Any Tombow users here?

[amper]

I wonder, are there any fellow Tombow users on FPN? I searched for Tombow, and only turned up a few hits, and they don't appear in the list of Japanese manufacturers. I own three Tombow pens, a chrome and gold Zoom 909fp, a matching Zoom 909bw, and a black Zoom 505 Havanna RB. I used to work for a Tombow dealer back in the early 1990's. The Zoom 909fp went for about $90-100 back then. I acquired the 909bw (rollerball) at a gift shop in Narita Airport in 1999 on my way to the Philippines, but the 909fp and 505 through the store where I worked. They were more modest in price, though the 909bw is of the exact same chromium and gold plated brass construction as the 909fp.

 

Here's a picture I scavenged:

http://qprc.web.infoseek.co.jp/images/Zoom/Zoom909fp-2.jpg

 

The 909bw rollerball looks the same. The Zoom 505 is still available, though sadly, the fountain pen version seems only to be available in Europe and Japan, at least American Tombow doesn't list them on their web site. One cool thing is that with the Zoom 505, there are (or were) matching fountain pens, rollerballs, ballpoints, and mechanical pencils, all the same size with caps, though only the silver color is available in all four variants. That's not something you see very often. I wouldn't mind picking up a set of those if I ever make another trip to or through Japan.

 

I really like my 909's. The heft of the metal barrel is pleasing without being too cumbersome. The only thing I would change is I wish I had not gotten an EF nib. It's much to fine for my hand.

 

 

[Phthalo]

Good point about the list... we definitely don't see much about Tombow though.

[Splicer]

You've piqued my curiousity, now. I use Tombow mechanical pencils every day (they're my favorite) and my very first technical pen was a Tombow model with a capillary filler that I can't find any mention of today. I don't know thing one about their fountain pens though.

 

If you worked for a Tombow dealer in the early nineties, you might remember those capillary fillers. I bought mine in probably 1986; I don't know if they had disappeared by 1990.

[rroossinck]

I've written with J-san's Tombow Zoom 101, which he reviewed here. It's an outstanding pen (I dig carbon fibre).

[scratchy]

I have to confess to wanting a Tombow EGG even though it's a rollerball...

[Guest Roy]

I have a Tombow "Object" Fountain Pen from the late 1990s. Steel nib in Medium but it is a smooth and reliable writer. We actually have two (mine is Red, the spouse's is Purple).

 

--Roy

[amper]

I have to confess to wanting a Tombow EGG even though it's a rollerball...

 

The Egg did come in a fountain pen version, as well. I believe the full name was the Tombow Zoom 828fp. Here's another picture I scavenged off a Japanese collector's website:

http://qprc.web.infoseek.co.jp/images/Zoom/Zoom828fp-2.jpg

 

Here's the full URL for the page:

Tombow Zoom

 

 

 

[Doug C]

I'm surprised by this as well.

 

While I don't have any of their fountain pens, I do have a 550 roller in the gunmetal finish, as well as 3 of their limited edition Spanish designer pens. I tried to sell the 550 and one of the two Mano Limited Edition gel/bp's that I have (I have one in red and one in gray) on FPN, and although I've sold a ton of pens here, there was next to no interest.

 

I'm guessing that it was due to my poor photography, since most people that have seen these pens flip over them. Also the 550 uses the propietary Tombow refill, but the Mano uses a Parker gel/bp so that probably wasnt the issue.

 

Go figure. They are neat pens.

[Doug C]

I'm surprised by this as well.

 

While I don't have any of their fountain pens, I do have a 550 roller in the gunmetal finish, as well as 3 of their limited edition Spanish designer pens. I tried to sell the 550 and one of the two Mano Limited Edition gel/bp's that I have (I have one in red and one in gray) on FPN, and although I've sold a ton of pens here, there was next to no interest.

 

I'm guessing that it was due to my poor photography, since most people that have seen these pens flip over them. Also the 550 uses the propietary Tombow refill, but the Mano uses a Parker gel/bp so that probably wasnt the issue.

 

Go figure. They are neat pens.

 

Here are pics of the two Manos, and another pen that was from a Spanish Designer, the Titan:

 

http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh130/DougDorann/P4010092.jpg

 

[MYU]

Tombow definitely had some interesting designs. The Zoom had a very cool shape--fit nicely in the hand, despite the strange "squeezed" look. I found their nibs to run a little large, but usually quite smooth. It is a shame they faded away.

[langere]

So -do Tombows still exist and where can we find them? My interest has also been piqued...

 

Erick

[Doug C]

They do still exist, but generally the less expensive models. The photos I attached were from a more expensive line from about 10 years ago (and by expensive, I seem to remember in the $30 to $100 range back then). They all came with metal cases.

 

Right now, I believe they still make the smaller Zooms (that designation is for a lot of their pens-the ones in the photo all say Zoom, but the two on the ends are the Mano's, and the one in the middle is the Titan-they also made one that looked a little like a fish). I have a 550 that I think that they still make in a gun metal finish, and the current retail is about $40. They have others that start at around $15. They are not as spectacular looking as the line in the photos, but nice pens, especially for the money.

 

 

[Whippet]

I have to confess to wanting a Tombow EGG even though it's a rollerball...

 

Shame on You!!!

[Rapt]

Nice CF pen as in the review linked above.... Might have to keep an eye out for that one...

 

 

[scratchy]

I went to see that FP version of the Egg!

 

and yes shame on me for still wanting one of the roller ball Eggs if there's no FP Eggs to be found!

[journeyman42]

I have a Zoom 980, which I picked up about 9 years ago and am just starting to use it again. I just picked up a converter and am waiting for some ink to come in the mail. When it does I will let everyone know how it works. The pen seems to write dry and the cartridges I have been using do not flow well enough, so I experience quite a lot of skipping. But I love the look of the pen enough to give it another chance.

[Sailor Kenshin]

I wonder, are there any fellow Tombow users on FPN? I searched for Tombow, and only turned up a few hits, and they don't appear in the list of Japanese manufacturers. I own three Tombow pens, a chrome and gold Zoom 909fp, a matching Zoom 909bw, and a black Zoom 505 Havanna RB. I used to work for a Tombow dealer back in the early 1990's. The Zoom 909fp went for about $90-100 back then. I acquired the 909bw (rollerball) at a gift shop in Narita Airport in 1999 on my way to the Philippines, but the 909fp and 505 through the store where I worked. They were more modest in price, though the 909bw is of the exact same chromium and gold plated brass construction as the 909fp.

 

Here's a picture I scavenged:

http://qprc.web.infoseek.co.jp/images/Zoom/Zoom909fp-2.jpg

 

The 909bw rollerball looks the same. The Zoom 505 is still available, though sadly, the fountain pen version seems only to be available in Europe and Japan, at least American Tombow doesn't list them on their web site. One cool thing is that with the Zoom 505, there are (or were) matching fountain pens, rollerballs, ballpoints, and mechanical pencils, all the same size with caps, though only the silver color is available in all four variants. That's not something you see very often. I wouldn't mind picking up a set of those if I ever make another trip to or through Japan.

 

I really like my 909's. The heft of the metal barrel is pleasing without being too cumbersome. The only thing I would change is I wish I had not gotten an EF nib. It's much to fine for my hand.

 

 

I have a black Tombow Zoom with a needle-fine nib that I love, which is one of the pens I have inked-up now (a custom-mixed green).

[penfan22]

Hi:

 

This is my first participation in a thread so I don't know if I am following protocol.

 

Aside from internet stores dedicated to Japanese pens and pencils and pencil cases, etc. (such as jpens.com), Tombow is available from www.cultpens.com in the UK. As to fp, they offer the Havanna and the Object. Prices are of course in pounds and, British taxes being what they are, rather steep. Several type of rollers are available. Service from cultpens is excellent. I have placed a few small orders and have always had excellent results.

[juhtolv]

 

I think I will buy some Tombow Object -fountain pens some day; They provide many good matches for many colors of ink. Somebody have reviewed that model, already.

 

[Samovar]

I been told that Tombow FP are not distributed in Canada anymore. Nota Bene and Boutique du Stylo cannot get them anymore