Platinum Fountain Pen 18K Fine Flex Nib, Sticker

Platinum Fountain Pen 18K Fine Flex Nib, Sticker

Here is an elegant "pocket size" fountain pen in classic black and gold from Platinum, Japan's high class pen maker. This pen was introduced in 1970 and had the model number PKB-2000, later changed to PKB-2500.

This pen has the distinctive gold wave cap band that tells people in an instant that you are writing with a classic Japanese Platinum pen.

This pen is new old stock (NOS) and comes with its original price sticker.

The clip is the spring type which adjusts to any fabric thickness.

Pocket size pens like this were very popular in Japan from the 60's to the 80's. As the diagram below illustrates, they have a short barrel coupled with a long nib section into which the ink cartridge fits deeply. The long cap corresponds to the length of the nib section.

When capped, these pens are the perfect compact size for carrying in your pocket. When the long cap is posted on the short barrel, these pens become full sized, and perfectly balanced for comfortable writing. Although no company produces them today, Japanese pocket pens are enjoying new popularity in the west now as collectors and users recognize the ingenuity of this practical design.

There is a touch of patina on the nib with a sort of reddish brown tint, which is typical of real gold nibs which have been storage for a long time. It's easy enough to rub off, but why bother? It's proof of a real gold nib, and a lot of pen collectors prefer to keep it that way.

The nib is 18K gold, a Fine Flexible point. The kanji characters for fine flexible (HOSO-NAN) are imprinted on the nib. This pen was intended for the Japanese market.

All pen makers mix other metals with gold to produce their 18K gold nibs. The trouble with some pen makers' flexible nibs is that their gold alloy content does not allow the tines to spring back to their original shape after flexing, and soon the ink flow stops because a gap forms between the tines, preventing the ink to flow to the tip (a process called capillary action). The gold alloy content of Platinum pens is especially suited for flexible nibs, and the tines will spring back every time with normal writing pressure. I've been using a Platinum Flexible Fine nib pen for several years, and have gotten great line variation with no flow problems at all.

Although it is not vintage flex, you can get some subtle line variation with this pen. And subtlety is the key to beautiful writing.

I did not ink this mint pen, but here is a writing sample from another Platinum pen with the same Fine Flexible point.

Here are the various kanji used to designate nib sizes:

This is a pocket size pen, and takes standard Platinum ink cartridges, but not their piston converter. I will include a Platinum cartridge with this pen. If you want to find a vendor who sells more ink cartridges, click on the "ME" icon near my name to begin your search.

Optional international cartridge adaptor
If you would like to use international ink cartridges (a.k.a. European, standard or universal cartridges) in this pen, I can include a special adaptor plus one international cartridge. Just add $2.00 to your Paypal payment in the "Seller Discounts (-) or Charges (+)" area, and include a note to remind me what the extra money is for. (Some people have said their invoice will not allow them to add an extra amount; If you have trouble, you can always initiate a new Paypal payment for the amount of the converter alone or for both the pen and converter together).

Please note that once you insert the adaptor in a pocket type pen, it will most likely stay firmly in the pen even when you remove the cartridge. Since the pocket type pen has a deep cartridge chamber, removal of the adaptor would require long slim needle nose pliers and you might have to unscrew the threaded connector and ring first (not as difficult as it sounds). This is not a bad thing if you plan to only use international cartridges, which are much easier to find then Platinum cartridges. In longer, full size pens, the cartridge chamber is relatively shallow, and you can grasp both the cartridge and adaptor in your fingers and remove them together.

Length capped: 11.9 centimeters
Length posted: 15 centimeters

Don't forget to take a look at my new listings!
As this auction closes, a new one begins. I will give multiple shipping discounts for pens bought during separate weeks but sent together by EMS (the second and third pens ship for free this way). So be sure to check my newest listings for the upcoming week before you log out!

Beware! Some bidders have received bogus second chance offers or alternate payment instructions with a different payee address! If you have any doubt about a message that claims to have come from me, just contact me directly through ebay. Please forward any bogus messages to spoof@ebay.com to help fight this problem.

The ebay shipping calculator does not always give correct rates for items sent from Japan, and my multiple shipping discounts are also not shown. Please use the shipping costs indicated in the chart below if it differs from what ebay tells you. There is no need to contact me about shipping costs, the information is all here in the chart.

EMS (Express Mail Service) Asia N. America Australasia Europe Middle East S. America Africa 1 - 3 items $11.00 $14.00 $17.00 $20.00 4 - 6 items $14.00 $17.00 $20.00 $22.00 This will be designated as Standard Flat Rate Shipping on your invoice. EMS is handled as high priority mail, includes tracking number, is insured, and usually takes less than a week from Japan, depending on your location (please don't hold me responsible for delays caused by customs inspectors in your country). Remember this package will have to travel around the globe to reach you, and that reality is reflected in the shipping fee. If you think this shipping price is too high, then please choose the cheaper standard air mail option. Some buyers have opted for EMS shipping and then have left me a poor star rating for shipping and handling fees when they had a cheaper option. This is a mystery to me. Multiple Item Shipping Discounts: Your ebay generated invoice may not show the multiple item shipping discount. In that case, just type in the correct shipping amount on your Paypal payment before paying. If you want to combine items won during different weeks for the multiple item shipping discount, please contact me as soon as possible. If you simply withhold payment, I'll have to assume it is an unpaid item.

Payment methods:

I accept Paypal payments. If you have any questions, please contact me before you bid.

Returns:

No returns unless I misrepresented the item. If I have found any flaws in the item, I will mention them in the description (so please read the description).

International buyers please note:

Import duties, taxes and charges are not included in the item price or shipping charges. These charges are the buyer's responsibility. These charges are normally collected by the delivering freight (shipping) company or when you pick the item up - do not confuse them for additional shipping charges.

Please check with your country's customs office to determine what these additional costs will be prior to bidding/buying.

Shipping timing:

My work schedule is arranged to favor those who pay for their items quickly. Those who pay within 24 hours of the end of the auction are usually serious about receiving their items quickly, and their items will be sent out within 24 hours of payment. If you wait a few days to pay, I will send the item the next time I have a chance to get to the post office during business hours, which is usually no more than a day's delay unless it's a weekend; the local post office is closed on weekends. Bottom Line: If you want to receive the item quickly, then please pay quickly.

Communication:

I am often away from my computer doing other work. Also, you and I probably live on opposite sides of the globe, so I may be sleeping when you are at your computer. Please understand this if I don't respond to your messages immediately. This goes especially for Sunday (which is probably your Saturday) when I stay away from the computer all day. With every transaction I always send an invoice, a message to acknowledge receipt of payment, and a notification that the item has been sent. I also answer all questions. Sometimes e-mail from me ends up in spam folders, apparently because my domain is "dot CC" and not "dot COM". Please check your spam folder if you haven't received a reply.

Mistakes and feedback:

We all make mistakes. If you discover a problem with your order, please contact me, and let's work it out. No seller wants to first hear about a problem by reading a feedback comment. And there is no need for threats or rude language. Most of my buyers are great people who come back again and again, but I have also had buyers who were unreasonable and vindictive who didn't understand fountain pens, and thought there was a problem with the pen when there was no problem at all. But some buyers would rather give negative feedback than work it out with the seller, so some unwarranted negative feedback is unavoidable. They are like battle scars. Every scar has a story. Go ahead and check the feedback comments to discover the story behind the scars.

English spoken here

English is my first language, so you can be assured of smooth communication. People have asked me to help them with problems they had with pens bought from Japanese ebay sellers because they could not communicate. Please have a heart! I am not the customer service department for Japanese rival sellers. Rule of the thumb: If the item description which presumably had the benefit of proofreading and editing is incomprehensible, don't expect things to get any better in direct communication.