Retro 51 - impressions

[Peter_H]

I have, I think, just completed my baby collection of pens etc. with a Retro 1951 rollerball.  Apart from a Kaweco Sport EDC (kept in a Kaweco tin), I have six ‘standard’ fountain pens and six ‘other’ writing instruments, of which 2 are FP demonstrators and one is a semi-retired Sheaffer Prelude FP (gift).

 

 

The ‘standard’ side

 

The ‘non standard’ side

 

 

The second group includes a Sheaffer ballpoint, a ‘Kerry’ mechanical pencil and the rollerball.  Here is the rollerball on its own:

The  ‘Tornado by Retro 1951’ “Albert [Einstein]” in all its glory.

 

My Tornado came from Cult Pens UK and so was very well packaged, arriving in a sealed dedicated cardboard box-cum-stand, with instruction booklet.  I even got a promotional Retro key ring thrown in, along with the trademark Cult Pens sweets!

 

The pen is all-metal construction and so fairly heavy.  The action to extend and retract the rollerball itself is smooth and consistent, if somewhat heavier than my Sheaffer Prelude ballpoint.  In the hand, it is slightly top-heavy: not an issue for me, but it could be a problem for someone with small hands.  It is tapered to enable comfortable holding, but this is not as well achieved as, once again, the Sheaffer, which is always a pleasure to hold.  By contrast, with the Retro 51, after a period of intensive writing (to test it) I found my hand becoming rather fatigued.  This is not a major issue for me, as I bought it mainly for use on envelopes and in situations where a normal fountain pen might end up smudging - or worse.  Extended writing is not really on the agenda - that’s what my fountain pens are for!

 

The supplied OEM (Schmidt) rollerball is surprisingly good.  I’m strictly an F or EF sort of person with fountain pen nibs, but this M rollerball was lovely.  Smooth, no skipping* - even with Clairefontaine paper - and no feathering or bleed through to speak of, even on cheap and nasty paper.  I was pleasantly surprised that the ink, once dry, tolerated being wiped with water-soaked tissue paper - there was some greyish smearing but the writing remained perfectly legible.  Overleaf, on the same piece of paper, there was quite a lot of bleed through from the wetting, but that is not surprising.  So, not ‘waterproof’, but certainly ‘water-resistant’ enough for use on envelopes, unless they are going to the Tropics!

 

From my perspective, this rollerball makes a nice decorative and very practical addition to my modest collection.

 

* I write with an angle of about 30 degrees, using very little pressure.  Mostly cursive script, but not textbook perfect (i.e. never lifting the pen).  It would seem, from a few experiments, that many variations on these conditions do produce significant skipping on some smooth papers, so Caveat Emptor.

 

Edited June 9, 2022 by Peter_H
Add note on skipping

[Misfit]

I have quite a few Retro 51 rollerballs, fountain pens, and 3 mechanical pencils.  Great review of the rollerball version. It’s nice to see Retro 51 talked about. It doesn’t seem to get a lot of attention here.  

[Targa]

They are great products.

[Misfit]

Impressive collection @Targa

[Targa]

19 minutes ago, Misfit said:

Impressive collection @Targa

Love ‘em.  My wife & I have been getting Christmas LEs every year for stockings for a while.  Best yet IMHO was the “Twinkle” one few years ago.  Also the NYC skyline / Christmas one - reminds me of younger years going into NYC pre-Christmas 

[Misfit]

I was hoping that the Twinkle version would be in their recent Vault offerings. I saw the Twinkle on the Well Appointed Desk blog once. It looks like a cool pen. 

[Targa]

On 11/22/2024 at 5:16 AM, Misfit said:

I was hoping that the Twinkle version would be in their recent Vault offerings. I saw the Twinkle on the Well Appointed Desk blog once. It looks like a cool pen. 

We just got 2 of the “ may flowers” pens with Rickshaw bags as stocking stuffers.  Very pretty.

[gweimer1]

They're fun pens.  I've been building a small collection over the past couple years.  I've gotten a few prototypes, the Abbondanza set, and one of the Cherry Blossom fountain pens.  I keep a Black Cherry rollerball, with an Ohto .5mm tip, in my pocket.

[inkstainedruth]

Retro 51 has some interesting designs.  But I wish more of those were ALSO in their FP lineup -- I'd be more likely to consider buying one....

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[Targa]

If I am not mistaken, the nib on the fountain pens is a JoWo #6, is that right?   If so, one ought to be able to swap out a 14 or 18 K gold one to upgrade the business end, while keeping the colourful style of the cap and barrel.

[Targa]

On 11/22/2024 at 5:16 AM, Misfit said:

I was hoping that the Twinkle version would be in their recent Vault offerings. I saw the Twinkle on the Well Appointed Desk blog once. It looks like a cool pen. 

I bought a bunch of Twinkles when they came out as gifts for clients - We still have 2 but I wish I had some of them back.  GORGEOUS pens.

[gweimer1]

On 11/29/2024 at 3:37 PM, Targa said:

If I am not mistaken, the nib on the fountain pens is a JoWo #6, is that right?   If so, one ought to be able to swap out a 14 or 18 K gold one to upgrade the business end, while keeping the colourful style of the cap and barrel.

 

The earlier ones used Schmidt, I believe.   Yeah, it's a #6, though.  I've done a few nib swaps on them.

[boilermaker1975]

I love Retro 51s, very solid pens. I have over 100 roller balls and just started building a fountain pen collection with 10.

 

Here are some of mine.

 

[gweimer1]

I like them.  I think I have about 20, including a few prototypes,  and an Abbondanza set.  Their fans are intense.  I wrote an article on Retro51 for The Pennant last year.

[kestrel]

On 11/27/2024 at 1:51 PM, inkstainedruth said:

Retro 51 has some interesting designs.  But I wish more of those were ALSO in their FP lineup -- I'd be more likely to consider buying one....

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

I would pay a premium for the owl design in a fountain pen.  Next best thing to a kestrel pen.

 

[boilermaker1975]

1 hour ago, kestrel said:

I would pay a premium for the owl design in a fountain pen.  Next best thing to a kestrel pen.

 

Yes that Rescue Owl is seriously cute! Plus it is textured so it has a great feel.

 

I would love to see it in a fountain pen. 

 

I am traveling so could not take great photos.

[Sporadic Traveler]

I am considering a Retro 51 Tornado rollerball as a present for my nephew but I'm a bit worried that the refill looks proprietary.  Has anyone tried other brand rollerball refills in these?

[boilermaker1975]

It is not a proprietary refill, it is a Parker style refill. I have about 100 Retro 51 rollerballs.

[Misfit]

7 hours ago, Sporadic Traveler said:

I am considering a Retro 51 Tornado rollerball as a present for my nephew but I'm a bit worried that the refill looks proprietary.  Has anyone tried other brand rollerball refills in these?

I have a Private Reserve refill in one of mine. It works well. 
 

This Blog covers a lot of pens and refills. The Retro 51 roller ball is listed under Parker style refills. 
 

This is another Refill finder website. 

 

[Sporadic Traveler]

Thanks!