Visconti Day

[zal]

dante is very kind to take all the questions and answer them patiently himself. and we have learned so much from the information that he has provided here, only a gentleman who is passionate about pens can go to such lengths.

 

it is clear that dante is more concerned about creativity and design than making money from his business. his pens are superb in design elements. as for the QC issues, now that he is here in person getting first hand feedback i am certain that he will take care of them. this exchange of ideas between fpn members and dante will be mutually beneficial association benefiting both parties and will lead to vastly improved visconti pens in future.

 

three cheers to dante from all of us.

 

rgds.

 

krishna.

[danygr1974]

As you all can see, Dante Del Vecchio has preferred to answer you directly... my role is useless now!

He is a longtime member of the italian forum because he prefers to have a direct feedback from his customers.

I can confirm he's a very creative man, focused on innovation but with an eye on the past.

After the 13th of April I will post the pictures of the Visconti visit... stay tuned!

Edited April 8, 2012 by danygr1974

[Ghost Plane]

Thank you both!

 

I'm glad Dante is getting a chance to get such valuable feedback from his customers.

[peterpen53]

Thank you very much, Dante, for posting your comments to our questions in person. And insightful they are, especially the figures on repairs, which are not public of course.

Let there be no doubt that I love Visconti for their innovations, first and foremost the Palladium nibs and the double reservoir power filler. I had not inked my Homo Sapiens (unfortunately my only Pd-nib at that moment) for quite a while, but when I did last week I was instantly reminded why I buy Visconti fountain pens in the first place.

I look forward to the new ink bottles, as getting out the last ink is indeed a pain in most.

 

Oblique stubb ? Sure is possible like many other special nibs: but if you see our sales number in these special nibs you get discouraged. 95% of sales are M or F!,,,,,

 

I am quite sure F and M nibs will be the best selling for most if not all fountain pen manufacturers, but I would urge Visconti not to neglect those who like wider and edge-type nibs. We may be a minority, but I think we are die-hard fountain pen enthusiasts and, paraphrasing an earlier poster, Visconti pens are pens from enthusiasts for enthusiasts.

 

 

Cheers,

Peter

Edited April 8, 2012 by peterpen53

[peterpen53]

The 23d stubs and BBs are my personal favorites, but the 14k have a uniquely soft touch that make them my second choice.

 

 

 

+1 on the 14k nibs. My 14k Kaleido Voyager has one of the very best nibs in my entire collection, across all brands, period.

[peterpen53]

I am fortunate to own a Palazzo Ducale di Sassuolo and I love the design of this pen. It has all the advantages of the double-reservoir power filler--but completely disassembles for easy cleaning.

 

 

I had a look at that picture you link to. What a stunningly lovely pen!!! I thought I knew Viscontis, but I had never seen this one before. I don't know If I'm going to thank you for sharing, because I'm sure it is going to haunt my dreams now.

 

By the way, a brother of the honey-almond Kaleido in a neighboring picture found its way to my collection. Aren't they wonderful?

 

 

Cheers,

Peter

[WendyNC]

I am fortunate to own a Palazzo Ducale di Sassuolo and I love the design of this pen. It has all the advantages of the double-reservoir power filler--but completely disassembles for easy cleaning.

 

 

I had a look at that picture you link to. What a stunningly lovely pen!!! I thought I knew Viscontis, but I had never seen this one before. I don't know If I'm going to thank you for sharing, because I'm sure it is going to haunt my dreams now.

 

By the way, a brother of the honey-almond Kaleido in a neighboring picture found its way to my collection. Aren't they wonderful?

 

 

Cheers,

Peter

 

It comes in black, too, although I prefer the amber one.

 

(no aff. with anybody--I'm just linking to pictures)

[delvecchio]

dante is very kind to take all the questions and answer them patiently himself. and we have learned so much from the information that he has provided here, only a gentleman who is passionate about pens can go to such lengths.

 

it is clear that dante is more concerned about creativity and design than making money from his business. his pens are superb in design elements. as for the QC issues, now that he is here in person getting first hand feedback i am certain that he will take care of them. this exchange of ideas between fpn members and dante will be mutually beneficial association benefiting both parties and will lead to vastly improved visconti in the future

 

three cheers to dante from all of us.

 

rgds.

 

krishna.

 

If a company is not making money , is not good and soon will stop.

Anyhow I understand the meaning of your words : everyday I have to balance between what I like and what sells !

A converter or a piston are excellent for "normal" people , that will never use a power filler. Think about to use a double reservoir. Same matter is for an oblique stubb.

This year I have "honored" writing producing a calligrafy set whose sales will never cover our investments for it and for the molding of the extra flexible 0.5 calligrafy nib. Only to make the double airhole costed us a fortune.

I knew that calligrafy is a tiny market but I said Visconti is a pen company we must have a calligrafy set !

 

Suggestions of this forum are very helpful and, if in one side I expect some of yr answers, some are really interesting.

Sometimes people do not see what is in front of their nose especially when you spend too much time in the office,

Edited April 9, 2012 by delvecchio

[delvecchio]

As you all can see, Dante Del Vecchio has preferred to answer you directly... my role is useless now!

He is a longtime member of the italian forum because he prefers to have a direct feedback from his customers.

I can confirm he's a very creative man, focused on innovation but with an eye on the past.

After the 13th of April I will post the pictures of the Visconti visit... stay tuned!

 

Hi Daniele

You know me enough to see that I will put always my face in front !

And I love talking of my passion with people.

I expect you to make a great report about the visit to Visconti.

So the Italian forum can be a trait d'unoin with FPN

[delvecchio]

Despite these issues, I appreciate Visconti pens innovation and creativity, specially the double reservoir filling system! I wish it could be made available in more of Visconti models. It's really handy for those that need to take air trips frequently.

 

I'd also like to see more double resevoir filler models. Like the Palladium nibs, this filling mechanism is unique to Visconti and makes a nice brand signature. Speaking of Visconti filling mechanisms:

 

• I also like the (single resevoir) power filler. Though it's pretty much a standard vacuum filler and thus not unique to Visconti, only a few other brands offer new pens with fillers of this type.
  
• Piston fillers are nice, but many brands offers them. Thus I prefere Visconti's innovative and/or uncommon filling mechanisms.
  
• The crescent fillers (Copernicus and Millenium Arc) were fun, but I have my doubts about the mass market appeal of this mechanism.
  
• I'm not a fan of embedded converter piston fillers as they're currently implemented. If a converter is used, I'd rather be able to remove it for cleaning and easy replacement if it breaks. And while I don't use cartidges, having the option to use them is still a good thing. The "convertible" mechanism of early Stipula Eturias and the Touchdown converters of the Sheaffer Legacy are the only embedded converter mechanisms I like.
  
• I neither love nor hate the standard cartridge converter mechanism. These are obviously popular with the mass market and being relatively inexpensive to manufacture a good fit for entry level models.
  

 

Omas 360 and Squaring the Circle have unusual shapes that makes them unique.

Omas design is very particular but in Visconti we have a rule :we avoid sharp edges in pens because they sit in the hands.

The claim of Opera is : God made pens round , Visconti squared them : that means : is easy to use a round pen , try opera to have something different ! We accept that not everybody likes Opera shape !!

Filling mechanisms :

For some customers a cartridge is more than enough on the other side there is a double reservoir.

I like the power filler because it allows to fill the pen with only one hand.

The Crescent filler is an hommage to Conklin my favourite vintage brand.

Think about many years ago Visconti has produced many Conklins for Robert Rosemberg, 4/5 at least , and recently for Yafa too, mostly cause I love the brand.

But I will never put a sac in a Visconti because of maintance problems.

[trurl]

I have a question, too. What is the Visconti Club meant for, exactly? Why it's not possible to register the Homo Sapiens?

 

Thanks in advance!

[Ghost Plane]

Dante, I think you need to work on your distribution system. Many of us live where there are no pen shops and have to buy on line, yet we like high end pens. Bryant started carrying Visconti we haven't seen before, but otherwise, it can be 10 years before I ever learn about some pens. And then, it's only when they begin coming up on eBay used or as seconds.

 

If people like me who adore your pens can't find them easily, it seems like changes have to be made.

 

One observation. I've stopped buying pens that aren't already in my nib size. In the old days, I mailed them to New Jersey, swapped whatever for a stub, BB or B and life was good. Cole's, however, is not welcoming. And when I began getting $25 dollar charges for pens new in the box with receipts attached... I haven't bought a Visconti now since Bryant's Ripples. And I used to buy roughly 4 a year.

 

I know you're small and your margin is slimmer than the mega corporations. But when I buy a MB 149 instead of a Visconti because I know the service will be there, year in and year out and I'll know in advance what repairs are going to cost and can have the nib swapped in the first 6 weeks w/o charge. Or when I get a Yard o Led or a Krone repaired years after purchase and no charge for something obviously not caused by abuse, like a section leak or worn piston. This is when the service differential really stands out.

 

I know I'm a heavier user than most. I keep 5-6 pens inked a day and can run through 3-5 of them, depending on how much I get written. But after market service is the difference between a Mercedes and a Jaguar. The former is for heavy road use, the latter looks pretty but requires constant tinkering.

 

Don't make it so hard for me to buy more of your pens! [i think Bryant keeps a standing order of stub nibs just for me. ]

[raging.dragon]

Speaking of advertising new products, I'd like to see Visconti (and other manufacturers!) announce upcoming and/or newly released products on FPN (I believe Market Watch would be the appropriate sub-forum for this? Or perhpas Penne Stilografiche della Bella Italia?). Conway Stewart announce their new products on their FPN brand sub-forum, I've seen a few product announcements from Signum's North American distributor, and Bryant and IguanaSell do a good job of promoting new products here; however, I'm surprised that Visconti and other manufacturers haven't taken advantage of the opportunity for free advertising to an enthusiastic audience.

[raging.dragon]

For what it's worth, I've found the Canadian Visconti distributor pleasant and helpful, and they've only charged me for return shipping (from them to me, not shipping to and from Visconti in Italy).

[danygr1974]

Speaking of advertising new products, I'd like to see Visconti (and other manufacturers!) announce upcoming and/or newly released products on FPN (I believe Market Watch would be the appropriate sub-forum for this? Or perhpas Penne Stilografiche della Bella Italia?). Conway Stewart announce their new products on their FPN brand sub-forum, I've seen a few product announcements from Signum's North American distributor, and Bryant and IguanaSell do a good job of promoting new products here; however, I'm surprised that Visconti and other manufacturers haven't taken advantage of the opportunity for free advertising to an enthusiastic audience.

You're right!

Why don't open a new Visconti brand sub-forum where Dante himself explains newcoming pens and new products?

+1 for me.

[fabrimedeiros]

Is Market Watch only for retailers' advertising? May manufacturers advertise here on Penne Stilografiche della Bella Italia?

 

It's just me: I hardly check the Market Watch. Only when there is a link on a brand subforum to there

 

 

[Ghost Plane]

Market Watch is for announcements of new items or links to their website when a bulk purchase sale begins, etc.

 

Classifieds would be a lovely way for him to do test sales of prototypes.

 

This forum can be used to show designs, but pricing and anything leading toward sales is a no no.

[Susanna]

In the meanwhile, if you'd like to read a complete interview to Dante Del Vecchio, it's in my blog: http://giardinoit.wordpress.com/2012/04/03/my-visconti/

[davidv7]

I must defend Visconti on the repair side.

 

A couple of years ago I dropped my Pericle 2001 pen from arm height to a teal floor and it broke where the steel sectin meets the body.

I sent it to Visconti in Italy directly (I am close) and waited for a response. I choose the timing wrongly since I sent it at the end of july, and we all know what happens in Italy in August right?

However I emailed the in middle of august and received a response that the pen arrived safely and they are working on it.

I received the pen back without any charge in mid september.

 

Compliments to mr. Delvecchio for be that bold to interact with actual pen fanatics on a forum!:clap1:

 

I have another question for him when he finds his time to answer.

There are some dealers (especially in USA) that charge ridiculous ammounts for new pens in comparison to EU prices (not specifically Visconti but all Italian pens) - not making names here!

So I feel that the same pen that I buy online in EU is more expensive and this diminishes the perceived (intrinsic, true?) value of the pen for me and I think it is not a healthy business practice.

How does Visconti deal with this, and are the sellers profits so high (more than 60% of the value of the pen in some cases)?

[fabrimedeiros]

Market Watch is for announcements of new items or links to their website when a bulk purchase sale begins, etc.

 

Classifieds would be a lovely way for him to do test sales of prototypes.

 

This forum can be used to show designs, but pricing and anything leading toward sales is a no no.

 

GP, thanks for clarifying this.

 

I must defend Visconti on the repair side.

 

A couple of years ago I dropped my Pericle 2001 pen from arm height to a teal floor and it broke where the steel sectin meets the body.

I sent it to Visconti in Italy directly (I am close) and waited for a response. I choose the timing wrongly since I sent it at the end of july, and we all know what happens in Italy in August right?

However I emailed the in middle of august and received a response that the pen arrived safely and they are working on it.

I received the pen back without any charge in mid september. [...]

 

 

We have to hats off to Visconti because they work on any of their pens w/o charge, despite it was the owner's fault of not. Other brands should do the same, like Montblanc. Most people who buys high end pens are pretty careful and don't let the pen drop, as if they want to do it.

Edited April 12, 2012 by fabrimedeiros