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The Gama Kambar -Mark 2.

hari317

By hari317
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hari317 Museum Piece

hari317

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Kindly treat this post as an extension to my first review/documentation of the model Gama Kambar from Gem and Co., a pen shop and pen manufacturer based in Madras, India.

 

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php/topic/264032-the-gama-kambar/

 

This pen is the latest avatar(I call this the Kambar Mark-II to keep track of the evolution) of the Kambar concept of an oversized pure flat top design. Gem has acquired some blow hole free Indian BHR rods in the large diameters and they decided to make a few such pens out of the rod stock.

 

The Dimensions are as under(dimensions in brackets are of Kambar Mark-I for the sake of comparison):

 

Capped: 165mm (161mm)
Open: 153mm (150mm)
Section dia: same at 13mm-15mm, tapered.
Section's gripping length: same at 22mm
Barrel dia: 17.5, steps down to 15.4mm (18mm no step)
Cap dia: same at 19mm

 

Essentially the pen has been made slightly longer and the cap thickness has been increased at the cost of a step in the barrel diameter.

 

Onto some pictures now:

 

http://i991.photobucket.com/albums/af39/hari3171/GamaKambar/mark2brushed/IMG_9793.jpg

L-R: 2 nos Kambar MK-II, Kambar Mk-I, MB149

 

http://i991.photobucket.com/albums/af39/hari3171/GamaKambar/mark2brushed/IMG_9794.jpg

 

http://i991.photobucket.com/albums/af39/hari3171/GamaKambar/mark2brushed/IMG_9795.jpg

Mk-I and Mk-II with stock nibs.

 

http://i991.photobucket.com/albums/af39/hari3171/GamaKambar/mark2brushed/IMG_9797.jpg

special Mk-II for M800 nib unit shown with stock Mk-II

 

http://i991.photobucket.com/albums/af39/hari3171/GamaKambar/mark2brushed/IMG_9801.jpg

closeup of the M800 nib unit as installed.

 

http://i991.photobucket.com/albums/af39/hari3171/GamaKambar/mark2brushed/IMG_9798.jpg

same special Mk-II now installed with JoWo #6 nib unit shown with stock Mk-II

 

http://i991.photobucket.com/albums/af39/hari3171/GamaKambar/mark2brushed/IMG_9799.jpg

showing the entrails with JoWo #6 installed.

 

http://i991.photobucket.com/albums/af39/hari3171/GamaKambar/mark2brushed/IMG_9800.jpg

Closeup of the JoWo as installed.

 

Interesting developments and pen design tweaks taking place at Gem and thanks to ASApens.in , despite my large physical distance from Gem and company, I am able to get to buy their new offerings from time to time, almost hot off the oven.

 

Cheers!

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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shrujaya Rare

shrujaya

Posted
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Hari...you excel yourself with each new Gama model that you modify... :thumbup:

 

Just the sight of the M800 nib unit on the sturdy brushed ebonite body makes my ink stained heart leap with joy... this is just beautiful, Hari!!

 

Regards,

 

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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hari317 Museum Piece

hari317

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Thank you Ron and Jai for looking at this thread and for your encouraging comments. :)

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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I did some more play today and installed a M1000 nib unit into the mk-II.

 

http://i991.photobucket.com/albums/af39/hari3171/GamaKambar/LambarMkIIM1000/IMG_9807.jpg

 

http://i991.photobucket.com/albums/af39/hari3171/GamaKambar/LambarMkIIM1000/IMG_9808.jpg

L-R:Mk-I with M1000, Mk-II with M1000, Mk-II with M800

 

Some closeups of the sections:

 

http://i991.photobucket.com/albums/af39/hari3171/GamaKambar/LambarMkIIM1000/IMG_9810.jpg

 

http://i991.photobucket.com/albums/af39/hari3171/GamaKambar/LambarMkIIM1000/IMG_9812.jpg

 

The following view makes clear the gripping point to paper surface distance parameter. Due to this, for the same pen length and section diameter, some people will prefer a shorter nib and some others a longer nib.

 

http://i991.photobucket.com/albums/af39/hari3171/GamaKambar/LambarMkIIM1000/IMG_9813.jpg

 

Comments welcome!

 

Cheers!

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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J English Smith Collectors Item

J English Smith

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Very nice. A GEM ebonite eyedropper pen is on my (very) short list for this year.

<i>"Most people go through life using up half their energy trying to protect a dignity they never had."</i><br>-Marlowe, in <i>The Long Goodbye</i>

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hari317 Museum Piece

hari317

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Very nice. A GEM ebonite eyedropper pen is on my (very) short list for this year.

Good, they are nice pens.

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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Sudhir Mint

Sudhir

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Hi Hari

 

Awesome review, as usual, and lovely photographs.

 

I wish there was some way to get Jowo/Bock/Schmidt nibs in Gama pens as an option directly from Gem & Co. or ASAPENS.in. Not all of us are as skilled at replacing/modifying the pens as you, so an option of a good nib will be appreciated. I have given this feedback to them.

 

I recently got an Oliver from ASAPENS with a Schmidt nib and the difference compared to the standard IPG nibs is significant. I am sure there are at least a few like me willing to pay a slight premium for this kind of an option.

 

Cheers

Sudhir

Fountain pen geek, bibliophile, aspiring audiophile.

Love Single Malt, Coffee, Beer.

Corporate slave by day.

Pursuing Inner Peace.

Slytherin, INTJ.

Follow me on Instagram @thepenperson

Follow me on Twitter @thepenperson

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hari317 Museum Piece

hari317

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Hi Hari

 

Awesome review, as usual, and lovely photographs.

 

I wish there was some way to get Jowo/Bock/Schmidt nibs in Gama pens as an option directly from Gem & Co. or ASAPENS.in. Not all of us are as skilled at replacing/modifying the pens as you, so an option of a good nib will be appreciated. I have given this feedback to them.

 

I recently got an Oliver from ASAPENS with a Schmidt nib and the difference compared to the standard IPG nibs is significant. I am sure there are at least a few like me willing to pay a slight premium for this kind of an option.

 

Cheers

Sudhir

Sudhir, thank you for the kind comments about the review.

 

The issue is slightly complicated but is ultimately doable by ASApens. The premium, i am afraid, might not be slight, but might be appropriate. :)

 

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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Sudhir Mint

Sudhir

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Sudhir, thank you for the kind comments about the review.

 

The issue is slightly complicated but is ultimately doable by ASApens. The premium, i am afraid, might not be slight, but might be appropriate. :)

 

Best

Hari

 

Thanks Hari. If I can get good quality nibs as an option, the appropriate premium would be well worth it... :)

 

Cheers

Sudhir

Fountain pen geek, bibliophile, aspiring audiophile.

Love Single Malt, Coffee, Beer.

Corporate slave by day.

Pursuing Inner Peace.

Slytherin, INTJ.

Follow me on Instagram @thepenperson

Follow me on Twitter @thepenperson

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  • 3 weeks later...
shrujaya Rare

shrujaya

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I received a Gama Kambar designed to fit in a Pelikan M800 nib from Hari a few days back ... a beautiful pen ... here is my post on my Gama Kambar on my blog ...

 

http://www.jaisiri.blogspot.in/2014/05/the-gama-kambar-re-engineered-by-hari.html

 

Regards,

 

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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  • 3 years later...
SailorDoc Dipped Only

SailorDoc

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Posted (edited)

Hello I am inquiring if the Kambar and Kambar Mark 2 are still available for purchase? I have 2 pens from India, the GAMA Supreme, a beautiful writer and GAMA Eyas. The Eyas need a bit of adjustment, has hard starts but when it gets going its a beauty as well. I have 4 more pens from ASA on the way, as well as a Ranga from eBay Model #4. Thank you

Edited by SailorDoc
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