Vintage Pilot MYU Fountain Pen - 1976 - F Nib

My first step into the world of the vintage Pilot stainless steel lineup was my recent review of the Murex.  Such a neat pen and, frankly, I'm hooked.  Receiving, using, and reviewing the Murex kindled in me a rOtring-esque excitement about all things vintage Pilot steel.  The next pen on my list after the Murex was to acquire a vintage MYU, the predecessor of the Murex. 

The MYU 701 pens were originally produced in 1971 and had a production run all through the 1970's.  The Murex was produced in the late 70's on into the very early 80's and was what many considered an improvement over the MYU due to being larger in size and better for longer writing stints.  The Murex design is far less exciting and captivating than the MYU in my opinion, but they both have their own unique feel and experience and are both an absolute pleasure.

When capped, the MYU is a short, almost pocket sized pen that is lightweight, but sturdy.  Similar to the idea of the Kaweco Sport lineup, the cap plays an important part in the overall functionality of the pen.  Once posted, it extends the pens length to that of a "normal" pen which allows the pen to rest on the fleshy part of the hand rather than being too short.

What makes the MYU stand out in a crowd is how the nib is formed as part of the grip section from a single piece of steel.  This sleek and seamless design against a brushed stainless steel is so striking.  The overall shape of the pen is one continuous curve from the tip to the tail which is incredibly beautiful and I find myself in awe at just how fantastic it is.  I'm sure if the pen could talk it would be embarrassed by my awkward stare while writing...   

The integral nib design in modern pen making is pretty much extinct, although Pilot did a limited edition remake (with some improvement/adjustments) back in 2008 called the M90 or MYU90 for Pilot's 90th birthday.  We can all cross our fingers that in 2018 for the 100th birthday they will do something equally as amazing.

As mentioned above, once I'd received the Murex I was on the hunt to find my first MYU.  Oddly enough, I purchased my pen from a seller on Etsy of all places.  He lives in Japan and seems to always be on the lookout for vintage Pilot pens and he had this particular MYU listed for a great price.  

This specimen is not perfect, but the price was extremely fair for the condition.  The barrel had no dings or dents, but the nib needed some adjusting and the chrome clip and center connector ring were showing some slight signs of oxidation.  

In all honesty, I would usually hold off and try and find a more "pristine" example, but I decided to dive in and I've actually found the slight oxidation against the steel to be a bit appealing.  In discussing the pen with Thomas Hall, he educated me a bit on the Japanese philosophy of Wabi-sabi which is an acceptance of the idea of transience and that things wear, fade, and over time become imperfect.  Very fitting and is something I need to be more considerate of with my things in general.

The nib did write, but was a bit out of alignment so I sent it off for repair to a gentleman named Dillon on Thomas' recommendation.  He recommended Dillon specifically as he has an expertise and the tooling needed to work on pens like the MYU, so I felt safe.  His turnaround time was very quick and he was extremely pleasant to work with.  The pen came back writing great and I'm glad I made the investment to send it off.  If you are in need of service for your MYU, feel free to email Dillon at fpninkvials@gmail.com.

The MYU can accept either the standard Pilot/Namiki cartridges or the CON-20 squeeze converter.  I have to admit that I had never given the CON-20 the time of day, but I decided after a cart or two that I would ink it up with my bottle of Kon-peki using the converter.  The experience was surprisingly easy and it was one of those moments where you feel dumb because you had built up in your mind the experience was going to be subpar, but I will use the converter almost exclusively from this point on.  The only real downside to the CON-20 is your inability to see how much ink you have remaining, but other than that it is great.  For larger Pilot pens I generally use the CON-50.

The nib on the MYU is surprisingly smooth and lays down a nice crisp line.  The F nib is definitely a Japanese fine, but is becoming my preferred size for the brand for everyday writing and note taking.  I love the experience of writing with this pen in both looks and feel.

Along the lines of vintage rOtring pens, the vintage Pilots are quite collectable and can fetch a hefty price for NOS or rarer models like the striped MYU.  If you are serious about wanting a MYU, budgeting around $200 will probably get you one in good shape that you can enjoy.  The nice thing about these is that if you decided it wasn't your thing it will hold its value and there is always a line of buyers looking to pick one up.

Stay tuned for more vintage Pilot reviews to come...

Ti2 TechLiner Pen - Blackwash Edition

The Ti2 TechLiner is the most recent addition to the pen world by Mike Bond of Ti2 Design and was a hit on Kickstarter earlier this year.  Mike was kind enough to send me one of the early prototypes of the TechLiner to review which I really enjoyed.  Something new, unique, and something that took a lot of people by surprise.

In some correspondence recently with Mike, he was kind enough to offer to send me one of the coveted Blackwash edition TechLiners to check out; how could I refuse?  The Blackwash was one of the "upgrade" editions during the Kickstarter campaign and I couldn't wait to get my hands on it to put to work and review.  Thanks again for sending it my way, Mike.

The original finish on the TechLiner is what is considered "tumbled".  It is bead blasted titanium which is then tumbled and provides a really uniform and durable surface that will hold up to a lot of beating.  It looks awesome, very industrial, and fits right in with any EDC.

Now, the Blackwash finish takes awesome to a new level I think.  It is PVD (physical vapor deposition) coated in black and then tumbled to a matte finish.  This finish strapped to a unique titanium pen like Mike's makes for a seriously cool experience.  I dig it. 

For a bit of TechLiner 101, the overall "body" of the pen is made of only three parts: the main barrel, the tip(s), and the cap.  The tip and tail are a sort of rounded off cylinder which have been machined with a grid of lines to create a rectangular grip pattern.  Pretty sweet.  The grooves are deep and just sharp enough on the edges to provide a slip free grip.  

The cap is held in place on both ends by internal magnets which is probably one of the pen's most kick butt features.  The magnets are strong, but not too much.  It is easy enough to pull the cap off, but once on there I have no fear of it falling off and being lost.

The tip of the pen is very unique as the refill sticks out of the barrel to a sharp, needle-like point and is held in place by one of the internal magnets.  This aesthetic might take some getting used to for many people as we are so conditioned to see ballpoint and rollerball type pens only stick out slightly as a little cone.  Not with this one... You might think it would impair the writing experience, but it doesn't in the least.  The TechLiner is built around the popular Uni-ball Signo 207 refill which means you can get it fairly easily in a range of sizes from 0.38mm all the way up to 1.0mm.   

With the Blackwash finish being tumbled, the grip section wears a bit more on the edges of the rectangles which creates a bit of a broken in look.  One thing I noticed about the production model in comparison to the prototype is that the grip was machined to be a bit more defined.  I think this is a good choice as it gives it more of a distinct look and actually increases the grip's functionality.

Before receiving the TechLiner from Mike I had a bit of experience with another "blackwash" product.  My current carry pocket knife is the Leek by Kershaw which is fantastic.  The blackwash finish is what attracted me to get it and I couldn't be happier with the look, feel, and durability the finish has shown.  I was stoked to see this finish on a pen and it lives up to the expectations nicely.

Kershaw Leek Pocket Knife (Photo courtesy of Kershaw website)

Kershaw Leek Pocket Knife (Photo courtesy of Kershaw website)

Another point that is definitely noteworthy in the post is regarding the clip.  First things first, the clip is an optional add-on part which runs another $12, but is probably a sound investment if you're looking into getting the pen.  Without the clip, the TechLiner could slip into a notebook pen sleeve or possibly a pocket (although is a fairly long pen).  The additional clip is a tank and is not a chintzy piece of hardware.

I strongly recommend the TechLiner.  It is unlike anything in the market, is made from killer materials, looks cool, the quality is heavy duty, and the finish...well, lets just say it rocks.  

Now that the Kickstarter pledges have all been fulfilled, check out Mike's shop for not only the Blackwash or standard TechLiner, but his original Ti2 pen (awesome as well), and his other cool products.

Thanks again, Mike! 

    


Pilot Prera Demonstrator Fountain Pen Review - F Nib - Orange Accents

The Pilot Prera fountain pen has been one on my list to try out for quite some time for review.  I never seemed to get around to buying one until now (not sure why), but I've been intrigued by it primarily due to its "mid range" price point.  Also, my recent draw to Pilot pens more so than any other brand could explain some of my subconscious rationale...

From the price standpoint, the Prera has a retail price of $70 US which isn't overly expensive where fountain pens are concerned, but not overly cheap either.  It is kind of in that range where you think, "should I?..."  The Pilot progression seems to be as follows: Metropolitan - $14, Knight - $40, Prera - $70, and then everything else breaks at least past the $140 range, but usually has at least a 14k nib.  So, what puts the Prera up into the $70 price range and is it worth it?

First things first, I bought this pen from Pen Chalet and did not pay the full retail price on it.  They currently have their Prera collection (all demonstrators) marked at $56 and with an additional 10% off using the code CLICKYPOST, you'll squeak through at just over $50 (and should still get free shipping within the US).  I point this out as the price really is great and Pen Chalet is a great outfit to work with.

Pilot Prera Fountain Pen Review

I opted for the orange trim Prera (tip and tail are colored) as it seemed to stand out, but there are 7 colors of trim to choose from if another may fit your fancy.  The barrel of the pen is clear but has some "smokey" or slightly translucent areas primarily in the cap that breaks up some of the design.  

The pen also has some nice chrome trim in the cap, barrel, and section which adds a touch of class and bling that helps the pen to stand out a bit more.  Around the cap is imprinted some dots and a solid white line with the name "PRERA" and "PILOT JAPAN".  I think it is a neat looking pen, but perhaps a little loud for my tastes?  Still, I think it looks good.

The nib on the pen is steel and is the same "Super Quality" nib used on the Pilot Knight reviewed previously.  It writes as expected with dark, crisp lines and some noticeable feedback.  I wouldn't refer to it as "scratchy", but isn't buttery smooth.  I tend to enjoy pens with a slightly grabby nib.  Not too much of course, but I enjoy knowing that the nib is touching the page.  Too smooth and it weirds me out a bit.  The Prera takes either the Pilot cartridge or converter only.

The clip is chrome and pressed out of thin steel, but it does the job.  It is stiff enough to clip easily to a shirt or pen case (something like a Nock Co perhaps?).  With a good jerk on it I could see it bending a bit.  

The build quality is pretty good on it as it doesn't have any rattles really.  Everything feels sturdy, but not like "wow" type of build for a demonstrator.  My Custom Heritage 92 demonstrator blew me away at how solid it felt, but the retail price on the CH 92 is about 3 times as much which hopefully should warrant a bit more attention to quality.  I would wager to say the Prera is a slight higher quality than your average TWSBI pen.

I like how the cap attaches to the barrel.  It isn't threaded but sort of "pops" onto it with a pressure fit.  There is a distinct click when you have the cap properly attached, but it is so smooth.  To remove the cap doesn't take an excessive amount of force, but we can rest assured that it is on there.

The Prera is actually quite small.  Smaller than I expected!  It makes the Metropolitan look like a giant.  I've included a comparison shot to get an idea for what to expect against the Metropolitan and the Custom Heritage 92.  With the decreased length, I definitely post the cap while writing.  The pen comes in at only about 0.5 oz, so adding a little weight while writing feels good.

Overall, I think the Prera is a good little pen.  Sturdy, eye catching, and reliable.  Worth the full $70?... meh.  $50?  I would say so.  If you missed the link...