KBeezie
June 2nd, 2014, 06:18 PM
The Pilot Elite Mini (1970s) with an 18K Soft Fine arrived today from Japan.
Was about close to the same price (not counting the $10 shipping) as the Pilot Elite "Big Cap" (made in Korea, same era) with a Steel Extra-Fine nib that I got from SpeerBob on ebay. (Korean Elite from SpeerBob - $22 with free shipping, Elite Mini 18K from Japan $26 + $10 shipping)
The Elite Mini didn't come with a converter, but the seller did provide a black cartridge. (it's used, so guess the original owner used cartridges for the most part). But that's fine, I got a few spares already, though I'll most likely just be refilling a pilot cartridge (which I also have an empty one of spare).
Some pictures of the top and side, I noticed the feed doesn't seem to be exposed, the section covers the feed, where as on the Korean Elite the feed is exposed (but just like the Elite Mini it has a take-up/breather hole on the bottom, just no breather hole on top).
http://static.karlblessing.com/pens/pilotelitemini/uncapped.jpg
http://static.karlblessing.com/pens/pilotelitemini/uncapped_side.jpg
Some comparison pictures between the Japanese made 18K Mini and the Korean Made Steel one.
http://static.karlblessing.com/pens/pilotelitemini/compare_capped.jpg
http://static.karlblessing.com/pens/pilotelitemini/compare_uncapped.jpg
http://static.karlblessing.com/pens/pilotelitemini/compare_posted.jpg
http://static.karlblessing.com/pens/pilotelitemini/compare_nib.jpg
I haven't inked the Elite Mini yet (did give it a good flushing though), still trying to decide on what color/type of ink to put into it. The Korean one currently has Akkerman #9 Laan van Nieuw Oost-Indigo in it. I'm thinking bout perhaps one of my permanent (ie: waterproof) inks, might go with Noodler's Black Eel, but being a soft fine I might like some shading.
Was about close to the same price (not counting the $10 shipping) as the Pilot Elite "Big Cap" (made in Korea, same era) with a Steel Extra-Fine nib that I got from SpeerBob on ebay. (Korean Elite from SpeerBob - $22 with free shipping, Elite Mini 18K from Japan $26 + $10 shipping)
The Elite Mini didn't come with a converter, but the seller did provide a black cartridge. (it's used, so guess the original owner used cartridges for the most part). But that's fine, I got a few spares already, though I'll most likely just be refilling a pilot cartridge (which I also have an empty one of spare).
Some pictures of the top and side, I noticed the feed doesn't seem to be exposed, the section covers the feed, where as on the Korean Elite the feed is exposed (but just like the Elite Mini it has a take-up/breather hole on the bottom, just no breather hole on top).
http://static.karlblessing.com/pens/pilotelitemini/uncapped.jpg
http://static.karlblessing.com/pens/pilotelitemini/uncapped_side.jpg
Some comparison pictures between the Japanese made 18K Mini and the Korean Made Steel one.
http://static.karlblessing.com/pens/pilotelitemini/compare_capped.jpg
http://static.karlblessing.com/pens/pilotelitemini/compare_uncapped.jpg
http://static.karlblessing.com/pens/pilotelitemini/compare_posted.jpg
http://static.karlblessing.com/pens/pilotelitemini/compare_nib.jpg
I haven't inked the Elite Mini yet (did give it a good flushing though), still trying to decide on what color/type of ink to put into it. The Korean one currently has Akkerman #9 Laan van Nieuw Oost-Indigo in it. I'm thinking bout perhaps one of my permanent (ie: waterproof) inks, might go with Noodler's Black Eel, but being a soft fine I might like some shading.