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Pilot 78G: Short first review

BillTheEditor

By BillTheEditor
in Fountain Pen Reviews

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Ray-Vigo Collectors Item

Ray-Vigo

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Has anyone here tried the "fine" nib 78g? If so how did you find it to be in terms of scratch versus ink flow?

 

I'm looking for a low end pen as a gift to someone starting in fountain pens. She likes the fountain pen feel, but says she likes the line width of a Pilot V roller ball (fairly fine I guess?).

 

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Phthalo Collectors Item

Phthalo

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Posted (edited)

I have two F nib 78G's and another two coming. There is no "scratch" to speak of!

 

These nibs are remarkably smooth. Ink flow is well controlled for the line width - a perfect balance.

Edited by Phthalo

Laura / Phthalo

Fountain Pens: My Collection

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Cloud Vintage

Cloud

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Hi, I just ordered mine from SpeerBob ebay store. (22$) Can't wait to try it! They look very cool.

 

I have a question aboutn the size of the pen. Is it like a pelikan 200, bigger smaller? Or can somebody post a picture?

 

Thanks

Commit to be fit

ClaudeP.com

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Phthalo Collectors Item

Phthalo

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Posted (edited)

Capped, bigger than a M200 by about 1cm, with the cap posted they are almost the same.

 

Here's a really quick shot:

post-34-1169964037_thumb.jpg

Edited by Phthalo

Laura / Phthalo

Fountain Pens: My Collection

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RLTodd Antique

RLTodd

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General comments on arrival.

 

Fine and Medium nibbed. Japanese nib widths the Medium being a very decent fine width and my "fine" nib being a hairline extra fine. Both are very smooth with the well matched flow.

 

The pens put me in mind with the sadly discontinued Cross Solo, reputedly from the same factory.

 

Cap bands "painted on" and "Super Quality" engraved on nib lead me to think this is probably an export model school pen, possibly targeted at the old asian english colonial empire countries.

 

If the dollar was still a dollar and there was a school pen market left in the U.S. this would have given the Sheaffer school pens one hack of a run for market leadership.

 

Considering the market, what the Cross Solo last sold for, and the price point alternatives being from pen makers who have abandoned quality control, this is a good buy. It doesn not how ever reach the level of being "exciting."

YMMV

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Tweel Collectors Item

Tweel

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I'm curious about their B stubby nibs. I can't tell at all from the pictures, but do these stubs have 'iridium' tipping? Or are they like those inexpensive Parker/Sheaffer calligraphy pens with no tipping?

 

Thanks~

My B nib appears to have no tipping on it.

It does (or mine does, at any rate), but I have to look closely to see the very fine ridge. On the other hand, my nephew's apparently preternatural eyesight caught it from about 4 feet away, in dim light coming through a hall entrance (he asked if that rounding on the edge was accidental, or if they make fountain pen nibs that way :) ).

 

-- Brian

fpn_1375035941__postcard_swap.png * * * "Don't neglect to write me several times from different places when you may."
-- John Purdue (1863)

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BillTheEditor Collectors Item

BillTheEditor

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I'm curious about their B stubby nibs. I can't tell at all from the pictures, but do these stubs have 'iridium' tipping? Or are they like those inexpensive Parker/Sheaffer calligraphy pens with no tipping?

 

Thanks~

My B nib appears to have no tipping on it.

It does (or mine does, at any rate), but I have to look closely to see the very fine ridge.

Looking at mine when it was brand new, under one of DWL's illuminated magnifiers, that "ridge" looked to me like a bit of very thin metal folded back, rather than tipping. Same gold color as the nib metal. Looking at it now after several weeks of use, I can just make out a silvery bit of what may be iridium up there. It looks like a very fine wire, between two thin plates of metal that make up the nib. So I guess it is tipped. Maybe it was plated over and the plating has now worn away. Or maybe I just made up my mind too quickly on the first look. Thanks for motivating me to look again. :doh:

 

The stub nibs on my Parker Sonnet and Parker 75 have tipping that is clearly visible as a "lump" and it's silver-colored. Those were a lot easier to see than this tiny little bead on the 78G. If your nephew could see that from several feet away, he really DOES have good eyes!

Edited by BillTheEditor

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Tweel Collectors Item

Tweel

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This is the only fountain pen I have with a stub nib (or italic, or whatever the 78G's "B" is), but I've seen pictures of Parker stubs and the iridium seems pretty substantial. The line of tipping material on the Pilot is near-microscopic.

 

If your nephew could see that from several feet away, he really DOES have good eyes!

I know... freaky, huh?

 

-- Brian

fpn_1375035941__postcard_swap.png * * * "Don't neglect to write me several times from different places when you may."
-- John Purdue (1863)

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  • 1 month later...
Jared Vintage

Jared

Posted
Posted

I'm in Japan and have tried the 78G nib in "EF" as Pilot labels it. If you thought the F was hairline, wait until you try the XF, which is more like an XXF--a wonderful nib, one of my favorites!

 

Jared

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His Nibs Extremely Rare

His Nibs

Posted
Posted

It never seems like I can have all of the Pilot 78Gs fully in stock at one time (although the F and M nibs are coming within a week), but I do now have the famous 'B' nibs again. No black this shipment, but for the first time....green, red and teal! :)

 

Here's the direct link.

Regards,

 

Norman Haase

His Nibs.com

www.hisnibs.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HisNibs1

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Dean Extremely Rare

Dean

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Just received mine from His Nibs. It's red with a broad (stub) nib. I filled it with black cherry and away I go. Very nice pen for the money. Easy to fill and actually holds quite a bit of ink. I wouldn't say it's my smoothest pen, but like I said, for the money you can't beat it.

 

Dean

When I was fourteen years old, I was amazed at how unintelligent my father was. By the time I turned twenty-one, I was astounded how much he had learned in the last seven years.

--Mark Twain

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AlejoPlay Vintage

AlejoPlay

Posted
Posted (edited)

I just found a sweet deal on these on eBay. I swore I wouldn't get any more pens, but I found a lot of 3 pens--one black ( B ), one teal (M), one red (F) from Hong Kong. The shipping was actually really reasonable and the whole thing set me back $50. I couldn't resist given that both my Pilot Pens (a Knight and a VP) live in my bag permanently.

Edited by AlejoPlay
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SteadyHand Rare

SteadyHand

Posted
Posted
I just found a sweet deal on these on eBay. I swore I wouldn't get any more pens, but I found a lot of 3 pens--one black ( B ), one teal (M), one red (F) from Hong Kong. The shipping was actually really reasonable and the whole thing set me back $50. I couldn't resist given that both my Pilot Pens (a Knight and a VP) live in my bag permanently.

 

I got in on this same deal. I am ecstatic I did. The written review was done with a Broad/Stub 78GPelikan Blue-Black in Broad 78G

Pelikan:M205 DemoLamy:2000,Safari,Al-Star,1.1 JoyPilot:3-78G's:B, M, F

Parker:51"Special"Stipula:Ventidue(new version)Rotring 600Sheafer:Snorkel

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Mindstorm Mint

Mindstorm

Posted
Posted (edited)

I also got the exact same deal and color combination :clap1: I've been thinking about this pen for so long and finally ( two minutes ago) gave in to the urge...

 

This thread was the thing that tipped me over the edge :rolleyes:

 

Kind regards,

Karl

Edited by Mindstorm
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SteadyHand Rare

SteadyHand

Posted
Posted
I also got the exact same deal and color combination :clap1: I've been thinking about this pen for so long and finally ( two minutes ago) gave in to the urge...

 

This thread was the thing that tipped me over the edge :rolleyes:

 

Kind regards,

Karl

 

 

Congrats Karl,

 

I inked the the stub tipped 78G and never put it down. I absolutely love it. It is the pen that has inspired me to work on my handwriting. I havent even inked the other two pens as yet.

Pelikan:M205 DemoLamy:2000,Safari,Al-Star,1.1 JoyPilot:3-78G's:B, M, F

Parker:51"Special"Stipula:Ventidue(new version)Rotring 600Sheafer:Snorkel

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Mindstorm Mint

Mindstorm

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Posted

Thank you, SteadyHand!

 

I've read your Pelikan BlueBlack review several times, the ink is gripping and your handwriting is beautiful! My 78 G's should be here by next week, I hope...

:drool:

Kind regards,

Karl

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