Murfie
April 29th, 2014, 08:02 PM
I rarely see much attention given to the subject of this thread - the Japanese Tombow Object fountain pen. It is not an expensive model, being available for around US$50 (JetPens) and circa £25 (Cult Pens, The Writing Desk). I've had a couple of them for around 5 years or so, plus I purchased 2 extra nib units. I had the camera out today and both pens inked so I thought I would share the results with you.
The pens are of a medium size, with anodised metal barrel (7.1g) and cap (6.7g). The black metal section/nib unit that comes with the pen is the heaviest component (14.8g) but the 2 extra nib units that I purchased separately came in black plastic (3.1g) - a considerable weight difference. Because this difference is between your fingers, balance doesn't seem to be affected, just the total weight feel in the hand. The pens take an international cartridge and there is an optional converter than came with them. In total the pen weighs 30g with the metal section and 18.3g with the plastic section.
The cap is a push fit, but it doesn't require excessive effort, seats well and I've never had one pop off accidentally. The cap does post but the pen doesn't require this to use it, and I have never bothered to do so.
The section has a strange stepped shape, but is more comfortable in the hand that what the images would suggest. If anything I find the variable section width a tad narrow, but this purely subjective.
The nibs are steel and come in 4 grades - EF, F, M and OB. I have one of each. There is very little difference in line width from the F thru to the OB as the sample below indicates. While marked as an OB, there is no sign visually of any obliqueness in the foot of the nib and it looks and writes just like a B. The EF produces a typical Japanese extra fine line, however, it is surprisingly smooth and wet and very enjoyable to use if you like a very fine nib. The nibs are very firm with no give whatsoever, which mightn't suit some users.
The colors of my pens are red and petrol blue. There are seven distinctive colors in all available, including a magnificent purple and a bright orange.
The nib units include the nib, feed, and section all in one as the photos below show. They normally cost around half that of the complete pen.
Overall, I would rate these pens as reasonable value for money. They are pens that would take a lot of punishment and would be good for carting between home and the office, with no great damage to the wallet should one be mislaid or lost.
The pens are of a medium size, with anodised metal barrel (7.1g) and cap (6.7g). The black metal section/nib unit that comes with the pen is the heaviest component (14.8g) but the 2 extra nib units that I purchased separately came in black plastic (3.1g) - a considerable weight difference. Because this difference is between your fingers, balance doesn't seem to be affected, just the total weight feel in the hand. The pens take an international cartridge and there is an optional converter than came with them. In total the pen weighs 30g with the metal section and 18.3g with the plastic section.
The cap is a push fit, but it doesn't require excessive effort, seats well and I've never had one pop off accidentally. The cap does post but the pen doesn't require this to use it, and I have never bothered to do so.
The section has a strange stepped shape, but is more comfortable in the hand that what the images would suggest. If anything I find the variable section width a tad narrow, but this purely subjective.
The nibs are steel and come in 4 grades - EF, F, M and OB. I have one of each. There is very little difference in line width from the F thru to the OB as the sample below indicates. While marked as an OB, there is no sign visually of any obliqueness in the foot of the nib and it looks and writes just like a B. The EF produces a typical Japanese extra fine line, however, it is surprisingly smooth and wet and very enjoyable to use if you like a very fine nib. The nibs are very firm with no give whatsoever, which mightn't suit some users.
The colors of my pens are red and petrol blue. There are seven distinctive colors in all available, including a magnificent purple and a bright orange.
The nib units include the nib, feed, and section all in one as the photos below show. They normally cost around half that of the complete pen.
Overall, I would rate these pens as reasonable value for money. They are pens that would take a lot of punishment and would be good for carting between home and the office, with no great damage to the wallet should one be mislaid or lost.