roman harvest

clapiana · 02-04-2012, 09:16 AM

it's been out a little bit what is the good and bad

Whaler · 02-04-2012, 09:30 AM

I have made quite a few and have one minor complaint. Some of the kits the hardware seems undersize for the tube, you can seat the hardware with only finger pressure. Easy fix with a drop of blue Loktite though.

PenMan1 · 02-04-2012, 09:31 AM

The good is that there is no black plastic ring like the old Cambridge. Additionally , the plating quality seems equal to or better than Cambridge. The Roman Harvest fountain can frequently be purchased for less than $20. The Cambridge fountain is over $30 and is the same price each for 1 or 50.

The bad part is the ink pump on Roman Harvest is "Hit or Miss" quality. Another bad thing is that with 10 sets of hardware I got 7 different caliper reading on the inside tube diameters. Some tubes fit so tight that the inside tube diameter had to be filed down in order to build the set. Others were so loose that they required epoxy to be built.

Over all, I think it is worth taking the chance on Roman Harvest. The tubes can be made to fit properly with just a forewarning. As best I can find, it is at least $15 per set less than Cambridge.

randyrls · 02-04-2012, 09:50 AM

Craig; I'm working on my first one, so I'm interested in this too!

It looks good at this point, but the tubes are slightly different sizes than the Cambridge, so you will need to get bushings and make a sleeve for the tubes.

PenMan1 · 02-04-2012, 09:52 AM

Has anyone tried the Cambridge tubes on the Roman Harvest sets? :)

Whaler · 02-04-2012, 01:25 PM

The bushings are different sizes comparing the Roman Harvest bushings that I have against the bushing chart in the library. I don't have any Cambridge bushings to physically try.

randyrls · 02-04-2012, 06:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Whaler

The bushings are different sizes comparing the Roman Harvest bushings that I have against the bushing chart in the library. I don't have any Cambridge bushings to physically try.

My Cambridge bushings will not fit the Roman Harvest.

ed4copies · 02-04-2012, 06:55 PM

If the Cambridge did not have the black band, would it be worth the extra cost, over the Roman Harvest?

Whaler · 02-04-2012, 07:05 PM

I believe that the Roman Harvest is made in Mainland China, I like the kit but QC is suspect. I think the Hybrid Cambridge is a nicer pen but spendy.

crabcreekind · 02-04-2012, 11:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Whaler

I believe that the Roman Harvest is made in Mainland China, I like the kit but QC is suspect. I think the Hybrid Cambridge is a nicer pen but spendy.

The Spring Blossom Pen kit is made is mainland china, the Roman Harvest is made in Taiwan

02-04-2012, 09:16 AM	#1 (permalink)
clapiana Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Merrimack, New Hampshire Posts: 495 Photos: 1	roman harvest it's been out a little bit what is the good and bad __________________ Blessings! Craig ChefwareKits.com PenDisplayKits.com

02-04-2012, 09:31 AM	#3 (permalink)
PenMan1 Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Eatonton, Georgia Posts: 4,889 Photos: 57	The good is that there is no black plastic ring like the old Cambridge. Additionally , the plating quality seems equal to or better than Cambridge. The Roman Harvest fountain can frequently be purchased for less than $20. The Cambridge fountain is over $30 and is the same price each for 1 or 50. The bad part is the ink pump on Roman Harvest is "Hit or Miss" quality. Another bad thing is that with 10 sets of hardware I got 7 different caliper reading on the inside tube diameters. Some tubes fit so tight that the inside tube diameter had to be filed down in order to build the set. Others were so loose that they required epoxy to be built. Over all, I think it is worth taking the chance on Roman Harvest. The tubes can be made to fit properly with just a forewarning. As best I can find, it is at least $15 per set less than Cambridge. __________________ Andy Little entia non sunt multiplicanda praeter necessitatem. The popular interpretation of this principle is that the simplest explanation is usually the correct one. -Occam's Razor Common sense isn't always such a common thing. If it ain't broke.......then a little duct tape won't hurt it! Last edited by PenMan1; 02-04-2012 at 09:33 AM.

02-04-2012, 09:50 AM	#4 (permalink)
randyrls Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Harrisburg, PA, USA. Posts: 2,270 Photos: 40	Craig; I'm working on my first one, so I'm interested in this too! It looks good at this point, but the tubes are slightly different sizes than the Cambridge, so you will need to get bushings and make a sleeve for the tubes. __________________ Randy S. I have a written set of life rules: 6. A person (politician) who speaks of sacrifice at length is talking about someone else, not themselves.

02-04-2012, 09:52 AM	#5 (permalink)
PenMan1 Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Eatonton, Georgia Posts: 4,889 Photos: 57	Has anyone tried the Cambridge tubes on the Roman Harvest sets? :) __________________ Andy Little entia non sunt multiplicanda praeter necessitatem. The popular interpretation of this principle is that the simplest explanation is usually the correct one. -Occam's Razor Common sense isn't always such a common thing. If it ain't broke.......then a little duct tape won't hurt it!

02-04-2012, 01:25 PM	#6 (permalink)
Whaler Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Sequim, WA, USA. Posts: 1,345 Photos: 6	The bushings are different sizes comparing the Roman Harvest bushings that I have against the bushing chart in the library. I don't have any Cambridge bushings to physically try. __________________ Dick http://www.picasaweb.google.com/rgpete2/Turnings# http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001445648478

02-04-2012, 06:55 PM	#8 (permalink)
ed4copies Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Racine, WI, USA. Posts: 17,542 Photos: 18	If the Cambridge did not have the black band, would it be worth the extra cost, over the Roman Harvest? __________________ Ed Brown - "Resinator" "Often copied....NEVER duplicated!!!" click here to see what's NEW at ExoticBlanks.com! "If you have not visited today, you are missing new things!!"

02-04-2012, 07:05 PM	#9 (permalink)
Whaler Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Sequim, WA, USA. Posts: 1,345 Photos: 6	I believe that the Roman Harvest is made in Mainland China, I like the kit but QC is suspect. I think the Hybrid Cambridge is a nicer pen but spendy. __________________ Dick http://www.picasaweb.google.com/rgpete2/Turnings# http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001445648478

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