Hocoro: new Sailor Dip Pen?d

[CXC]

I can't read Japanese, but the Sailor Japanese website appears to show a new pen called Hocoro, that looks like it might be some kind of dip pen, perhaps similar to the Serendipity.  Does anybody know anything?  Looks interesting to me.

[CXC]

Apparently formerly or soon available in the Philippines:

[pgcauk]

I was given one by the parent of a student I was tutoring while he was visiting Japan. It's surprisingly handy. I use dip pens quite a bit for ink sampling and fancy writing, but this is so easy to clean between dips that it really lets you use a wide range of inks without fear of contamination (as long as only the nib, not the collar and body, enter the ink). Also, while I rate the best dip-pen nibs more highly than their fp equivalents, it's kind of useful to have one that really does write like a fountain pen.

If you could purchase these over here at a reasonable price they would make a great option for student pens.

[AmandaW]

I've seen them listed on an Australian site too. I couldn't find out much about them - no reviews - and here they seem a bit expensive, especially for a plastic for a dip pen if that's what it is, so I didn't just get one to try. I thought about it. Then went back to using the one I made - a Jinhao nib in a nib holder.

 

The one nifty thing mentioned is that the nib unit can be pulled out and put back in nib first to protect the nib while not in use.

 

I also saw on another seller's site overseas that there it came in a pack with two nibs: a fine and a stub IIRC. Our store only had it with the stubs. Hang on, I just checked, we now have the pack with the two nibs available as well: AUS$40

[A Smug Dill]

16 minutes ago, AmandaW said:

Our store only had it with the stubs. Hang on, I just checked, we now have the pack with the two nibs available as well: AUS$40

 

In case anyone is interested in making a comparison, the Japanese domestic market MSRP are:

• Set of Horoco pen handle with one nib: ¥1,485 (incl. 10% consumption tax) ⋍ A$18.22 today
• Set of Horoco pen handle with two nibs: ¥2,420 (incl. tax) ⋍ A$29.70
• Standalone Horoco nib unit: ¥935 (incl. tax) ⋍ A$11.47

So, in particular, the mark-up in the local stockist's price of $40 for the two-nib set is not huge, considering that it offers free shipping (within Australia) for orders over $99. On the other hand, I think I'd rather have a bunch of HongDian fountain pens (complete with feed and built-in ink reservoir) and/or interchangeable nib units on hand instead for that price.

 

[CXC]

FOLLOW UP: I broke down and bought one at an inflated price from Japn, I couldn't wait any longer.  It was a severe disappointment.  The build quality is along the lines of a Preppy.  It splatters unless you are very careful.  There is no feed or reservoir of any sort to hold more ink, and as a result I can just manage to write a line 16 inches long, before it rapidly goes dry.  And to do that, I have to carefully max the fill, and be doubly careful when I use it.  This thing is in no way superior to a traditional dip pen at 1/4 the cost.  Wait, I guess the nib won't rust, so it will be longer lived.  Still, NOT recommended.

[A Smug Dill]

2 hours ago, CXC said:

There is no feed or reservoir of any sort to hold more ink, …‹snip›… This thing is in no way superior to a traditional dip pen at 1/4 the cost.  Wait, I guess the nib won't rust, so it will be longer lived.

 

Thanks for sharing your experience and opinion of the product! Is the nib essentially the same as what one would find on a Sailor HiAce Neo or model 11-0073* desk pen?

 

I just ordered another Pilot Kaküno from Amazon at the Prime Day promotion price, which is cheaper than the Japanese domestic market retail price even before taking into account local stockists' mark-up. Writes like a fountain pen (because it is one), comes with a feed and a cap, and I know the nib can be easily pulled out and installed onto a dip pen handle instead if I want to use just the nib with no feed to make cleaning between switching inks easier.

[pgcauk]

The trick is to separate the nib from the feed to save wasted ink and clean-up. I was enjoying my Haroco (a gift) as it knew this trick before I did! The stub nib was not so useful as it put down too much ink to write more than a word, but the regular nib would write a good paragraph, which is more than many dip nibs (often designed for thicker, pigmented inks) at least those without a reservoir.

However, I recently treated my nephew (and myself!) to a Kakimori brass nib and holder, which is certainly more expensive than my old Brause Index Finger, but is a huge amount of fun for ink sampling, being capable of both glass-pen and fude nib quality marks, with one dip being enough for a full range of tests.

 

That was the on topic part of the post, however I don't want to leave without a shout out to the wonders of the dip-pen nib. A fountain pen nib in a dip pen holder can give a fair idea of how a fountain pen might write, but dip pen nibs are capable, at a very low price, of a far more expressive range of marks than any fountain pen I have yet to experience. Convenience usually has its downsides!

[Loke]

Have been playing with the 1.0 and 2.0 stubs for a while now and I must say that I am satisfied with the purchase. It is certainly not perfect but it makes a descent job for me. My main use is to test several different ink formulations rapidly without the hassle to wash a complete pen/converter every time. The optional feed is handy to provide a bit more ink and seems to improve the flow. I solved the "wobbling" issue by inserting a thin plastic band between the nib holder and the unit.