Lotus Vamza Bamboo Pen. Nikko Ebonite.

[hari317]

Hari thanks for the review. This is the pen I have been waiting years for and probably would have never seen it if it wasnt for you. I just ordered it with a silver clip and threaded bock to house a titanium nib.

Wonderful. Its really nice that today we can customise and specify what exactly we want from the custom pen makers. Do let us all know how you like your example of the Vamza once you have it in hand.

 

Best

Hari

[Bold2013]

Did Lotus send out an email informing you the pen was shipped or did it just show up?

[hari317]

Did Lotus send out an email informing you the pen was shipped or did it just show up?

Since I was in touch with them via WhatsApp, they informed me that my pen was ready and confirmed the address and later they sent me the tracking information when asked.

 

They seem to make the pen after receiving order for custom requirements etc. Have you written them?

[mikhasan]

Did Lotus send out an email informing you the pen was shipped or did it just show up?

I was in touch with Arun via email and he sent me tracking info about a day after it shipped. If you haven't heard back it may not have shipped yet. Arun's pretty responsive so you should reach out to him if it has been a while.

FYI in my case, it took two weeks for him to make the pen.

[Bold2013]

I only ordered it 5 days ago. I will wait another week or so before I inquire.

 

Thanks

[Freddy]

Thats really nice to hear. Would love to see some pictures of your example. A snake would look superb on it.

 

Fred

[hari317]

Looks fabulous. Is there a place these clips an be ordered on the internet?

[Freddy]

Looks fabulous. Is there a place these clips an be ordered on the internet?

 

Clip holds the pen securely in shirt, inner jacket pocket..ie works very well.

You can have 'em made in various metals by Yoshi Nakama......

https://www.shapeways.com/product/PX93Z4LJ7/snake-clip-roll-stopper-15-mm

 

Fred

I ordered 15mm and tightened a wee bit..'fit like a glove'. {happysmileyfacetimethingie}

[hari317]

Thanks Fred. I will have a look at the website.

[Bold2013]

Got my bamboo last week. Great pen which gives new life to my bock titanium nib.

 

This lotus pen is different than my Indian Ranga and Deccan pens as I feel the fit and finish is slightly better and it has more finesse. Very pleased. Will attempted eyedropping in the near future.

 

Thanks again Hari.

[southpaw]

My Lotus Shikhar in brown n black Ebonite - that I ordered because of this review - has arrived and is amazing! It also took about a couple of weeks to make and I was notified when it shipped. It took longer to get thru customs than I'd have liked, but...It's a great pen.

[hari317]

Great to hear that their quality is consistent. All good feedback only. I have to plan my next purchase.

[alanlight]

Great pen, really exceeded my expectations.

 

I recently did a video review, which can be found here:

 

[mikhasan]

There seemed to be a lot of interest in the pen, so I just uploaded a review of it as well:

I hope it helps those of you on the fence about getting one. Thank you to Hari for the excellent review of the pen -- I wouldn't have known about the brand otherwise -- and alanlight for the excellent video!

 

Also, if you want more pictures, I just posted some on my Instagram account: https://www.instagram.com/shetland_tweed/

Nowhere as pro as Hari's but some more angles.

[Dupontdelamare]

On 2/19/2018 at 11:51 PM, jar said:

Neat Hari. I wonder how it would compare to the Eboya (Nikko) counterpart called the Yatate?

Although I can say nothing about the finish of the Yatate and the Vamza, it looks as though the Vamza is closer in shape to the Ranga Sugar cane and the Yatate closer in shape to the Ranga Bamboo (ie more nodules as it were). I personally prefer the simpler shape of the Ranga Sugar cane over that of the Ranga Bamboo both to the eye and to the hand, so imagine I’d prefer the Vamza over the Yatate all other things being equal, but of course they won’t be.

Regards 

Dupontdelamare

[Dupontdelamare]

On 2/19/2018 at 11:51 PM, jar said:

Neat Hari. I wonder how it would compare to the Eboya (Nikko) counterpart called the 

15 hours ago, Dupontdelamare said:

Although I can say nothing about the finish of the Yatate and the Vamza, it looks as though the Vamza is closer in shape to the Ranga Sugar cane and the Yatate closer in shape to the Ranga Bamboo (ie more nodules as it were). I personally prefer the simpler shape of the Ranga Sugar cane over that of the Ranga Bamboo both to the eye and to the hand, so imagine I’d prefer the Vamza over the Yatate all other things being equal, but of course they won’t be.

Regards 

Dupontdelamare

The material of the Lotus Vamza’s Japanese Nikko Ebonite however, seems closer to Ken Carver’s Cumberland Ebonite 'Bamboo' in German ebonite (see Ken Carver’s blog) rather than Ranga’s Sugar cane in Indian ebonite. The Vamza does differ slightly in shape from the Carver pen however, in that the Carver has a lip at the end of the section, while the Vamza is straight. 

I wonder how different in the hand the Vamza is from the Ranga Sugarcane? Does anyone have experience with both these Indian pens?

Regards 

Dupontdelamare

[sgphototn]

I don't have a Ranga Sugarcane yet, I do have the Ranga Bamboo (regular, not the thin) and the Giant Bamboo both in premium ebonites. I also have the Lotus Vamza in red Nikko ebonite.  All three have JoWo 1.1 nibs and are polished.

 

Hand-wise, other than the difference in girth, they all feel great with no discernible difference in fit and finish. 

 

Price-wise, they are also so close as I can't recall any appreciable difference.

 

All three stay inked and are used almost daily. Only my Yard-O-Led gets used as regularly at my desk.

 

I can heartily recommend both Ranga and Lotus both for craftsmanship and service.

[Dupontdelamare]

1 hour ago, sgphototn said:

I don't have a Ranga Sugarcane yet, I do have the Ranga Bamboo (regular, not the thin) and the Giant Bamboo both in premium ebonites. I also have the Lotus Vamza in red Nikko ebonite.  All three have JoWo 1.1 nibs and are polished.

 

Hand-wise, other than the difference in girth, they all feel great with no discernible difference in fit and finish. 

 

Price-wise, they are also so close as I can't recall any appreciable difference.

 

All three stay inked and are used almost daily. Only my Yard-O-Led gets used as regularly at my desk.

 

I can heartily recommend both Ranga and Lotus both for craftsmanship and service.

Thank you for that Sgphototn, I have both Ranga Sugar canes matte and Bamboos polished and really enjoy both (I had forgotten the length difference between the two, although that is no problem at all in practice).

Here they are

Below the matte black Sugarcane there is a piece of charcoaled bamboo.

 

I do feel I should try the Vamza, which is so close and yet different.

regards

Duoontdelamare

[sgphototn]

When I've had first-time visitors to my home from South America, several have asked if my bamboo is sugarcane. Since they're both grasses and similar subspecies, it is understandable.

 

But I live too far north to grow sugarcane reliably though I wish I could.

 

I can see a Ranga Sugarcane in my future. Thanks for the photo.