Rotring 600 Visual Guide

[JPS_Rotring]

visual guide to the

Rotring 600

 

http://i.imgur.com/WezqgwI.jpg

 

From left to right: 2nd Gen Rollerball, 2nd Gen 18k Gold Nib, 1st Gen Steel Nib.

 

As most of you already have seen plenty of images of the Rotring itself I'm going to concentrate on the differences between the three basic generations. Getting written information about these pens is really difficult because the company got bought by Sanford 1998 and most information of former times was lost or destroyed.

Because of those somewhat murky waters I'm gonna refrain from trying to exactly date the generations

 

http://i.imgur.com/gnTbQ27.jpg

 

1st Generation: No printing on the cap or body, deep knurling, bevel above red ring 50% of height. Was only available in steel, nib indicator has no "L" setting.

2nd Generation: Rotring 600 printed on the cap, not as deep knurling, bevel above red ring 30% to 70% straight. Rollerball and Gold version available

3nd Generation: Rotring 600 printed on the cap, different color used (RAL 3001), deep knurling, bevel above red ring 50% of height, cap is slightly bigger then 1st and 2nd generation. Rollerball and Gold version available. If you find a 2nd or 3rd gen without printing that means it was initially sold via the Rotring branch that sold promotional items to be printed with the promoting company's logo.

 

4th Generation: USA only, imported by levenger, produced to theire specs in Japan. Not much information available. 4th Gen Second Wave has Levenger printed on the side. Additional silver holding lugs protrude from the grip

 

The mechanism for holding the cap changed too over the years, but there was a cross over period, so there are 1st Gen Caps with 2nd Gen holding caps:

http://i.imgur.com/GFRj6Dt.jpg

 

 

Difference in height

http://i.imgur.com/z1iccbZ.jpg

 

Nibs:

EF, F, M, OM, B, OB, BB, L (L only starting 2nd Gen), all were available as gold or steel

 

http://i.imgur.com/oVn0dpW.jpg

 

Notice the difference in knurling? Generations from left to right: 1,2,1,2,2,3

 

 

 

Accessories

 

http://i.imgur.com/yy5wHzQ.jpg

Top: 4 pen gift case

Bottom: 2 pen gift case

 

 

http://i.imgur.com/AVEm8cW.jpg

Holder for ink bottle

 

http://i.imgur.com/1cr71Ie.jpg

2 Pen leather case

 

http://i.imgur.com/xCNB6w1.jpg

4 pen leather case

 

 

 

 

For the grand finale, a few things I've seen people getting wrong:

 

This is not a Rotring 600

 

http://i.imgur.com/sFUC0cW.jpg

 

This is a Rotring Newton. Although it looks quite similar, it has almost nothing to do with the 600 Series. Because the first run wasn't succesful in terms of sales this was meant to appeal to a broader market. Was mildly more succesful, ran until 1998 when Rotring was bought by Sanford. Sanford initially continued sale but most likely was just selling of old stock. Was removed from catalogue in 2004.

 

 

This is not a Rotring 600 "Prototype"

This is a Rotring Lambda. I've seen a few labeled as 600 Prototype, but they're not. Are about 10 years younger then the 600. Only produced as promotional item. You could get them printed with your name (or what you wanted, made to order) on at a large warehouse chain in Germany.

 

http://i.imgur.com/xoKw8IT.jpg

 

 

Feel free to ask me anything you want to know about the Rotring 600 and its versions or other Rotring Pens or even Rotring in general. If you want pictures of something in particular, don't hesitate to ask me.

 

 

Please excuse my grammar and writing, english is my third language. Feel free to point out errors to me!

Edited July 21, 2013 by Carrie
Edited at request of OP to add a few minor corrections

[Dillo]

Hi,

 

Wow! This is very nice! Do you have more pictures of the gold nibbed pens as well? How about the Rotring Newton next to the 600? Where was the Rotring Newton made?

 

Dillon

[The Blue Knight]

I've got a few;

When did you start your collecting 600's and how much did you pay for them?

Do you know of any places bar ebay where NOS or good condition ones are still sold?

[Mesu]

Very informative.

 

Could you list the differences between Rotring 600 and Newton pens, cosmetic and others?

[JPS_Rotring]

Could you list the differences between Rotring 600 and Newton pens, cosmetic and others?

Everything. Its like the the Volkswagen Golf and Audi A3. They are produced by the same company, look a bit similar, but thats about it.

 

Oh I forgot: they use the same cartrides/converters

 

But caveat: There was a Levenger-exclusiv variant mentioned above that had the predecessor of the newtons cap retaining mechanism.

[JPS_Rotring]

Do you have more pictures of the gold nibbed pens as well?

http://i.imgur.com/RFbQlxa.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/MXg5ssG.jpg

 

How about the Rotring Newton next to the 600?

 

http://i.imgur.com/6xoRDdq.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/bZyfc6c.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/gxa3FFg.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/Xi1b07c.jpg

 

 

Where was the Rotring Newton made?

Difficult question. The Newton was introduced in 1998 (earliest mention in catalogue), or 1996 according to an article in an old magazine (from 2001). I dont believe 1996 is correct, that would have meant it was produced by Rotring (Riepe Werke). But all Newtons I know of and read about were produced by Rotring (Sanford). That puts the production most likely in one of Sanfords production facilitys, with the assembly happening in Hamburg Germany.

[JPS_Rotring]

When did you start your collecting 600's

I've got my first one about 15 years ago, as a present. It has been my daily writer until I managed to destroy it (broken feed) around 4 years ago. Since then I'm scared that I could loose it, so I started getting a few spare ones. And a few more. And then started to get interested in everything that goes with it. Thats where I am now.

 

and how much did you pay for them?

I've paid between 70 and 200$ for most of the pens.

 

Do you know of any places bar ebay where NOS or good condition ones are still sold?

Most of my pens I bought in small writing shops all over europe. The last one I found was a NOS Rotring Newton Lava Rollerball and Fountain Pen in a small shop in Vienna. Didn't buy them because I don't like the Newton that much, and I don't like Lava at all.

 

If there is a particular version you are looking for, just send me a PM, I might be able to help you. Currently there are two pens of my collection that I'm thinking about selling, but I don't want to get banned for breaking the rules, so that will have to wait until I've written enough to be able to post something in the classifieds section. But i'm a very lazy writer, so that may take some time.

[Dillo]

Wow! The Newton and 600 are like apples and oranges. I never realized they were so different!

 

Dillon

[attika89]

Wonderful write-up! I love it!
Thank you very much for this!

[pavoni]

This is exactly the type of review/write up one hopes to find on the FPN. Fabulous review JPS and excellent presentation. Many thanks for taking the time.

 

Pavoni.

[UK Mike]

Very interesting and thorough post.

 

I have a steel-nib 600 and a couple of steel nib Newtons and all the pens write identically. Do you know if the nib manufacturer is common to both the 600 and the Newton? I suspect Bock made the nibs but have no real evidence to support it.

[rdh]

Thanks so much for this post. So many people have described and sold the Newton as the new (smooth) version of the 600. This is clearly an example of repeating something so often, that people start to believe it.

 

By the way, does anyone know who makes the Levenger copy of the 600: the L-Tech?

 

Dave

[nicholasyeo]

Simply incredible! Good to know more about my Rotrings...

[JPS_Rotring]

Some recent news: After looking for some information about the Nibs today, I could find a definite year the 600 was introduced: 1989. It was printed on the back of one of the ads and I never noticed it before. And after talking to my friend at Rotring we came to the conclusion that the Newton was indeed introduced 1998 by Rotring (Riepe Werke), but production only started after being bought by Sanford (2000)

Edited July 15, 2013 by JPS_Rotring

[Christopher Godfrey]

Thanks for the most informative post, JPS_Rotring; but now I have to accept that I am <not> the owner of a 600, after all! I <have> a Newton, though! Oy, vey...

[JPS_Rotring]

Very interesting and thorough post.

 

I have a steel-nib 600 and a couple of steel nib Newtons and all the pens write identically. Do you know if the nib manufacturer is common to both the 600 and the Newton? I suspect Bock made the nibs but have no real evidence to support it.

 

I wrote an email to a friend of mine, but I can already tell you that its not easy to find out who made it because Rotring didn't publish these kind of informations. My biggest wish would be to learn the name of the original designer - but nobodys knows for sure. There are 4 people who worked at Rotring at the time, but the person responsible for the design or sketch is not known.

Edited July 15, 2013 by JPS_Rotring

[OnePenGuy]

This is not a Rotring 600 "Prototype"

This is a Rotring Lambda. I've seen a few labeled as 600 Prototype, but they're not. Are about 10 years younger then the 600. Only produced as promotional item. You could get them printed with your name (or what you wanted, made to order) on at a large warehouse chain in Germany.

 

http://i.imgur.com/xoKw8IT.jpg

 

 

Feel free to ask me anything you want to know about the Rotring 600 and its versions or other Rotring Pens or even Rotring in general. If you want pictures of something in particular, don't hesitate to ask me.

So, I just posted about the Lambda (because of imageshack issues) in another thread, but I had another question about the Lambda bp after seeing your image. As a promotional item, was the pen made of mix-and-match parts, or did it have a revision or another generation of it? Because the bp I have has a clip more like the rollerball and fountain pen than what your ballpoint has: http://imageshack.us/a/img822/6348/l9d4.png And if ten years younger, then it came out around when the Newton was introduced?

 

Not a big deal - just a question. Also, my first "major" pen purchase was a rotring 600 series triopen in '97 - and at the time, I thought that the 600/Newton labeling was almost synonymous or something, because I thought it was one line with more than one name. At the time, I thought it got the Newton name because of the "gravity-activated" mechanism used to select the ink refills on the triopen, but I guessed incorrectly, it seems.

 

I've grabbed a few 600/Newtons over the years, and it was quite the design change (somewhat recently) when the Newton looked more like a fashion accessory. And then Sanford or Newell-Rubbermaid exploited the ownership connection when Parker brought out their Facet - was bummed to see how it seemed that rotring's innovative products seemed to get diluted or discontinued after Sanford got involved...

 

Thanks for the guide; 'twas much appreciated!

Edited July 24, 2013 by OnePenGuy

[JPS_Rotring]

As a promotional item, was the pen made of mix-and-match parts, or did it have a revision or another generation of it? Because the bp I have has a clip more like the rollerball and fountain pen than what your ballpoint has

Maybe. Rotring was a very "agile" company, often changing things to speed up production or to correct shortcomings. Because of your post I looked at my Lambdas again and noticed that I've got to different caps for the rollerballs, one like the ballpoint, one like the fountain pen. The round one is milled, but the edged one seems to be stamped. Maybe thats the reason for the change?

 

And if ten years younger, then it came out around when the Newton was introduced?

Most likely, but I have never been able to get a business catalogue of the time before Sanford took over - and the Lambda was not listed in the cconsumer version.

 

Not a big deal - just a question. Also, my first "major" pen purchase was a rotring 600 series triopen in '97 - and at the time, I thought that the 600/Newton labeling was almost synonymous or something, because I thought it was one line with more than one name. At the time, I thought it got the Newton name because of the "gravity-activated" mechanism used to select the ink refills on the triopen, but I guessed incorrectly, it seems.

The 600 was only succesful as mechanical pencil and it was marketed towards engineers. After Sanford took over everything was given city names or fantasy names. No numbers anymore. And so it was named Newton to appeal the normal crowd

 

Let me quote the original catalogue:

Der englisch Physiker, Isaac Newton hat vor 300 Jahren die moderne Physik begründet - durch zielstrebiges Denken. Genau das zeichnet den Newton von rotring (sic!) aus: geradelinig, zielgerichtet und von der Form her genau auf den Punkt gebracht. Ein Schreibgerät für Menschen, die ihren eigenen Weg gehen.

 

300 years ago the english physicist Isaac Newton founded modern physics - with straight thinking. Exactly what makes the Newton by rotring (sic!) unique: straight, directly on target and exactly on point form wise. A writing utensil, for people that go theire own way.

Edited July 24, 2013 by JPS_Rotring

[OnePenGuy]

re: A company's agility (tangent...) Sony seemed to be an agile company (at least, when I paid attention to them) - they used to have their Sony CLIÉ pda's which seemed innovative at the time, and it seemed that, about every quarter, they had some new models out with new features or some upgraded specs. What was frustrating was that they'd refresh their line-up so much that, if you happened to have one model and was looking for support for it at their site, they also dropped official support for the last model period's product just as quickly as the new handhelds came out. Or, at least, that's what it seemed like at the time...

Because of your post I looked at my Lambdas again and noticed that I've got to different caps for the rollerballs, one like the ballpoint, one like the fountain pen. The round one is milled, but the edged one seems to be stamped. Maybe thats the reason for the change?

That could be... So they just changed the process and adapted the components as needed? I'll have to go back and see what exactly the clip looked like (the pic I took was dark for that detail), but I'm pretty sure mine is more like the clips for the capped pens, although I think the clip for your bp looks sturdier.

Most likely, but I have never been able to get a business catalogue of the time before Sanford took over - and the Lambda was not listed in the cconsumer version.

I only happened to notice the one I have because it was listed as a rare rotring pen on that one auction site, so I really have no idea about any of its history.

The 600 was only succesful as mechanical pencil and it was marketed towards engineers. After Sanford took over everything was given city names or fantasy names. No numbers anymore. And so it was named Newton to appeal the normal crowd

Is this success measured in terms of sales? And so the 600 series had a change to its look and it became the Newton? Anyway, I remember that the whole lineup appealed to a few of us engineering students for their build quality and the technical or "industrial design" look...

Let me quote the original catalogue:

Der englisch Physiker, Isaac Newton hat vor 300 Jahren die moderne Physik begründet - durch zielstrebiges Denken. Genau das zeichnet den Newton von rotring (sic!) aus: geradelinig, zielgerichtet und von der Form her genau auf den Punkt gebracht. Ein Schreibgerät für Menschen, die ihren eigenen Weg gehen.

 

300 years ago the english physicist Isaac Newton founded modern physics - with straight thinking. Exactly what makes the Newton by rotring (sic!) unique: straight, directly on target and exactly on point form wise. A writing utensil, for people that go theire own way.

Now that's cool! I never had any print or saw much online catalog documentation for the Newtons (or 600 series, for that matter), so that's great to see what rotring had written about them at the time! Thanks!

[JPS_Rotring]

I only happened to notice the one I have because it was listed as a rare rotring pen on that one auction site, so I really have no idea about any of its history.

It doesnt have a lot of history. And it was a quite cheap writing set when it was first sold in stores, most people don't collect cheap pens. Now they are rare and the current price reflects that.

 

Is this success measured in terms of sales? And so the 600 series had a change to its look and it became the Newton?

It didn't really "change" its look, its more like a new pen with a design thats kind of an homage to the old Rotring 600. The 600 fountain pens and Rollerballs where no big hit. Most of them sat and collected dust at retailers - Rotring was far ahead of the time. It was the beginning of the 90s, with a pen that was so radical Bauhaus it was completely different than any other pen on the market.

 

Anyway, I remember that the whole lineup appealed to a few of us engineering students for their build quality and the technical or "industrial design" look...

Sadly it only appealed to people like engineers, it never got up to speed in the rest of the market.