alamocdc
Member
I have read any number of posts concerning the "cheap" look of some of the pens we turn. This is usually related to kits with significant amounts of plastic pieces instead of metal. Pens like the El Grande immediately come to mind. In retrospect, for quite some time I was probably one of the loudest voices in this camp. Then an odd thing happened. I noticed recently that I no longer have that view point. Why? What changed? Did I wake up one morning under some hypnotic spell? Was it voodoo? I never really thought much about it. In fact, I can't really tell you when it happened.
However, I expect it has to do with a combination of things and I'll try my best to enumerate. First let me say that this post is in no way directed at anyone, and I certainly do not wish to offend anyone. It is merely an observation and why I think many of us (myself included) have (or had) such opinions. So back to the combination. Many of us are old enough to remember the onset in this country of Japanese "copies", and the fact that "cheap" was always attributed to anything with a "Made in Japan" sticker on the bottom. And many of these items involved the use of something we deemed inferior for quite some time... and many still do. This material? Plastic. While a great many products imported from Japan did indeed give credence to the label, it didn't take long for Japan to begin to actually make quality merchandise and actually reinvent manufacturing. The best elctronics are still made in Japan (my opinion), but few are these days. In fact, it was the Japanese who came up with the Lean process and most of the hot factory standards being used today (ISO 6 million, or whatever). Today, it is not the "evil" Japanese (stereotype of days past) making the "cheap" stuff, but Korea, China, Pakistan, etc.
Okay, so where am I going with this? Our prejudices about cheap and plastic are largely responsible for this attitude toward some of our kits. But is this valid? Many have stated that the Perfect Fit, by Berea, has the best twist mechanism of any twist pen we turn (and I'm inclined to agree). But shock of shocks, what's it made of? You guessed it... PLASTIC. Hhhmmmm, so why does it bother us that plastic is used as a non-moveable part, but we have no problem with it being a transmission? Don't ask me, that's why I asked you. [}
] Let's look at something else while we're at it. Would any of us say that a $300 Pelikan FP looks cheap? I wouldn't, but it may only be b/c I own one. How about $350 Parker Duofold? Both (and other name brand, high end FPs) use black plastic in the same places as the El Grande. In fact, if you look close at the Duofold, it looks surprisingly familiar... kinda like an El Grande. For me, part of my change in attitude toward pens like the El Grande came when I started collecting FPs. It changed even more when I started using them.
The first time I turned an El Grande, I posted a review of it on TPS. One of the things I mentioned was how light it was. Well balanced, but light, and I believe I even said this made it feel "cheap". See that? Prejudice... because it felt light. But my Pelikan is even lighter. [:0] Oh my. What am I going to do now? I paid substantial money for a "cheap" plastic pen. Let me tell you, there is nothing cheap about a Pelikan. Wonderful pen! I've even changed my mind about the light vs. heavier pen. And this would be especially true if I wrote a lot. A lighter pen is less likely to cause fatigue. Over time a heavier pen, like the Gent (or even Jr. Gent if it's posted) can wear on the writer.
Is this feeble post going to change the minds of those who dislike kits like the El Grande because of the plastic parts? Probably not, but that's okay. For me, it took something more significant than reading someone else's words about such a pen to change my mind. We all have to make our own decisions. Such is life, but I like it that way. We are free to choose... what we like... what we dislike... and even our rationale as to why.
This change of opinion does something else for me. It opens my world to the new Cambridge that Berea recently introduced and gives me the ability to provide a very stylish (my opinion) and light weight FP and RB to my customers. And I know some of them will appreciate it. Thanks for listening.
However, I expect it has to do with a combination of things and I'll try my best to enumerate. First let me say that this post is in no way directed at anyone, and I certainly do not wish to offend anyone. It is merely an observation and why I think many of us (myself included) have (or had) such opinions. So back to the combination. Many of us are old enough to remember the onset in this country of Japanese "copies", and the fact that "cheap" was always attributed to anything with a "Made in Japan" sticker on the bottom. And many of these items involved the use of something we deemed inferior for quite some time... and many still do. This material? Plastic. While a great many products imported from Japan did indeed give credence to the label, it didn't take long for Japan to begin to actually make quality merchandise and actually reinvent manufacturing. The best elctronics are still made in Japan (my opinion), but few are these days. In fact, it was the Japanese who came up with the Lean process and most of the hot factory standards being used today (ISO 6 million, or whatever). Today, it is not the "evil" Japanese (stereotype of days past) making the "cheap" stuff, but Korea, China, Pakistan, etc.
Okay, so where am I going with this? Our prejudices about cheap and plastic are largely responsible for this attitude toward some of our kits. But is this valid? Many have stated that the Perfect Fit, by Berea, has the best twist mechanism of any twist pen we turn (and I'm inclined to agree). But shock of shocks, what's it made of? You guessed it... PLASTIC. Hhhmmmm, so why does it bother us that plastic is used as a non-moveable part, but we have no problem with it being a transmission? Don't ask me, that's why I asked you. [}
] Let's look at something else while we're at it. Would any of us say that a $300 Pelikan FP looks cheap? I wouldn't, but it may only be b/c I own one. How about $350 Parker Duofold? Both (and other name brand, high end FPs) use black plastic in the same places as the El Grande. In fact, if you look close at the Duofold, it looks surprisingly familiar... kinda like an El Grande. For me, part of my change in attitude toward pens like the El Grande came when I started collecting FPs. It changed even more when I started using them.The first time I turned an El Grande, I posted a review of it on TPS. One of the things I mentioned was how light it was. Well balanced, but light, and I believe I even said this made it feel "cheap". See that? Prejudice... because it felt light. But my Pelikan is even lighter. [:0] Oh my. What am I going to do now? I paid substantial money for a "cheap" plastic pen. Let me tell you, there is nothing cheap about a Pelikan. Wonderful pen! I've even changed my mind about the light vs. heavier pen. And this would be especially true if I wrote a lot. A lighter pen is less likely to cause fatigue. Over time a heavier pen, like the Gent (or even Jr. Gent if it's posted) can wear on the writer.
Is this feeble post going to change the minds of those who dislike kits like the El Grande because of the plastic parts? Probably not, but that's okay. For me, it took something more significant than reading someone else's words about such a pen to change my mind. We all have to make our own decisions. Such is life, but I like it that way. We are free to choose... what we like... what we dislike... and even our rationale as to why.
This change of opinion does something else for me. It opens my world to the new Cambridge that Berea recently introduced and gives me the ability to provide a very stylish (my opinion) and light weight FP and RB to my customers. And I know some of them will appreciate it. Thanks for listening.
