Results 1 to 17 of 17

Thread: Danitrio Raw Ebonite Pen Comeback?

  1. #1
    Junior Member
    Join Date
    Feb 2020
    Posts
    9
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 4 Times in 3 Posts
    Rep Power
    0

    Default Danitrio Raw Ebonite Pen Comeback?

    Hello everyone,
    When I bring my Danitrio collection to the pen shows, I keep being asked about the Danitrio raw ebonite pens. I’m trying to gauge overall interest. Do you think that there is a lot of interest in these pens again (Mikado, Takumi, Genkai bodies). I know there used to be massive demand for them back many years ago.

    Image of one of them that I grabbed online:

  2. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to urushipen For This Useful Post:

    amk (March 8th, 2020), sgphoto (March 8th, 2020)

  3. #2
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Mar 2017
    Location
    California Central Coast
    Posts
    652
    Thanks
    2,403
    Thanked 1,124 Times in 428 Posts
    Rep Power
    9

    Default Re: Danitrio Raw Ebonite Pen Comeback?

    Iirc the Danitrio Raw was first introduced back around 2006 by Kevin (Winedoc) at FPN. It was originally an experiment to gauge interest and then became a "must-have" pen because it was very inexpensive compared to the other urushi Danitrio models. Initial price was around $155US and came with a plain wooden box and a plain clip could be added on. It had the 18kt gold Fireball nib and had a plastic feed that was later changed out to ebonite when ink starvation problems arose with the soft "flex" nib upgrade. I think the very last Danitrio Raws were sold around early 2009.

    The reason the Danitrio Raw was discontinued was because the Japanese lathe-maker who worked on these pens passed away. ( I think he was in his 70's.) He basically charged very little for his work and Danitrio passed on the huge cost savings to Winedoc. Attempts to have other Japanese lathe-makers create these pens at around the same cost of the original maker were unsuccessful.

    Would there be an interest? I'm sure there would be if they were a fraction of the cost of the Urushi version. Again, it depends on how much you would charge for the new Danitrio Raw. And then there is turn-around time. Conid Bulkfillers are extremely popular but people don't want to wait 4+ months or longer to get one made and delivered.

    All the Best.
    Last edited by junglejim; March 8th, 2020 at 01:26 PM. Reason: Spelling, as usual...
    Bucket list - walk the Camino de Santiago again

  4. The Following 3 Users Say Thank You to junglejim For This Useful Post:

    amk (March 8th, 2020), Chemyst (March 7th, 2020), sgphoto (March 8th, 2020)

  5. #3
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Feb 2020
    Posts
    290
    Thanks
    469
    Thanked 311 Times in 147 Posts
    Rep Power
    5

    Default Re: Danitrio Raw Ebonite Pen Comeback?

    I'd be interested as I'm tired of acrylic pens that, for many of them, have all the charm of a BIC crystal and a multi-colored gumball joined in unholy wedlock.

    I also love ebonite.

    Sg

  6. #4
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Apr 2012
    Location
    Chartres, France
    Posts
    1,137
    Thanks
    2,610
    Thanked 825 Times in 446 Posts
    Rep Power
    13

    Default Re: Danitrio Raw Ebonite Pen Comeback?

    Yes, I would definitely be interested at the right price point. Particularly if they do a Hyotan raw ebonite.

  7. #5
    Senior Member KBeezie's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2014
    Location
    Grand Rapids, Michigan
    Posts
    2,067
    Thanks
    165
    Thanked 1,642 Times in 665 Posts
    Rep Power
    12

    Default Re: Danitrio Raw Ebonite Pen Comeback?

    I don't know if I'd be interested in the "RAW" ebonite, but the Danitrio Mae West (now called Hyotan) was traded to me, originally called raw ebonite, but after a few emails with Danitrio, turns out what I had was instead Recession Urushi. Basically where the urushi is rubbed on rather than painted on, giving it more of a matte finish rather than a high gloss finish.

    They stated they did this primarily because the raw (with no urushi) was turning green after a few months.



    That I wouldn't mind seeing more often as opposed to straight raw ebonite which will discolor eventually. (And the matte but not completely dull appearance would be rather attractive to me, especially in the way it feels).
    Last edited by KBeezie; March 8th, 2020 at 03:57 AM.

  8. The Following 4 Users Say Thank You to KBeezie For This Useful Post:

    amk (March 8th, 2020), junglejim (March 8th, 2020), sgphoto (March 8th, 2020), steelpanalley (March 8th, 2020)

  9. #6
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    May 2014
    Posts
    944
    Thanks
    42
    Thanked 237 Times in 184 Posts
    Rep Power
    10

    Default Re: Danitrio Raw Ebonite Pen Comeback?

    I would be interested, especially if it featured a Japanese style eyedropper shut off valve.

  10. #7
    Senior Member Lloyd's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2012
    Posts
    1,630
    Thanks
    3,598
    Thanked 1,043 Times in 637 Posts
    Rep Power
    14

    Default Re: Danitrio Raw Ebonite Pen Comeback?

    For just raw ebonite, one can buy a Ranga and add on a gold Bock nib.

    If there are any typos in this post, I blame Tapatalk!
    M: I came here for a good argument.
    A: No you didn't; no, you came here for an argument.
    M: An argument isn't just contradiction.
    A: It can be.
    M: No it can't. An argument is a connected series of statements intended to establish a proposition.
    A: No it isn't.
    M: Yes it is! It's not just contradiction.
    A: Look, if I argue with you, I must take up a contrary position.
    M: Yes, but that's not just saying 'No it isn't.'
    A: Yes it is!
    M: No it isn't!

  11. #8
    Junior Member
    Join Date
    Feb 2020
    Posts
    9
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 4 Times in 3 Posts
    Rep Power
    0

    Default Re: Danitrio Raw Ebonite Pen Comeback?

    Thanks guys for the feedback. Definitely wanted to understand people’s opinion on it to see if it is something to bring back to Danitrio to consider. Danitrio definitely won’t be able to create the original raw ebonite from back in the day but could probably create a tribute to it; the prices would definitely not be the aforementioned prices of back in the day unfortunately as the 18k gold nib in itself definitely exceeds it with the current value of gold.

  12. The Following User Says Thank You to urushipen For This Useful Post:

    Chemyst (March 13th, 2020)

  13. #9
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Apr 2012
    Location
    Chartres, France
    Posts
    1,137
    Thanks
    2,610
    Thanked 825 Times in 446 Posts
    Rep Power
    13

    Default Re: Danitrio Raw Ebonite Pen Comeback?

    Keep us posted urushipen!

  14. #10
    Senior Member FredRydr's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2012
    Location
    Carlisle, Pennsylvania USA
    Posts
    4,909
    Thanks
    1,396
    Thanked 6,390 Times in 2,505 Posts
    Rep Power
    18

    Default Re: Danitrio Raw Ebonite Pen Comeback?

    Quote Originally Posted by KBeezie View Post
    ...the raw (with no urushi) was turning green after a few months. ...
    Perhaps a bottle of Mark Hoover's deoxidizer should be included with every pen!

  15. The Following User Says Thank You to FredRydr For This Useful Post:

    Chemyst (March 13th, 2020)

  16. #11
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Feb 2020
    Posts
    290
    Thanks
    469
    Thanked 311 Times in 147 Posts
    Rep Power
    5

    Default Re: Danitrio Raw Ebonite Pen Comeback?

    Is there a "home" treatment one can apply to raw ebonite to prevent or slow down oxidation?

    Thanks.

  17. #12
    Senior Member Deb's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2013
    Location
    Highlands of Scotland
    Posts
    1,747
    Thanks
    2,353
    Thanked 1,927 Times in 842 Posts
    Rep Power
    12

    Default Re: Danitrio Raw Ebonite Pen Comeback?

    I don't think so. I have seen some people advising the use of waxes of various kinds but these are all problematic and they are very, very hard to remove once applied. Don't expose the pen to light too much and keep it away from water.
    Regards,
    Deb
    My Blog

  18. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to Deb For This Useful Post:

    Chemyst (March 13th, 2020), sgphoto (March 13th, 2020)

  19. #13
    Junior Member
    Join Date
    Feb 2020
    Posts
    1
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post
    Rep Power
    0

    Default Re: Danitrio Raw Ebonite Pen Comeback?

    If you guys are into pipe smoking, you will have to care for ebonite/vulcanite stems also. What we basically do is wipie off the surface after every use, dont expose them extended period of heat and light. Try obsidian pipe stem oil though, they are really good at preventing oxidisation.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

  20. The Following User Says Thank You to minhtuanp86 For This Useful Post:

    sgphoto (March 13th, 2020)

  21. #14
    Senior Member grainweevil's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2014
    Location
    Cornwall, UK
    Posts
    1,572
    Thanks
    269
    Thanked 885 Times in 461 Posts
    Rep Power
    12

    Default Re: Danitrio Raw Ebonite Pen Comeback?

    Quote Originally Posted by Deb View Post
    Don't expose the pen to light too much and keep it away from water.
    And never feed it ink after midnight...
    In the words of Paul Simon, you can call me Al.

  22. #15
    Senior Member Lloyd's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2012
    Posts
    1,630
    Thanks
    3,598
    Thanked 1,043 Times in 637 Posts
    Rep Power
    14

    Default Re: Danitrio Raw Ebonite Pen Comeback?

    You could buy a Danitrio with urushi and then strip the coating off of it. 😂

    If there are any typos in this post, I blame Tapatalk!
    M: I came here for a good argument.
    A: No you didn't; no, you came here for an argument.
    M: An argument isn't just contradiction.
    A: It can be.
    M: No it can't. An argument is a connected series of statements intended to establish a proposition.
    A: No it isn't.
    M: Yes it is! It's not just contradiction.
    A: Look, if I argue with you, I must take up a contrary position.
    M: Yes, but that's not just saying 'No it isn't.'
    A: Yes it is!
    M: No it isn't!

  23. The Following User Says Thank You to Lloyd For This Useful Post:

    Big Percy (April 13th, 2020)

  24. #16
    Junior Member
    Join Date
    Jan 2020
    Posts
    1
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
    Rep Power
    0

    Default Re: Danitrio Raw Ebonite Pen Comeback?

    Absolutely!!! Especially the ones with the shutoff valve.

  25. #17
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Feb 2020
    Posts
    290
    Thanks
    469
    Thanked 311 Times in 147 Posts
    Rep Power
    5

    Default Re: Danitrio Raw Ebonite Pen Comeback?

    Quote Originally Posted by FredRydr View Post
    Quote Originally Posted by KBeezie View Post
    ...the raw (with no urushi) was turning green after a few months. ...
    Perhaps a bottle of Mark Hoover's deoxidizer should be included with every pen!
    Thanks for the heads up about Mark Hoover. I ordered a bottle of his Restoration Balm and an extra-fine and fine polish just in case. As I have no vintage ebonites (yet) I want to protect my Indian ebonites and so far have no discolorations to remove.

    As a lifelong woodworker, I know the value of 'a little dab will do ya' so I'll be very conservative in its application and will try it on relatively inexpensive ebonites first.

    I ordered it Friday and Mark had it shipped immediately so it should arrive Tuesday. He also has some very nice old ebonite pens that are tempting me.

    Thanks again, Fred. Good info.
    Last edited by sgphoto; March 15th, 2020 at 11:08 AM.

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •