Wingsung 601: Questions About "Updated" Version

[k3eax]

I've just ordered one described as an "updated version" What is the updating and, if a correcting of an earlier version, what made this necessary?

 

  Al in Philadelphia

[Paganini]

The main update* is that the filling mechanism now operates a piston rather than a rubber sac. Every new release they make a few little tweaks too - newer ones have a nice little bevel around the bottom of the cap, the ink windows have crisper edges, and so on. 

 

*Edit: just to say, that wording may make it sound like the piston is a new development. The 601s have used the piston for several years; each year we get a new "updated" version, like "Wing Sung 601 Updated 2019 version" with a few minor cosmetic tweaks. 

[IThinkIHaveAProblem]

Here's what I've seen as updates: (I'm not an expert, just someone who REALLY likes the 601)

 

1. First version seemed to be a very good copy of a parker 51 vacumatic with a vacumatic style pump 
2. Second "improved" version was the replacement of the vacumatic pump with a piston instead. Is/was it an improvement? IMO, yes, especially for cleaning a demonstrator, taking the filling mech out allows for faster more effective cleaning
3. at some point, MAYBE even from the get go, I'm not sure..., but definitely from this point onwards, they became available with an optional ink window
4. third version was the addition of a second jewel at the end of the blind cap. At this point the jewels seem to have all been changed to Blue (I far prefer the older "pearl" jewels) (I still need to get a demonstrator version of one of these...)
5. fourth version seemed to be the addition of some flashier (and IMO tackier...) caps
6. most recent update (as of 2020/2021) seems to be the Flighter versions. Both of which (gold and silver trim) I currently have on order, but have not arrived yet so I can't speak to the quality.

I've heard rumours of a gold nibbed version with a nice classy cap, but have not seen one on "the bay" for sale

 

I have two demonstrators, both came with pistons, I have bought and installed an older style vacumatic pump in one, but have not used it yet. I'm sure it will work fine, but i suspect the piston style to be the better filling system over all. The one i have left the piston in is my daily driver that is ALWAYS inked. Usually with Registrars or Salix, (just filled it with Scabiosa today) so that it can write on any paper.

 

I have two non demonstrator double jewel models (no ink windows). Both work fine, and my DJ black 601 next to my DJ black "51" is... weird... they are so much alike.

 

no matter what version you get, I don't think you will be disappointed. Enjoy your pen when it shows up  

Be warned: their low price and excellent performance make them addictive.

 

 

[Paganini]

@IThinkIHaveAProblem nice post! I agree with all you wrote, especially that last part about the addictiveness of the 601

 

I have a couple of the flighter versions - they are Very Nice (TM)! I "upgraded" them with steel sections, bought separately from Bobby's Etsy store. They're very sturdy pens.

 

I've seen the all-steel with gold-nib 601 on Ali Express for around $80. I found it to be slightly less expensive to "build" one myself: 601 flighter ~$22, steel section ~$15, gold nib ~$30. 

 

The steel sections seem to have run out of stock when I tried to get some more of them a month or so ago. Hopefully it is only a temporary shortage! 

[IThinkIHaveAProblem]

@Paganini

Thanks! Good to know that at least one person agrees with me, that way if i'm totally out to lunch, at least i have someone to have lunch with!

 

I saw the steel sections, and as you mentioned, they were sold out. At first sight i was all in, but the more i think about it, the less convinced i am about getting one... how do you find it? Is it slippery? In general, i am not a fan of metal (or wood) pens... (flighters of course are an exception as are my triumph snorkel and touchdown, but they all have plastic sections)

 

I found the gold nibs on AliEx (I went and looked after reading your post)

Strangely, they are made just about exactly like a 61 nib and not like a "51" nib... (they have the little tabs on them in the pictures...)

How do you find yours? i know that on a 51 with an octanium nib ("51" special/21 super),  I can't really tell a difference in the material alone, only in the way the tipping on that particular nib writes. But admittedly, a "51" without a gold nib feels... "less" somehow. (entirely psychosomatic of course)

 

 

[Paganini]

2 hours ago, IThinkIHaveAProblem said:

I saw the steel sections, and as you mentioned, they were sold out. At first sight i was all in, but the more i think about it, the less convinced i am about getting one... how do you find it? Is it slippery? In general, i am not a fan of metal (or wood) pens... (flighters of course are an exception as are my triumph snorkel and touchdown, but they all have plastic sections)

 

 

I like the steel sections; they are a little more slippery than the plastic ones, but not so much that it makes me feel insecure. I have noticed that after writing for a while they do seem to get sort of greasy from skin oil, which doesn't happen with any of my other pens. I'm not quite sure what to make of this. It comes right off, though, so I just wipe the pen down with microfiber after I'm finished writing. 

 

2 hours ago, IThinkIHaveAProblem said:

I found the gold nibs on AliEx (I went and looked after reading your post)

Strangely, they are made just about exactly like a 61 nib and not like a "51" nib... (they have the little tabs on them in the pictures...)

How do you find yours? i know that on a 51 with an octanium nib ("51" special/21 super),  I can't really tell a difference in the material alone, only in the way the tipping on that particular nib writes. But admittedly, a "51" without a gold nib feels... "less" somehow. (entirely psychosomatic of course)

 

I think I know the exact AliExpress seller you're talking about; you have to watch out, those nibs with the tab are for the Hero 100. You have to select the other "color" for the Wing Sung 601 12k nib.

 

I like my 12k nib a lot. It is noticeably more bouncy than its steel counterparts. It has a definite sweet spot, but in a way that I approve of - a kind of specific precision. You can't write with the corners or edges of the nib. It feels sort of "on purpose," and not like there's just one spot that writes accidentally. It's kind of hard to describe. 

 

I followed @Mech-for-i's advice and didn't fuss with it (no micromesh or flossing or anything, just basic tine alignment when I installed it) for a few days. As he predicted, it was kind of funky at first, but after 3 days or so it settled down. I use it just about every day now. 

 

Mine does write a bit dry, and I have Platinum Forest Black in the pen, which is a pretty dry ink, so I don't always get as dark of a line as I'd like. I was just today thinking of switching to Platinum Blue Black in that pen. 

 

[IThinkIHaveAProblem]

cool.

 

I'll keep that in mind

 

Thanks! 

[IJKWS]

These?

They are the update versions with vermeil or sterling silver cap and 14 or 18k nibs

[IJKWS]

On 5/13/2021 at 10:36 PM, IThinkIHaveAProblem said:

Here's what I've seen as updates: (I'm not an expert, just someone who REALLY likes the 601)

 

1. First version seemed to be a very good copy of a parker 51 vacumatic with a vacumatic style pump 
2. Second "improved" version was the replacement of the vacumatic pump with a piston instead. Is/was it an improvement? IMO, yes, especially for cleaning a demonstrator, taking the filling mech out allows for faster more effective cleaning
3. at some point, MAYBE even from the get go, I'm not sure..., but definitely from this point onwards, they became available with an optional ink window
4. third version was the addition of a second jewel at the end of the blind cap. At this point the jewels seem to have all been changed to Blue (I far prefer the older "pearl" jewels) (I still need to get a demonstrator version of one of these...)
5. fourth version seemed to be the addition of some flashier (and IMO tackier...) caps
6. most recent update (as of 2020/2021) seems to be the Flighter versions. Both of which (gold and silver trim) I currently have on order, but have not arrived yet so I can't speak to the quality.

I've heard rumours of a gold nibbed version with a nice classy cap, but have not seen one on "the bay" for sale

 

I have two demonstrators, both came with pistons, I have bought and installed an older style vacumatic pump in one, but have not used it yet. I'm sure it will work fine, but i suspect the piston style to be the better filling system over all. The one i have left the piston in is my daily driver that is ALWAYS inked. Usually with Registrars or Salix, (just filled it with Scabiosa today) so that it can write on any paper.

 

I have two non demonstrator double jewel models (no ink windows). Both work fine, and my DJ black 601 next to my DJ black "51" is... weird... they are so much alike.

 

no matter what version you get, I don't think you will be disappointed. Enjoy your pen when it shows up  

Be warned: their low price and excellent performance make them addictive.

 

 

601 also have vermeil version  You can see it in my reply.

[IThinkIHaveAProblem]

6 hours ago, IJKWS said:

601 also have vermeil version  You can see it in my reply.

Neat. Got a link to where we can buy them?

 

 Any more pics?

[IJKWS]

12 minutes ago, IThinkIHaveAProblem said:

Neat. Got a link to where we can buy them?

 

 Any more pics?

 They are limited editions. If you really want,I can contact with the green stationary for their stocking pen.

 However, only the red one is available. It's made for the 100  Anniversary of communist party of china. 18k nib and vermeil cap sold for 600rmb in china（less than 100 usd） But I don't know the transport price.

[IJKWS]

19 minutes ago, IThinkIHaveAProblem said:

Neat. Got a link to where we can buy them?

 

 Any more pics?

 I'll give you the picture tomorrow.

[IThinkIHaveAProblem]

2 hours ago, IJKWS said:

 I'll give you the picture tomorrow.

I was hoping they would be a regular edition i could buy sometime in the future. Especially the black one with the silver cap. Less so the red/gold one (The CCP is not something i am particularly inclined to celebrate) Thanks anyway. 

 

i look forward to more pics. They are very interesting.