Any Tombow users here?

[woody77]

My wife picked me up a Zoom 505fp (brushed stainless steel body) for my birthday a few weeks ago while she was in Paris. It's a wonderful pen.

 

Serpentum (on this board) has one identical to mine for sale here: https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/in...st&p=566539

[Bruno Taut]

Hi there,

 

I am the happy owner of three Tombow fountain pens: Zoom 828fp "egg", Zoom 980 an a Zoom 101. The egg --F nib-- and the 980 --M nib-- are excellent writers; very smooth and very reliable. The "egg" is very comfortable on the hand, and mines are not small. I think its girth is responsible for that comfort together with being not too short. In my opinion, its biggest inconvenience is that given its shape, it does not fit comfortably in any pocket.

 

It is interesting to note that the Zoom 980 seems not to be for sale in Japan, according to the Tombow catalog for that market. I remember that I bought it in Glasgow, at the Pen Shop in Princess Square.

 

The Zoom 101 is a bit of a disappointment re how it writes. Its nib --F-- is always a bit scratchy, but nothing you cannot cope with. I must also add that I have not used it as much as I would have liked and that it might need some "break-in".

 

In any event, I think Tombow deserves a close attention from anyone interested in Japanese fountain pens--good and interesting designs and good writers at affordable prices.

 

Iosepus

 

[cfclark]

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

 

My wife has one of these, that I got her several years ago...she's never really used it and it's still in mint condition. I just liked the shape. Wonder if she'd notice if I dug it out and inked it up.

[Siv]

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

 

I have one of those as well. Doesn't write terribly well though... I think the tines are a bit misaligned. It looks cool though but the barrel is just wasted space. It could take a cartridge 4x the width of a standard international short. If only they made those!

[Sailor Kenshin]

I like it because for me it reduces hand fatigue with its weird shape. Mine's a good writer, too.

[mucephei]

In any event, I think Tombow deserves a close attention from anyone interested in Japanese fountain pens--good and interesting designs and good writers at affordable prices.

 

Iosepus

 

Absolutely. Which is why I have three of them (though one is out of action right now).

[monsoonmalabar]

I wonder, are there any fellow Tombow users on FPN?

 

Yes! It was my entry in the the real FP world after having used cheap parker frontiers for years. I found the medium nibs (all that seem to be available) far too broad for my handwriting. I now use a Tombow object fountain pen (aluminium finish) with EF nib. Use waterman florida blue ink with converter.

http://img244.imageshack.us/img244/2158/fptc.jpg

I'm so far very happy with it.

 

Have ordered a forest green Pilot 78G with F nib and plan to use waterman green ink in that one.

 

I've got some old pens my grandfather used (including a rather nice Conway Stewart) which have recently been restored but, again, I find the nibs too broad...

Edited April 28, 2009 by monsoonmalabar

[mucephei]

Now I have five of them...

 

Though the next purchase could well be a Pilot M90. Can't get that pen out of my head for some reason.

[MYU]

Though the next purchase could well be a Pilot M90. Can't get that pen out of my head for some reason.

It's the design; very cool. Unlike any other. And so... you must have it.

 

 

 

I like the look of the Tombow 101, but that carbon fiber makes me feel uneasy seeing as it's not overlaying metal. That material can crack, completely ruining the pen.

Edited May 19, 2009 by MYU

[mucephei]

Though the next purchase could well be a Pilot M90. Can't get that pen out of my head for some reason.

It's the design; very cool. Unlike any other. And so... you must have it.

 

 

 

Right enough. I must have it. I was going to get a Lamy 2k but the M90 has stolen my heart.

 

I've just realised that nearly all of my pens are Japanese. They are all well designed and beautifully made.

[elvis]

I am looking to acquire a Tombow Zoom 101 but they are not distributed by anyone in the United States. Fortunately, I will be going again to Japan in July and plan to acquire one then.

[leprechaun]

The Zoom 909fp went for about $90-100 back then.

 

Here's a picture I scavenged:

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

I have that exact pen (medium nib), but I'm not fond of it. It has become my wife's go-to fountain pen for letter writing.

 

I purchased it in a drafting supply store probably around 1995. I was really shopping for a VP, but they didn't have any in stock and the guy behind the counter convinced me I wanted the Tombow instead. Price seems about right, but I really can't remember.

[DocNib]

I was a Tombow for many years & always loved the brand! I carried the mechanical pencils, dispoasble fibertips & art materials, but the best sellers were the fine pens like the BW828 Zoom Rollpen (nicknamed Fatboy or Egg) & FP828 fountain pen version (along with the Black or Grey suede versions). Next in line was the Zoom BW505, SH505 & FP505 (brushed steel), then the BW515, SH515 & FP515 (Satin Champagne finish) and all the other colors that came out in the 90's like the Havana, Black Super Pen, Burgundy Marble, Brown Marble and Gun Metal. Of course, Object CD series was a hit due to the great low price...unfortunately, Tombow USA kept discontinuing good selling items and pared down the whole line much to the displeasure of many US dealers (a whole 'nother story!).

 

Can you tell I liked the line?

 

DocNib

PS--Got a Black Object CD FP (NOS) listed in the market place if anybody is looking for one...just bumped it back up to the beginning (shameless plug, sorry!)

[RINGO]

I started to test Tombow Object after talking to students who make a lot of notes and was surprised how nice this pen is (for it's only 16 euros in retail in Europe). Lamy Joy and VIsta are coming to compare.

It has the same weight as 320 euro's Montblanc: 13 g (without cap)

 

It works well with standard ink cartridges, so I use Pelican 4001 ink cartridges (for 0,95 euros/6 pcs) with Lamy Object.

 

Students are right: very good choice in non-expensive segment.

Edited November 23, 2014 by RINGO

[basterma]

I have the Object and another earlier pen which I can't identify. Both write really well. The object is an excellent pen and uses the same nib and feed as the Herlitz Tornado and Herlitz Biarritz. The other pen has a screw-on cap that skips threads and a clip that is loose; so it is not an every day carry pen.

[RINGO]

Using TOMBOW Object every day now for notes & thoughts - I simply loved it!

It is so light (13 g), easy, good designed, gives perfect writing, and all these for only 15 Euros.

Seems I will take another ones for different inks.

I suppose it is a nice solution for everyday's activity. I also use it in combination with RING PEN ULTRA (L size) for writing over one A4 page, and it also gives even better looking penmanship.

[rockydoggy]

I own a few Objects--they're all great writers. And I'm looking forward the arrival of a Zoom 101 carbon-fiber that's now in transit.

Interestingly, the old, stainless-steel Object that I have from back in the 80s or 90s is significantly heavier than the colored models that i've purchased within the past few years. I wonder if Tombow is using thinner metal for the bodies--I actually prefer the heft of the older pen. (I noticed the same thing when comparing a Muji pen from the 90s with the same model that I bought recently--the older model is heavier and feels more solid.)

[scottrseaman]

I just joined this website and realize that I am digging up a thread that is now 10 years old, but does anyone own or know anyone who owns a Tombow 909 fountain pen? I'm trying to get one, but except for a few references on the Internet to old posts from auctions in Japan, I haven't found any sign of any of these pens being out there for sale. Any info would be appreciated. Thank you very much.

[amper]

I just joined this website and realize that I am digging up a thread that is now 10 years old, but does anyone own or know anyone who owns a Tombow 909 fountain pen? I'm trying to get one, but except for a few references on the Internet to old posts from auctions in Japan, I haven't found any sign of any of these pens being out there for sale. Any info would be appreciated. Thank you very much.

I'm the only one I know who has one, and it's over 20 years old.

[scottrseaman]

Thank you! I go to Japan about three times a year for work, so I’ll see if I can scare one up the next time I go and report back on what I find or don’t find. I’ve never really dug around there, but if they exist, I’m assuming most of them are still there in peoples’ desk drawers, etc.