Kim And Co. Pens

[hari317]

Around 3 years back, a kind FPNer mentioned to me about a pen maker that he had discovered in the small coastal town of Calicut in Kerala, India. (BTW, Calicut was the port where Vasco de Gama landed on his first journey to India in 1498). I and the other FPNer were supposed to meet up at Bangalore to look at the pens that he had bought, we set up a metting twice or thrice, but sadly I could never make it due to some or the other reason.

 

Finally, around a week back, pbhat posted about a Ebonite pen that he had bought from his hometown of Calicut and mentioned Kim and Co. as the name of the shop. I googled the shop up and found them listed as opticians, I called them up and arranged to buy a few pens. The pens have arrived today.

 

They have two models which they simply call as the "small" and the "big"!

 

The pen came in a very simple packing:

http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii197/hari317/Kim%20and%20Co/IMG_6044.jpg

 

http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii197/hari317/Kim%20and%20Co/IMG_6046.jpg

 

With a 70's 149:

http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii197/hari317/Kim%20and%20Co/IMG_6047.jpg

 

Pens opened:

http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii197/hari317/Kim%20and%20Co/IMG_6048.jpg

 

http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii197/hari317/Kim%20and%20Co/IMG_6049.jpg

 

Both the pens feature the same nib, it is a small 28mm nib and I thought unsuited for the bigger pen.

http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii197/hari317/Kim%20and%20Co/IMG_6050.jpg

 

A good quality finned HR feeder is used on both the pens:

http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii197/hari317/Kim%20and%20Co/IMG_6051.jpg

 

I have some oversized 40mm spare nibs, it is a perfect match for the "big" with a suitable longer feeder:

http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii197/hari317/Kim%20and%20Co/IMG_6053.jpg

 

It was fun chasing yet another obsure Fountain pen maker in India, I hope you enjoyed the pictures.

 

Regards,

Hari

[jar]

Are the eyedroppers?

 

The big one should have been called the Zam-Zammeh of course.

 

The small one must be a Seven Pound RML.

[hari317]

Are the eyedroppers?

 

Yes Eyedroppers.

[Brian C]

The large is great, once you put an appropriate size nib on it.

[KrazyIvan]

Great looking BIG pen! I do agree that the nib looks better bigger but that clip! I love it! How much does something like that (in original form) run?

[shadowsforbars]

Hari should get his pens for free given all the publicity he generates for these small makers.

 

I agree the original nib in the large pen just looks wrong, but overall the large pen looks like it would be ideal for those with arthritis or carpel tunnel syndrome.

[Brian C]

If possible I would order one today.

[hari317]

Hari should get his pens for free given all the publicity he generates for these small makers.

 

:roflmho: can you guys pls tell that to the manufacturers?, they always want advance payment!!! But seriously, I have no commercial interest in Kim and Co. But I do plan to get some custom pens made from them based on my design, god willing.

 

Best

Hari

[hari317]

If possible I would order one today.

 

I will order one and send it to you gratis along with our next pen trade

[Brian C]

Deal.

[Uncle Red]

Thanks for posting these Hari. They are not kidding about large are they? Even the small is a big pen. I like the shape of the small better, it's a pity these small companies are so hard to get ahold of.

[sjchun79]

WOW!!!!

[rickboone]

I really like the small one. What would it cost to get one sent to me? Is this something you could do?

[hari317]

Thanks for posting these Hari. They are not kidding about large are they? Even the small is a big pen. I like the shape of the small better, it's a pity these small companies are so hard to get ahold of.

 

I too love the section shape on the small one. Definitely true about these small pen companies. It is usually a lone artisan still turning pens, maybe the last one carrying out a family profession. They have little means to market/sell their wares, it is more than 10 years of actively hunting out Indian pens, I still find makers whose work I had not seen before.

 

WOW!!!!

 

I really like the small one.

 

Thanks for the kind comments.

 

Regards,

Hari

[floydee1]

I love 'em. But what really excites me are the feeds on them. The feeds look of good design. One of the best I've seen on an Indian ED pen for a long time. I assume it's ebonite

I could not tell from your pics but what type of feed did you swap on the large pen? It's a shame you couldn't keep the original feed.

 

I REALLY like those original feeds on the pens. But then again I'm easily pleased as it's an ED.

[hari317]

I love 'em. But what really excites me are the feeds on them. The feeds look of good design. One of the best I've seen on an Indian ED pen for a long time. I assume it's ebonite

I could not tell from your pics but what type of feed did you swap on the large pen? It's a shame you couldn't keep the original feed.

 

The original feeds are Ebonite. They are of a much smaller length than required to match the 40mm nib. I have used the following feed:

 

http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii197/hari317/Nib%20and%20feed/IMG_2459.jpg

 

http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii197/hari317/Nib%20and%20feed/IMG_2456.jpg

 

Best

Hari

[pbhat]

Hi Hari

Great to see the Kim & Co pens, they also have a brown marbled finish just like the green you have which also looks great. I have seen a giant sized pen without a clip, too big to get clipped to normal size shirt pocket. The new 40mm nib you have put do make the giant you have got much more proportioned.

Are they open to custom made design?

How is it writing?

pbhat

[hari317]

Hi Pbhat, they seem to be open to making custom designs. I had read your mention about the clipless pen, I did ask them about it, but they said they did not have one presently, but can make one on my order. Since I had never seen their pens, I did not take a chance. Anyway I need a clip on my pens. The stock nibs are quite ordinary and they write like that. I had asked them about the nibs on the phone while placing my order, they told me that they are using "Wality" nibs. That is why I had asked you about the nib length in the other Indian pens thread, but the nibs are clearly not from Wality.

 

Best

Hari

[Anne-Sophie]

Thank You So Much Hari for the great story and pictures of yet another brand of Indian made fountain pens.

 

The Big pen is really big and the picture next to the 149 is spot on, a great way to show scale!

 

The addition of a new feed and nib really make the Big pen more proportioned, it's a splendid idea!

 

Thank You for sharing and please do post pictures of any new find.

 

I think it would also be interesting to see a picture of your collection of Indian pen,

[kareth]

Hi,

 

Humbly requesting to please suggest the dealers/sellers from whom 40mm or bigger nibs + feeder, which suit pens like the big black pen shown in the post, can be purchased.

 

is the length measured from the tip of iridium to the base of nib.

 

thanks

Edited September 14, 2011 by kareth