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The Gama Supreme

hari317

By hari317
in Fountain Pen Reviews

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hari317 Museum Piece

hari317

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Gama is the house brand of the Gem and Co, an exclusive pens store in Parrys corner, Chennai. South India. You can read more about the shop here: link.

 

Gamas are typically short, thick pens. My grandpa and particularly my uncle had told me about the gundu (Tamil word for fat) Gama pena when I used to pester them with questions about the pens that they used in their days...

 

I think the name Gama has also come from the common word for strong, after the undefeated Indian wrestler Gama Pehelwan. link

 

The pen in the review is called the Supreme and its construction befits the name Gama. It is a very big and strong pen and is very well engineered IMO.

 

Available in two colors: Green, brown Ripple:

http://i1313.photobucket.com/albums/t543/hari_317/GamaSupreme/IMG_9117.jpg

 

http://i1313.photobucket.com/albums/t543/hari_317/GamaSupreme/IMG_9119.jpg

 

http://i1313.photobucket.com/albums/t543/hari_317/GamaSupreme/IMG_9123.jpg

 

ED pen:

 

http://i1313.photobucket.com/albums/t543/hari_317/GamaSupreme/IMG_9126.jpg

 

Well made in-situ inner cap:

 

http://i1313.photobucket.com/albums/t543/hari_317/GamaSupreme/IMG_9124.jpg

 

Thick construction for long life:

 

Barrel walls:

 

http://i1313.photobucket.com/albums/t543/hari_317/GamaSupreme/IMG_9127.jpg

 

Section walls:

 

http://i1313.photobucket.com/albums/t543/hari_317/GamaSupreme/IMG_9128.jpg

 

The names are deep engraved on the barrel, perhaps by using old pantographic machines...

 

http://i1313.photobucket.com/albums/t543/hari_317/GamaSupreme/IMG_9129.jpg

 

http://i1313.photobucket.com/albums/t543/hari_317/GamaSupreme/IMG_9130.jpg

 

The pen comes with a Standard Indian no 10 (35mm) IPG nib, I switched the nibs out with my favorites, Indian no 10 on one and Indian no 12(40mm) on the other.

 

http://i1313.photobucket.com/albums/t543/hari_317/GamaSupreme/IMG_9131.jpg

 

http://i1313.photobucket.com/albums/t543/hari_317/GamaSupreme/IMG_9132.jpg

 

http://i1313.photobucket.com/albums/t543/hari_317/GamaSupreme/IMG_9133.jpg

 

Some comparison of the Supreme with other Indians and one German in the stable:

 

http://i1313.photobucket.com/albums/t543/hari_317/GamaSupreme/IMG_9134.jpg

 

L-R: Brahmam, Deccan White MP, Gama, Gama, the puny 149.

 

With some foreign heavyweights:

 

http://i1313.photobucket.com/albums/t543/hari_317/GamaSupreme/IMG_9135.jpg

 

L-R: Gama, Gama, DT Sho Genkai, DT Mikado and the 149.

 

I know, this pic makes the 149 seem like a 144. :)

 

The writing:

 

The pen is very well balanced, i have used it for fast jotting during review meetings as well as extended writing over the last week. It has performed really well for me.

 

http://i1313.photobucket.com/albums/t543/hari_317/GamaSupreme/IMG_9136.jpg

 

http://i1313.photobucket.com/albums/t543/hari_317/GamaSupreme/IMG_9138.jpg

 

Dimensions:

 

Capped: 158mm

Open: 148mm

Posted: 180mm

Cap Dia: 19mm

Barrel Dia: 17.5mm

Section Length: 22mm

Section dia: 15.5mm tapers to 13.4mm

Nib exposed length with the stock no 10 IPG: 22.3mm

 

These are fully handmade pens and I have observed some piece to piece dimension variations.

 

Cost, and most important answer to the question which most of you ask me, where to buy this from:

 

The pen is sold by Gem at a very reasonable price considering the workmanship, materials and the size. If you cannot visit Gem and co personally, Chennai based ASAPENS (link1 link2) are doing an excellent service of making Indian brands available at Indian prices widely. My several transactions with them have been flawless. NAYY.

 

I hope you enjoyed this review.

 

Cheers!

Hari

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited by hari317

In case you wish to write to me, pls use ONLY email by clicking here. I do not check PMs. Thank you.

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That is a really huge pen. Yes, ASA Pens are the best.

I put my savings to test

Lamy & Pilot FPs the Best

No more I even think of the rest

(Preference Fine and Extra Fine Nibs)

Pen is meant for writing - not for looking :-)

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hari317 Museum Piece

hari317

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Nice review, Hari! Lovely pen(s). I'm very much interested in pens from India.

thanks! its nice to hear that you are interested in Indian pens, if this review added to the interest, then I feel satisfied that my job is done. :)

 

Best

Hari

In case you wish to write to me, pls use ONLY email by clicking here. I do not check PMs. Thank you.

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hari317 Museum Piece

hari317

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Beautiful pens Hari. Thanks for sharing.

 

No 12 nib on the brown ripple suits the pen better :)

Thank you. I find the distance between the paper and my grip position on section much easier to manage with the No 10 nib with this pen. But, Of course it is a personal preference.

 

Best

Hari

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betweenthelens Vintage

betweenthelens

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Oh, I see several pens from India in my future. I'm on the board of an organization that builds schools, women's centers and hospitals in India and Nepal and I've always been fascinated by all things India. Now, we're waiting on word on the conditions in Odisha. So very concerned as our facilities are in this state. I have a friend who has a flat in Mumbai, too. They live in Mississippi but keep a place in Mumbai for visits.

 

Thanks again for the great review and the photos.

 

Best,

Laura

 

thanks! its nice to hear that you are interested in Indian pens, if this review added to the interest, then I feel satisfied that my job is done. :)

 

Best

Hari

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shrujaya Rare

shrujaya

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Hari...what beautiful pens!! What lovely ripples!! I like solid robust looking pens...

 

When I saw the pictures of this pen first, I imagined it to be a thicker shorter pen...when I see your pictures, OMG it dwarfs the 149!! I am now waiting for my brown...btw, the green is also delightful... :rolleyes: ... addiction, machhi, addiction...

 

That is the nib which one finds on the Advocate, isn't it? No. 10? Good...looks perfect...

 

Enjoy..

 

Jai

Writing and posting about fountain pens exclusively on www.jaisiri.blogspot.in ... recent posts on Hema Pens (Hyderabad), Haul at Majestic (Bangalore), and Asoka Pens (Tenali)...

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Taurean Rare

Taurean

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Excellent review Hari. I'm going to ask my brother who lives in Chennai to pay Gem and Co a visit soon.

Parker VS (rust)

Parker "51" aerometric (navy grey)

Sheaffer Snorkel Saratoga (burgundy)

Sheaffer Imperial IV Touchdown (green)

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hari317 Museum Piece

hari317

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Nice review. Thank you for mentioning ASA PENS - they seem to have a nice collection of Indian pens - only if they would offer international shipping :(

Thanks Markiv. :) I had to mention them for the great service that they are providing. Just contact them, I am sure they can work something out for you...

In case you wish to write to me, pls use ONLY email by clicking here. I do not check PMs. Thank you.

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hari317 Museum Piece

hari317

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A most informative review - thank you :thumbup:

Thanks Da Vinci. :)

 

Oh, I see several pens from India in my future. I'm on the board of an organization that builds schools, women's centers and hospitals in India and Nepal and I've always been fascinated by all things India. Now, we're waiting on word on the conditions in Odisha. So very concerned as our facilities are in this state. I have a friend who has a flat in Mumbai, too. They live in Mississippi but keep a place in Mumbai for visits.

 

Thanks again for the great review and the photos.

 

Best,

Laura

 

That is very noble work Laura. I think the worst of the cyclone has passed yesterday night.

In case you wish to write to me, pls use ONLY email by clicking here. I do not check PMs. Thank you.

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hari317 Museum Piece

hari317

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Hari...what beautiful pens!! What lovely ripples!! I like solid robust looking pens...

 

When I saw the pictures of this pen first, I imagined it to be a thicker shorter pen...when I see your pictures, OMG it dwarfs the 149!! I am now waiting for my brown...btw, the green is also delightful... :rolleyes: ... addiction, machhi, addiction...

 

That is the nib which one finds on the Advocate, isn't it? No. 10? Good...looks perfect...

 

Enjoy..

 

Jai

I agree, the rippled pattern was quite uncommon on Indian rods. I have a hunch Gem is working with some really old stock of ebonite. The rods are nearly defect free, a knack that the modern Indian rod makers seem to have lost from to the number of blow holes that one sees in modern thick rods.

 

I was similarly shocked by the size and hurriedly reserved and bought a few more pens before they were all gone/design changed due to thick rods being no longer available etc(Happens all the time. e.g. if you remember the Kim and co super jumbo that I designed and got made, later Rafi told me he no longer has the thick black HR rod stock left...)

 

Your brown pen is in transit to me, I shall have it here by Monday and will fit the nice F nib that you usually like and send it to you, hope you will enjoy it and it will be a small token of appreciation for all the running around that you have done on my behalf with Deccan. Yes, that is the same nib that is found on Advocates.

 

Best

Hari

In case you wish to write to me, pls use ONLY email by clicking here. I do not check PMs. Thank you.

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hari317 Museum Piece

hari317

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Excellent review Hari. I'm going to ask my brother who lives in Chennai to pay Gem and Co a visit soon.

Hey Taurean, nice to hear from you after a long gap! Hope you are fine... Yes, surely Gem deserves a visit. They make many more models and I hope someone else will take up the task of documenting/showing them on FPN.

In case you wish to write to me, pls use ONLY email by clicking here. I do not check PMs. Thank you.

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terminal Collectors Item

terminal

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Great review, as always. I'd never heard of Gem, but this is a really impressive pen. I'm very fond of the style. They definitely make the 149 look totally out of scale.

"One always looking for flaws leaves too little time for construction" ...

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hari317 Museum Piece

hari317

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Great review, as always. I'd never heard of Gem, but this is a really impressive pen. I'm very fond of the style. They definitely make the 149 look totally out of scale.

Thanks! haha, if we cannot make it better, we can at least make it bigger. ;)

In case you wish to write to me, pls use ONLY email by clicking here. I do not check PMs. Thank you.

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