Yongsheng Ys-811H

[wwwired]

INTRODUCTION: Yesterday I received the Yongsheng YS-811H I purchased off a major auction site for about $4 Canadian shipping free. For that reason, it's always a coin flip in terms of what you get. Initially the pen looked good when I removed it from the envelope and plastic it came wrapped in. Unfortunately, closer inspection showed this was clearly a pen that dramatically failed quality inspection in several aspects (see photos below). That said, if the quality failures weren't present it would be a nice pen to look at. http://i1292.photobucket.com/albums/b570/SaskCanada/Jinhao%20811/image_zps7148071c.jpg

 

Appearance & Design (6) aside from the gawky metal band on the cap, this pen is nicely conservative. http://i1292.photobucket.com/albums/b570/SaskCanada/Jinhao%20811/image_zpsa4ed6a09.jpg The finish isn't bad in black and the pen is mostly metal with plastic inside the cap. The converter was a disappointment not only for the obvious cheapness but it had a large crack on the twisting grip and the inner ink reservoir plastic cap was broken all up. The feed was also broken in places and the nib incompletely manufactured in areas.http://i1292.photobucket.com/albums/b570/SaskCanada/Jinhao%20811/image_zps59377cde.jpg

 

Construction & Quality (1) The pen handles ok and feels not bad in the hand the nib/feed seem to have a life of their own, however, fitting improperly in the section.http://i1292.photobucket.com/albums/b570/SaskCanada/Jinhao%20811/image_zps00823b14.jpg

 

Weight & Dimensions (6) Not a bad weight and feel but gets backend heavy when posted.

 

Nib & Performance (1) This is a very fine nib pen and the feed has the number 8 on it. I cleaned the entire system and reseated the badly assembled nib/feed/section. This still required effort to start and once writing it did scratch out a meager existence - largely due to the poor nib quality (see pic). 2 tone, it states "Iridium" and "Germany" on it but I'm sure the Bugatti folks might question the manufacturing specifications here. Very scratchy, it is somewhat flexible but railroads immediately and need effort to restart.http://i1292.photobucket.com/albums/b570/SaskCanada/Jinhao%20811/image_zps1afc3885.jpg

http://i1292.photobucket.com/albums/b570/SaskCanada/Jinhao%20811/image_zps0d46254e.jpg

http://i1292.photobucket.com/albums/b570/SaskCanada/Jinhao%20811/image_zps5e470995.jpg

 

Filling System & Maintenance (1) - supplied converter of lowest quality and switched to cartridge immediately. The converter had several breaks and cracks and I'm betting the auction site seller was rubbing his hands together rapidly as I clicked "buy" to take this quality failure off their hands.http://i1292.photobucket.com/albums/b570/SaskCanada/Jinhao%20811/image_zpsc244038e.jpg

http://i1292.photobucket.com/albums/b570/SaskCanada/Jinhao%20811/image_zps4826d044.jpg

http://i1292.photobucket.com/albums/b570/SaskCanada/Jinhao%20811/image_zpseb2ffca4.jpg

 

Cost & Value (8) Got it off the biggest of online auction sites for $4 Canadian shipping included so while my four bucks is gone (have to message seller still) it was a great chance to dissect a pen and further my tuning and fixit skills. For that reason, is say no purchase at such a price is a bad thing necessary as it gives you a chance to work a pen a bit and get it shaped up if possible.

 

Conclusion (3 on this specific pen but maybe 5ish if the pen was in good manufactured condition with no quality failures) - there's no way I would be trusting this pen as a daily writer. It's just a very basic middle to low level fountain pen. If you can get one for $2-$3 you could add to a collection perhaps but not much more I'm afraid if this is an average example of the Yongsheng YS-811H.

 

I'd say consider the Yongsheng YS-811H a challenge.

Edited June 24, 2014 by wwwired

[Seele]

I mentioned several times before that it is best to stay away from Yongsheng products, as they are fakes in every sense of the word. Since Wing Sung - a totally reputable manufacturer - ceased production, counterfeits have been found on the market, many of them replicate established Wing Sung models, such as the much repected 612 and 101. However, two or three shady characters started to build pens of more modern designs, using the original Wing Sung "target" trademark and Chinese name, but calling them Yongsheng instead: Yongsheng being the Mandarin pronunciation of Wing Sung. Needless to say, they were primarily made for the local market, where the prospective customers only see the trademark and the Chinese name, thus believing that they are indeed by Wing Sung. But for the international market, the name Yongsheng is of course totally different, thus appearing to be a different brand altogether.

 

Faked manufacturer, faked brand, faked products. Of course, the people behind these pens have no incentive to ensure that they actually function.