Nathan Weston
April 12th, 2018, 04:33 AM
After the TWSBI Precision, a premium mechanical pencil which looks not dissimilar to the rotring 600, comes the TWSBI Pagoda Jr., an entry-level mechanical pencil which looks not dissimilar to the rotring Tikky. But if there is a design homage, it comes with some real improvements in execution. Let's take a look.
Design
In a word - pretty. Gently off-white plastic hexagonal faceted barrel (also comes in blue and orange), chrome trim, lovely grippy rubber "section".
https://image.ibb.co/jR38SH/IMG_20180407_205522523_BURST000_COVER_TOP.jpg
Design of the grip puts one in mind of a ghostly Pierrot clown, haunting a spectral pavilion on the end of Brighton pier. Yes it does, look at it. Chrome trim.
Execution
Solid. High tolerances on the fit, no wobble in the pusher, clip is very strong. The retraction mechanism is perhaps a little more spongy than you might like compared to the rotring 600, but that's like saying "the vocal performance lacks a little compared to Tony Bennett." The man's a honey-voiced legend. Why would you say that? What's wrong with you?
Eraser
It'll stop your pencil leads falling out. As a bonus it will erase pencil marks, if you've forgotten to bring an actual eraser.
https://image.ibb.co/ePazZx/IMG_20180407_205648201_BURST000_COVER_TOP.jpg
Writing experience
Feels great in the hand because of the added girth - more "a mechanical pen that happens to be a pencil" than "a woodcase pencil that happens to be mechanical." No sense that the leads might break. This is a pencil you can brandish with confidence. Chin up. The page is yours. OWN IT.
Name
Pagoda is a nice word. Pagoda Jr.? Perhaps it's... a small pagoda? Perhaps it's designed for children? Perhaps they'll release a TWSBI Pagoda that's, like, an inch thicker? I don't know what's going on here.
Price
I got mine for £4.95 from the fine folks at Bureau Direct (https://www.bureaudirect.co.uk/twsbi-pagoda-mechanical-pencil).
Quality of photos
Honestly not great.
Should I buy it?
Look, I can't make these kind of big life decisions for you.
Design
In a word - pretty. Gently off-white plastic hexagonal faceted barrel (also comes in blue and orange), chrome trim, lovely grippy rubber "section".
https://image.ibb.co/jR38SH/IMG_20180407_205522523_BURST000_COVER_TOP.jpg
Design of the grip puts one in mind of a ghostly Pierrot clown, haunting a spectral pavilion on the end of Brighton pier. Yes it does, look at it. Chrome trim.
Execution
Solid. High tolerances on the fit, no wobble in the pusher, clip is very strong. The retraction mechanism is perhaps a little more spongy than you might like compared to the rotring 600, but that's like saying "the vocal performance lacks a little compared to Tony Bennett." The man's a honey-voiced legend. Why would you say that? What's wrong with you?
Eraser
It'll stop your pencil leads falling out. As a bonus it will erase pencil marks, if you've forgotten to bring an actual eraser.
https://image.ibb.co/ePazZx/IMG_20180407_205648201_BURST000_COVER_TOP.jpg
Writing experience
Feels great in the hand because of the added girth - more "a mechanical pen that happens to be a pencil" than "a woodcase pencil that happens to be mechanical." No sense that the leads might break. This is a pencil you can brandish with confidence. Chin up. The page is yours. OWN IT.
Name
Pagoda is a nice word. Pagoda Jr.? Perhaps it's... a small pagoda? Perhaps it's designed for children? Perhaps they'll release a TWSBI Pagoda that's, like, an inch thicker? I don't know what's going on here.
Price
I got mine for £4.95 from the fine folks at Bureau Direct (https://www.bureaudirect.co.uk/twsbi-pagoda-mechanical-pencil).
Quality of photos
Honestly not great.
Should I buy it?
Look, I can't make these kind of big life decisions for you.