Deccan Aurelius / Author

[shrujaya]

Deccan Pen Stores, Hyderabad, has come out with a new FP model… Mr Zubair, who mans the Secunderabad branch of DPS, called me a few days back…I was planning to visit the Secunderabad branch anyway to see if I could get a nice mechanical pencil, and also to look at some inks and Camlin SD had come up for discussion once again on FPN and I didn’t have one with me…so, Zubair informs me that Deccan Pens has made a new model and that he has got one piece reserved for me and when could I make it…since I was anyway planning to go there, I decided to visit that day itself…and this is the FP he showed me…

 

I liked the pen instantly…nice design, sleek lines, and not too glossy black…Zubair said the design is inspired by a British model, but did not exactly remember which...of late Deccan has been experimenting with materials other than their almost staple ebonite and this pen is the second such recent instance (the first can be seen here)…this FP is made of acrylic and is an aerometric filler…I am not a great fan of aerometric fillers, which kind of put me in a hesitant mood …but I found a way of consoling myself telling myself that the ‘most talked about’ FP, P51, is also an aerometric filler…

 

There were some small changes which added to the allure of this pen… the calligraphic Deccan ‘D’, which is usually seen near the cap lip, is on the cap jewel in this model and the medium point nib looks customised with 'Deccan' engraved on it...first time for a steel nib I thought for Deccan Pens...I ran photos of this pen through Hari and he clarified that Deccan had these customised steel nibs and would on request fix them on FPs…Zubair also informed that the clip is US gold plated and won’t fade and that the material used for the body of the pen is German...

 

I filled the pen with Sheaffer Skrip black ink…it writes well, and there is a sweet spot when it is angled slightly right and I enjoyed that smooth flow…but it wouldn’t start up immediately after being closed for a couple of hours and I had to cajole it to re-start…could this be a flow-related problem? Normally, Deccan ED fillers don’t have this problem (I have opened Advocates after a couple of weeks and they purred on like Rolls Royces…ha ha ha)…maybe that aerometric filler…

 

The problem with new Deccan models is that only few pieces are made at a time and DPS is not in a position to cater to FP lovers who would want to get hold of new models…maybe in a far-fetched sense, one can call them Deccan LE Pens…anyway, that is for FP enthusiasts to fight it out with DPS…

 

Zubair told me that they are considering two names for this FP – Deccan Aurelius (in honour of Marcus Aurelius?) and Deccan Author…and haven’t yet decided…I would prefer them to have some pieces of all models at all times so that the entire range is available for selection…

 

Here are some pictures…actually, a lot of pictures…

 

http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn280/bambli_mass/Deccan1capped.jpg

Capped

 

http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn280/bambli_mass/Deccan2uncapped.jpg

Uncapped

 

http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn280/bambli_mass/Deccan3posted.jpg

Posted

 

http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn280/bambli_mass/Deccan8nib.jpg

Close-up of nib with ‘D’ engraved on it…

 

http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn280/bambli_mass/Deccan4clip.jpg

Clip…nice…

 

http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn280/bambli_mass/Deccan5capjewel.jpg

‘D’ on top of the cap…

 

http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn280/bambli_mass/Deccan9nibside.jpg

Side view of the nib…Hari, this is for you…

 

http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn280/bambli_mass/Deccan10feeder.jpg

Feeder

 

http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn280/bambli_mass/Deccan6cap-transcluscent.jpg

I liked the translucency of the material as it reaches the cap lip…

 

http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn280/bambli_mass/Deccan7filler.jpg

Yeah…that filler…

 

http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn280/bambli_mass/Deccan11advnibcomp.jpg

Comparison with Advocate nib

 

http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn280/bambli_mass/Deccan12advsizecomp.jpg

Comparison with Advocate FP…for size…

 

http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn280/bambli_mass/Deccan13writingsample.jpg

Finally…a writing sample…

 

Thanks for visiting and reading and seeing…comments are welcome…

 

Regards,

 

Shrujaya

[hari317]

The pen has a nice shape, thanks for sharing it here Jai.

[pelman]

Nice looking pen Shrujaya. Definitely a LE if reserved for you. You mentioned this is a medium point nib. Can you post a writing sample with a fine tip Deccan pen for comparison?

[markiv]

Thanks for sharing. I like the shape of the pen.

Seem like a good sized pen; can you please post the dimensions?

[shrujaya]

Thanks Hari, Jayant, and Markiv, for your comments...

 

The shape is what hooked me first, Hari...

 

Jayant, all their new models are unplanned LEs...it is after a long time that they brought out another batch of Diplomats; and Masterpieces are available on a regular basis of late...they had a retro series and made two pens...only one seems to be available readily...similarly, the white Masterpiece...only Advocates are all season pens, literally...and figuratively...I'll check if they have a fine Deccan nib and post the comparison photo...

 

Markiv...the pen is 5 inches capped, 4 1/2 inches uncapped, and 6 inches posted...

 

Regards,

 

Shrujaya

[pelman]

Thanks Jai, usually I have only seen the F tipped nibs from Deccan. The medium maybe will add some flair to their lineup. Look forward to the comparison.

[shrujaya]

Jayant...I thought you were referring specifically to the 'D' engraved customised Deccan nibs (like the one on the Aurelius), and not the other nibs that are traditionally on Deccan Pens...but my experience has been that 'medium' has generally their default nib tip size...Zubair informed me that they have the 'D' nib in fine and broad as well...let me see if I can get one of each or more speifically get them fixed on other Deccan pens that I have...again, let me also check my other Deccan pens and check their nib tip sizes for comparison...

 

Shrujaya

[kethiemann]

Great review. Thanks for all the photos. I picked one of these up this week in Hyderabad. Very cool pen! I was hoping to review this pen myself but you beat me to it. I just listed one in the classifieds section. I did some measurements on it. Here they are:

 

-Length capped: 12.8cm (5")

-Length posted: 15cm (5.9")

-Width at the section: 1cm (0.39")

[Abhik]

Nice design Jai. Good photos too. Thanks for sharing.

A

[shrujaya]

I had written that the pen had a flow related problem...well, after a couple of days I kind of checked the pen closely and realised that there was some leftover dust in the cap and it was dropping in on the nib...I then emptied the pen of ink and gave everything a thorough wash...after the wash and dry, I filled it with ink and it started writing smoothly...and a couple of days later I visited DPS, Secunderabad, as I was in the vicinity and this pen was in my pocket and Zubair wanted to know how it was writing...I told him about the dust in the nib and the wash I gave it and he wanted to write and see...he doodled for a while and was not happy with the initial stroke that was missing...he said he'd show it to his uncle and get the problem rectified...and then two days back, I got my pen back...Zubair said there was some problem with the feeder and that was affecting the flow and that it was sorted out...now the flow is very very good and nib is smooth...I am enjoying writing with it...I must thank the Deccan people for taking such care...and for locating the problem and sorting it out even when I hadn't complained...

 

 

 

Nice design, isnt it, Abhik, thanks for appreciating my photographing skills...Deccan guys are trying something new every time...

 

Thanks for your appreciation of my review, Kevin...

 

Shrujaya

Edited March 27, 2012 by shrujaya

[amanp]

Hi shrujaya,

In case you still have the pen will you please help me with the size of nib.

I have a No 8 nib, it is 27.75 mm long and 7.75 mm wide (at shoulders). Will this fit into the Deccan Author without any modification?

[shrujaya]

Amanp, I wouldn't know for sure...it is too imaginary for me to hazard an answer...and as it is, I am neither a nib-master or a pen-master...If I were you, I would take the nib to Deccan and check the fitting...does your Aurelius nib give you problems?

[amanp]

I don't own one but about to buy, just prefer the nib even though I have not tried the deccan nibs. probably I should call them and ask.

[kirki.mandrake]

Dear
I'd love to buy this pen. I live in Europe. How can I buy it?
I wrote to the email address thedeccanpenstores@gmail.com but I did not have answers

[mhguda]

I bought mine from fellow FPN member Mesu some time ago. It was perfect out of the box.

[kirki.mandrake]

Thanks Vulpenfanaat

I am following your advice