Are there any pen remake (of an old model) that is actually better than the original?

[Hanoi]

I am thinking no based on experience but I hope I am wrong.

[nm4]

40 minutes ago, Hanoi said:

I am thinking no based on experience but I hope I am wrong.

I think the Pilot Vanishing point (modern) is better than vintage.  I actually like the style of the vintage one more but the writing experience, durability, and quality are much better on the new model (I've owned both).  For this type of pen (a quick carry) the modern one is the way to go for these reasons.

 

Cheers,

NM

[sandy101]

Platinum # 3776 with the slip and seal mechanism. 

 

Parker 51 with the aerometric filler instead of the vaccumatic.

 

  

[Paul-in-SF]

1 hour ago, nm4 said:

I think the Pilot Vanishing point (modern) is better than vintage.

It makes me feel very old when you describe a pen from the mid-1960s as "vintage," considering I was a teenager at the time. 

 

When I first read the thread title, I assumed rather than incremental updates of the same model pen by the same manufacturer, that the OP was interested in new pens, marketed with the same name, but different in significant ways -- such as the new Parker 51, or the new-ish Wahl-Eversharp Skyline and Deco Band (made by a different company that purchased the rights to the names). These pens echo some of the aesthetic of the vintage versions but with significant differences (filling systems, nibs, size, etc.). 

 

With that assumption, I can't really answer the question, I haven't tried out most of the modern versions, and in some of these cases I haven't used any of the vintage versions either. I'm not sure a word like "better" applies in some cases. For example, the new Deco Band is so different from the vintage one except in basic shape that to me it's just different, not better or worse. 

[A Smug Dill]

If someone isn't particularly fond of threads on the end finial for secure posting, they may like the Sailor Professional Gear Slim Mini in the current (second release) colours better than the original Sailor Sapporo Mini from years ago. (I personally like the threads for posting.)

 

People who like pens with girthier barrels and/or open nibs may like the current style of the Pilot ‘Hannya Shingyo’ pen better than that of the Pilot ‘Hannya Shingyo’ pens from the 1970s.

[PatientType]

Yep. The Pilot M90 steel pocket pen was better than the Pilot MYU 701 that preceeded it. I have one of the 701s and two of the M90s. They all write well and look sleekly beautiful. But I like the newer version better.

 

[Hanoi]

17 hours ago, Paul-in-SF said:

It makes me feel very old when you describe a pen from the mid-1960s as "vintage," considering I was a teenager at the time. 

 

When I first read the thread title, I assumed rather than incremental updates of the same model pen by the same manufacturer, that the OP was interested in new pens, marketed with the same name, but different in significant ways -- such as the new Parker 51, or the new-ish Wahl-Eversharp Skyline and Deco Band (made by a different company that purchased the rights to the names). These pens echo some of the aesthetic of the vintage versions but with significant differences (filling systems, nibs, size, etc.). 

 

With that assumption, I can't really answer the question, I haven't tried out most of the modern versions, and in some of these cases I haven't used any of the vintage versions either. I'm not sure a word like "better" applies in some cases. For example, the new Deco Band is so different from the vintage one except in basic shape that to me it's just different, not better or worse. 

Yep, you assumed correctly.  I am very interested in the new breeds of Wahl-Eversharp pens as they look similar to the older versions with hopefully better materials. 

[bunnspecial]

I have a couple of vintage Duofolds and I have a Duofold Centennial.

 

In most every way I can think of, the Duofold Centennial is the better pen. For one thing, I don't have to worry about shattering a hard rubber one or a celluloid one degrading. It may not have the same feel in hand as the other two, but its durability makes up for it for me.

 

The original Duofold nibs are definitely a product of the 1920s. They're certainly not bad, but have their quirks. I have a celluloid one with an "Arrow" nib that's better, but it looks weird on the pen. The modern nibs are everything I could want in a nib.

[Hanoi]

17 minutes ago, bunnspecial said:

I have a couple of vintage Duofolds and I have a Duofold Centennial.

 

In most every way I can think of, the Duofold Centennial is the better pen. For one thing, I don't have to worry about shattering a hard rubber one or a celluloid one degrading. It may not have the same feel in hand as the other two, but its durability makes up for it for me.

 

The original Duofold nibs are definitely a product of the 1920s. They're certainly not bad, but have their quirks. I have a celluloid one with an "Arrow" nib that's better, but it looks weird on the pen. The modern nibs are everything I could want in a nib.

 

 

do you have a youtube channel devoted to fixing Illinois pocket watches? 

[AL01]

^^

 

If you are the one and only, I enjoy your great content!

[bunnspecial]

Sorry, I'm not the Youtube personality. I do like fixing watches and really like Illinois pocket watches, but 'tis not I.

[Mech-for-i]

Well, not exactly vintage but Cross update their current ( aka not the original ) Century Classic a while ago. While it's all the same pen , it now able to accept a converter when the same pen in older batches can only take cartridge.

[Dione]

4 hours ago, bunnspecial said:

I have a couple of vintage Duofolds and I have a Duofold Centennial.

 

In most every way I can think of, the Duofold Centennial is the better pen. For one thing, I don't have to worry about shattering a hard rubber one or a celluloid one degrading. It may not have the same feel in hand as the other two, but its durability makes up for it for me.

 

The original Duofold nibs are definitely a product of the 1920s. They're certainly not bad, but have their quirks. I have a celluloid one with an "Arrow" nib that's better, but it looks weird on the pen. The modern nibs are everything I could want in a nib.

I also think modern Duofolds are better than the original ones.

[AL01]

4 hours ago, bunnspecial said:

Sorry, I'm not the Youtube personality. I do like fixing watches and really like Illinois pocket watches, but 'tis not I.

 

 Ahh, I see.

 

 I've had an affinity for Elgin pocket watches, but the Hamilton 992B makes my mouth water...

 

 It would have been fascinating to see the state of the American watch industry if Hamilton kept on charging through making movements locally.

 

 Enough unrelated rambling.

 

 I find the modern Duofolds a bit off-putting and uncomfortable due to the feel of its plastic. I enjoy the 'soft' touch hard rubber section of the vintage Duofolds, (especially their chunkiness) more than the modern, (more stable) acrylic that is used on the more modern Duofolds.

 

 Do the 80's Duofolds feel the same as the ones from the '90s onwards? (There materials appear to be different, but I have never tried one before.)

[Tseg]

I love my long-tined Aurora 88 circa 1990 that was a different take on the original.  Unfortunately the Long-Tined nibs were only produced for a year or two.  There is speculation too many ham-fisted users forced Aurora to produced a more durable short-tined nib that they still use today.

[A Smug Dill]

46 minutes ago, Tseg said:

Unfortunately the Long-Tined nibs were only produced for a year or two.  There is speculation too many ham-fisted users forced Aurora to produced a more durable short-tined nib that they still use today.

 

Those who hold the purse strings have the ultimate say in what is wanted, and produced in response, in the market. If you can convince others to not buy the short-tined nibs, but also ensure there is lots of money ready for Aurora to take from you and like-minded folk if it brings back long-tined nibs*, then I'm confident the company will come to the party.

 

* I thought Aurora's relatively recent Flex nib was/is its modern take on the long-tined nib? I don't think those are selling particularly well, though.

[BaronWulfraed]

On 4/25/2021 at 5:38 PM, Paul-in-SF said:

It makes me feel very old when you describe a pen from the mid-1960s as "vintage," considering I was a teenager at the time.

 

It's even worse... The "modern" is the large enameled (or other treatment) metal bodied Vanishing Point. The "vintage" is the model from the 80s/early-90s -- which, at least the one I own, is the size of the "modern" Decimo, but has the one-piece nose/clip, making for a much more comfortable feeling when writing... But the body is made out of plain plastic (if you cover the ends and section break, it looks a lot like an old Scripto mechanical pencil!)

 

[Detman101]

Perhaps they're rating them as they do with vehicles?
After 20 years they're deemed "Historic"?
🤣

[alfredop]

The current Pelikan M101N seems to be at least on par with the historical Pelikan 100N.

 

Alfredo

[Jerome Tarshis]

An imperfect reply: I own the 1970s version of the Pelikan 120 and the recent M120N Iconic Blue, and I think the recent one is a better pen. Larger ink capacity, more solid feel in the hand, a longer pen, all in all something better than the "school pen" the 1955 and 1970s pens were. Pelikan is selling the newest iteration into a basically upper middle class adult market, whereas the earlier ones were genuinely for school children and artists and adults of modest means who were not hobbyists. One may read that the middle class is being squeezed out of existence, and this pen strikes me as an example of a manufacturer leaping from the earlier market situation to the way things are now.