Rotring 900 Stylograph

[attika89]

Does anyone have any experience with the Rotring 900 Stylograph?

If things go well I'll get a shiny 900 with that nib.

For how much would these go if it is working and in good condition?

http://ebay.abendfalke.hosting.padberg-it.de/rotring900_rf2.jpg

[Dillo]

Hi,

 

That is an interesting pen! I've never seen one before. I know someone with the fountain pen version though.

 

Dillon

[stevelasky]

This nib looks a lot like a "rapidiograph" technical drawing nib. Up through the 1970's several companies ( Kor-I-noor, and Rotring) made pens like this for drafting and other kinds of mechanical art. The nib is a precise hollow tube in which a fine needle protrudes. When the pen is placed on the paper the needle is pushed up into the tube allowing the ink to be released in a very specific width. The artist or draftsman would have several of these pens in a variety of line weights.

 

Where a fountain pen is all about expressiveness in the line it puts down, a technical pen is all about creating a very exact.and predictable line. Of course the computer has made the need for this kind of hand drawn precision obsolete, but technical pens are still made in a chaeper more disposable format. They use cartridges instead of the piston mechanisms of the older pens.

 

One more note; because the nibs on these pens are often very fine and delicate and because drafting inks are designed to be very durable, these pens would clog easily and were a real pain to use. But my memories of first learning to draw life contour drawings with a No. 2 Korinoor make them precious to me. I'm just glad I don't have to use them to make a living. Viva Apple and Adobe!

[Dillo]

Hi,

 

Refillable technical pens are still made today including the Staedtler Marsmatic 700 (my favorite one), Rotring Isograph, and Faber-Castell TG1. I think the Marsmatic ones are the best and I still use them. The new inks seem not to clog very much at all. I haven't had a clog since I started using a technical pen more than 10 years ago. I use bottled drawing inks by Staedtler or Kohinoor with mine.

 

They are quite good if you want a nice dark line that is waterproof and very crisp. I used technical pens before I started using fountain pens.

 

Dillon

[Uncle Red]

The technical pen is the last development of the stylographic pen. Stylographic pens were developed in the 1870's and were used for writing until fountain pens were improved enough. Engineers and draughtsmen used them for a long time. Mark Twain used a stylographic pen before the Conklin pen came along. Inkograph was a big maker of stylographic pens.

Sorry, I don't know the Rotring model.

[attika89]

Happy New Year everyone!

 

Thank you for the answers.

I use some Rotring Isographs, and Faber-Castell TG1 for drafting in college so I know what they are. Luckily we are allowed to draft our plans with just pencils, so no need to draw things twice basically. And of course we can use computer for our plans. We use ArchiCad...

 

I saw some Tintenkuli pens with piston fill made by Rotring. Those are nice, but I found this 900 on a site for almost nothing.

I've found these pens on ebay.de for €85. Can it be a good price for them?

Edited January 1, 2013 by attika89

[attika89]

So here it is

[flight878]

I've actually been looking for this pen myself, but in matte finish. I used to have a Rotring 900 matte FP, but sold it on this very site. While I like the style, being masculine and very engineer appropriate, I did find the pen body bit long and wrote more comfortable with the pen unposted. The stylograph model you've shown uses the same plastic grip as that found on the Rotring Altro, which resembles the 900 only that the body is made of plastic and available in many colours.

 

The price of EUR 85,00 is too high for that pen. I'm aware of that eBay.de ad, and also that user has a matte finish 900 with the stylograph tip, but the price is way too high. Two other users I've seen sell the 900 FP on eBay Germany for a more reasonable EUR 40 and 35, and the latter one also has a stylograph, but only with the shiny chrome, and doesn't accept PayPal so cannot ship to Canada.

 

If you decide to use a converter, the current Rotring 251300 converter is somewhat loose fitting. The ink won't leak, but it's not as snug on the 900 as it is on the 600. You can also try another international-sized converter from other brands to see if the fit improves.

[attika89]

I've actually been looking for this pen myself, but in matte finish. I used to have a Rotring 900 matte FP, but sold it on this very site. While I like the style, being masculine and very engineer appropriate, I did find the pen body bit long and wrote more comfortable with the pen unposted. The stylograph model you've shown uses the same plastic grip as that found on the Rotring Altro, which resembles the 900 only that the body is made of plastic and available in many colours.

 

The price of EUR 85,00 is too high for that pen. I'm aware of that eBay.de ad, and also that user has a matte finish 900 with the stylograph tip, but the price is way too high. Two other users I've seen sell the 900 FP on eBay Germany for a more reasonable EUR 40 and 35, and the latter one also has a stylograph, but only with the shiny chrome, and doesn't accept PayPal so cannot ship to Canada.

 

If you decide to use a converter, the current Rotring 251300 converter is somewhat loose fitting. The ink won't leak, but it's not as snug on the 900 as it is on the 600. You can also try another international-sized converter from other brands to see if the fit improves.

 

Yes this pen is definitely long. I don't post my pens, but I always try it, to see how does it change the balance. With the 900 the cap is so light, it does not ruin the balance at all.

I knew about the Altro, I like the transparent part at the tip of that one.

I thought I would let mine go for $60 or so, but I might keep it for a few days and we'll see. I did not think the chrome would appeal to me in real life, but it is lovely.

 

For my 600 fps I use Pelikan converters. Those seem to fit nice. I use cartridge with the 900 for now. If it stays I'll probably get a converter for it as well.

[Dillo]

Hi,

 

That's a very nice pen! My mom has the matching fountain pen. If you don't want it, let me know. I might be interested since my mom also uses technical pens/stylographs.

 

Dillon

[write to me often]

Great review! Thank you.

 

After I got a Rotring 900 fountain pen, yesterday I tried stylograph version and it was surprisingly smooth. I really liked it, I hope I can find it some day.

[s100drine]

Hello,

Where can i buy a Rotring 900 stylograph, at a raisonnable price?