Aurora 88

[PinarelloOnly]

After much contemplation I have decided to write a short review of this pen and a

further review which will really be more pics down the road because I love reviews

with lots of pics rather than words!

 

To be fair and un-biased I am submitting a review of my 88 with the nib problem that

came with this pen. It wouldn’t be fair to have the pen fixed then submit a more

favorable review with out the dilemma involved.

 

First off Airlineintl.com: Poor! I ordered a large 88 Ottantotto with a chrome cap. I

got a full black resin 88 with chrome trim which is better known as the Nikargenta

trim 88 Aurora model# 800C. At least they got the large size version and fine nib

correct. I called and talked to the person I ordered the pen from and she not only

said yes “I remember you ordered a chrome cap 88” she later after talking to her

boss came back and said that maybe there was some miss communication and that

“I” changed my mind in the order. Please just shoot me! If I could of reached

through the phone from CT to TX I would of! On their behalf they said they would

refund all money including shipping but not after she tried to weasel out of it by

putting some of the blame on me to make herself feel better!!!! Well, at just over

$200 even though I didn’t get the pen I wanted and come to find out, they do not

have a chrome cap Ottantotto anyway, I have decided to keep the pen since trying

to buy this pen at under $210 is hard to do from a vendor who actually has one in

stock with the nib you want on it. Lets just say on looks alone I love this pen,

chrome cap version or not. I still did well. I won’t tell you to not buy from

Airlineintl.com but I won’t be buying from them anymore. For now I'll keep the pen, it's still beautiful.

 

Nib: Poor! BUT! I know Kenro will do good about it, at least I have dealt with them

before and they have earned my respect so, I will let them fix it and give them that

chance. The second I tried to write with it, letting the pen “sit” for 15 minutes after

sucking up it’s first batch of Aurora ink, I knew something was wrong when I tried to

print a capital “A” and on the down stroke there was nothing! Once it started I have

to say the fine nib was pretty smooth but a few down strokes here and there as I

wrote a few sentences the pen kept on skipping around town. This is after a total

flush and inspection of the feed. So I took some pics and off it goes out for repair!

 

 

I have to say the pen is very light filled with ink and yet built like a tank. Piston

action is smooth and you can feel the tight tolerance of the pen. I’ll take this pen

over my M605 any day in build quality alone. The Pelikan has nothing on the Aurora

when it comes the piston action, it makes my M605 feel like a toy.

 

To be continued……

 

 

 

http://fototime.com/%7BFB13D3E2-E02C-4B05-AB2A-9A7C5078229F%7D/picture.JPG

 

http://fototime.com/%7B0BB23F61-626F-444A-83BA-CF8B8486DEEA%7D/picture.JPG

 

http://fototime.com/%7BC228BBD5-AD0E-42E3-ACB2-E1AA903C9ACB%7D/picture.JPG

 

 

 

 

2 pens slightly SMALLER than the 88. M605 and Van Gogh Midi.

 

http://fototime.com/%7BDBF8102B-EB52-4C17-B6C0-E8BAD86A7FF1%7D/picture.JPG

 

http://fototime.com/%7BF55FB9A6-2F9A-4D9B-9E00-C3AFCDF96746%7D/picture.JPG

 

http://fototime.com/%7B18711BAA-22D2-4263-800B-6C2041D5314D%7D/picture.JPG

 

 

 

 

2 pens slightly LARGER than the 88. Talentum and Van Gogh Maxi

 

http://fototime.com/%7BB0E47B2F-C5CE-4C7E-A746-10DD4180AE3B%7D/picture.JPG

 

http://fototime.com/%7B895644C1-88D6-4E05-AE96-5D9BFD7F0642%7D/picture.JPG

 

http://fototime.com/%7BEFFA20F1-F974-47AB-9274-A8E1EA4D3EFB%7D/picture.JPG

 

http://fototime.com/%7BF6A79711-B059-4E62-A165-84E7B57E22BC%7D/picture.JPG

 

 

 

 

Scott.

Edited February 10, 2007 by PinarelloOnly

[Mike S.]

I have an Aurora 88 just like yours and once I got the nib adjusted properly, I really like the way it writes. I agree with you that the build quality and performance of the piston filling mechanism is first rate. I bought mine from Pam at www.oscarbraunpens.com, who is always a pleasure to deal with.

 

Last week, I bought my second Aurora -- an Optima with a medium nib -- and it was terrible. The flow was terrible, it was extra scratchy (Aurora nibs are always scratchy, but this one was worse than that). My dealer exchanged the nib unit for another medium, and it was just as bad. I ended up returning the pen in favor of a Delta Dolce Vita.

 

A couple of weeks ago, mafoofan posted this topic on the Writing Instruments board:

 

Topic 22884

 

It may be that the current production of Aurora nibs is defective. It's a shame, because the pens are beautiful and well-made. The problem is, without a decent nib, a pen is worthless to me.

 

By the way, I have enjoyed reading your reviews, especially the photos. Keep them coming!

 

Mike

Edited January 13, 2007 by Mike S.

[handlebar]

Thanks for the reviews.I have always admired the Aurora lineup.But with such nib issues as stated above,i will not be buying one anytime soon.Rather place my brass coins toward a Stipula or Omas

 

 

JD

[mafoofan]

This recent spat of bad nibs/feeds from Aurora is disconcerting. Part of Aurora's appeal to me is the fact that they make their own nibs. It doesn't seem like that is much of an advantage anymore. I'd rather a bland but working nib from Bock than a unique but useless nib from Aurora.

[Dillo]

Hi,

 

This is interesting since a I have seen a fair number of very recent pens that just came out of the factory and they wrote very well, not scratchy or really toothy. Things might be different since my stockist is in Italy rather than the US. I can't seem to find the Auroras I want here.

 

Dillon

Edited January 13, 2007 by Dillo

[RLTodd]

First off Airlineintl.com:  Poor! I ordered a large 88 Ottantotto with a chrome cap.  I

got a full black resin 88 with chrome trim which is better known as the Nikargenta

trim 88 Aurora model# 800C. At least they got the large size version and fine nib

correct.  I called and talked to the person I ordered the pen from and she not only

said yes “I remember you ordered a chrome cap 88” she later after talking to her

boss came back and said that maybe there was some miss communication and that

“I” changed my mind in the order. Please just shoot me! If I could of reached

through the phone from CT to TX I would of! On their behalf they said they would

refund all money including shipping but not after she tried to weasel out of it by

putting some of the blame on me to make herself feel better!!!!  Well, at just over

$200 even though I didn’t get the pen I wanted and come to find out, they do not

have a chrome cap Ottantotto anyway,

 

Yep, I'm 61 and I remember storys like that about almost all of the New York & Brooklyn camera vendors since I was in High School. It is just the type of people they are.

 

Altmans Luggage unilaterally substitued a medium nib of a fine nib order quite recently.

 

The only thing I've found over the decades is, only buy from people who have good reputations. Some times you have to pay more, but at least you get what you want and keep an honest merchant in business.

Edited January 15, 2007 by RLTodd

[saintsimon]

Maybe these nib problems are the result of the staff lay-off, which Aurora had to make some time ago (I think in 2005)?

 

My 1996 Optima Sole is a perfect pen.

Edited January 14, 2007 by saintsimon

[JRodriguez]

Sorry to hear of the difficulties you've had. The 88 here reviewed was the first Aurora I purchased and I found the fine nib to be more like an x-fine and so sent it off for a medium. The 88 is the pen I use most in my collection and I wouldn't trade it for anything, but had I been stuck with the original fine nib, I would not be able to say the same. In any case, I hope it comes back to you writing wonderfully. And those are some fantastic pictures you took!

[PinarelloOnly]

Sorry to hear of the difficulties you've had. The 88 here reviewed was the first Aurora I purchased and I found the fine nib to be more like an x-fine and so sent it off for a medium. The 88 is the pen I use most in my collection and I wouldn't trade it for anything, but had I been stuck with the original fine nib, I would not be able to say the same. In any case, I hope it comes back to you writing wonderfully. And those are some fantastic pictures you took!

Thanks JRodriguez,

 

Glad you like the pics. I think I am going to take them from now on in natural light.

The shutter stays open around 10 sec. at ISO 1600 on my wife's Nikon D50 so, tripod

set up is a pain but worth it.

 

I agree that Aurora makes narrower writing nibs especially compared to pens with

Schmidt and Bock nibs. BUT I love them like that. I am one who is a big fan of the XF

and Fine Aurora nibs.

 

I have no worries on this pen and like some swearing them off because of what they

read on this forum, I know that it is not an option for me with Aurora. I do believe

that they are aware of any bad performing pens out there through feedback with

dealers and the authorized service center in NJ. I really wouldn't tell any one not to

buy a Talentum, Optima or 88.

 

Scott.

[jjb_13]

Scott

 

Just an aside: Love your taste in bicycles.

I'm a DeRosa, Look guy myself but the Pinarellos I've seen have all been gorgeous

 

John

[PinarelloOnly]

Pen came back from Kenro in Mineola, NY this past Sat. Sent back to me UPS

ground with a total of a 4 day turn around time. Nothing is fixed. Writes dry a few

sentences then starts skipping. It is a little better than before but not up to par the

way it should be. Swapping feeds with my Talentum my 88 wrote a little better.

 

E-mailed Kenro over the weekend and they replied yesterday that they replaced

the nib and feed. They said send it back to them again. Very discouraging to say

the least.

 

This time I took my spark plug gap tool and slowly dragged the .002" "blade"

loosely through the channel with bits of feed sticking to the tool. This is a joke! Pen

writes a lot better now but with flow wet and dry. The feed also, is not holding ink

over a long period of time and so it becomes a hard starter. I think this is

outrageous. I will probably send it back again but I am not holding my breath.

 

Scott.

Edited February 7, 2007 by PinarelloOnly

[Lemon328i]

That's too bad Scott, this must be a relatively new problem. I got an Aurora 88 exactly like yours about 4 years ago with a cursive italic nib from Jim at Bertram's Inkwell and it is perfect with all but Noodler's black for some reason. I hope they are able to fix yours properly!

 

-Calvin

[Nimrud]

Hmm... it looks like if I want another Aurora, I better go snap up the old stock at my friendly B&M store...

[PinarelloOnly]

****Update****

 

Timeline:

 

Approximately 3 weeks ago, received pen from Airlineintl.com on a Fri. Didn’t

perform out of the box, sent to Kenro in Mineola, NY the following Tues. (Jan.15th).

 

Received pen following Sat. Jan. 20th with a new nib and feed. Did not write. Hard

starting with skipping when started. Back to Kenro.

 

Last Friday (Feb.2nd), Called Kenro. “What’s the deal?” Haven’t looked at it, we’ll

look at it first thing Monday (Feb. 5th.). Was told very busy with Aurora and Omas

repairs, only one tech.

 

Received email that Monday afternoon, “…there will be a full pen replacement.”

Problem was determined to be with the piston system after trying different nibs and

feeds. I replied back to their email asking if it was a common problem….received no

answer.

 

Received new 88 the next day from Kenro (Feb.6).

 

 

 

For now, I think Aurora has QC issues and it’s something in denial. I am no expert in

this assumption but when you get into this price range for a FP that performs so

poorly out of the box, it should be something that is unheard of but somehow I do

not think it is. I have a feeling it’s more common than just me, which is too bad. Any

emails to Italy are fast forwarded to Kenro here in the U.S. for answers and it is not

because there is a language problem.

 

Kenro is another issue now. They are obviously in over their heads. If you have a

new Aurora into them for repair you HAVE to call them or you’ll wait in line behind

the old lady that sent in her pen for not writing after she left the cap off it all night.

Believe it or not they will get your pen back to you in a week or so but you have to

call and push them.

 

Right now I would only buy an Optima or 88 at a pen show or from an authorized

vendor, filling it with ink immediately and writing a full paragraph with it. If it lightens

up or skips…..get your money back right there! You do not want to go through with

what I just did.

 

It is possible that my 88 slipped through the cracks and I received a lemon. It is

possible that the pen went through the ringer at Airlineinlt.com before I got it and it’s

also possible that Aurora has QC issues now. Time will tell. Although, I still want

that Optima down the road, I do cringe now at the thought.

 

 

History:

 

Aurora created the 88 in 1947 in which the same classic lines of the pen still stand today.

 

The Aurora 88 can be found on display at the Innovations Exhibit in the National

Museum of Science and Technology, Milan.

 

The 88 was created with the help of industrial designer Marcello Nizzoli (1887-1969)

who was also an artist. Some of his typewriter and sewing machine designs are on

display at MoMA.

 

 

Pros:

 

Street price.

 

Very comfortable for pages and pages of writing.

 

Very light and balanced filled with ink and cap posted.

 

Very well built with a smooth tight tolerance feel overall. Piston action is top notch.

 

<F> nib is smooth.*

 

Nib selection: <XF> <F> <M> <B> 0.9mm italic & stub.

 

In house made nib writes like a Fine should. No Bock nibs here.

 

Nib very easily swaps out with Talentum and Optima.

 

 

 

 

Cons:

 

Replacement nibs are $$$ from the few vendors that sell them.

 

Kenro service slacking lately.

 

 

 

 

*- Very little to no toothy feedback from nib, which was more of a characteristic of

my Aurora <XF> nib that I love. I found using Aurora or Waterman inks with their

lube properties produces even more smoothness with these nibs. Equal in

smoothness to my wife’s Van Gogh Midi <F>.

 

 

Final words:

 

Love the pen.

 

 

 

Pen is exactly between a Midi and Maxi Van Gogh in size as you can see here.

However, filled with ink at 22 grams the 88 is lighter than the Maxi by 15 grams and

lighter than the Midi by 8 grams which does not seem like a lot but my wife noticed it

immediately when she picked up the 88 to try it out.

 

 

Midi / 88 / Maxi

 

http://fototime.com/%7B3F4C6207-E331-4D14-9BD3-67B1A8F68931%7D/picture.JPG

 

http://fototime.com/%7BC2A832FD-A66E-4D65-821A-BDE9AF38205B%7D/picture.JPG

 

http://fototime.com/%7B1E31E9C9-CDAC-4C5D-B28E-CF12CBFAB447%7D/picture.JPG

 

http://fototime.com/%7B6DE3A32B-BBEB-4A7A-A896-EC551DC01BA2%7D/picture.JPG

 

http://fototime.com/%7BD5393793-98E3-4FFF-8303-E771790C477B%7D/picture.JPG

 

http://fototime.com/%7BEF9042CC-C73A-4557-A786-038E486A264D%7D/picture.JPG

 

http://fototime.com/%7B2A8B7FA1-E1A0-4D91-B4FE-F3A74D1679DA%7D/picture.JPG

 

http://fototime.com/%7B44FB8202-E212-4670-B51C-7C9EC95FB944%7D/picture.JPG

Edited February 10, 2007 by PinarelloOnly

[BobR]

I take it that your replacement 88 is performing properly? Hopefully after all you've been through you'll get to enjoy it. The piston filler is actually a real highlight with this pen, as many of us have noted.

 

Great pics, BTW.

Edited February 7, 2007 by BobR

[PinarelloOnly]

I take it that your replacement 88 is performing properly? Hopefully after all you've been through you'll get to enjoy it. The piston filler is actually a real highlight with this pen, as many of us have noted.

 

Great pics, BTW.

Thanks Bob,

 

Yes, my new 88 is working flawless and I will post a writing sample tomorrow.

 

Scott.

[rroossinck]

Top notch review and pictures, Scott.

 

Sorry to hear that Kenro's stumbling. I'm sure that picking up the Omas line hasn't been totally bump-free, and from what I know of the company, they're pretty small. One tech may be all there is for right now, unfortunately.

[JRodriguez]

Glad to hear that Kenro finally set things right. I know how disappointing it can be when one spends that much money on a pen only to have it not write ...

[rroossinck]

You know, as I look (drool) over those pictures, I can't decide which one I want more...the Talentum or the 88?

[PinarelloOnly]

You know, as I look (drool) over those pictures, I can't decide which one I want more...the Talentum or the 88?

Hey rroossinck,

 

Thanks, I would get the 88 first since it's little more expensive out of the two and

so nice to use it will give you so much more time to save up for the Talentum that

maybe you wouldn't want the Talentum anymore.

 

Both are very nice to own however.

 

 

 

Glad to hear that Kenro finally set things right. I know how disappointing it can be when one spends that much money on a pen only to have it not write ...

 

.....and they were very nice about the whole deal. They understood that it wasn't

money well spent until you can actually use the pen.