Platinum Pens

[Siv]

My favourite place on FPN is the Rising Sun forum and over the time that I have been trawling it, we gets lots of topics about Pilots, Sailors, Danitrio and Nakayas. Hardly anything is written about Platinum pens. Why is this? Are people going straight to Nakaya? Do they perform poorer than those Japanese staples Pilot and Sailor?

 

Well I just plumped for one of these:

http://www.platinumpenusa.com/images/makie/PTB-70000C.jpg

Looks so much like the Pilot VP Raden and the price seemed reasonable so I just went for it. Let's see if it lives up to it's Japanese brethren

[Strang]

I have 3 Sailors, 2 Pilots (and 1 Namiki), a Nakaya, and a Platinum. The Platinum (in this case a Yaeume 8-fold Plum maki-e version based on their venerable 3776 base). The Platinum nib (a standard (M)) is superior to any of the Sailors as well as the Namiki; smoother and runs true to a medium width. Whereas the aforementioned Sailors and Namiki are all finer and scratchier than advertized. I would say the Platinum nib is not the equal of either of the Pilots (Custom 845 Urushi, and Custom 823 Demonstrator) or the Nakaya (a custom made pen). As far as fit and finish, the Platinum stacks up to any of these pens. It's a good size - not a monster but not small like a few of the Sailors I own. It feels good in the hand and the 3776 nib is trouble free and always a pleasure to use. My next Japanese pen will be a Platinum.

[Gepzo]

I found out about Platinum pens right here, before there was a special forum just for pens from the land of the rising sun. I think that they're not as well known because they didn't have many dealers in the USA. They still don't, really, but they're growing in popularity. FPH carries/carried them, for instance, and that's within the last year.

 

My own opinion is that they're one of the big 3 Japanese pen manufacturers, right up there with Pilot and Sailor. As far as performance goes, I am currently using a 3776 standard in medium nib, and I like it a lot. Its currently sharing the rotation with a Fermo, and I'm letting the Sailors take a break. Next up...Parkers!

 

-George

[thibaulthalpern]

My favourite place on FPN is the Rising Sun forum and over the time that I have been trawling it, we gets lots of topics about Pilots, Sailors, Danitrio and Nakayas. Hardly anything is written about Platinum pens. Why is this? Are people going straight to Nakaya? Do they perform poorer than those Japanese staples Pilot and Sailor?

 

I've been wondering about the same thing. Seems like FPN is primarily used by North Americans (i.e., those living in North America). In that case, it seems like Platinum is not as readily available as Pilots and Sailors.

 

Maybe Platinum needs to change its name to a driver occupation...like...Chauffeur, and then maybe it'll get popular

 

 

j/k...I'm just wondering why Japanese pens like to have driver occupation brands.

[Phthalo]

IMO, Platinum's modern offerings leave a bit to be desired - design-wise only (their nibs are excellent.) The range is not exactly visually exciting. You have the 3776 in its various incarnations... and while some maki-e designs are very nice, they are also very expensive. For me, not a lot of desirable pens exist in the middle price range - you have some simple daily users or you have to jump straight in at $500+. If I want to spend that then I will go for a Nakaya instead because the 3776 is too manly. Too big, too serious - it doesn't attract me enough to want one - even the Presidential with its Ultra Extra Fine nib... I just can't get excited about the shape.

 

In contrast, vintage Platinum pens are beautiful! I have more vintage Platinum pens than I do vintage Sailor or Pilot pens. I have several sterling silver models which are wonderful... some of their 1970s short pens were far more interesting than what Pilot was offering.

 

I wish their momentum of that time had carried into the modern day. I would love to see new life breathed into their modern range...

 

Sterling / Urushi Flat Top (~1971)

http://www.ciar-roisin.net/photos/jp/Sterling-02.jpg http://www.ciar-roisin.net/photos/jp/Sterling-03.jpg

 

Sterling-Vermeil (~1975) (Larger, prettier image here.)

http://www.ciar-roisin.net/photos/jp/SterlingVermeil-02.jpg

 

Zogan (~1978, LAMY 2000-sized, shaped, and styled - with a Japanese twist.)

http://www.ciar-roisin.net/photos/jp/Zogan-01.jpg

[Taki]

I agree with Laura, the design of 3776 is not very appealing to me. Celluloids are nice but if I am going to pay $300 there are other choices. I wish they had more variety at around 10000 yen range.

Edited October 11, 2008 by Taki

[Nikolaos]

I totally agree with Laura as well. Vintage Platinum pens are very interesting, come in a variety of finishes and designs and are wonderful writers. I have about 10 vintage platinum pens (mainly sterling) and love them all.

 

Laura, nice sterling vermeil there! Wanna trade your fine nib with my medium one ? Just kidding

[kamakura-pens]

I too agree with Laura, the modern Platinum pens seem less appealing than their Pilot and Sailor counterparts, but the vintage Platinums are quite wonderful.

 

Below are some of my favorites, A very rare Platinum Capless, and the Platinum Honest Ultra.

 

http://www.kamakurapens.com/PenImages/PlatinumKnock.jpg

 

http://www.kamakurapens.com/FPN/PlatinumUltra-1.jpg

[Siv]

Looking at the Platinum range, it seems like they do the typical MB149 clone (President) and Maki-e pens one that shape but they do have a number of pens which have a unique design - maybe Platinum are trying to expand their horizons a little? These are very un-Japanese IMHO.

http://www.platinum-pen.co.jp/products/fountain/PP-700000/PP700000_440_1.jpg

http://www.platinum-pen.co.jp/products/fountain/PG80-300000/PG80-300000_440_2.jpg

http://www.platinum-pen.co.jp/products/fountain/PP-100000H/PP-100000H_440_nocap.jpg

http://www.platinum-pen.co.jp/products/fountain/PTB-20000G/PTB-20000G_440_1_nocap.jpg

 

Ron, you continue to amaze. A Platinum Capless - a first sight for me!

[JulioPB]

Hi:

 

I have a PTB500B, with a gold plated steel Broad nib I bought from Ujuku, for Us$49.44.

 

It is a great writer, very smooth, wet and reliable for a steel nib, it is similar in width as a Pelikan gold M nib. Smoother and wetter than some very expensive gold nibed pens,

 

So happy I am waiting for a 18k gold nibed, I hope is arriving next week.

 

My favorites are Sailor, they play in another leage. You can get for Us$47.37 a Somiko (Profit Young) which is a great writer with Titanium or Gold plated steel nib, and for less than Us$100 you can get a nice pen with an extraordinaire 14k nib in several designs and models.

 

Pilots are nice too, but some nibs are a little "strange" to me, getting use to a Falcon and an Elite nibs.

 

Hope helps,

 

Julio

 

[Dillo]

I didn't really like the 3776 either. The celluloid Platinum is pretty, but I'd rather save up for a Nakaya. I have a pink-purple Platinum Honest with the original globe logo, empty cartridges (but sealed--I opened them up, cleaned them, then resealed them), and the box. I also have a Nakaya.

 

Most of my pens are Pilot and I have some Sailor. I have a fairly strong sentimental attachment to Platinum itself though because my mom had one when she was in school, and I used one of the Platinums she had before I got a nice pen for myself.

 

Dillon

[thibaulthalpern]

I really, really do not like that particular Platinum pen with the ribbed look. It's ugly.

[kamakura-pens]

I really, really do not like that particular Platinum pen with the ribbed look. It's ugly.

 

I agree, I hate the look of that pen. I rarely bash a pen, but I mean I really REALLY hate that ribbed design. Having said that, I must admit that I have one in my daily rotations, though I rarely use it. The reason I keep one is that the ribbing makes it a comfortable pen to write with for long perriods of time. So it is a pen that I keep at my desk and not one that I like to carry around. Any one else out there have one? What is your impression of the Platinum 3776 Ribbed.

 

http://www.kamakurapens.com/PenImages/Platinum3776Original-1.jpg

[MYU]

That Platinum Honest Ultra is stunning, Ron. Do you have an closeup image of the nib that you could share with us? It looks like it has some interesting detail.

~Gary

[Siv]

Well each to his own I guess. I really like the ribbed design... especially on the Sailor. This one is currently on my drool list:

http://www.melpens.com/Product_Images/000000852.gif

 

If the Platinum came in a silver trim, I would seriously consider it.

 

Anyway, seems to me like Platinum are trying a bit too hard to copy MB with the 3778.

The figure 3776 is the height of Mt. Fuji.

Just like the 4810 on the MB...

[Taki]

Just a trivia...3776 is the height of Mt. Fuji in meters

Edited October 12, 2008 by Taki

[MYU]

Just a trivia...3776 is the height of Mt. Fuji in meters

But... what if Mt. Fuji gets a really heavy snowfall during the winter? Couldn't it become 3777?

[schw]

I agree, I hate the look of that pen. I rarely bash a pen, but I mean I really REALLY hate that ribbed design. Having said that, I must admit that I have one in my daily rotations, though I rarely use it. The reason I keep one is that the ribbing makes it a comfortable pen to write with for long perriods of time. So it is a pen that I keep at my desk and not one that I like to carry around. Any one else out there have one? What is your impression of the Platinum 3776 Ribbed.

I hated the design, too, until I saw it in the flesh. I don't post full-size pens, and upon seeing it without the cap I suddenly understood the genius of the ribs! Capped or posted, it puts me in mind of a Japanese sword.

 

I really like the clean lines of the flat-top-slip-cap 3776s and at the moment I have three Gathered and two other versions. I had a first-generation Gathered model but got rid of it because the finless feed was unreliable. The black second-generation Gathered, with its slightly stubby broad nib, is probably my favourite pen. I believe they were carved by hand on a lathe, rather than injection moulded; I can certainly see grooves going around the ribs. The second-generation red is a subdued colour, while the contemporary red version is much brighter but still elegant.

 

I'd love to post a picture at this point, but I haven't got a camera..

[thibaulthalpern]

I haven't seen the pen in life before but the ribbed design reminds me of a vacuum cleaner tube. You know, most if not all flexible vacuum cleaner hoses have a ribbed design. I'm not sure I want to imagine I'm holding a vacuum cleaner hose when I'm writing. For that matter, I'm not a sword fan so don't want to imagine I'm writing with a sword either

[Taki]

I think some Waterman vintage pens had ribbed barrels, and I think it is in a way it's a classic look

Edited October 13, 2008 by Taki