First Look: Pen Type-B from CW&T

It's a good time to be a Kickstarter pen fan, isn't it?

This weeks First Look comes from my old friends Che-Wei and Taylor, better known as design group CW&T. Possibly even better known as the team who brought you the Pen Type-A. They were kind enough to get one of the early builds of the Pen Type-B into my hands for review, and for that I am very thankful.

Many of you have heard of the Pen Type-A, and for those who haven't, you have quite a bit of catching up to do! The Pen Type-A was the first Kickstarter pen to break through to the mainstream, and with that came money, exposure, failure, theft, and more. It was quite the story during the production and fulfillment process. The Kickstarter updates and comments section are worth reading if you have several hours to spare. NOTCOTdid a good job of rounding up the details if you are looking for the shorter version.

With the learning experience of all learning experiences behind them, Che-Wei and Taylor set out to improve on the Pen Type-A. Not just improve actually. They believe in the Pen Type-B so much they are calling their shot: This is the last pen they will ever design.

At it's core, the Pen Type-B is the barrel of the Pen Type-A with a new exterior sleeve to make the pen portable, which the Pen Type-A wasn't. The sleeve isn't just an afterthought either. It is solid brass, machined to such a tight tolerance that it creates a piston-like effect when pulling the barrel out and sliding it back in. Again, just like the Pen Type-A did.

The brass sleeve is something special. It is stunning to look at and hold, and the addition of a single flat side on the sleeve serves as the perfect roll-stopper. It is HEAVY though. When I opened the package and grabbed it for the first time I let out a "whoa", then did the whole balance in my palm lift it up and down thing. I got used to it the more I carried it around, but if you are planning on carrying it in your pocket you will want a tight one, like found in jeans to prevent the pen (like a phone) from bouncing around too much. You also probably aren't going to write with the sleeve posted either. It's doable, but the balance is a little off. I don't post it to write with personally.

The fatal flaw with the Pen Type-B, as many will point out, is the use of the Pilot Hi-Tec-C refill. Both universally loved for its crisp, clean lines, and loathed for its tendency to fail, it is a divisive refill. And rightfully so. I'm on the side of the fence that puts up with it because when it works it is impossible to beat the output. So far, no issues with my refill in the Pen Type-B, and I wonder if the tight tolerances will even help keep the tip from drying out? Only time will tell. And if you like the design but hate the refill, CW&T lists other compatible refills that will work with the addition of a spacer.

I'm a backer of this pen on Kickstarter, and now that I have had the chance to sample one, I am an ecstatic backer. This is one of those pens that will cause some reshuffling of the deck, if you will. I can only carry so many pens at a time, and one of them is going to be relegated to the desk when my Pen Type-B arrives.

My thanks to CW&T for sending me one of their few pre-production samples for review.

The Visconti Van Gogh Midi in Green Musk: A Review

(Susan M. Pigott is a fountain pen collector, pen and paperholic, photographer, and professor. You can find more from Susan on her blog Scribalishess.)

Goldspot Pens kindly loaned The Pen Addict a Visconti Van Gogh Midi in Green Musk to review. This fountain pen comes nicely packaged in a faux leather clamshell box.

The pen is made of Italian resin that is semi-transparent. I really like the musk green color with its swirls of yellow, orange, and brown. The resin is stunning and changes with the light.

Rhodium-plated adornments accent the pen. The clip has the usual Visconti name on each side, and it is fully functional.

The cap is encircled at the bottom with a thick band that is engraved with "Visconti" and "Van Gogh" along with decorative texture.

They chose a strange font for "Van Gogh;" it almost looks like Comic Sans.

The portion of the grip nearest the nib is metal with similar engraved patterns.

One strange design element appears on the back side of the cap: a screw. Apparently, you can tighten or loosen the screw to increase or decrease the clip's tension (for a tighter or looser hold). On an otherwise beautiful pen, the screw, though practical, seems an inelegant aberration.

The pen is described as a "midi," but I find it to be a tiny pen, only 4.375 inches in length unposted and 5.5 posted. For comfortable writing, this is one pen you will probably need to post.

The pen is also small in diameter, and the metal is slippery, making it difficult for my fingers to find purchase. I have to hold the pen tightly which eventually results in hand cramps.

The Van Gogh comes with a medium steel nib that writes smoothly–when it writes.

Unfortunately, the nib on my pen performed quite poorly, exhibiting numerous hard starts, skipping, and simply running out of ink. I guess this is a feed problem that might be remedied by tweaking the tines. But, since this isn't my pen, I didn't feel the freedom to manipulate the nib or feed to see if I could get a better flow.

The barrel unscrews to allow you to insert an ink cartridge. This pen does not accept a converter. So, if you decide to order the Van Gogh, be sure to order ink cartridges as well.

For people with small hands or those who want an elegant pocket or purse pen, the Van Gogh Midi is an excellent choice, if you can get it to write consistently. Had the nib not been disappointing, I would have bought this pen for myself. It's absolutely beautiful.

The Visconti Van Gogh retails at Goldspot Pens for $174.95, and you'll need to add the cost of cartridges since only one is provided with the pen ($6.90 for 7 cartridges).

Pros

• The Van Gogh is an elegant, small pen with gorgeous resin colors.

• The rhodium-plated accents complement the pen nicely.

• The pen is light and can be comfortable for those who prefer thinner barrels.
• When the pen writes, it writes smoothly. The medium steel nib will be a good size for many people, but apparently no other sizes are available, nor are gold nibs offered.
• For those who like the convenience of cartridges over converters, this pen works well.

Cons

• The pen seems pretty expensive considering that it is so small, has a steel (rather than gold) nib, and only takes cartridges.
• I find a cartridge-only pen to be extremely limiting. I much prefer having the converter option so I can use my own bottled ink. Of course, you can refill cartridges with your own ink using a syringe if you wish.
• I found the pen uncomfortable to write with because of its narrow diameter and slippery grip. But that's just me. Others might find this pen extremely comfortable.
• Unfortunately, the nib on the loaner pen, though smooth, was fussy. It would not start without me priming it each time, even if I only paused for a moment while writing. In addition it skipped and sometimes stopped writing entirely. I suspect a little widening of the tines might fix this issue, but a pen priced over $100 should come with a nib that just works.

Thank you to Goldspot Pens for loaning me this pen for review.

Scriptus 2015 - Toronto's Pen & Writing Show

My good pen friend Michelle Leung is playing a big part in this years Toronto Pen Show, which means it's going to be awesome! If you are in the area on November 1st, or fancy a quick trip to an amazing city, head over to the Scriptus 2015 website for all of the details.

And be sure to send me pictures!