Pilot Metropolitan

[vikalp11]

Hi everyone.

I would like to share my views on my new and first fountain pen : The Pilot Metropolitan.

 

First impressions at the shop were good. The pen felt solid in hand. It wrote well with no pressure.

I had researched a bit before purchasing this pen. Earlier I wanted to buy the Waterman Hemisphere, but that was out of budget. The pilot metropolitan perfectly fitted in my budget and writing requirements. Hence I purchased it. The shop is Shukla & Co., located at Fort, Mumbai.

 

I have attached pics of the pen, which also have my reviews in them, which I wrote in my diary. Ink used is Pelikan Royal Blue 4001.

Please let me know what you all feel about it.

[lisadan]

Thanks for the review. I have one Metropolitan and find it good writer as well. And congratulations on your first fountain pen!

[vikalp11]

Thank you Lisadan!

But did you notice the problem that I mentioned in my review? I need to understand why the pen did not start writing at once when used after around 4 hours. I squeezed a drop of ink out of the pen, didn't allow it to drip off the nib, but let the feed to absorb the ink. This trick paid off and the pen is writing good now.

Did you face a similar issue?

Edited August 24, 2016 by vikalp11

[lisadan]

I don't recall such a problem with my Metropolitan, but it has been a while since I bought it and used it. I do encounter this problem sometimes with other pens. It may have to do with ink drying too fast, or maybe something else. I'm sure other forum members have better knowledge. However; your method of squeezing out a little ink seems to work for me as well. If squeezing is not an option (when using a cartridge), I just wet my finger with saliva and wipe the nib (and then wipe the finger to minimize the ink stain). It usually works, since saliva is a natural dissolver.

[tamiya]

haha the shopkeeper looks bemused... maybe not too common to get asked for a pic?

 

image.jpeg

coincidentally bought the same Metro "Lizard" in SG last month, came in same chunky plastic case.

 

Does your Indian-distributed Metro use a std international cartridge/converter (=Euro spec) or Pilot's own proprietary (=Japanese spec)?

 

My recent Metros were both Std euro spec, came with converter; my older Japanese ones only came with one ink cartridge & I added Pilot CON-20/50 separately. Searched throughout MY & SG and only found their Euro spec Metros to come with M nib only, nothing else.

 

 

btw Pelikan 4001 is a pretty "dry" ink, in some pens it's like screeching your fingernails on blackboard! Suggest try a wetter ink in your Metro... mine prefer Waterman, Pilot both Basic & Iroshizuku, Lamy is good too. Even Parker Quink would be smoother than 4001... not much, but still more enjoyable imho.

[sd10521]

Enjoy your first fountain pen, good choice. I know I'm always impressed with mine.

[vikalp11]

Hi Tamiya. Yes, the shopkeeper was a bit embarrassed:).

This is the cartridge that I got with the pen:

[tamiya]

This is the cartridge that I got with the pen:

image.jpeg

that looks like Pilot's CON-20 Converter which is an aeromatic rubber bulb under the stainless steel spring

 

that means you've got the Japanese version of Metro; if you did remove the converter to use ink cartridges, you'll need to buy Pilot's own cartridges

 

Euro Metro with std converter they supply a twisty piston type, it's clear so you can see ink level. It's functional but cheap looking, doesn't look as flash quality as their CON-50 units.

[max dog]

The con50/40 piston converter with agitator may work better than the con20. I had problems with ink flow using the con20 in my pilot falcon.

Try the cartridge and if you don't get the same problem then you know its the converter.

Edited August 25, 2016 by max dog

[TheRealMikeDr]

Thanks for your well thought out and enjoyable review! I like my Metropolitan as well - however I've never had any skipping or hard start issues with it.

 

From my experience (with other pens) - skipping or hard starting can be several things:

1) Issues with the nib - baby's bottom or tines not properly aligned.

2) Issues with the feed alignment - this can lead to not getting enough ink to the nib

3) Paper related - you may have oils or something on the paper from your hand/arm which can cause the pen to skip.

4) Ink related - some inks flow better than others. I believe the Pelikan 4001 ink products are known to be on the dry side (this makes them work well with cheaper papers) so if you continue to get skipping or hard starts I would try another ink in the pen before anything else.

 

All that said you may want to continue to write with the pen for several weeks before doing anything to see if the skipping returns - sometimes a new pen will write better after some ink has flowed through it for a while for whatever reason.

 

Most of all - have fun and enjoy your new writing friend!

[senzen]

Great review, very useful! That pen case looks good to protect pens while traveling.

[vikalp11]

Enjoy your first fountain pen, good choice. I know I'm always impressed with mine.

Thank you! Yes, I am enjoying my new pen, albeit with a minor issue...

[vikalp11]

that looks like Pilot's CON-20 Converter which is an aeromatic rubber bulb under the stainless steel spring

that means you've got the Japanese version of Metro; if you did remove the converter to use ink cartridges, you'll need to buy Pilot's own cartridges

Euro Metro with std converter they supply a twisty piston type, it's clear so you can see ink level. It's functional but cheap looking, doesn't look as flash quality as their CON-50 units.

Oops, sorry, used the wrong word. You are right, it's a converter. I was watching a few videos of fountain pens and their cartridges & converters and now understood the difference. Edited August 25, 2016 by vikalp11

[vikalp11]

Great review, very useful! That pen case looks good to protect pens while traveling.

Thank you Russell, I am glad you enjoyed it! The case is good, only problem being the cover does not snap tight onto the holder; the cover slides off pretty easily, should have been more tight fit.

[vikalp11]

Thank you Dr. Mike, I am glad you enjoyed reading my review of the Pilot FP.

 

Thank you very much for listing the causes for hard start / skipping issues, it's really helpful.

I will try changing the ink. Would Pilot's ink be a good choice? Or please suggest a better alternative.

Edited August 25, 2016 by vikalp11

[vikalp11]

The con50/40 piston converter with agitator may work better than the con20. I had problems with ink flow using the con20 in my pilot falcon.

Try the cartridge and if you don't get the same problem then you know its the converter.

Hi Max, thanks for the information. I will keep this in mind, in case I need to change the converter. I will try switching ink first...

[TheRealMikeDr]

Thank you Dr. Mike, I am glad you enjoyed reading my review of the Pilot FP.

 

Thank you very much for listing the causes for hard start / skipping issues, it's really helpful.

I will try changing the ink. Would Pilot's ink be a good choice? Or please suggest a better alternative.

 

I've got two Pilot inks and both work great for me in every pen I use them in.

[vikalp11]

I've got two Pilot inks and both work great for me in every pen I use them in.

What is the model number? What name is it?

[sd10521]

Thank you! Yes, I am enjoying my new pen, albeit with a minor issue...

 

You might want to try one of those pen flush solutions. Let it dry out and ink it up again. I use one flush with each new pen, rinse, and let dry.

 

Best of luck.

[tamiya]

What is the model number? What name is it?

Pilot's "basic" Ink is plenty good, decent colour strength & flows well.

 

http://thumbnail.image.rakuten.co.jp/@0_mall/menet/cabinet/pilot_pen/ink30.jpg

 

Pilot also makes premium "Iroshizuku" range with lots more unboring colours, they too cannot be faulted except for being 3X the price... but you do get a decently handsome glass bottle!