Jinhao T1 - A New Lamy Safari Knockoff

[Dickkooty2]

Mark,

 

I'm not familiar with looking at demonstrators, but I'd guess it is the first on the left : best furniture and best piston mechanism. Looks like a 400.

[KBeezie]

Interesting to see Chinese pens take a new direction. I've always thought they tended towards Montblanc (huge numbers of 149 and Starwalker clones), but now they seem to be eyeing up a quite different German brand as their model.

 

Whereas the Indian manufacturers seem to prefer copying Pelikans!

 

I wonder why they're just introducing these Lamy-a-likes? Is it just a fluke or might we see a real seachange in the Chinese market? It would certainly be interesting to see what they make of the Studio and the 2000... though I suspect the Lamy Lady has more appeal to the Chinese market :-)

They make what sells, it's not profitable to only make a 149 clone when everyone suddenly are looking for just about anything lightweight or thin for under 20$,the process to manufacture them that way probably became more feasible to do in metal now or moldingother rthan just another hero clone. Over the last couple years they've been importing new manufacturing equipment that's on par with the rest of the world.

[Mark Karpeles]

I'm not familiar with looking at demonstrators, but I'd guess it is the first on the left : best furniture and best piston mechanism. Looks like a 400.

 

 

You're right, KBeezie. That's the Pelican. It's an M200.

[Dickkooty2]

 

You're right, KBeezie. That's the Pelican. It's an M200.

Unbelievably, Mark, I made the identification:

 

Mark,

I'm not familiar with looking at demonstrators, but I'd guess it is the first on the left : best furniture and best piston mechanism. Looks like a 400.

Dickkooty2 with love and kisses to the bit coin

[Dickkooty2]

Mark,

 

I just saw the complete Jinhao MSG line:

 

(l - r) 159 with beef

156 with pork

154 with chicken

152 with tofu

http://s271.photobuc...t]=1&sort=1&o=0

I didn't want to be a pig about it so I ordered the beef and chicken with wonton soup and steamed rice.

Edited March 27, 2014 by Dickkooty2

[Jorge]

Have you noticed that they are also available in translucent plastic x 3 colours ?

 

http://www.ebay.es/itm/360887525415?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649

 

I have just ordered them!!!!!

[k3eax]

Oh' how cruel it is for you to point this out to me! Perhaps I can order and have them sent to neighbors address to avoid the marital strife?

[amk]

Fascinating to see a supply-side change in the form of new plant and tooling, KBeezie. I had one of those little 'duh!' moments when I read your post. It'll be fascinating to see what else comes out of the injection moulding capability; if they have any sense and really want to make what sells, it'll be a Waterman Phileas knock-off!!!!

[KBeezie]

Fascinating to see a supply-side change in the form of new plant and tooling, KBeezie. I had one of those little 'duh!' moments when I read your post. It'll be fascinating to see what else comes out of the injection moulding capability; if they have any sense and really want to make what sells, it'll be a Waterman Phileas knock-off!!!!

 

Can only image the rage-posting from that...

[TSherbs]

Just ordered the orange one for $5.99. The Lamy orange (only special edition) is $70+. I just found a fabulous deal! Thanks for pointing me to this! And I love creamsicle orange!

[k3eax]

You've paid too much!!! The plastic Lamy-like Jinhao 599 is sold on eBay for $5.50. Perhaps you ordered the metal version of the 599 which is less Lamy-like as it has no ink-window and typically does sell for $5.99.

[k3eax]

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_odkw=baoer+fountain+pen&_osacat=0&_from=R40&_trksid=p2045573.m570.l1313.TR0.TRC0.H0.Xjinhao+599&_nkw=jinhao+599&_sacat=0

 

Why but just one?

[TSherbs]

You've paid too much!!! The plastic Lamy-like Jinhao 599 is sold on eBay for $5.50. Perhaps you ordered the metal version of the 599 which is less Lamy-like as it has no ink-window and typically does sell for $5.99.

$5.50 it was!

 

And I only want one; I don't horde!

[Dickkooty2]

I paid $5.59 including shipping for the orange plastic. And I certainly take Kbeezie's point: what will these guys be knocking off with injection molding capability? Or will they be innovating?

 

I wonder what will be the effect on the main stream pen marketers manufacturing in China. New Products/New Markets? What price points? Copy or innovate? I know this is an old guy tool but I am thinking of the BCG Product Grid just because it is so basic.

[EdT]

 

I on the other hand have bought many Chinese pens, including a dozen Jinhao 159's because the first was such a pleasant surprise, and I know whereof I speak concerning them. Their "design and presentation" are perfect -- for the Chinese market. Their desire for inexpensive bling gives us in West the opportunity to satisfy pen appetites we never could have if we had been limited to the overpriced Western manufacturers who still think they can charge an arm and a leg for a pen just because it's a fountain pen.

 

The pen you rated lowest, the Jinhao 159, writes phenomenally well with no tuning needed.

 

http://s4.postimg.org/m8dx3nd7x/DSCF0462.jpg

 

Its existence shows how overpriced Western pens are. It has a pleasant heft. Machined brass and nice glossy black lacquer. What you hate about it, perhaps, is that it proves you can buy 90 percent of the essential "penness" of an MB 149 for 0.00765 of the price. If I owned an MB 149 that's how I'd feel. But this bitcoin debacle has set me back and I can't afford one.

 

Jinhao does not do presentation. Three of the five pens in your lineup are Jinhaos. I'm sorry you had to buy three of them to learn that. For extreme presentation that is superb in the Chinese market, you want the Duke brand, unrepresented in your sample.

 

Finally may I say that the "bling without basics" charge is unjust or inapt. Basics for a fountain pen is how pleasantly it writes, and there Jinhao excels.

 

Affordable quality Socialist goods for a Socialist world ...Jinhao which translates loosely as Golden Accomplishment or Golden Achivement !

As a former quality assurance rep for large box chain stores, I know how much profits our greedy corporations are making, we have been brainwashed in the saying "It is only a buck" ...a buck buys alot, some products make as much as 5000-8000% profit and with 2000% profit margin our corporations are belly aching and asking government for taxpayer's handouts !

Edited April 17, 2014 by EdT

[TSherbs]

 

Affordable quality Socialist goods for a Socialist world ...Jinhao which translates loosely as Golden Accomplishment or Golden Achivement !

As a former quality assurance rep for large box chain stores, I know how much profits our greedy corporations are making, we have been brainwashed in the saying "It is only a buck" ...a buck buys alot, some products make as much as 5000-8000% profit and with 2000% profit margin our corporations are belly aching and asking government for taxpayer's handouts !

my handwriting is apolitical

[isellpens]

I also have the Jinhao model 599 model for $6.00 at www.isellpens.com . I think for the price it's really hard to beat this pen and it should be a huge hit for us. Consider this buy a Lamy converter for $5.00 or a whole pen with a converter for $6.00?

[Dj Shift]

Dickkooty2, a "Pilot NAMIKI Custom HERITAGE92 #5 FM nib Transparent" with a gold nib is on its way from Japan and expected in under ten days. It will be my first gold nib pen.

I am currently investigating the feasibility of installing gold nibs on Jinhao pens, I like them so much.*********** Where's Waldo ***********

http://s2.postimg.org/8kdcqfy1l/alittle1.jpg

You mentioned the Pelikan brand favorably. One Pelikan worth a dozen Jinhaos or something. I have not tried mine yet and cannot comment. See if you can find it in this lineup.

Wow. Those are some awesome looking demonstrators! Would you mind sharing a list which ones are which? Because there's a few in there i'm going to have to look into saving up for now (especially the second and sixth in the row). Edited April 26, 2014 by Dj Shift

[a_m]

The plastic ones here also

 

 

http://asapens.in/eshop/jinhao-599-colourful-fountain-pen-china

[k3eax]

http://asapens.in/articles/2014/04/jinhao-599-fountain-pen/

 

I've found these comments on the Jinhao 599 quite interesting.