1980 Rollerball

February 16

Once upon a time, around 1980, I owned a rollerball that I’m trying to identify. Rollerballs we’re still pretty new; I don’t remember much about the pen’s ink, but it might have used fountain pen ink (cartridges). What made it uncommon, though, was having a long-short style construction like you see on Pilot Elite, Platinum 200, and several other Japanese fountain pens.

Does anyone know of a long short style rollerball from the past?

Thanks!

Al C

February 17

I remember those...I had one or two. They were distributed by Kenro, took a Platinum style cartridge, looked like those fountain pens you named, and it was called the Newman Rotopen.

February 18

I think that might have been the pen! The name sounds familiar. I can’t find photos, or even a whole lot of info about Newman Rotopens, to confirm but “Newman” sounds right. Thank you!

PS In my memory, it was a nice pen. Smooth, wet, almost frictionless on the paper.