations, several were seriously unattractive and one so complicated, one needs a mechanical engineer to translate the directions.

 

And I suffer of the agora syndrome, and want to have the pencil now rather than search for old stock.

 

Good luck in whatever decision you make.

 

Hiya folks, thanks for all your input. Between the link for that other thread and that semi accurate info sheet thats floating around I should have enough to make an informed decision. I'm getting the impression that the serious collectors out there prefer the original German version so that is probably the route I'll go, but I'll read through everything again before I take make my final decision.

 

Thanks again, Cheers.

[joelchan]

the rotring is a 'evergreen' pen to me. when I first joined FPN, my first few buy at the sales section was a Rotring 600 !

Edited August 7, 2011 by joelchan

[dex138]

Ya, I've been to that blog and read everything he has. I too just finished a mega research campaign, and I went with a Staedtler 925 35 20 special edition, and also managed to find a full set of Pentel P200 pencils (including the rare P203). The rotring 600 is still my 'set' of choice I think, but it will take some time and work to get that, especially if I want all 'Made in Germany". The Gel pens and the FPs are getting hard to find and are very expensive.

 

 

 

 

 

 

You might add to your reading pleasure about the Rotring 600, made in Japan, at Dave's Mechanical Pencils. I just did an exhaustive search on mechanical pencils and after reading many reviews, I think I would go with this one over the other 9 he mentions as his top 10. While several others got better marks on some issues, this pen was reviewed by another mechanical pencil collector who gave it a rather sterling review. Also from among the other recommendations, several were seriously unattractive and one so complicated, one needs a mechanical engineer to translate the directions.

 

And I suffer of the agora syndrome, and want to have the pencil now rather than search for old stock.

 

Good luck in whatever decision you make.

 

Hiya folks, thanks for all your input. Between the link for that other thread and that semi accurate info sheet thats floating around I should have enough to make an informed decision. I'm getting the impression that the serious collectors out there prefer the original German version so that is probably the route I'll go, but I'll read through everything again before I take make my final decision.

 

Thanks again, Cheers.

[Kupepe]

Hello,

Today I received a Rotring 600 fountain pen with all the knurled "bling" it should have. It has a medium steel nib. During my research on the 600s I say a lot of pics. The ones with the gold on the cups had a simple colden on top. The one I bought however which is a is with a steel nib, as I have already said, has this R on it. Is it normal ? cause all photos I have see do not show the cap from this angle.

 

 

 

Thank you

 

 

[Scrawler]

Hello,

 

Today I received a Rotring 600 fountain pen with all the knurled "bling" it should have. It has a medium steel nib. During my research on the 600s I say a lot of pics. The ones with the gold on the cups had a simple colden on top. The one I bought however which is a is with a steel nib, as I have already said, has this R on it. Is it normal ? cause all photos I have see do not show the cap from this angle.

 

<snip>

 

 

Thank you

 

 

Not on mine

[Kupepe]

Any other feedback >?