Review of the Inoxcrom Caravel I, with some pics

[AGF]

The Spanish fountain pen company Inoxcrom produced in 1992 two fountain pens called Caravel I and Caravel II. The context was the 500th anniversary of the arrival of the Spanish caravels to coasts of the Americas.

 

 

 

The year 1920, which is on the cap main ring and on the nib has no relation with the beginning of the Inoxcrom fountain pen company, which was founded in 1953. The mention of 1920 was intended to commemorate the decade in which the fountain pen attained its full maturity, as can be read in the booklet that was included in the Caravel I box.

 

 

At least for me, the bigger one, Caravel I, is the better one. The Caravel II is also a good pen, but it is smaller, uses a smaller nib (the same as the Inoxcrom Andreas) and the cap doesn’t screw. 

 

 

 

 

Let’s talk about the Caravel I.

 

 

The Caravel I is a very beautiful and elegant pen. It has 23,9 gold-plated incrustations on the cap, clip, and barrel. The gold incrustations seem to resist the time, with no signs of corrosion. The black resin looks good, soft, like in any other hight quality fountain pens. And yes, the Caravel I looks very similar to a Montblanc Maisterstück. It is bigger than the Montblanc 145 o 146, and thinner than the Montblanc 149.

 

 

Up: Caravel I. Down: Montblanc Maisterstück 145

 

It is usually said, but never confirmed, that the production of the Caravel I caused a conflict with Montblanc company. There was no lawsuit, but the production of the Caravel I did not last for long. First, the cap’s original three golden rings downgraded to just two, and later the production stopped altogether. Some people suggest that the conflict is unlikely to be true, because other international brands where producing fountains pens very similar to the Maisterstück, and they continue to do it until now. The production could have stopped because the 1992 celebrations were limited to a short period of time, and they were not very popular in the Spanish-speaking world.

 

 

Anyway, the short period of production means that the pen is scarce, and difficult to find. Prices in the second hand market are usually above 100 euros. That is not a high price for the quality of this fountain pen. 
 

Inoxcrom produced very different pens, with very different qualities. In my opinion, the top Inoxcrom models are four: the Caravel I, the Corinthian, the Sirocco, and the Wall Street. All use the same size of nib (# 6), so you can easily interchange the nibs. There are other very good Inoxcrom fountain pen models, like the already mentioned Caravel II, the Andreas, the Atlantic, and others. But probably none of them reaches the level of mentioned top four.

 

 

Standard Inoxcrom nib, Caravel I nib, Jowo nib.

 

All these four pens had a very affordable price for their quality. They are very easy to clean, pulling the nib out with no difficulties. All of them use the so-called “international” cartridges or converter. The Inoxcrom converter works really well, and the ink always flows. But another good international converter will also do the job And all the four mentioned models have the same big and effective feed. They do not get dry, always ready to write, at least for long periods of time. Some of them, like the Wall Street, which was produced in different colors and with different nibs, are easy to find in Internet even under 30 euros. 
 

 

The bi-color steel nib of the Caravel I works perfectly, like a high quality pen. It is secure and effective. By default, the Inoxcrom nibs used to be M sized. The booklet mentions the possibility of acquiring a B nib. From time to time is sometimes possible to find Inoxcrom F or B nibs in Ebay, todocoleccion.net, or similar places. Inoxcrom also produced a rare gold nib for the Sirocco model, which, as said, is interchangeable with the Caravel I nib. And, of course, you can easily put a Jowo #6 or similar nib in it.

 

 

 

I got my Caravel I in a Ebay auction, for 50 euros. Nowadays, it is a very good deal for this excellent fountain pen. Of course, it is second hand, and you can see it was already used. But works very well. I own a Montblanc Maisterstück, and I sincerely prefer the Caravel I. It is easier to clean, to dissemble, to use with different nibs, and fits better in my hand. And the writing experience is similar.

 

 

Trying to be objective:

 

Appearance, Design: 8. 

 

It is a very elegant pen, but the design is not specially original or creative. Other Inoxcrom fountain pens, like the Corinthian, are more original and more beautiful.

 

Construction, Quality: 9

 

Good quality. Good materials. The clip is strong and effective. Robust. Can be posted.

 

Dimensions, Weight: 10

 

Capped 148 mm  and 23.5 g

Uncapped 135 mm and 135 g

Cap 69 mm and 10 g

Posted 167 mm and 23.5 g

 

All weights without ink. Very confortable. It is a light pen, for long hours of writing. 

 

Nib, Performance: 9 

 

A very good nib. Size M, but in reality between M and F. Smooth, reliable, strong nib. But not a golden one.

 

Filling system, Maintenance: 9

 

Works wonderfully. I only miss a window or translucent material to see the level of the remaining ink. Easy to disassemble and to clean.

 

Cost / Value ratio: 10

 

I got it for 50 euros (+ 5 for shipping). There are higher prices around, of course. And also newer ones.

 

Overall rating: 9,2

 

Edited May 16, 2021 by AGF

[lehi53]

Kind of looks like a montblanc 149

[AGF]

Yes, a bit smaller than the Montblanc 149 and a bit bigger than Montblanc 146.

 

The Caravel I is 148 mm long.

[usk15]

I have some Inoxcrom pens too, excellent price/quality!

 

Have a look here:

 

[rizo]

You are very lucky. Ussualy is imposible to find a Caravel I second hand for less than 100 euros (Like 120 Dolars) and much more when is a NOS. 
 

The caravel I is nos only a good pen but a legendary pen.

[rizo]

A legendary one