Hero 850

[hari317]

The fountain pen under review is a Hero model 850, Made in China. I purchased this pen recently and when I set out to research it, I found no reviews of it, so I decided to review this pen as my first review on FPN.

 

Hero pens' most popular models are the hooded nib pens which are good copies of the Parker 51 and 61 family of pens at a much-much cheaper price point. Of late Hero has come out with various models which feature open nibs. The distinguishing feature of the 850 is its integrated nib which is similar in concept to those found on the Parker Falcon, T1 and the Pilot Myu. Though the nib is integrated it looks very much original and not as a copy of any of the previous models.

 

Appearance and presentation:

The pen comes in a nice green cardboard presentation box with a magnetic flap. The inner cover of the box has two corners that can hold a presentation note. The lacquer color of the pen is marked on the outser side of the box by a like colored dot. The quality of the lacquering is quite good.

 

http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii197/hari317/Hero%20850/IMG_1292.jpg

 

http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii197/hari317/Hero%20850/IMG_1295.jpg

 

http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii197/hari317/Hero%20850/IMG_1299.jpg

 

http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii197/hari317/Hero%20850/IMG_1300.jpg

 

Size, weight and balance:

The length of the pen is around 5 1/4 inch which is a nice pocketable size. The pen is made of metal over which lacquering is done. Its weight is medium and feels comfortable in my hand.

 

The cap is not easy to post and it may not be advisable to post the cap on this pen. During photographing the pen while keeping its cap posted for desired angle caused the lacquer on the barrel to scrap out a bit.

 

The clip is nice and springy and easily slides into my shirt pocket. The ribs on the section provide a comfortable grip. The cap has a standard four finger clutch, the three raised tabs on the section seem to be only for cosmetic purposes.

 

Nib, flow, width etc:

 

The nib is the most interesting part of the pen. the Hero logo and an arc like design is scribed onto the nib which gives it a pleasing look. The feed I guess is made of plastic. It is definitely not ebonite.

 

http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii197/hari317/Hero%20850/IMG_1303.jpg

 

http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii197/hari317/Hero%20850/IMG_1307.jpg

 

http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii197/hari317/Hero%20850/IMG_1308.jpg

 

The point is butter smooth and has given me a good medium wet writing experience over various papers that I have tried. The nib width can be called a medium, however the width is not stated anywhere on the pen. the writing sample is on a semi-absorbent legal pad.

 

http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii197/hari317/Hero%20850/IMG_1311.jpg

 

 

Filling System:

 

The pen fills only from the bottle using a fixed squeeze filler of the type found on hooded Heros. The ink capacity seems to be quite OK for this type of filler.

 

http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii197/hari317/Hero%20850/IMG_1310.jpg

 

Conclusion:

 

Hero has added one more much needed choice in the small family of pens that have an integrated nib. In fact I guess it may be the only pen is current production featuring an integrated nib. The performance of this Hero is quite good and is almost as smooth and much wetter than my Parker Falcon.

 

Thanks,

Hari

 

 

 

 

[richardandtracy]

Very nice pen. Thanks for the review.

It'll be interesting to see if it becomes widely available.

 

Regards

 

Richard.

 

[Robert Hughes]

The nib looks like a takeoff on the Sheaffer Triumph nib. Not so much a blatant copy as an interesting variation. With its aerometric-esque filler, I suppose you could call it a Park-eaffer

[Readymade]

Doesn't look like there's any tipping. The ends of the tines are flattened against each other?

[bossy]

Great PowerShot images!

[lovemy51]

great pen and review, hari

 

may i ask where you got it?

best,

[pmsalty]

Thanks for the interesting and informative review!

PMS

[EventHorizon]

I do like that nib.............

 

Thanks for the review.

[hari317]

Doesn't look like there's any tipping. The ends of the tines are flattened against each other?

 

Hi Readymade, I think there is a tipping, but I have no way to tell if the tipping is same or different material as that of nib. Even the cheaper heros like 329 have a tipping on the nibs. The nib tip is definitely not a folded butterfly type of tip. I have trimmed a photo to take closeup of the tip from side.

 

http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii197/hari317/Hero%20850/IMG_1304trimmed.jpg

 

Best,

Hari

 

 

[hari317]

may i ask where you got it?

 

I bought it from a B&M mall in Bangalore, India.

 

Best,

Hari

 

 

 

 

[isellpens]

Very nice review and I will see if I can get this model for isellpens.com .

[SquelchB]

Nice review and beautiful pen.

 

Although I admit, I'd rather spend couple more bucks and get myself Parker 50...

[Fountain Pen Club]

Thank you for the review. Seems like an interesting Fountain Pen.

[lovemy51]

Very nice review and I will see if I can get this model for isellpens.com .

 

let us know if and when you get it, Todd!!!

[bluemoon]

Interesting pen and nice review......

[afagjoi]

Nice review... But I think all this Chinese brand names that copy designs, logos and insignias can't give him applause. There's a lot of Hero pens that use parker's narrow clip or clone famous designs.

 

Sorry, but when this brand will be recognized for the quality in their manufacturing, materials and original designs, yes, I accept the comparisons.

[lovemy51]

w-h-e-r-e

c-a-n

i

f-i-n-d

t-h-i-s????????????????

 

no seller has it on line.

Edited March 31, 2009 by lovemy51

[enricof]

I must recommend some caution with this product.

 

I bought a 849 (minor differences, basically the same pen) from a fellow FPNer, and found a couple of problems.

I must clearly say it is NOT seller's fault and he promptly offered a full refund, but I think you should know.

 

The pen is very nice looking and a great writer (mid-size, lightweight, wet and soft nib), but....

 

After a couple days a sizable part of the clip's plating fallen.

http://i384.photobucket.com/albums/oo288/enricofacchin/Hero849.jpg

 

After a couple weeks of very light use, I noticed the front part was moving, also if the section was securely screwed on the threaded ring.

 

Eventually, the threaded ring (supposed to stay fixed on the barrell) got completely free.

http://i384.photobucket.com/albums/oo288/enricofacchin/P1060139.jpg

 

Found it was kept in place by a bit of crystallized glue, that was easily broken by simply writing.

Looks like the barrel was too wide for press fitting (I would say something like 0,2mm), and they simply "filled the gap" with glue.

 

The problem was easily solved (couple of turns of office self-adhesive tape, to get a nice press-fit) and not the section sits firmly in place, but I am disturbed by the cosmetic solution to a functional problem.

 

Conclusions? Got a rebate on my next purchase, kept the pen (I repeat, a great writer), and this was my LAST chinese pen.

 

 

Edited March 31, 2009 by enricof

[bossy]

Ya, I hear ya.

[Tsujigiri]

Cool development, if only they made it simpler and more elegant like the Pilot Myu. I think Hero tries to make their pens a little too ornate when a simpler pen would be a lot nicer. It couldn't cost too much to make a Myu clone, that pen is only valuable because of the design, not the materials or intricacy of manufacture.