Platinum Pp-24000 Ag-Au, A Rare Gem From The Late 1960S

[Nikolaos]

Two years after Lamy launched the iconic Lamy 2000 in 1966, Platinum in Japan released the PP-24000, a very interesting and rare pen.

The design of the Platinum pen is more or less identical to the Lamy 2000. The only difference is that the diameter of the cap and barrel of PP-24000 at the point where they meet is identical, while on the Lamy 2000 the cap has a slightly wider diameter than the barrel. The very distinctive Bauhaus design with straight lines, sharp edges and an overall minimal almost clinical look must have been seen for the first time in Japan. As far as I can tell it didn't go down very well and hence the very short life of this elusive pen.

 

I can't think of any other Japanese pens looking more modern at the time and one will have to look hard to find Japanese pens even post 1968 that look as modern with the exception of the Pilot MYU.

 

I got the pen a couple of months ago and it's the first example I have ever seen. "Ever" in my case means about a decade which is the time I have been collecting Japanese pens. I only came across it on photos from the Platinum catalogue from that year.

 

As far as I know the pen was short lived. I believe one of the reasons was perhaps the fact that it was just too modern for its time and perhaps it didn't appeal to Japanese customers much. Another reason was the high retail price. In 1968 the pen retailed for 24,000 Yen a very large amount if one is to take into account that the average salary of an office worker was around 6,000 Yen/month. It was the flagship of Platinum at the time and I am sure the manufacturing costs must have been very high, reminding me of another iconic pen that was also short lived the Pilot Super 500.

 

A unique feature of the pen is the material used to make it. Platinum used a mix of Silver and Gold to make the pen. The pen is marked Ag-Au. It is finished in a silk-like brushed way and on close inspection it looks like it's almost woven by tiny strands of metal that give it a very special almost translucent shine. Depending on how it catches the light the color changes from silver to a champagne gold, making it very difficult to photograph. I do have an extensive collection of metal pens (titanium, sterling, gold, steel) but this really stands out. Actually a good example to understand the finish is to look at the box that Pilot's Iroshizuku inks come in. It is similar to that but with more gold/champagne hues. One negative aspect of this sophisticated and delicate finish is that it is scatch/mark prone and the pen has a few such marks on it.

 

The clip is spring loaded and has a mirror-like finish which really compliments the rest of the pen. The section holds a Pt Alloy integrated nib that writes a very smooth fine line.

 

The manufacturing quality and attention to detail are of the highest standards and even though it's almost half a century old it feels like it was made yesterday.

 

The pen is a joy to write with. I used it daily for about 3 weeks and when I wasn't using it I still had to hold it and look at it. The design and feel make it really appealing.

 

Hope you enjoy the photos.

 

Nikolaos

 

 

 

http://i474.photobucket.com/albums/rr109/nikolaos_photos/agaucapped_zpsf7bcbe53.jpg

 

http://i474.photobucket.com/albums/rr109/nikolaos_photos/ag-auposted1_zps9b3634f7.jpg

 

http://i474.photobucket.com/albums/rr109/nikolaos_photos/DSC_5588_zps1ba6738e.jpg

 

http://i474.photobucket.com/albums/rr109/nikolaos_photos/agauampsterlinggroup_zpsd5f83b7a.jpg

 

 

 

 

Edited October 12, 2013 by Nikolaos

[hari317]

Superb informative post as usual, thanks for sharing.

[georges zaslavsky]

excellent post thanks for sharing

Edited October 12, 2013 by georges zaslavsky

[Dillo]

The clip looks just like the one from the Lamy 2000. Very interesting!

 

Dillon

[da vinci]

Very informative thanks and a lovely pen!

[Nikolaos]

Hari, Georges, Dillo and Da vinci, thank you for your kind comments!

[guyless]

What a GREAT find! Given that the wonderfully oversized PtPt was launched, as the current Platinum company website indicates, in 1966, at the staggering price of ¥10,000, it is intriguing to wonder exactly what the company was thinking when they launched the AgAu, only two years later, at almost two and half times the price.

 

My impression has long been that the PtPt was not in its day an especially brisk seller, in part because of its price. So it's reasonable to believe that the number of AgAus made must have been far fewer. And that they would have sold even less briskly.

 

Of course, one can dream that somewhere in Japan there is a old, small town stationary store with some unsold original AgAu stock still in a drawer– and that would be only too delighted to finally move it out at their original sticker price.

[jde]

Fascinating post, Nikolaos! The photos really highlight the similarities between the pens.

 

I really appreciate posts like these. Good information!

[Nikolaos]

What a GREAT find! Given that the wonderfully oversized PtPt was launched, as the current Platinum company website indicates, in 1966, at the staggering price of ¥10,000, it is intriguing to wonder exactly what the company was thinking when they launched the AgAu, only two years later, at almost two and half times the price.

 

My impression has long been that the PtPt was not in its day an especially brisk seller, in part because of its price. So it's reasonable to believe that the number of AgAus made must have been far fewer. And that they would have sold even less briskly.

 

Of course, one can dream that somewhere in Japan there is a old, small town stationary store with some unsold original AgAu stock still in a drawer– and that would be only too delighted to finally move it out at their original sticker price.

Thank you Guy,

 

It is difficult to think what they were thinking launching this pen at that price range with such a modern design at the time. Even though the PtPt was also an expensive pen I think it sold rather well judging by the number of the floating around. The AgAu is a different story, it almost seems like it was an experiment destined to fail.

 

In 1968 Shunichi Nakata died and his third son Toshihiro Nakata too over. Perhaps the launch of this pen was a bad decision, or just a move to signify a new era for Platinum under the new boss. I am just thinking out loud.....

[Nikolaos]

Fascinating post, Nikolaos! The photos really highlight the similarities between the pens.

 

I really appreciate posts like these. Good information!

 

Thank you very much Jde

[ukobke]

Great post as always Nikolaos !

 

Please do not do this very often! After this kind of posts, you make me search and search and then pay and pay.....

 

Since last time we talked I found (and paid and paid) the Black Stripe Capless and the White Stripe Capless.... but I still try to finf the white stripe MYU ant the transparent brother......

 

Nikolaos enjoy your findings as you always do!!!!

[mchenart]

Nikolaos,

 

As usual, fascinating info and congratulations on getting such a rare pen. Thank you for sharing with us.

[rochester21]

Wow, amazing info, many thanks. I bought a platinum myself a few weeks ago and thanks to you i now know it`s a PB-3000. I will review it as soon as i get a cartridge for it

[rudyhou]

wow. such a great collection. congrats on the new find and for sharing.

[Nikolaos]

Great post as always Nikolaos !

 

Please do not do this very often! After this kind of posts, you make me search and search and then pay and pay.....

 

Since last time we talked I found (and paid and paid) the Black Stripe Capless and the White Stripe Capless.... but I still try to finf the white stripe MYU ant the transparent brother......

 

Nikolaos enjoy your findings as you always do!!!!

 

Thank you very much Niko,

 

Congratulations on the Black & White Stripe Capless. I am still missing the black stripe but I was fortunate enough to score a White/Silver Stripe MYU last summer.

 

Keep in touch Niko!