jinhao 100 Which red is red—a collector’s frustration!

[Dan Carmell]

I’ve been trying to collect all of the Jinhao models with the ‘Century’ banner engraved into the barrel. I have the banner in black, orange, and yellow, which (probably) not coincidentally matches original Parker Duofold colors. I’ve seen multiple ads on AliExpress showing a barrel banner engraving on a RED 100. I’ve ordered FIVE and each one has been ORANGE! The last two purchases I asked first, and was told, yes, it is Red not Orange—not so on arrival. (I haven’t argued with the sellers because it’s too difficult, too nuanced a discussion with the language barrier.)

 

There are three reddish solid colors in in the 100 series (and a red marbled model not pertinent here), as shown in the first three photos below. Although different names are given, I think of them as orange, red, and forbidden city red. The ‘red’ one is often called ‘big bean curd’ in translation, in the photo below it’s called orange-red. The deep red called forbidden city is also called Chinese Red. 
 

The fourth photo is of the color I want, in the big bean curd red with a banner engraving. Please tell me I’m not color blind, but that it really is RED, not orange, not forbidden city red! The last photo shows all three pens with the other original colors. 

 

And if you have any idea how I can get one, please fill me in! And if you’ve seen a banner on any other color, do tell!

 

 

[Dan Carmell]

The second photo below show the banner on the yellow, black, and orange models. The first photo shows all the orange ones I got when ordering from an ad that showed a red (big bean curd) model. This not only illustrates my bad luck, it also shows that banner barrel pens can be found with gold-and silver-colored trim and even with the feather clip version. 

Edited December 28, 2023 by Dan Carmell

[Waltz For Zizi]

I could never be a collector of a certain model or brand. I'd get bored. I like to experience everything. The most I have are Jinhao 82's, 30-35 different colors, but there are a few colors I hate so I didn't buy them. I just can't buy them just to collect. 

[Dan Carmell]

16 minutes ago, Waltz For Zizi said:

I could never be a collector of a certain model or brand. I'd get bored. I like to experience everything. The most I have are Jinhao 82's, 30-35 different colors, but there are a few colors I hate so I didn't buy them. I just can't buy them just to collect. 

Ah, it’s unsatisfied ambition from my vintage pen collecting. Imagine being transported back in time to the 1930s or your favorite decade with a pocketful of money and knowing what pens will be prized in the future: that’s what the current Chinese pen market is for me. Hey, I first bought Hero FPs back in the 1990s as a Parker collector. 
 

The notion of someone with 30 plus colors of one pen model saying they can’t buy just to collect confirms my long held belief that every collector is unique in their focus (more often, foci lol).

[Dan Carmell]

I’m told by a reliable vendor on AliExpress (365Day Stationery) that the red 100 with the barrel inscription is unavailable. It exists, but is out of stock and new ones are not being made currently. 

[inkstainedruth]

On 12/28/2023 at 4:38 PM, Waltz For Zizi said:

I could never be a collector of a certain model or brand. I'd get bored. I like to experience everything. The most I have are Jinhao 82's, 30-35 different colors, but there are a few colors I hate so I didn't buy them. I just can't buy them just to collect. 

I totally agree.  I surprised someone a few years ago at a pen show, getting an advance look at the items up for auction, when I said I only liked certain colors of Parker 51s and Vacumatics, and saw no need to buy ones I didn't like, just to do the Pokemon "Gotta get 'em all" mentality.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[txoko]

How old are these pens?  Or where did you source them?  None of my Jinhao 100s have that engraving on them.  Well, none that I have looked at since seeing this post; I have quite a few, but that is because I like the pen.  I wish mine had that cool engraving............

[Dan Carmell]

2 hours ago, inkstainedruth said:

I totally agree.  I surprised someone a few years ago at a pen show, getting an advance look at the items up for auction, when I said I only liked certain colors of Parker 51s and Vacumatics, and saw no need to buy ones I didn't like, just to do the Pokemon "Gotta get 'em all" mentality.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

There’s a difference between being a collector and being a ‘completeist.’ Like you, I won’t buy a pen in a color or style I didn’t like. Not only am I too lazy to pursue all of anything, but when you consider colors, trim , etc. almost any pen model has a large number of variants. The closest I came was with Parker Flighters, and even there I skipped trim variants and gave up before the final couple models, sold the vast majority, no regrets. In truth, it’s using the pens that keep collecting interesting for me. 

[Dan Carmell]

20 minutes ago, txoko said:

How old are these pens?  Or where did you source them?  None of my Jinhao 100s have that engraving on them.  Well, none that I have looked at since seeing this post; I have quite a few, but that is because I like the pen.  I wish mine had that cool engraving............

The model is still made, at least in new acrylics, as I saw a new matter introduced recently. I don’t know when the 100 was introduced but not that long ago.
 

You can find the black or orange with a little patience on AliExpress, maybe the yelllow as well. I call the branding on the barrel an engraving, which is inaccurate because it’s probably hot-stamped but the Chinese translation tends to be ‘carving’ in AiExpress ads. 
 

I have an excess of them, so DM me if you’d like to get one for cheap (apologies, Admins, if that’s a rule violation). 

[inkstainedruth]

1 hour ago, Dan Carmell said:

There’s a difference between being a collector and being a ‘completeist.’ Like you, I won’t buy a pen in a color or style I didn’t like. Not only am I too lazy to pursue all of anything, but when you consider colors, trim , etc. almost any pen model has a large number of variants. The closest I came was with Parker Flighters, and even there I skipped trim variants and gave up before the final couple models, sold the vast majority, no regrets. In truth, it’s using the pens that keep collecting interesting for me. 

Agreed.  

Of course my criteria for buying a pen is often "Ooh, shiny!"  And that could mean anything from "really cool fill system" (which is how I ended up with so many Snorkels) or "an interesting nib", or "I liked X brand/model and I should get another one with a different nib or in a different color" or "It's only HOW much?  At that point I can AFFORD to take it to a repair person or nib meister and get it up and running...."

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstaineruth

[txoko]

Thanks for the invite but I have all but maybe one or two.  I have some duplicates when I thought I ruined a few and immediately ordered replacements, only to find I could fix them.  But I have over 40.  But none have that engraving (I haven't scoured the entire group yet, but haven't found any engraved).  This includes 3 of the 100A group that is of lower quality material and workmanship but uses the same guts.  I recently added several that I didn't have, and that seemed to be recent color additions, such as one that was called Black Sea, for example, just to round out my 48 slot pen case of all Jinhao 100s.  As I said, I like the pen............

[Dan Carmell]

2 minutes ago, txoko said:

Thanks for the invite but I have all but maybe one or two.  I have some duplicates when I thought I ruined a few and immediately ordered replacements, only to find I could fix them.  But I have over 40.  But none have that engraving (I haven't scoured the entire group yet, but haven't found any engraved).  This includes 3 of the 100A group that is of lower quality material and workmanship but uses the same guts.  I recently added several that I didn't have, and that seemed to be recent color additions, such as one that was called Black Sea, for example, just to round out my 48 slot pen case of all Jinhao 100s.  As I said, I like the pen............

It’s a good pen! I saw the Black Sea, very nice. My complaint about the 100A is that clumsy Greek key cap band—Jinhao’s three step band on the 100 is simpler and more in keeping with the design. I have just one 100A but it does have a dark marbled acrylic that wasn’t included in the 100 series. 
 

I’ve got a half-case of Chinese flat tops, mostly 100s, but also Majohn 600s, Lemon, etc. Fun stuff!

[txoko]

Ha-ha!  A man after my own heart.  I am quite happy with the Chinese pens.  As a fan of the "Japanese eyedropper" format, I got a bunch of Opus 88s.  Then Majohn came out with the C4, and I love it.  Bought several while waiting for something other than the demonstrator.  They finally came out with a translucent blue so I got one of those.  But the Majohn M600S series was my earliest intro to the Chinese pens and I am very fond of them; they just didn't offer many color choices as did Jinhao with the 100 series.  I also love the M800, M400, T5 (it has fallen a bit in favor) and even the M700.  Apparently I also like the flattop style.  I am absolutely enthralled with the new Lemon M1 (?---losing track) as they are first rate quality entirely.  And I am greatly impressed with the quality coming out of Hongdian, who seem to have solved the quality control issues that beset the other Chinese makers somewhat.

Yes, I very much went down the rabbit hole...............

BTW, I noticed that at the same time period when Jinhao offered the lower quality 100A (poorer workmanship and quality control, despite some nice colors---and I agree with you on the cap band), Majohn came out with the horribly constructed (all 3 offerings broke quickly) M600T, and Kaigelu came out with a lower quality 316A.  All three companies doing the same thing at the same time was a bit strange.  But the good stuff is really good as far as I am concerned.  Obviously I have way too many pens.  I am assuming optimistically that they will sort themselves into my favorites over time and maybe I will let the less favored travel on.  But since every pen has an ink, I would likely have to have the inks sort themselves out as well.  It's unlikely I will live long enough to see the completion of that evolutionary process..................

[Dan Carmell]

On 1/1/2024 at 10:31 AM, txoko said:

Ha-ha!  A man after my own heart.  I am quite happy with the Chinese pens.  As a fan of the "Japanese eyedropper" format, I got a bunch of Opus 88s.  Then Majohn came out with the C4, and I love it.  Bought several while waiting for something other than the demonstrator.  They finally came out with a translucent blue so I got one of those.  But the Majohn M600S series was my earliest intro to the Chinese pens and I am very fond of them; they just didn't offer many color choices as did Jinhao with the 100 series.  I also love the M800, M400, T5 (it has fallen a bit in favor) and even the M700.  Apparently I also like the flattop style.  I am absolutely enthralled with the new Lemon M1 (?---losing track) as they are first rate quality entirely.  And I am greatly impressed with the quality coming out of Hongdian, who seem to have solved the quality control issues that beset the other Chinese makers somewhat.

Yes, I very much went down the rabbit hole...............

BTW, I noticed that at the same time period when Jinhao offered the lower quality 100A (poorer workmanship and quality control, despite some nice colors---and I agree with you on the cap band), Majohn came out with the horribly constructed (all 3 offerings broke quickly) M600T, and Kaigelu came out with a lower quality 316A.  All three companies doing the same thing at the same time was a bit strange.  But the good stuff is really good as far as I am concerned.  Obviously I have way too many pens.  I am assuming optimistically that they will sort themselves into my favorites over time and maybe I will let the less favored travel on.  But since every pen has an ink, I would likely have to have the inks sort themselves out as well.  It's unlikely I will live long enough to see the completion of that evolutionary process..................

Yes, our tastes are quite similar! The Lemon M1s are awesome with their ‘manual grinding’ nibs. I have the titanium version and just received the M2S in black/turtle. I haven’t inked it yet but the quality is clear. 
 

I believe the high quality of these Chinese pens give everyone the opportunity to own a quality fountain pen for a reasonable price and that’s a great thing. 

[mke]

I had the same problem with a Baoer 3035 - I knew there was a champagne-colored one and several shops showed a champagne-colored one. When they came, they were all the same stainless-steel color. After a while, I gave up. Meanwhile, I have sold all of them.

 

My conclusion: it is red after they used photoshop. Chinese sellers and Wancher from Japan are masters of Photoshop. Wancher had a penrest in their photo which always showed a different color but which certainly was the same.

 

That "Chinese Red" pen, I would take - eventually. At least, it looks good. But looking closely at the picture, I think, I see a photoshopped orange. Look at the different colors of the blue penrest in the orange red and chinese red pictures, the blue looks different like in the Wancher case. Actually, the Wancher case was much more striking.

[Mech-for-i]

well am late to this thread but I got all the RED(s) , OK in their native language the Orange is termed " Orange Yellow " or just " Orange " , the red one is termed " Orange Red " , and then there's the " Forbidden City Red " which come much later and this is what's termed " China Red " , I do know there are banner engraved version of the prior two, no idea if there are banner engraved version of the China Red / Forbidden City Red

[Dan Carmell]

51 minutes ago, Mech-for-i said:

well am late to this thread but I got all the RED(s) , OK in their native language the Orange is termed " Orange Yellow " or just " Orange " , the red one is termed " Orange Red " , and then there's the " Forbidden City Red " which come much later and this is what's termed " China Red " , I do know there are banner engraved version of the prior two, no idea if there are banner engraved version of the China Red / Forbidden City Red

Thanks, that’s very helpful, especially coming from you because I’ve seen you have a deeper basis of knowledge about Chinese pens than I do. I’ve only seen a banner on the barrel of yellow, orange, black—and that ‘big tofu’ red which eludes me. 
 

The barrel banner is what drew me to the 100, because they were common on vintage pens but are now very rare, almost unknown for an economy pen. And yes, I love that Jin Hao was inspired by one of the most famous barrel imprints and did a nice job of personalizing it while keeping the essential character of the imprint intact. 

[Number99]

1 hour ago, Mech-for-i said:

well am late to this thread but I got all the RED(s) , OK in their native language the Orange is termed " Orange Yellow " or just " Orange " , the red one is termed " Orange Red " , and then there's the " Forbidden City Red " which come much later and this is what's termed " China Red " , I do know there are banner engraved version of the prior two, no idea if there are banner engraved version of the China Red / Forbidden City Red

Please forgive me for asking a question just out of curiosity.

Are "大豆腐" (big tofu) (big bean curd) referring to the Big Duofold? 

And is the “铭文" an inscription?

I am sorry if I am asking the wrong question.

 

[Mech-for-i]

On 1/15/2024 at 1:27 AM, Number99 said:

Please forgive me for asking a question just out of curiosity.

Are "大豆腐" (big tofu) (big bean curd) referring to the Big Duofold? 

And is the “铭文" an inscription?

I am sorry if I am asking the wrong question.

 

 

first question - YES , cause in pronunciation , Duofold just pronounce ( almost ) exactly as 豆腐 being pronounced in Chinese 

2nd question , yes the term  " 铭文 " do mean inscription as traditionally that mean text inscription on tablets , rocks ( as a measure of a permanent note ) and alike

[Number99]

21 hours ago, Mech-for-i said:

 

first question - YES , cause in pronunciation , Duofold just pronounce ( almost ) exactly as 豆腐 being pronounced in Chinese 

2nd question , yes the term  " 铭文 " do mean inscription as traditionally that mean text inscription on tablets , rocks ( as a measure of a permanent note ) and alike

Thank you for your reply.

So... The "大豆腐 铭文" in the list of pens was "Big Duofold Inscription" (Not mean big bean curd) instead of color or pattern indication…

That is, every color pen is "大豆腐".

It is my personal opinion that the notation and translation of the list of pens used by sellers may have been difficult to understand.

Some of the mystery has been solved.

😅

 

※ “豆腐" is a white soft soybean processed food made by solidifying hot soy milk with bittern. (dufu, tofu)

 

 

 

Edited January 17 by Number99