Pilot 100 year anniversary fountain pen rumours...

[Sammyo]

Hi all,

I just got wind of some rumours about Pilots 100 year anniversary model fountain pens.

A 100万円 (10,000 USD) Maki-e special edition.
No more details than that at this time.

A 10万円 (1,000 USD) Special Edition release.
No more details than that at this time.

Some Limited, or even possibly just new, inks to be added to the Iroshizuku line up.

That's all I've heard so far. No real details, but they come from some very connected sources...

What would you all like to see?

[Ahriman4891]

Interesting, thanks for sharing.

I'd like to see something with friendlier pricing, TBH, e.g. a special edition of the 912. With most pens, more expensive inevitably means bigger. They already have a ~1000 USD pen, the Custom Urushi, and I didn't care for it when I tried it -- it was too big. I have a suspicion the centenary 1000 USD pen will be some limited color of the Custom Urushi...

A brand new model to join the lineup would be nice. My personal wish is for a large piston-filled Falcon with a #15-sized nib.

[stub]

CH 912 in something other than black.

823 in a nifty finish

A retro Capless re-issue with old style clip not just new paint on the same old whatever.

Some shit under like a fucking million dollars that regular peeps can own and use.

Enough Urishi & Maki-e. Or rather at least do something commemorative at each price range.

Maybe some nice special 100th or retro nib engraving.

I usually don't care about this kind of thing but I have a real soft spot for Pilot. I'd love for them to really generate some noise for this 100th but am 100% prepared to be disappointed by some unobtainable butt-ugly Maki-e abalony shell monstrosity.

[myu]

Yikes... those are some steep prices. Nevertheless it'll be curious to see what they come up with.

[myu]

[...]

A retro Capless re-issue with old style clip not just new paint on the same old whatever.

[...]
Agreed. I'm tired of seeing VP and Decimo variants. I want them to re-release the steel striped models from the 1970's, with some design refinements and compatibility with current VP nib assemblies. :)

[Sammyo]

Chill people! These are rumors of the top end only!
Wow, so much hate before we know anything!
This is how we ruin nice things!

I've also heard that there will be collaborations with some stores for some special edition lower end pens.

Pilot have announced a LOT outside of fountain pens for their 100 years celebration. You have to remember, fountain pens are a very small part of their business. They are making new G2 pens, new markers, new Frixion pens, etc...

I now know of, and have seen, two store exclusive Capless Decimo's (tortoise shell and a blue marble with all gold trim). And I've heard rumblings about some plan for something that looks like it is based on the 74 model.

[catbert]

This centenary site (https://pilot-100years.eu/eu-eu/) is more Mika (had to look up who that is) than maki-e, though urushi and maki-e get a mention in the company timeline, along with the capless.

What would I like to see? Something for everyone, as befits a company with such a wide product range. And a new, lighter capless. Maybe 2023 (60 years) would be the right time for that one.

[myu]

Pilot have announced a LOT outside of fountain pens for their 100 years celebration. You have to remember, fountain pens are a very small part of their business. They are making new G2 pens, new markers, new Frixion pens, etc...
I would like to see them release a finer G2 refill, similar to the Pentel Energel XLRN3. I picked up one and installed it in a rOtring 600 (replacing a dwindling G2) and wow... XXF line! It would be great if Pilot could do something similar. I'd also like to see them take the BRFN-30 and lengthen it to a Parker style refill. The BRFN-30 ink is fantastic. It's oil based and yet has a near gel smoothness, without the excessive flow you can get on some papers with a gel.


I now know of, and have seen, two store exclusive Capless Decimo's (tortoise shell and a blue marble with all gold trim). And I've heard rumblings about some plan for something that looks like it is based on the 74 model.
Are these new releases? Never heard of Pilot using tortoise shell before! Would love to see pics... searching doesn't turn up anything.

[Sammyo]

Are these new releases? Never heard of Pilot using tortoise shell before! Would love to see pics... searching doesn't turn up anything.
The Decimos are store exclusives to あなたブランド (Anata BURANDO) (your brand).
You can see pictures off them at the top of this page:
http://www.mitaclub.co.jp/html/topics/original.html
Also here is a pic from their Facebook page:
37947

[myu]

^ Ah, thank you. So it's a "tortoise shell" motif, but not literally tortoise shell. :)

[Sammyo]

^ Ah, thank you. So it's a "tortoise shell" motif, but not literally tortoise shell. :)
Ah! sorry, yes.

[grainweevil]

Trade in tortoiseshell has been banned since 1973, so I wouldn't hold out for any real tortoiseshell pens, myu.

I used to be quite the Pilot fan, but I just can't get excited about this at all. Pilot treat the European market like a clueless cash cow, so either there'll be nothing FP related at all, or it'll be ridiculously over-priced. Don't need the disappointment, to be honest. :(

[yeepers]

How I wish I could get that purple “tortoiseshell”!!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Ahriman4891]

Pilot just issued a press release: http://www.pilot.co.jp/press_release/2018/09/10/100.html

Translation by a Reddit poster here: https://www.reddit.com/r/fountainpens/comments/9ekce7/pilot_100th_anniversary_pens_press_release_jp/

[Zhivago]

Wasn't there supposed to be an announcement today of a more affordable 100th anniversary release?

[Medieval]

Hope the "affordable" option is less than £2,000