Rotring 600 Set Boxed, Help To Indentify Version?

[gotan]

Hi,

I am new here in thins forum, my name is david, I am an art teacher, I studied product design, so ROTRING pens are my tool of coice.

 

found a vintage (I think its vintage) set of a Rotring 600 Set, please see pictures.

 

I payed 50 euros for the set, my question is: was it ok to pay that amount? or is that just the japanese and cheeper version of the "old" 600 series?

 

If you can help me to identify the set would be great, should I use it for daily use, or is that set someting to collect?

 

kind regards

 

david

[Joe in Seattle]

It is definitely a modern set. UPC codes did not exist way back in the 70s when Rotring was producing these instruments. However, it is a very close imitation of the originals and I wouldn't hesitate to use them. I have one of the vintage fountain pens with an F nib and it is delightful AND built like a tank.

[Tombstone]

Hello David,

 

sorry for the bad news - it's not vintage, it's new. And it's quite easy to see: the SANFORD Logo is very obvious.

 

If it was too expensive? This depends on you - you easily get these pens for the same amount NOS, But at the end it's just a pen...

[gotan]

hi, THX for your feedback, so no problem, I opend the package anyway, I will use them much as I can.

 

I asked the seller again, he said it should be the verion bevor sanford started to produce in japan, but you are right, they are looking like the japanic version, so how ever.

 

kind regrads

 

david

[attika89]

Hi David,
Yes it is definitely the newest version, but I think the price was good!
The pencil alone is running for about €20-30, and the ballpoint is around €70-100, so I'd say it was a good purchase.

Edited March 22, 2014 by attika89

[Ricardo1962]

There are no ballpoints on the 600 series made in Japan! Rotring was bought by Sanford in 1998, back then 600's were still being made in Germany. The original 600's went to a few changes trough out their existence, there are some mechanical and cosmetic differences between the 3 (if my memory doesn't fail me) generations of the original series. The last one is identical to modern Japanese pencils on the outside, however, there are some major differences on the internal mechanisms of the pencils. I believe the instruments you bought are probably 3rd generation 600's, not modern Japanese Rotrings.

[Tombstone]

There are no ballpoints on the 600 series made in Japan!

 

Damn, you are right!!

 

So the TS has been lucky - it's vintage! Form my point of view Series 2 (pencil) and 3 (ballpoint)

 

An interesting document:

 

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B3Lo51tkRCkwNDkyYTlmNTMtNGU2Ny00ZTAyLTgwMmQtOWMxOTFlNjlhN2Y4/edit?pli=1

Edited March 22, 2014 by Tombstone

[gotan]

hi,

That argument with the "NO" ballpoints made in Japan is the point. so the seller was right, than it "was" :-) a original boxed 600 series. so seems to be last produced in germany. now its open, I like the way it works, maybe I will get a second package boxed.

will see.

 

THX for informations

[Ink Blotto]

There are no ballpoints on the 600 series made in Japan! Rotring was bought by Sanford in 1998, back then 600's were still being made in Germany. The original 600's went to a few changes trough out their existence, there are some mechanical and cosmetic differences between the 3 (if my memory doesn't fail me) generations of the original series. The last one is identical to modern Japanese pencils on the outside, however, there are some major differences on the internal mechanisms of the pencils. I believe the instruments you bought are probably 3rd generation 600's, not modern Japanese Rotrings.

 

Not to be contrary, and I am not a Rotring expert, but my own experience tells me that there were 600 series ballpoints made in Japan before the Sanford buy out. I have a Rotring 600 ballpoint that I bought from a Rotring dealer in the mid 1990s that is marked Japan on the clip. It has the coveted, or hated, heavy knuling on the grip with "Rotring 600" in red on the barrel, and the color ring at the top. It came in the black Rotring box that is stamped Made In Holland on the bottom. I guess it might be a Series 3 (there is no gold on it) but I know I purchased it at least 2 years before 1998 because of the job I had then, and where I was living.

 

IB

[Ink Blotto]

To clarify, the box that I mentioned is the black plastic style with the red ring button on the front.

 

IB

[gotan]

hi, here you can see the inner parts, so I think its not japan made, maybe ist from the time when sanford bought the rotring company, the plastic package seems to be not fresh.

"ITS A JUNGLE OF VERSIONS"

kind regards

david