Is This A Rotring Pencil Clone?

[bokchoy]

I found this pencil a while ago. Having never seen a Rotring till now, I thought the design was very distinctive. What do you think? Does it look like a clone?

 

http://i.imgur.com/pU7aFk5.jpg

 

The sticker says M&G AMP37201. The body is about 14cm long (the above grid is in 1/2 inches), completely metal, very solid and has good heft.

 

http://i.imgur.com/z1ch03K.jpg

 

Nice knurled grip:

 

http://i.imgur.com/9fJrKsi.jpg

 

Lead size "indicator" (doesn't do anything) and removable clip:

 

http://i.imgur.com/6UQUA54.jpg

 

 

http://i.imgur.com/my4xD4J.jpg

 

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

 

 

It's a nice writer, but I've got no clue how it compares to an actual Rotring. My best mechanical pencil experience is still this old Papermate Clearpoint, aged around ~7 years:

 

http://i.imgur.com/5GgeCNx.jpg

[dzarren]

Hmm no I wouldnt call it that. I assume you mean the rotring 600 or 500. The point is not similar to the rotring, perhaps whoever designed this pencil drew small micro portions of inspiration from rotring, but i dont think its any sort of homage or clone or anything of the like.

[ANM]

I believe Rotring and Koh-I-Noor are identical though.

 

http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii101/matthewsno/DSCN1333_zps3e410013.jpg

[Pickwick]

I believe Koh-I-Noor acquired Rotring, also there is an identical pencil being made in Asia, it's called Red Circle. From the photos on eBay it looks like a well made pencil.

Edited March 24, 2014 by Pickwick

[welch]

Didn't Parker/Sanford/Newell buy Rotring and shut it down?

 

I have an Alvin Klic-matic that looks like a Rotring mechanical pencil but with a plastic barrel, including the odd "hardness indicator" that is on the Rapidomatic. Mine is a .7mm...thin enough, but just thick enough that the lead doesn't snap every ten seconds.

 

Rotring's all-metal ballpoints and pencils had a nice "high-tech" feel to them. They also made a fountain pen...I worked with a guy from Zurich who had one. Very classy.

[Pickwick]

Didn't Parker/Sanford/Newell buy Rotring and shut it down?

 

I have an Alvin Klic-matic that looks like a Rotring mechanical pencil but with a plastic barrel, including the odd "hardness indicator" that is on the Rapidomatic. Mine is a .7mm...thin enough, but just thick enough that the lead doesn't snap every ten seconds.

 

Rotring's all-metal ballpoints and pencils had a nice "high-tech" feel to them. They also made a fountain pen...I worked with a guy from Zurich who had one. Very classy.

I've just found out that Sanford/Rubbermaid now control Rotring. I have a Rotring Initial fountain pen which I bought 4 years ago, and it's always proved to be a consistent writer.