Sailor - Hiroshima Factory Commemorative Fountain Pen - Juniperus Chinensis - Limited Edition
In 2022, Sailor's new factory was completed in Kure, Hiroshima, on the original site of its founding. The new factory is a two-story steel-frame building in the distinct shape of a fountain pen nib, a modern building that captures Sailor's history, mission and future, and houses the production plant for Sailor's fountain pen nibs and inks, as well as administrative offices. During the reconstruction, the old factory buildings, some more than 70 years old, were demolished, along with trees on the site, some dating back 60 years. The trees found new purpose as they were cut down and processed into barrels to make new fountain pens.
The Commemorative Fountain Pens for Rebuilding Hiroshima Factory are made from the repurposed Juniperus Chinensis trees. The barrel and cap boast unique color variations resulting from the natural wood grain patterns. The warm natural wood of the barrel and cap are juxtaposed with black finials and gold plated trim. "Hiroshima Factory 2022" is engraved into both the cap ring and the 21K gold nib. This Limited Edition pen features the serial number printed on the barrel end of the fountain pen.
- 21K Gold Nib
- Cap and barrel made from Juniperus Chinensis wood with oil finish
- Fill Mechanism: Cartridge/Converter (Sailor proprietary)
- Comes with a converter and cartridges
- Limited edition of 500 pieces, 70 available in North America
- Comes with exclusive box with illustration of the new Sailor Factory building
- Release date: January 2023
- More Sailor Bespoke Nibs
Sailor was founded in 1911. The founder Kyugoro Sakata was given a fountain pen by a friend returning from the UK after studying at the Royal Navy. He was inspired and determined to start making fountain pens in Japan. Sailor became the first fountain pen company in Japan, and earned many more firsts in Japan -- first ballpoint pen in 1948, first ink cartridge in 1954 and first brush pen in 1972, etc.
In the 1970's, Sailor made a popular beginner fountain pen, "Candy," that sold more than 15 million within a few years. However, the number of the fountain pen users were declining as ballpoint pens became more mainstream.
In 1981, Sailor decided to go in the opposite direction from their "Candy" pen and began focusing on producing a higher standard series, which is the 1911 series we see today. Their focus on making a higher standard provides a great foundation for their later series of pens. Today, Sailor makes one of the most diverse lines of nibs, some of which are designed for specific writing purposes such as writing musical notes to one that is best for character writing.
The 1911 offers a great balance and a smooth writing experience. The pen writes with a slight but satisfying feedback and it fits perfectly in the hand.
Dimensions:
- Diameter: 18.5 mm
- Length: 134 mm
- Weight 29.7 g