Pilot Vanishing Point

[mke]

Story, I heard on the Chinese forum. Don't know if true or not. 

 

Similar to the rumors that the new Parker 51 was made in China and Jinhao 85 suddenly appeared as an identical copy with different colors, made on the same machines/tooling,

it was speculated that Pilot produced the VP and Decimo in China and now Majohn (A1, A2) and Jinhao (10) produce identical copies* - eventually made on the same machines/tooling.

 

In the Parker case, the Jinhao 85 was available even before the new Parker.

 

* Nobody has checked yet if Pilot VP and Majohn A1 are really identical, Majohn A1 and Jinhao 10 are apparently.

 

[Lithium466]

While it's possible that the A1 and the VP are made in the same factory, the finish of my VPs is better than the finish of my A1. There are some machining differences too but these also vary between the A1 batches so...

Maybe it's a case of whoever manufactures the A1/J10 getting some Pilot machines or molds?

 

I only wish the Jinhao converter will become widely available!

[Karmachanic]

18 hours ago, mke said:

Nobody has checked yet if Pilot VP and Majohn A1 are really identical

 

I'll ask him when I next see him. Nobody, that is.  I've checked and no, they are not.  Close tho'.  Looking at photos the M A1 and J 10 aren't either, as they differ in details. 

 

[senzen]

I've already seen Capless knock offs with cracks, not with Pilots. Knowledge of materials and engineering cannot be taken for granted.

[essayfaire]

In the photos it looks as if the Majong isn't round and smooth but beveled.  I don't have one to look first hand.

[Ron Z]

3 hours ago, senzen said:

I've already seen Capless knock offs with cracks, not with Pilots. Knowledge of materials and engineering cannot be taken for granted.

 

I have both Pilots and the Majohn A1.  Three of the A1 pens.  Very similar, the Pilot a little heavier.  But they did a very good job on the A1.   None of the A1 pens have cracked.  Nibs aren't as good as the Pilot, but decent.  They aren't gold.  Converters are like the CON 50.  I have had to replace the nose on a Pilot that cracked when it hit the floor.  I have seen many of the Pilot/Namiki faceted pens crack or the threads strip, hence my brass bushing thread replacement.  I don't hold much hope for the A2 holding up any better. 

 

I don't expect a $30 Majohn to hold up as well as a $100+ Pilot, but for all that they are very well made.  Pilot's patent has expired by the way...

[mke]

I am sufficiently happy with the EF nibs of the A1. 

 

17 hours ago, Lithium466 said:

I only wish the Jinhao converter will become widely available!

Yes, and the "giant" converter of the Dadao 9019 too.

[Karmachanic]

6 hours ago, Ron Z said:

Nibs aren't as good as the Pilot, but decent. 

 

Replaced the nib unit on my A1 because I wanted an SU.

[Erad67]

The Doodlebud channel on youtube has some side by side reviews.  The guy is an engineer, so he goes into the materials, construction, etc.  While pretty similar, not identical.

[Driften]

On 8/26/2024 at 5:33 PM, essayfaire said:

In the photos it looks as if the Majong isn't round and smooth but beveled.  I don't have one to look first hand.

The A1 is round and smooth like the VP, the A2 is meant to be like the faceted Capless and plastic and faceted. The A2 clip is more like the A1/VP than the faceted Capless where the clip is built into the nose of the pen.