Indian Fountain Pens

[Pepin]

which among the brands listed is considered the BEST?

[82Greg]

I'm thinking of getting the Deccan 1000. Anyone knows who carries it?

[pbhat]

Hi! I will try this way of attaching photos. I think it has worked! The first photo shows the comparison with the Lamy Vista and Camlin SD pen (another great Indian made pen. The price of the ebonite is hold your breath Indian rupees equivalent about 3$ and sold to me in no frill way packed in a brown paper cover without box or papers. I don't think they will have website and don't know whether they sell online. The Camlin SD pen is also equally good which comes with box, Converter and papers for about 13$.

pbhat

 

Recently on my visit to my home town Calicut (Kozhikode) in Kerala, India I went to a very old pen shop where I used to buy pens during school going days. Surprised to find that the pens shop is still in business has other pen shops have vanished along with many other places we frequently visit during our college days.

The name of the Pen shop is Kim & Company. On drooling around what they are stocking currently which is mostly various types of ballpoints (which I was not interested) I came across a good collection of ebonites FP's. Intrigued I asked about them and they said they make it themselves in their work shop. They have the blacks, striated (or marbled) browns and greens and even a big black jumbo sized one without a clip. They said they have decent sales of these pens mostly purchased by writers and teachers. The pen looked simple with good workmanship and they are all eye droppers and the pens have no name. I bought only one piece, a black one which looks a lot like the Advocate not being sure about the quality and this little issue I have about eye droppers as I have not purchased any once the filling system types were available in the market. Once inked after reaching home the pen started writing without even a single hitch and writes a smooth line between medium and fine with good flow with write amount of wetness and balance. On daily use for the last 2 weeks it has not skipped even once and is probably one of the best writer among my small collection of pens. I wish to bring to notice this point that there may be more such Kim & Company's who are making excellent pens in our country which we are not aware off.

 

My great regret at this moment is that I bought only one piece and this feeling was enhanced when my FP user colleagues started saying that I should have bought one for them (my next visit is probably at least one year away but I have one more reason to visit Calicut). I also bought a bottle of an excellent Chelpark Crimson Violet ink also from them.

 

Sorry! I was not able to post images of the pen stored in my PC, can anybody guide me.

pbhat

[akrishna59]

that is a good looking pen. somehow eyedroppers dont fit me.

 

for our friends here, indian pens are durable and usually write well, they just dont have the marketing hype that western pens have. i have owned quite a few indian and western fps and somehow i still reach for an indian fp most of the time. camlin is by favourite brand among indian fps and i have owned almost all theri models and do mail them whenever they bring out some new changes in the market.

 

rgds.

 

krishna.

[brahmam]

Hi!

 

I am a Chennai living Brahmam. Can you give me the contact details of Kim & Company, especially their phone number? Perhaps, I could post them a cheque and ask them to send me a couple of their pens.

 

Thanks and regards,

 

Chennai Living Brahmam

 

 

 

Hi! I will try this way of attaching photos. I think it has worked! The first photo shows the comparison with the Lamy Vista and Camlin SD pen (another great Indian made pen. The price of the ebonite is hold your breath Indian rupees equivalent about 3$ and sold to me in no frill way packed in a brown paper cover without box or papers. I don't think they will have website and don't know whether they sell online. The Camlin SD pen is also equally good which comes with box, Converter and papers for about 13$.

pbhat

 

Recently on my visit to my home town Calicut (Kozhikode) in Kerala, India I went to a very old pen shop where I used to buy pens during school going days. Surprised to find that the pens shop is still in business has other pen shops have vanished along with many other places we frequently visit during our college days.

The name of the Pen shop is Kim & Company. On drooling around what they are stocking currently which is mostly various types of ballpoints (which I was not interested) I came across a good collection of ebonites FP's. Intrigued I asked about them and they said they make it themselves in their work shop. They have the blacks, striated (or marbled) browns and greens and even a big black jumbo sized one without a clip. They said they have decent sales of these pens mostly purchased by writers and teachers. The pen looked simple with good workmanship and they are all eye droppers and the pens have no name. I bought only one piece, a black one which looks a lot like the Advocate not being sure about the quality and this little issue I have about eye droppers as I have not purchased any once the filling system types were available in the market. Once inked after reaching home the pen started writing without even a single hitch and writes a smooth line between medium and fine with good flow with write amount of wetness and balance. On daily use for the last 2 weeks it has not skipped even once and is probably one of the best writer among my small collection of pens. I wish to bring to notice this point that there may be more such Kim & Company's who are making excellent pens in our country which we are not aware off.

 

My great regret at this moment is that I bought only one piece and this feeling was enhanced when my FP user colleagues started saying that I should have bought one for them (my next visit is probably at least one year away but I have one more reason to visit Calicut). I also bought a bottle of an excellent Chelpark Crimson Violet ink also from them.

 

Sorry! I was not able to post images of the pen stored in my PC, can anybody guide me.

pbhat

 

 

 

 

 

[brahmam]

Just spoke to Dr. B. Rafi of Kim & Company, Calicut. They do sell handmade pens. I am planning to send a cheque to them and get the pens by courier. Dr. Rafi is a walking Pencylopedia. He is very soft spoken and gave a detailed account of their handmade pens. Each pen is individually crafted and Dr. Rafi takes pride of the fact that no two pens are alike. Each is a signature of its own, with its own personality. I believe that, he, like Dr. Lakshmana Rao of Guider pens is one of the few living legends in the art of penmanship.

 

Dr. B. Rafi, PhD

Chief Penologist & Calligraphic Specialist

Kim & Company

Court Road

Kozhikode (Calicut), Kerala 673 001

 

Tel.: (0495) 2721143

Mobile: 0 94472 29456

 

Regards,

Brahmam

[brahmam]

Oh! Oh! Oh! Thy name is Dr. Rafi,

 

The great penman of our time

 

Hailing from Calicut

 

His nibs are of the finest cut

 

He takes a piece of ebonite

 

Works hard late at night

 

He cleans them, he bores them

 

He rifles them and polishes

 

He taps them and threads them

 

Sure the writer doesn't dread them

 

He fixes the feeder along with the nib

 

The feeders ink drool is controlled

 

By the nib, like a child's bib.

 

Oh! Oh! Oh! Dear Dr. Rafi.

 

He clips the cover

 

The pen looks like a tower

 

He adjusts the nib

 

With care - as a baby in the crib

 

His customers do not get a chance to crib!

 

Oh! Oh! Oh! Dear Dr. Rafi

 

Each pen for him is an art

 

Each and every single part

 

He handles them carefully

 

Puts them together

 

Once assembled he inks them

 

With the finest Chelpark or Bril

 

Else at least with Camlin with a thrill

 

Oh! Oh! Oh! Dear Dr. Rafi,

 

He places the nib on the paper

And starts to write with a taper

His pens might not be light

Gentle he is doesn't hold tight

Wow! How well his pens write

No scratch and no fight

Doesn't require any might!

Oh! Oh! Oh! Everytime Dr. Rafi is right.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Just spoke to Dr. B. Rafi of Kim & Company, Calicut. They do sell handmade pens. I am planning to send a cheque to them and get the pens by courier. Dr. Rafi is a walking Pencylopedia. He is very soft spoken and gave a detailed account of their handmade pens. Each pen is individually crafted and Dr. Rafi takes pride of the fact that no two pens are alike. Each is a signature of its own, with its own personality. I believe that, he, like Dr. Lakshmana Rao of Guider pens is one of the few living legends in the art of penmanship.

 

Dr. B. Rafi, PhD

Chief Penologist & Calligraphic Specialist

Kim & Company

Court Road

Kozhikode (Calicut), Kerala 673 001

 

Tel.: (0495) 2721143

Mobile: 0 94472 29456

 

Regards,

Brahmam

 

 

 

 

 

[akrishna59]

that is fine pen poetry, sir.

 

the next time i land in calicut, i am going after this shop.

 

rgds.

 

krishna.

[sajiskumar]

Thanks pbhat and Chennai living Brahmam, for the information. I talked to Mr. Rafi and now planning to buy some pens from him.

BTW, Brahmam , could you please tell me whether Chelpark pens are available at Chennai.

thanks,

-saji

[brahmam]

Dear Saji:

 

Unfortunately, despite my best efforts, I am not able to trace a single Chelpark Pen in Chennai. Shall let you know if I could land on one.

 

Cheers!

"Chennai Living" Brahmam

 

BTW, Saji, did you like my poem?

 

 

 

 

Thanks pbhat and Chennai living Brahmam, for the information. I talked to Mr. Rafi and now planning to buy some pens from him.

BTW, Brahmam , could you please tell me whether Chelpark pens are available at Chennai.

thanks,

-saji

[sajiskumar]

Dear Saji:

 

Unfortunately, despite my best efforts, I am not able to trace a single Chelpark Pen in Chennai. Shall let you know if I could land on one.

 

Cheers!

"Chennai Living" Brahmam

 

BTW, Saji, did you like my poem?

 

 

 

 

Thanks pbhat and Chennai living Brahmam, for the information. I talked to Mr. Rafi and now planning to buy some pens from him.

BTW, Brahmam , could you please tell me whether Chelpark pens are available at Chennai.

thanks,

-saji

 

Thanks Brahmam. I like your poem very much. Are you a Poet/Writer?

-saji

[brahmam]

Oh! Nothing like that Saji!

Me a humble Nirguna Brahmam,

Who indulges in hot Bhajji,

And a simple tune to hum.

 

I like fountain pen

Which I buy now and then

Filling ink

Gives me time to think!

 

But poet am I? Certainly not,

Even if I like my bhajjis hot!

I am just another one to wander

In search of truth beyond yonder!

 

Neither even a writer am I,

Yet though I surely buy,

A pen here and a pen there;

Looking around everywhere.

 

May it be a humble Bril

I would yet give a close look

With nothing as an attached frill

Still writes well in a notebook!

 

Search of truth

And search for pen

Go along side by side!

 

Thoughts flow out,

From a pen open

You have nothing to hide!

 

Thought subsides,

When truth abides -

Be happy my child.

 

Cheers!

"Chennai Living" Brahmam

 

 

 

 

Dear Saji:

 

Unfortunately, despite my best efforts, I am not able to trace a single Chelpark Pen in Chennai. Shall let you know if I could land on one.

 

Cheers!

"Chennai Living" Brahmam

 

BTW, Saji, did you like my poem?

 

 

 

 

Thanks pbhat and Chennai living Brahmam, for the information. I talked to Mr. Rafi and now planning to buy some pens from him.

BTW, Brahmam , could you please tell me whether Chelpark pens are available at Chennai.

thanks,

-saji

 

Thanks Brahmam. I like your poem very much. Are you a Poet/Writer?

-saji

Edited September 6, 2011 by brahmam

[hari317]

I am not able to trace a single Chelpark Pen in Chennai.

Really? have you checked with Rasi pen stores at Adyar main road? or Taj pens at Mylapore?

[sajiskumar]

Hi Mr Hari,

I came to know from some distributors at Trivandrum that Chelpark has stopped producing Fountain Pens. Is it true?. Do you have any information regarding this?

thanks,

-saji

[pbhat]

Post pictures / review when you guys get your pens from Kim & company. They have a giant sized ebonite too, has any body of you ordered the giant?

Unfortunately I have not met Dr. Rafi but spoke only to some staff. In my next visit I will meet him, take pictures of his workshop and probably buy a freshly made piece custom made for me.

Chelpark Crimson violet which I picked from them is pretty nice well behaved ink more towards pink and is washable. I started getting queries when I started using it.

Regards,

pbhat

[sajiskumar]

Oh! Nothing like that Saji!

Me a humble Nirguna Brahmam,

Who indulges in hot Bhajji,

And a simple tune to hum.

 

I like fountain pen

Which I buy now and then

Filling ink

Gives me time to think!

 

But poet am I? Certainly not,

Even if I like my bhajjis hot!

I am just another one to wander

In search of truth beyond yonder!

 

Neither even a writer am I,

Yet though I surely buy,

A pen here and a pen there;

Looking around everywhere.

 

May it be a humble Bril

I would yet give a close look

With nothing as an attached frill

Still writes well in a notebook!

 

Search of truth

And search for pen

Go along side by side!

 

Thoughts flow out,

From a pen open

You have nothing to hide!

 

Thought subsides,

When truth abides -

Be happy my child.

 

Cheers!

"Chennai Living" Brahmam

 

 

 

 

Dear Saji:

 

Unfortunately, despite my best efforts, I am not able to trace a single Chelpark Pen in Chennai. Shall let you know if I could land on one.

 

Cheers!

"Chennai Living" Brahmam

 

BTW, Saji, did you like my poem?

 

 

 

 

Thanks pbhat and Chennai living Brahmam, for the information. I talked to Mr. Rafi and now planning to buy some pens from him.

BTW, Brahmam , could you please tell me whether Chelpark pens are available at Chennai.

thanks,

-saji

 

Thanks Brahmam. I like your poem very much. Are you a Poet/Writer?

-saji

 

Again Good poem. I like it. Dear Brahmam, Could you please write a poem about "poor" Fountain Pens ?

Thanks

-saji

[hari317]

I came to know from some distributors at Trivandrum that Chelpark has stopped producing Fountain Pens. Is it true?. Do you have any information regarding this?

 

That is the standard answer that most shopkeepers give when they do not have what you asked for. I know it for a fact that Chelpark pens are still being manufactured and distributed quite well in the Delhi NCR and North region, they have a poor distribution network in Maharashtra. Chelparks are available in Kerala, look up Shrujaya's posts. I know they were available at Madras.

[sajiskumar]

Hi Mr Hari,

I came to know from some distributors at Trivandrum that Chelpark has stopped producing Fountain Pens. Is it true?. Do you have any information regarding this?

thanks,

-saji

 

Today I got a mail from Chelpark customer care, as follows:

Dear Mr Saji,

 

Our sincere apologies for the delayed reply to your emails.

 

The pens are in short supply due to technical problems in our moulds due to which we are unable to supply.

 

As soon as we are ready we will revert to you and ensure our company salesmen deliver the pens to you at your convinience.

 

Thanking you for your valuable patronage of chelpark products.

 

Regards

 

Customer care

 

Hope I could buy these pens in near future.

[hari317]

Hi Saji,

 

Which model did you ask them for? I have been speaking to the Mumbai distributor and the last time I checked, they had ample supplies of the Maverick, Antic and Moti. only problem is that you have to buy 10 boxes.

 

However if Chelpark themselves are writing to you that they have a production problem, who am i to say anything more?

 

Best,

Hari

[hari317]

Post pictures / review when you guys get your pens from Kim & company. They have a giant sized ebonite too, has any body of you ordered the giant?

Unfortunately I have not met Dr. Rafi but spoke only to some staff. In my next visit I will meet him, take pictures of his workshop and probably buy a freshly made piece custom made for me.

 

Hi Pbhat, can you comment on the nib size on your Kim pen? is it the same size as a wality-8, bigger? or smaller?

 

Thanks!

hari