Piccadilly Essential Notebook From Woolworths (Aus)

[msolok]

Hey Guys,

 

Thought I would give a quick review for these new notebooks that Woolworths/Safeway (Supermarket here is Aus) have just started stocking. It's the Picadilly Essential Notebook.

 

While I was in the stationary isle today (grabbing some Papermate PM880 Refillable Geln pens for $2.50) I noticed that Woolworths was now stocking these notebooks. The thing which brought my attention to them was how similar to Moleskines they looked. They are hardcover notebooks, with the leather look covering that is very similar to Moleskins. They even have an elastic band to hold the covers closed, and a bookmark.

They are available in 3 sizes:

Small, which is the exact same size as a Moleskine Classic Pocket, at 9cm x 14cm, and has 192 pages (same as Moleskine)

Medium, which is the exact same size as a Moleskine Classic Large, at 13cm x 21cm, and has 240 pages (same as Moleskine)

Large, which is larger than the available Moleskines

 

In the back cover there is a expanding pocket, the same as Moleskine. And the only branding on the Notebook is, as you have probablly guessed, on the very back cover of the notebook at the bottom and is a simple press of the Piccadilly logo.

They appear to come with black, green and red covers.

 

So, all up, the notebooks appear to try and copy the look and feel of a Moleskine, and I think they do so reasoniblly well. The cover does not look to be of as high quality as Moleskines are, and the back pocket is not as strong, but it is pretty good all up.

 

 

 

The Paper is cream, not pure white, and they only have lined available at the moment. The paper feels smooth to touch, but not silky like Claire Fontaine. It is maybe a little thin, but seems similar weight to Moleskine paper. The spine is glued and it opens up quite easily and lies reasonibly flat. It does not lie 100% flat, but still rpetty good.

 

Now, the important part is how pens, and FP's imparticular, write on the paper. So I have tested out a range of pens. First off, as I am sure no one will be suprised about, Gel Pens seem fine on the paper. No problem with them putting down nice thick lines or anything. So Ballpoint and Gel pens will work perfectly.

I have not had a chance to test a normal Rollerball pen with the notebook (will do so tonight), but my Kaweco Sport Rollerball, with J.Herbin Saphir ink works flawlessly. Nice, vivid and wet lines of ink put down with no feathering at all to be seen. Looking at the other side of the page there is no bleeding at all, and very little ghosting or seethrough.

 

Now we move onto the bigger test of Fountain Pens. There is a lot of talk going around about Moleskine paper quality and not being able to use Fountain Pens with them. Some people are claiming that fountain pens work fine, others say they don't. I only have limited experience with Moleskine (I have the limited edition Star Wars books which are great, and some Volant books I keep in my car which I have yet to test).

So, testing fountain pens with the Picadilly was the big thing for me. I tested 2 Lamy Safari's with M Nib, 1 with J.Herbin Perle Noire and the other with a Lamy Blue cartridge. I then tested with a Lamy Studio with 14ct F nib and J.Herbin 1670 Rouge Hematite and a Kaweco Liliput with Kaweco Purple ink.

All pens worked very well. The nibs write smooth across the page (though not as smooth as on Claire Fontaine paper), there is very little if any feathering and no skipping. Dry time was pretty good. Looking at the other side of the page, no bleeding is at all evident and still very little showthrough. The paper takes FOuntain Pens and ink AMAZINGLY well. Now I have only tested this with a single Small Green notebook, so this could very from ntoebook to notebook, but it's amazing how good the paper can be!

 

Now, price. As anyone who has looked into prices in Australia would know, we get shafted. Our price for just about everything is a fair amount higher than the same item in the US, UK and Europe. This is odd, as our dollar is trading higher than the US, but it's the way of things.

So, with that in mind, Moleskine Classic books in Aus are even more over priced. For a Moleskine Classic Pocket we can get them for around $20 here. And for a Classic Large we are charged around $30.

The Picadilly Notebooks, as you would expect, are cheaper. A LOT cheaper, really. I picked up the small Picadilly for $2.99, and the Medium for $5.99. The value is simply unreal.

 

So, all up, I recommend the Picadilly Essential notebooks. They come in the same sizes as Moleskine Classic notebooks (plus 1 size bigger), have very similar look and feel as the Moleskines, and have great quality paper in them. All for only a few $$. There will probally be some variation in the quality of the notebooks and their finish, and only time will tell if the covers hold up as well as Moleskines. But considering I can buy 6 of the small Picadilly notebooks to every 1 Moleskine Pocket, or 5 Picadilly Medium notebooks for every Moleskine Large, it would be pretty hard to complain if they don't last.

 

I will attempt to get photo's up of the notebooks in the next couple of days. I would upload some now, but my phone has died.

 

And here are the links to the products on Woolworths Online shop:

http://www2.woolworthsonline.com.au/Shop/ProductDetails?Stockcode=727798&name=essentials-note-book-small-assorted

http://www2.woolworthsonline.com.au/Shop/ProductDetails?Stockcode=727797&name=essentials-note-book-medium-assorted

http://www2.woolworthsonline.com.au/Shop/ProductDetails?Stockcode=727799&name=essentials-note-book-large-assorted

[fiberdrunk]

I like these notebooks, too. They seem to have all but disappeared in the states, though. Glad to see you were able to find them there.

[Cambell]

Hey msolok,

 

I'll have to check these out! I'm in the southwest of WA, and I know what you mean about prices. I found a couple of really decent A5 pads today though. The Derwent academy visual art diary is 110gsm and 60 leaf, for $2.97 in Big W. the platinum premium by spirax is more of a journal with different features like a map and a ruler and stuff, for about $8 in Big W. They write nicely with my Parker Jotter with black quink cartridge.

Edited January 31, 2013 by Cambell

[msolok]

Cambell: Greetings from the other side of the desert! I'm in Melbourne!

Good to know about those pads, I will definitely check them out. At the moment I have a few of the Claire Fontaine 1951 notebooks, which are reasonably priced (around $8 each for the 92 sheet A5 from Notemaker.com.au if you get the 3 value pack. Although they have thin covers, so you will need a notebook cover of some sort for it. I have a leather one from Kikki-K). Rhodia pads aren't bad value from Notemaker as well.

 

However near my work I have also sound an EXCELLENT source of cheap, good quality paper. There is a $2 chain store (well, $2.80 in this case) called Daiso. They sell Japanese items, most of which look poor quality. However they stock loose leaf paper which is FANTASTIC quality. Take a look at my review here:

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php?/topic/221357-loose-leaf-at-daiso/page__view__findpost__p__2574000

It's a pitty they only have stores in Victoria.

 

 

As for the Picadilly notbook, I only had a chance to test 2 more fountain pens last night, and didn't get any pictures (but hopefully I can do the pictures tonight). I tested out 2 Noodler Ahab's, one with Noodlers Dark Matter and the other with Bad Green Gator. The Dark Matter had a bit more feathering than the other inks, but no bleeding and the same showthrough as the rest of the inks.

The Bad Green Gator, which can be a little picky on the paper it is used on, had no feathering on the paper, but had more showthrough than the other inks (although,s till no bleeding).

 

So all up these notebooks are really well behaved and take inks well. Really suprising for such cheap books. And, as a bonus, they look and feel like a Moleskine!

[Bogon07]

I saw the ad for these this week but the Woolworths in the City doesn't seem to have them so I will try the local shop this weekend to see if there are any left.

[msolok]

OK, as promised here are the photo's!

 

So here is what the Notebook looks like from the front:

http://i1129.photobucket.com/albums/m510/msolok/P2020093_zpse92072ef.jpg

 

And the back:

http://i1129.photobucket.com/albums/m510/msolok/P2020094_zps2968c1c6.jpg

 

So, as you can tell very Moleskine-y.

 

Here's the paper

http://i1129.photobucket.com/albums/m510/msolok/P2020096_zps1d6ea9ab.jpg

 

And where I had tested the pens and inks:

http://i1129.photobucket.com/albums/m510/msolok/P2020097_zpsd5e1ab0c.jpg

 

and the back page:

http://i1129.photobucket.com/albums/m510/msolok/P2020098_zpsbbbf999a.jpg

 

All up it is a good performing notebook and well worth the tiny asking price!

[inkypete]

Great value for us Aussies. Bought the medium yesterday - seems unusual walking into Woolworths to buy milk, bread, cheese, eggs and a notebook. They are very good value. No bleed at all with my pens - mainly fine and medium Safaris, 51s and duofolds. The ivory paper and narrow ruling is a negative for me so may not buy them again but certainly great value and generally FP friendly if you like them.

[Bogon07]

Picked up a blue and a black pocket size 9x13.5cm ; a green large 19x25cm & a large 22x28.5cm ring bound Piccadilly with the Great Wave cover.

 

The large green displayed a little more show through than the pocked version.

 

The ring/spiral bound had no show through and had a much less cream coloured paper. It also had wider line spacing 7mm rather than 6mm of the other books. It was the same price $7.99 as the large and came in a variety of covers. Approximately 100 sheets.

 

All very good value and recommended.

Edited February 3, 2013 by Bogon07

[sudmukh]

I like these notebooks, too. They seem to have all but disappeared in the states, though. Glad to see you were able to find them there.

 

Barnes and Noble (bookstore chain) stocks a full range of Piccadilly notebooks. You can even buy the same one linked here: http://www.barnesand...illy/1111097595

[Mags]

Wow.....you have Woolworth stores. I think I saw my last one in Canada in 1990 or so.....I miss those stores.

[inkypete]

Wow.....you have Woolworth stores. I think I saw my last one in Canada in 1990 or so.....I miss those stores.

Woolworths used to be what the yanks might call a nickel and dime store. Cheap variety type store. Now Woolworths are one of the two major supermarket chains in Australia. They also own Big W which is the Aussie attempt (poor attempt) to copy WalMart.

[Mags]

My grandma worked at Woodworths Simpsons and Eatons stores. I always remember her working in fabric sales in the stores. Yes Woolworths were assimilated and the suited staff and general purpose stores throughout many small towns all closed with the lack of a distribution network as large stores and warehouses were bought or closed down as bigger box stores were built on cheap land outside City limits across Canada. Those stores are now surrounded by homes and Rona, Home Depot and Walmart prevail on the retail landscape.....if they only could mass market fountain pens....I did see some Mont Blancs in the Costco recently ....ballpoint and rollerball.

[Ecriveur]

I found a bunch of them heavily discounted on some sort of clearance rack a year or two ago and bought a few of them just to try them out. But when I opened one there was a noticeable, unpleasant chemical odor, sort of like petroleum or something similar. That was an immediate deal-breaker and I tossed them in the trash. No amount of paper quality can make up for a bad odor. Of course, I might have just got a bad batch and that was why they were discounted, but I'm not willing to give them a second chance while I'm happy with Leuchtturm.

[dcwaites]

I found these in my local Woolies yesterday, and bought a small one to try. Very impressed, I couldn't get it to bleed through using any of my inks and a dip pen, which will usually make anything short of a bathroom tile bleed. There is, however, a little feathering which is only visible under a magnifying glass

 

Interestingly, the paper is wood free and acid free. I assume that wood free means it is made from bamboo and other similar sources. The acid free is good for those of us who want our precious thoughts to be visible down the decades...

 

I suspect that they are made in the same factory as Moleskines. The lines are identical with my Moleskine A4 Folio, but the paper is a little different, as it would be, being made from different materials.

 

The quality of the faux leather cover is not bad, given the pricing.

 

Unlike inkypete, I don't have a problem with the cream paper, and the 6 mm ruling matches my small handwriting. Use a fine-nibbed pen, though...

[alc3261]

Woolies went bust in the UK a couple of years ago.

[MC_in_Houston]

Wow.....you have Woolworth stores. I think I saw my last one in Canada in 1990 or so.....I miss those stores.

Woolworths used to be what the yanks might call a nickel and dime store. Cheap variety type store. Now Woolworths are one of the two major supermarket chains in Australia. They also own Big W which is the Aussie attempt (poor attempt) to copy WalMart.

 

The F. W. Woolworths company of the U.S.A today survives as Foot Locker. It is not related to the original Woolworths Stupendous Bargain Basement of Sydney that today peddles victuals and notebooks..