Sad to see Rotring fade away

[mmoncur]

I'll be putting up a new blog this week, hopefully, and I'll post my information (so far) there - it comes mostly from googling and from buying stuff on eBay. so I haven't done what I'd call a lot of work. I'll be glad of any help in adding to the info once I put it up.

 

The Koh-i-noor piston fillers are definitely very nice - compared to the dropper fillers, they are more comfortable to use, better looking, easier to fill (assuming you don't mind dipping pens into bottles of ink), easier to start (they start instantly since the ink was filled through the tip), easier to clean (just fill with water or pen cleaner and eject)...

 

If you hang around eBay you can get them for about $10, although some sizes are harder to find (.25 is the one I use the most and I've only found two so far.) About half of the ones I've found work fine after a cleaning; the rest needed some lubrication on the piston and a new tip. The modern koh-i-noor tips work fine with the old piston-filler pens, although they don't look quite as good. (Thus, you can have any size you want, but I like my color codes to match...)

 

I just received a Rotring piston-filler I ordered - it has a more modern design, and is possibly dated 1976.

 

Back to the thread's original topic... I'm going to miss Rotring's FPs too. An old-style #600 was one of the first pens I bought when I started my FP hobby last year, and now I have the new-style "Newton" one too... I've even been tempted to pick up some of the ghastly Cores before they disappear.

Edited May 23, 2007 by mmoncur

[quosimosaurus]

Well, the modern ones are, for lack of a better description, kind of German Techno Engineertype bluntly post bauhaus and unattractive to most of the buying public. They have their loyal supporters, hence this thread, but after having a 600 BP/MP set for over a year I am pretty sure I wouldn't buy another. They work fine, but they are just so unattractive and there are so many other more attractive writing instruments out there.

Actually, it is the design of the old style 600 fountain pen which attracted me to it and continues to attract me, despite it writing a touch dry. True, the rest of the Rotring range doesn't come close to the 600 in my opinion (except maybe the 700 and I found the Artpen to have fantastic feel and balance) but the 600 is the antithesis to the kind of bad design that is not uncommon in the world of fountain pens. I find the design of many fountain pens tacky, ostentatious and anachronistic. The 600, I guess, also looks a little out of date but it is of a style that I am very partial to. Perhaps it is all just a matter of taste. I hope I am not in the minority here because I am a design student and will be (hopefully) inflicting my aesthetics upon the world in the near future.

[jmkeuning]

after having a 600 BP/MP set for over a year I am pretty sure I wouldn't buy another. They work fine, but they are just so unattractive and there are so many other more attractive writing instruments out there

 

I love the way the 600s look and feel in the hand. But then, I have no idea what "bluntly post bauhaus" means!

[abp]

Back again,

 

Has anyone got a link to some pictures of all these different types of drafting pens? I feel like someone who had only glimpsed the top of an iceburg...

 

I agree about the 600's. I loved the look of them, and bought a BP/MP pair a few years ago. However, I almost hated using them; I found them too thin in the grip area and too heavy to use for very long. I even tried "improving" them by putting some rubber tube over the grips to thicken them up, but it just looked naff. For those reasons I never bought the FP, even though I'd love to complete the set, I can't see the point in buying something just to look at it (unless it's a picture, naturally ).

 

Antony

[penhound]

I am so sick of the world's corporate philosophy and what they are doing to not only pen companies but to the world market place in general.

 

I started out as a pen enthusiast with Parker's and Sheaffers and rapidographs were part of my basic line up of pens before I could afford to get into the higher end lines of pens.

 

I have every one of the Rotring series of sketch pens. They were a wonderful stepping stone to my collection today. They sit on my work table and are used anytime I need to do calligraphy work. They were gifts I gave to friends starting out as calligraphers.

 

I won't buy a new Parker, Waterman or Sheaffer today. I don't trust them. I will just have to treasure the ones I currently have. Made before all this rigamarole started.

 

I will be sad to see the Rotrings go the way of the Dodo Bird. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Do-Do_Bird)

[Splicer]

It's really happening. Parker is swallowing Rotring:

 

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...em=110160010663 (not my auction, just has pics)

http://parkerpen.com/en/discovery/product/esprit

 

OK, they aren't quite the same pen, but they do share a name and some unique characteristics.

[lewertowski]

It's really happening. Parker is swallowing Rotring:

 

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...em=110160010663 (not my auction, just has pics)

http://parkerpen.com/en/discovery/product/esprit

 

OK, they aren't quite the same pen, but they do share a name and some unique characteristics.

 

Of course it is a PARKER "ROTRING" pen!!

[Alex728]

hmm - although shops selling "art materials" are disappearing anyway from British high streets it still seems very easy to get Rotring pens here, even the specialist Rapidograph/Isographs and from normal on-line office supplies places...

 

I'm fairly sure I very recently saw a Rotring art pen in WH Smiths in my town!

 

I can see how this is a shame for the Americans, but I think its just "brand positioning" caused by the forces of the free market, and probably shaped by the demand from the larger stationery/office supplies stores..

 

I've noticed its a lot harder to get the lower-cost Waterman pens in England compared to American sources - also not seen as many dealers of the Pilot models apart from the Birdie...

 

As an aside, some older design successes tend to endure despite so-called "technological progress" as they are picked up by younger generations. A case in point is the Technics 1200SL/1210SL Mark II vinyl turntable which is a design as old as I am (from 1972) but is still produced today because whilst originally intended as "hi-fi" deck it was constructed in such a way as to make it ideal for DJ'ing styles of disco music and other electronic dance music...

 

I think Isographs/rapidographs are still very popular with designers, artists and illustrators here in Europe, and not all engineers immediately turn to CAD for "sketching" etc.. Some of my more artistic younger friends, who put on discos, have returned to hand-drawn flyers as well as computer artwork, perhaps they will become interested in different kinds of pens rather than the biros or gel pens they currently use for this..

Edited August 25, 2007 by Alex728

[Splicer]

hmm - although shops selling "art materials" are disappearing anyway from British high streets it still seems very easy to get Rotring pens here, even the specialist Rapidograph/Isographs and from normal on-line office supplies places...

 

I'm fairly sure I very recently saw a Rotring art pen in WH Smiths in my town!

 

I can see how this is a shame for the Americans, but I think its just "brand positioning" caused by the forces of the free market, and probably shaped by the demand from the larger stationery/office supplies stores..

 

I've noticed its a lot harder to get the lower-cost Waterman pens in England compared to American sources - also not seen as many dealers of the Pilot models apart from the Birdie...

 

The Art Pen, Isographs and Rapidographs are all part of a different distribution channel. They're considered to be "art supplies." While Rotring has some name recognition in the fine pen world, they are the recognized name in technical pens. I don't think that the ArtPen or any of the technical pens will disappear, and I don't think that Rotring is going out of business. They're just going out of the "fine pens" business. Art supply stores here in the US can still get the ArtPen, but stores haven't been able to order other pens in some time.

 

Rotring doesn't even appear on Sanford's or Newell's websites any more, even under the "list of brands we own" that's longer than your arm.

 

I believe that Sanford saw Rotring as being a competitor to Parker.

 

Side note since you mentioned the Birdie: in the US, we can't get Birdies? If you want one, you have to get it from the UK. I sent my Birdie to Pilot USA for a repair, expecting to have to pay for it... they called me to tell me that they would try, but that they might not be able to get a replacement nib at all! (They did get one, and it's only costing me a total of US$15)

 

Anyway, I'll see what information I can dig up about the Rotring transition. It would be nice to know more.

[Dillo]

Hi,

 

What many don't know is that Rotring was cut into two when it was sold. The drawing section with the Artpens, Rapidographs and such was sold to Chartpak, so I actually can order them in if you need them. The other side with the writing instruments was sold to Sanford.

 

Dillon

[Alex728]

curioser and curiouser.. definitely looks like Europe is going to be the main market for Rotring fountain pens..

 

www.rotring.de still appears active and shows a fairly wide product range including various fountain pens.

 

The site looks like its been updated as a bit of a rush job (complete with a large Sanford logo added to the top, and links to other Sanford brands in a sidebar - including the US corporate site!) and as you might expect much of it links back to the Sanford site and/or eventually dumps you there (with some dodgy frame coding sometimes)

 

Both the German and English versions appear to provide a similar product list under "Hochwertiges Schreiben"

 

There are some very modern/"Teutonic" designed looking pens as would expect here, but I'm not sure if these are old or new products. They seem to be pitched at the low-end/mid market level alongside Parker and Waterman, at least here in Europe/UK (I did find places selling the cheaper Waterman pens but not seen any reviews of these)

 

http://www.sanfordb2b.de/de/Produkte/Rotring.aspx

 

(please excuse any mistakes in my interpretation of what I have found here, I have let my German get slightly rusty )

Edited August 25, 2007 by Alex728

[TEG]

is sanford the starbucks of the pen world? sensa has one foot in the grave too. maybe its time for a boycott.

 

t

[Samovar]

I don't know what is to be done, but there is a bully in the pen world. I really hate this idea of taking the original design of Rotring and rebrand it. Why not build on the history of Rotring instead of killing the brand?

Maybe we should send a few letters, write a couple of articles about how corporations can kill something people truly appreciate. I own 7 Rotring FP and I'm angry at Sanford.

 

Samovar

 

is sanford the starbucks of the pen world? sensa has one foot in the grave too. maybe its time for a boycott.

 

t

 

[PelikanPenman]

What a complete shame. When I was in University I picked up a few Rotring 600 (old style) ballpoints and .5 pencils. As an Engineering student I appreciated the almost indestructable nature of them! I am shocked that they have been sold down the drain. I hope Pelikan never sells out. sigh.....

[saintsimon]

... I hope Pelikan never sells out. sigh.....

 

Pelikan is Malaysian-owned for some years now. But they seem to respect what they bought, so no reason to complain.

[Alex728]

... I hope Pelikan never sells out. sigh.....

 

Pelikan is Malaysian-owned for some years now. But they seem to respect what they bought, so no reason to complain.

 

this doesn't surprise me. My extended family are from Malaysia and like many other SE Asian nations (Singapore, Phillipines) they still value both good handwriting skills and good pens.

 

I think there is some on-line store from Malaysia which did so well they even had the money to set up a bricks-and-mortar (or concrete-and-metal) retail store in Kuala Lumpur!

[jstech]

ok- so here i am with a load of rapidographs that i used in college. they are replacement cartridge one- and i find that it is next to impossible to get new cartridges.

question- can i refill the used cartridges with the koh-i-noor ultra draw or the universal ink? as if i had the now available kohinoor rapidographs that refill with a bottle of ink? or am i stuck?

btw- whats the diff between the ultradraw and the universal inks?

jesss

[Goshzilla]

ok- so here i am with a load of rapidographs that i used in college. they are replacement cartridge one- and i find that it is next to impossible to get new cartridges.

question- can i refill the used cartridges with the koh-i-noor ultra draw or the universal ink? as if i had the now available kohinoor rapidographs that refill with a bottle of ink? or am i stuck?

btw- whats the diff between the ultradraw and the universal inks?

jesss

 

 

I don't know if you would want to use the Koh-i-noor ink, but you can refill the cartridges ONLY IF you have a syringe or thin tube you can run the ink through. There is a protective flap that closes once you remove the tip from the cartridge, so a syringe should be long enough to get past the flap. Otherwise the ink will go nowhere except on your hands.

[Ondina]

... I hope Pelikan never sells out. sigh.....

 

Pelikan is Malaysian-owned for some years now. But they seem to respect what they bought, so no reason to complain.

 

 

You've just killed me....you're kidding!. Man, how can this be.... what a world....

[Bernie0104]

Hi all,

 

I was just thinking about starting a thread about this very subject the other day... obviously I'm not the only one who is outraged by what Sanford is doing here. I have always regarded Rotring writing and drawing instruments very highly. Yes, the brand has its critics, especially amongst those who prefer the more traditional or ostentatious school of pen design, but I have always admired Rotring's designs. I love my Rotring pens - always will. Over the past couple of years, I have been buying up NOS examples of as many of their pens as I can lay my hands on. 600s, 900s, Initials, Side-Knock pencils... you name it, I've been buying them. I knew the writing was on the wall for Rotring - Sanford just have no idea what the brand stands for, how to market that brand, or who to try and aim that marketing at. It's very sad.

 

I have seen the Parker versions of several Rotring designs here in Europe, and they just don't cut it. They look cheaply made (and probably are). I certainly won't be buying any of that stuff, Sanford. You're even putting me off buying Parkers in future.

 

Thankfully, I've been able to buy some of these wonderful Rotring pens before they disappear. I'm also confident that they will last a lifetime, thanks to their bulletproof build quality. I KNOW FOR A FACT that my Rotring 600s will still be here when other more expensive (and so called 'better' pens) have long since cracked, split, melted or shattered.

 

Thanks Sanford, you guys ain't got a clue.

 

Bernie.