A visit to the Airmail Pen Company, Mumbai, India

[Richard]

Please post pictures of the piston filling mechanism? Is it similar to Pelikans?

It's generally similar to the Pelikan mechanism, in that it has two counter-acting screws. It does not have any keying to keep the piston from rotating in the barrel, and you can see a slight helical grease track through the ink-view window showing that the piston does in fact rotate. I found this design disturbing when I first encountered it on an Esterbrook "twist" filler, but it seems very reliable.

 

I have a Wality 69L ED that a friend gave me after a trip to India -- it has a brown marbled cap that's not sold into the export market, and I like that:

 

shttp://www.richardspens.com/images/collection/zoomed/wality_ed.jpg

 

And I have a 69L piston filler, from which I learned how the piston works. Just for grins, I've fitted this pen with a JoWo nib.

 

shttp://www.richardspens.com/images/collection/zoomed/wality_69l.jpg

 

I carried the piston filler to the Atlanta show, and people I showed it to were impressed. This is not a bad thing!

[susegad]

Hi Hari,

 

Thank you once again for this write up. I showed my wife this post and the other post about the Pen stores in Mumbai and needless to say she is worried about our next vacation trip to Mumbai.

 

Keep up the good work.

 

-Carlos

[Akumar]

That is an excellent account of your visit. The pen you purchased is very nice. I may have to look into getting one of those. Does anyone know where to find them? Yes, I know I could Google it. I was hoping someone could recommend a good seller for them.

 

 

guys some airmail wality pens are available on ebay at this link

 

http://shop.ebay.com/merchant/greateastern...=&_osacat=0

[Akumar]

That is an excellent account of your visit. The pen you purchased is very nice. I may have to look into getting one of those. Does anyone know where to find them? Yes, I know I could Google it. I was hoping someone could recommend a good seller for them.

 

 

some airmail pens are available at this link

 

guys some airmail wality pens are available on ebay at seller id greateasterndeals

 

[shadowsforbars]

Absolutely fascinating. Thank you.

[Anne-Sophie]

Thanks for another great journey into world of pen making in India.

 

Your narration is so great, I made the pictures in my mind.

 

Thanks for showing us your new pen

[hari317]

Thank you Shadowsforbars and Anne-Sophie.

 

Regards,

Hari

 

[Brian]

Great insight into an interesting pen and brand. Its amazing the amount of manual labor that goes into these two brands. Thanks for the tour.

[RajB]

A wonderfully illuminating post, Hari. Thank you so much for taking the trouble to write so descriptively about your experience in their factory. I wish their company policy would have permitted some photographs to compliment your account.

 

Now, a question, since I am aware there are some Kolkatans on this board: where in Kolkata can one buy fountain pens like Wality and other Indian manufacturers? I am not resident in Kolkata, and none of my family (who live mainly in Kidderpore and Bhavanipore) seem to know where Indian-made fountain pens might be found. Certainly not in the new shopping malls (Forum/Pantaloons etc)? Any help would be most appreciated!

 

Looking forward to your future posts, Hari, thanks again.

 

Raj Banerjee

[Chazzozz]

FWIW, their web site is here http://www.airmailpenco.com/index.htm, where you can see a couple of (very small) pictures of their production line. Sadly, the page that mentions where they export to is not working. I suppose a quick email would help solve the question of where to buy one.

 

Edit: Bugger...I just tried to send an email and it bounced back. Hari, if you happen to contact the in the near future, please let them know that other people want to email them but their mailbox is over quota.

Edited April 6, 2009 by Chazzozz

[DRP]

One of the most fascinating posts I've read recently. Thank you.

[krz]

Thanks Hari, I always like good behind the scene information. What fun! My Wality's always work nicely.

[hari317]

Thank you all for your kind comments.

 

Now, a question, since I am aware there are some Kolkatans on this board: where in Kolkata can one buy fountain pens like Wality and other Indian manufacturers? I am not resident in Kolkata, and none of my family (who live mainly in Kidderpore and Bhavanipore) seem to know where Indian-made fountain pens might be found. Certainly not in the new shopping malls (Forum/Pantaloons etc)? Any help would be most appreciated!

 

Raj, bluemoon is from Kolkata and will be able to help you out. Also search for posts by rahulg , he had reviewed the FP shops of Kolkata a few months back.

 

Edit: Bugger...I just tried to send an email and it bounced back. Hari, if you happen to contact the in the near future, please let them know that other people want to email them but their mailbox is over quota.

 

They are not very good with emails, Hence I always call them, anyway if I meet them I will pass on your suggestion.

 

Warm Regards,

Hari

[RajB]

Hari,

Apologies for the delay, and thanks for your response. I will get right onto it!

Hope everyone else is well.

Regards

 

Raj

 

PS its Pelikan M800 today, just trying it with Diamine Saddle Brown, not working too badly, though I prefer the warmth of the Havana Brown.

[chibimie]

Thanks for the attention to detail that made your visit to the factory ours as well. I look forward to holding the smaller model (Carrie mentioned) in my own hands.

[cmeisenzahl]

Very cool post!

[Aysedasi]

Great post Hari, thanks very much

[Cursive Child]

Excellent account, Hari! Very interesting to know that they're handmade.

[Akumar]

FWIW, their web site is here http://www.airmailpenco.com/index.htm, where you can see a couple of (very small) pictures of their production line. Sadly, the page that mentions where they export to is not working. I suppose a quick email would help solve the question of where to buy one.

 

Edit: Bugger...I just tried to send an email and it bounced back. Hari, if you happen to contact the in the near future, please let them know that other people want to email them but their mailbox is over quota.

 

 

They are really lousy answering mails.

You can buy some of the pens on ebay at the link below

Wality online

[penburg]

Thanks Hari for your research and posting this!