TWSBI aims for the masses with an even more affordable “Economic Model” fountain pen

By On · 36 Comments · In News

Some time yesterday TWSBI released renderings of a new concept pen code named PP017 that is aimed squarely at new fountain pen users and anyone with a limited budget. TWSBI is actually referring to it as the “Economic Model” and they’re shooting for a price point of $25-$30. See ya later, Safari!

The design goal with this new fountain pen was to reduce the total number of parts and use fewer or smaller metal parts to reduce the cost. The result after 2 days of design work is 4 new plastic parts: cap, inner cap, barrel, and piston knob.

The image below shows the pen in a white translucent material to give a better sense of the pen’s shape. I sincerely hope this is a new production color because I think it looks fantabulous! Going from the dimensions in the image, it’s just a couple millimeters smaller in each dimension than the Vac700, the same length as 540 but a little  bit larger in diameter.

I think TWSBI really has something awesome here and when combined with the affordable Montesa line that’s still a concept, they’re going to own the introductory fountain pen market.

TWSBI Economic Model PP017 fountain pen white

This rendering is to show off the shape of the pen, namely the round barrel with hexagonal cap and piston knob. Note how similar the section is to the one of the Vac700.

 Source: TWSBI

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  • Alnic

    I agree, that translucent white looks great!

    My pen collection needs a “Frosty.”

  • http://www.facebook.com/will.platt.39 Will Platt

    awesome!!!!! REALLY AWESOME. The design looks great. i really wish there wasn’t such a step b/w the grip and the barrel though…

    • http://theinkednib.com/ Lee Smallwood

      To me, the step doesn’t look as bad on the clear one as on the white one. I wonder if to some extent this issue has already been remedied.

      • http://www.facebook.com/will.platt.39 Will Platt

        i think you’re right on that.

  • http://twitter.com/keristars ★☆ keri ☆★

    I would love to see that translucent white with a vibrant red or green ink. I’m definitely going to have to get one if it goes into production!

  • Guest 1

    Hmmm…”Frosty”….” translucent white, red and green ink” …”awesome design”……OK, everybody on my Christmas list this year is getting ‘Frosty the Snow-Pen’! ;)

    • http://twitter.com/keristars ★☆ keri ☆★

      Ha! Perhaps :) I was just thinking of the two colors of inks I have that don’t just look Dark and Kind Of Maybe Black(ish)? when concentrated in the bottle or in a converter (I don’t have any non-c/c pens in my collection yet).

    • snedwos

      Next year, maybe. This is the first prototype, it’s nowhere near production.

  • Jay

    WANT

  • Tamara

    I want a Frosty the Snow Pen too! I love white pens, and this one is really different. Thank you TWSBI (as always).

  • http://www.facebook.com/john.finkbiner17 John Finkbiner

    Clever design! I have never before seen a round barrel of a pen used with a faceted cap. It looks great! I like that the blind cap repeats the hexagonal design of the cap. TWSBI has a real winner.

  • parnesh

    Awesome! If only they did these with snap on caps or bayonet closing system like the Visconti. It would be the best beginners pen. Also a great carry around, not afraid to damage or loose pen, note taking pen.

    Minor points but definately getting one.

  • RagingDragon

    I don’t like the thin section and big step between section and barrel. Otherwise, I like this design.

    • Maja

      I thought that too but (a) it doesn’t look quite as dramatic as that feature of the Vac 700 and (b) for the price, I can live with it :)

  • rychastings

    hmm, I would be more interested if I didnt have so many ink burping problems with my twsbi 530. it makes such a big mess everytime the temp changes that I barely use it anymore

    • speedy

      the problem will be resolved on update model to come. we improved the feeder efficiency and air exchange gate volume…

  • http://monkeyphotomcr.blogspot.com/ John_the_Monkey

    I like the design of that a lot – especially the way the cap appears to flare in the transparent model (optical illusion because of the metal ring, I guess?) I’d definitely be up for one of these – I think it might make a nice sketching pen, if the nib on my 530 is anything to go by.

  • http://www.facebook.com/nsvalera2 Nestor Valera

    Screw cap? Thanks

  • Michel de Montreal

    Beautiful, this one I can be excited about, the metal one…. meh….. but this looks sweet :)

  • subbes

    Maybe we can FINALLY have a TWSBI that POSTS?

    • http://fpgeeks.com/ Dan Smith

      Does the Vac700 or the Micarta not count?

  • bottleofinkgal

    Looking forward to this…

  • PeppWaves03

    WOW! These pen look sick! I would hope that they somehow someway come out before christmas. These would make great christmas presents to get everyone a pen!

    • http://fpgeeks.com/ Dan Smith

      Maybe Christmas 2013…

  • Doug C

    This is one slick design. If they offer some of the specialty nibs, this couldn and should be a homerun..

  • Lince

    Go TWSBI!!! Great idea back to the Value side of the economy. You sure have a winner.

  • skyppere

    I love the fact that they’re always trying something different…. I’ll definitely have a few of these
    in my stable and some more to give away…
    skyppere

  • DF

    Beautiful pen. It’s just so frustrating that the wait time is so long!!

  • http://theinkednib.com/ Lee Smallwood

    I last bought a pen in June at the Raleigh Pen Show. I will be buying a pen to celebrate a promotion happening Wednesday, but other than that I don’t have many plans. I thought probably I’d buy next year’s Safari. This pen will get a purchase, too. I’ve got to tell you it’s tough reading this site and other places without buying, but I think maybe I am getting to the point where it’s possible.

  • rmhowie

    There is an update to the design on the TWSBI Facebook page. The update has a redesigned piston knob for safer (less inky) posting, and the metal band at the front of the section was eleminated.

  • David

    “See ya later, Safari!”

    I don’t think so… TWSBI has made it so difficult to get the 1.1mm nibs on their pens there still is no challenge to the Safari/Vista with the Lamy 1.1mm nib!

    Undoubtedly this will have a Chinese nib. As if TWSBI nib problems aren’t enough already – that’s really looking for trouble.

    This pen looks like it might actually post… Hmmm.

    • http://twitter.com/Lireoec Rocky Huang

      Really? I’ve never had any problems with TWSBI nibs. One step at a time, slowly TWSBI will dominate.

      I am sure TWSBI will make the nib work, have a little faith. Yes, if it’s post-able then we have a very promising competitor entering the newbie market. =)

  • http://twitter.com/wellapptdesk ana

    I really like the looks of this and could be a good competitor to the Safari. I particularly like the translucent white! How long must we wait for production models?

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  • twsbi_fan

    I seriously cannot wait for this!