the internals of the body are slightly different, but the feed + nib unit is the same dimensions, so you could get an official vanishing point replacement for around $80 and slide it into a majohn body instead of paying the full $145 or more for a real pilot vanishing point. you'd get the great writing experience of the pilot 18k gold nib without spending the full amount, and you can get one of these clipless models if that's what you like. and pilot sells the replacement units in silver, gold, and black finishes to match the different bodies, so you can customize however you like. i think this is a really good option i might choose if i didn't already have a pilot vp.

@NHO12209

Жыл бұрын

I have both, and to me the majohn nib feels smoother but less flexible than the pilot one

Matte finish is usually tougher, which is why it might not be perfect. I am sure many appreciate the clipless option.

Holy crap Doodlebud! This looks great. This seems like a much better design than the vanishing point for me. What an impressive pen. And I really appreciate your incredible detail from an engineering standpoint - you're teaching me things about the functional mechanics of fountain pens I never would've known otherwise!

@Doodlebud

Жыл бұрын

The clipless capless is perfect for some users

It’s a distinct style between the two. It does warrant having two of the same model. Loving the color.

I just got the clipless in red. Cause I wanted a VP with no clip at 1/4 the price. Works great. AND it's labelled MOON MAN! Right now I'm out of town for a couple weeks, leaving this pen at home, full, to see if it dries out.

@martinlebl631

Жыл бұрын

Left it on my table, with the other pens, for about a week, and works right after the click, so I think they copied it correctly. :)

I love this pen! I have 2. After initially thinking the VP was ugly, I was won over and decided it would be my first gold nib, but was unsure about the clip based on some comments. So I got the A1 clipless, to then realized how much I rotate the pen when writing. Hence my second A1 with the clip. Will I still get the VP? Of course! Definitely will try the gold nib version in a carbonesque finish.

I bought the VP some years ago and I liked it. The clip has never been an issue. In general I like capless pens because they are great for situations (like some meetings) where I have to use my pen a lot but intermittently. I also like that it’s easier to use them if, for instance, I have to sign something while not seated. Anyway, I wanted to try a clipless version and ordered an A1 in white. I like its looks (though it came with a little red stain) and its functioning, I’m really surprised. However, it’s a pen that sits on my desk, because it can’t go on my shirt pocket. So I ordered another A1 with clip. I plan to use it when I go out and not want to take the risk of loosing or damaging my VP.

Thanks for the content, @Doodlebud. I bought the capless/clipless version in black and love it with Sailor Yama Dori.

@Doodlebud

Жыл бұрын

Glad you're enjoying it 😊

I picked up one in piano black last year. It was a dry writer, not smooth. Took a bit of work to make it write well. After a year the black gloss is pitting, but it still writes well. When the finish pits down to the brass, I’ll see if I can disassemble it and repaint it with a bake-able finish like cerakote. I have bought more since. The newest ones write fantastic out of the mailer with no adjustments necessary. I did replace a few nib units with pilot gold nibs. I really like the Broad nib in the A1. The Pilot nibs have just a little bounce to them, so yeah there is a lot going for the actual VPs. I have 2 Namiki/Pilot VPs I bought in ‘97 that have faceted plastic bodies. They both write scratchy and dry.

I have the black one like you, and just love it. Tempted to get the orange one too ... great pens.

I've got 3 Majohn A1..... Black with clip, red with clip and your orange without a clip. Excellent pens‼️

I just bought another A1 (gave the 1st one to my eldest with a Pilot special alloy nib). I’m glad to hear it’s even better.

I like the clipless version!

I am so tempted to buy this one because of how much you've praised this pen and I've never been tempted to buy the actual vanishing point by pilot.

@Doodlebud

Жыл бұрын

I was never interested in a VP to be honest. But lately it caught my eye, but then this came along and figured I should try it out for the $35 experiment and WOW. I love the whole idea and utility of the design. The build quality on these are amazing for the price so can only imagine the real deal is more refined. I want to get a legit VP sometime soon as well

@nitina8564

Жыл бұрын

@@Doodlebud i will be waiting for you to get the VP and review it, may be i might end up getting one too after you review the pen. The only problem i see is, if you keep doing this i will end up spending a lot more than i imagined on fountain pens, LoL. Love the detailed reviews

I got the matte black with a clip as part of a group purchase when the A1 first hit the market as a test balloon for the VP. When Majohn came out with the new finishes, I bought the silver stripes and the silver fish scale which look quite classy IMO. I do own a VP and a Decimo as well. If Majohn would come out with more nib options, I'd be even happier.

Just received my Majohn/Moon Man A1 Ivory White today and a Pilot Decimo Dark Blue yesterday. First impressions: the Pilot is no question a better engineered pen. I did experience leaking issues (A1) but a small amount of silicone grease seems to have plugged the leak. The nib on the VP is a , 18K Gold and incredibly smooth with any paper and any ink. The A1 has an , SS nib and it is a bit scratchy (will use my Micromesh to smooth it out). Had to tweak the nib a bit on the Moon Man when I fist got it, as it was very dry, the nib was not aligned correctly to the feed system. Once aligned, the ink flow was much better but I'd still suggest using wetter inks. All-in-all, $40 vs $130, the A1 is one heck of a FP from Majohn.

I think I need to get a couple of these.

You convinced me to get the pen. I have perhaps over thought getting this pen but I have been converted. Thanks for the review.

@Doodlebud

Жыл бұрын

Hope it works out for you

I very recently bought myself the yellow Pilot Capless and “groovy” is EXACTLY the word I use to describe it! 🤣 I love mine, and the clip doesn’t bother me at all. Still, I understand how others might prefer a roll stop. It would be nice if Pilot did something similar to this here.

@Doodlebud

Жыл бұрын

Yeah it was a smart idea my Majohn on this one

I’m with you DB!

I have the pilot capless in this groovy orange. Perhaps my favorite pen n my very limited collection. I got the clipless A1 in the pearlescent white. Gorgeous pen, dedicated to noodlers bay state blue.

The critical problem for me with retractable pens has been their inability to keep the nib dry for up to a couple of weeks. So if you get the chance to test that on this pen, I'd be interested to find out how the wetness lasts. I have to say I don't care for the splashing of ink around the nib, I don't think that's normal, I never noticed that on the Pilot VP that I used to have.

@JohnAceti

Жыл бұрын

I bought four of these pens - but my orange dries out after a day. Is there any way to fix the seal or seal the tip of the pen when not in use?

I always like fountain pen & the fisher space pen because of the constant ink flow one for taking my time and the other when I'm in a hurry to take down notes but the fountain pen my hand writing is much better because it forces me to slow down when writing

I’ve been tempted to get the clip less version, but I’m concerned how hard it is to see the ink level in the cartridge.

Thanks for the vidéo Doodlebud, yours are always very informative! Received the mat black with clip yesterday, tuned the nib a little bit and it is now a very pleasant wet fine nib! Thinking about buying the orange one too but I'm hesitating between clip and clipless (the clip doesn't bothers me at all, but the clipless is different, soooo.... decisions, decisions!!!). I think this "rip-off" is a very good thing for pilot for it makes me want to buy an original one! and from what I see, I'm not the only one, so no competition at all, it's more an appetizer before the main course 😁 I wonder if Pilot noticed a small increase in VPs and VP's nib units' sales since the A1 came out...

I like the clipless version best. I really like my Vanishing Point - it is a great writer with a flawless gold nib, but that darn clip! I might have to try an A1. Thanks 👍.

@martinlebl631

Жыл бұрын

Just put the nib unit from your existing VP into the A1, and you have the best of both worlds.

@theProf_01

Жыл бұрын

@@martinlebl631 Thanks. That’s a good idea 👍.

@MrKillApple

Жыл бұрын

@@theProf_01 Did you end up doing that and trying it out? Does it work without issues?

@theProf_01

Жыл бұрын

@@MrKillApple I haven’t done it.

Honestly, the clip has been keeping me from pulling the trigger on a VP for years. This is an enticing option at a third the price...

My clipless is coming 1.16.23. Will put my spare Pilot nib unit in it!

Questions: are the tops interchangeable? You could create a version with a clip AND a rollstop, or a version with neither. Or just mixing colors like orange top with black bottom would be neat. Also, I think the "no entry" signs are actually aping the design/symbol Cartier uses. I much prefer the gear teeth design which is aping the vanishing point LS or deluxe version.

@Doodlebud

Жыл бұрын

Yup they can all be swapped around

I have a clipless A1 and a replacement B nib unit for pilot capless. They fit but the pilot nib seems to touch/scratch the door, when you click open it. So I'm not sure if they are as interchangeable as it seems. Also, my A1 nib was very scratchy but after some adjustment and smoothing, it's buttery smooth for a fine nib (they call it EF? it's more of a F to me)

@Doodlebud

Жыл бұрын

Ahhh, makes sense since they dont offer the larger nib points so its not designed to accommodate the Pilot nib units with Broad points.

Love the orange!

@Doodlebud

Жыл бұрын

Its gorgeous!

I have both versionS with and without clip. The clipless is matt black and had to replace the entire interior. The one with clip had blue lacker and it came completely off.

I know I’m late to the party, but I watched the video and then ordered one in Vivid Black. Love my Vanishing Point, but the clip is just in my way. I ordered a rhodium EF Vanishing Point nib unit for it. Pilot made money off of this sale in the end and I have a pen I love.

I have this A1 FP and I also use the pentel ink cartridges, but I have found that they tend to leak from the clicker and from the middle 😩, does anyone know of a Fox for this?

Doodlebud, I noticed that you did not have the small metal sleeve placed over your ink cartridge. The metal sleeve is not to be used for the converter, but for the ink cartridge. I start off with applying a bit of silicone grease down the nib unit barrel to eliminate ink splatter.. After inking my cartridge I push it down into the pen barrel, followed by placing the metal sleeve over the ink cartridge. Better clicking!!! I own four A1s: Orange/matte black with Pilot broad gold nib unit/blue/ green. The green A1 reminds me of Diamine Sherwood Green. The metal sleeve comes with your pen.

@Doodlebud

Жыл бұрын

Yeah I forgot to put it on for the video, but put it on once I noticed

are all new ones better or just the Capless ones?

Did your orange one not come with that little metal cover that supposed to go over the cartridges? There’s not one for if you use a converter but the converters for those don’t hold much ink so there’s supposed to be a little metal sleeve that goes over the cartridge to prevent the plastic cartridge from cracking or breaking from constant clicking

@Doodlebud

Жыл бұрын

It came with the cover I just forgot to put it on

@avgjoeshow4208

Жыл бұрын

@@Doodlebud oh okay! Just wanted to make sure you got one so you don’t have an inky mess after a while! These really are great pens and helped me decide to pull the trigger on an actual VP as well

@InktronicsBlog

Жыл бұрын

I was thinking the same thing only because I have the Pilot Capless. I was wondering if it did not come with it. It may tighten up the knock operation even more.

Tengo la roja con clip. Fantastica

I wonder if the company will make their version of the Decimo.

@Doodlebud

Жыл бұрын

Who knows. They seem to go after the most popular pens (eg Pilot 823)

Hi Doodle Bud for some reason not overly keen on retractable fountain pens & don’t have a need for them but nevertheless can see that this is a good pen. My real point is that you can spend £500 + on a pen that is anything but out of the box perfect. And yet you can buy a pen for substantially less that does everything it’s supposed to do. I’m starting to think that buying an upmarket pen especially brand new, out of the box can be fraught with problems, even with brands previously known for their reliability. This cannot be right. Enjoyed the video. 😊

8:16 apparently there is now a Majohn P136 that looks like the X159 but is more expensive

@archivist17

Жыл бұрын

And the P136 is a piston filler, which adds to the attraction.

@santauxia

Жыл бұрын

Its also a piston filler that comes in different colors with gold tone hardware

@martinlebl631

Жыл бұрын

@@archivist17 Looks like better build quality, and it is a piston filler, but only a number six nib.

How you maintain this pen

Doodlebud! Show us how to grind the EF steel nib in the black one into a stub nib. I have a couple of these and I love the pen but hate the EF nib because I can't see the EF lines that well. My eyes just aren't that good anymore. Help me grind my own stub. Can it be done?

@Doodlebud

Жыл бұрын

I'll be doing a grind on my Lamy 2000 soon so maybe that will help. These nib points are VERY small so don;t know how far you can go in terms of grinding them and getting a stub out of it

@realtorbydaychefbynight

Жыл бұрын

@@Doodlebud Thank you! I'll be watching for that video.

@martinlebl631

Жыл бұрын

@@Doodlebud I took some 3013 from fine nib into a stub nib. Just clipped it with clipper/pliers to the desired stub width, then smooth on micromesh till it is no longer sharp edged. Nathan from Noodler's has some videos on doing this, and stub obliques and such. Practice on a cheap nib. Used one of the 3013 as it was like two or three bucks including shipping, so no great loss if I miffed it.

Hey the color will break off like flake off in a few months like sunburn skin, but ig that happens only after a few months and probably in some heat , btw I live in India so the summers are a but hot sometimes, ya so is it possible to have a follow up vid or post on this issue?

@loracharis6814

Жыл бұрын

Hi. Which finish/color did you get, and where on the pen does the flaking happen?

@Ironspyder3000

Жыл бұрын

@@loracharis6814 it was red with clip

I must have gotten a dud because my inks come out very watered down as the nib on my EF moonman did not have a breather hole, is that normal for this copy of the vanishing point?

@Doodlebud

Жыл бұрын

That is normal, non of my A1 pens have breather holes on the nibs but that hasn't affected the nib performance at all. When you say watered down do you mean that its just low flow? It could be the tines on yours are a bit too tight and is limiting ink flow.

@KenchanKrafts

Жыл бұрын

@@Doodlebud the color is super unsaturated compared to how the ink would normally come out. On another regular pen, the color is dark and rich. So... that might also be a tight tine issue.

If you leave the metal shield off... when you press the button it will deform the plastic ink holder... and spill ink out the front.

@Doodlebud

Жыл бұрын

I forgot to put it on for the video but put it on after

I had a white Pilot Decimo Capless pen. I didn't mind the clip. I had a medium and a stub nib. A lady friend fell in love with it so I sold it to her.

@Doodlebud

Жыл бұрын

Might be having a real VP coming in sometime ;)

@christophermckellar1352

7 ай бұрын

Ha!

what's the utility of the stub which replaced the clip though?

@Doodlebud

Жыл бұрын

It's a roll stop so the pen won't roll off a table

You didn't ever happen to find another spring, did you? That's been pretty much the only thing bothering me about my A2

@Doodlebud

11 ай бұрын

Haven't looked into it yet

I’m kinda lusting over the white one right now. But as if I need another pen…

@Doodlebud

Жыл бұрын

They have the new A2 so maybe check that out for something a bit different

Well, I'm up to three LOL. Just ordered an A2.

31 seconds early! I own the Pilot VP, and will be buying the A1 asap! I'll add another comment with this once i've watched the full vid :)

@Revityy

Жыл бұрын

so! my opinions of the A1 are still unchanged, it's an excellent alternative for those that want a pilot vp, but cannot afford it, and also for those that want an affordable vp that they don't want to take out of the house! As far as the inconsistencies go within both pens shown here, I believe it's likely due to the batches. The matte black A1 would be an older batch and so between that and the time the Orange/Yellow A1 was produced they would have had time to refine the assembly/production method, meaning a more consistent end product would be made. If they had the option in the future for a 14/18k nib, it would be absolutely excellent!

Is this only available in EF nib?

@halfcelestialelf

Жыл бұрын

Yes the A1 is only in EF, but you can put a VP nib unit into an A1 body.

There is an A2 version available. Seems to be lighter and some other changes...

@Doodlebud

Жыл бұрын

Yeah seen that one recently pop up

@llorcall

Жыл бұрын

@@Doodlebud they should send it to you first for the review i find 😉

@llorcall

Жыл бұрын

Even better 😂 although i would probably not be so thorough then yourself...

Majohn A1 "Foutnian" (sp?) Pen Orange

@Doodlebud

Жыл бұрын

Thanks I fixed it after your comment! I do everything on my phone and sometimes spelling errors creep up. I figured auto correct would have fixed that one at least. I type in fountain pen about 100X a day on my phone!

these really are the best value for the money, imho.

@Doodlebud

Жыл бұрын

I have a pair of new ones that are gorgeous. The video is coming soon

👍

@Doodlebud

Жыл бұрын

👍👍

Pilot must be kicking themselves over the clipless option.

@Doodlebud

Жыл бұрын

At least they did a little something unique since they copied Pilot

Amazing touch of removing the clip!!!

How is this not a trademark violation? Especially as it uses their proprietary cartridges.

@erad67

Жыл бұрын

Probably because it's not exactly the same. As for the cartridges, probably can only copyright the design, not usage. Also, Pilot gets to still make money from it.

@martinlebl631

Жыл бұрын

@@erad67 You can patent those, but patents expire, and these expired long ago. Copyright is no help. You could copyright the blueprint, but not what you use that blueprint for. Trademark only covers the actual logo, and in rare cases color, like Tiffany's blue, but good luck getting one of those these days. So if they copy everything except for the Pilot logo, and branding...so it doesn't say Pilot on it, then there is nothing Pilot can do to stop them once the patent expires, which in this case happened decades ago. They could lean on retailers not to carry the A1, if they want to carry Pilot, but that is unethical, monopolistic, and actually illegal in many countries. And it often leads to backlash from customers, so a bad idea in any case.

@erad67

Жыл бұрын

@@martinlebl631 OK. I know about copyright rules for books, but not so sure about pens and other such manufactured items. Do you know how long the copyright for pen designs (actually manufactured) lasts? I had heard before of other designs being copied no longer copyrighted, but they were older than the 1960s.

@martinlebl631

Жыл бұрын

@@erad67 You can't copyright a pen at all. Drawing of a pen, OK, photo of a pen, OK, description of a pen, OK, but those protect the drawing, photo, and description, but not the pen itself. You can't copyright an idea or plot. So Harry Potter books are copyrighted, but if you write your own book about some friends going to magical boarding school and their adventure, then that is your copyright and not JK's. This gets little tricky with music, as both the words/musical score and the performance can be copyrighted separately, and perhaps at different times. So if you sign a song you only owe to the songwriter, but if you sell a copy of audio recording then you owe both the songwriter and the performer, who might or might not be the same entity. Ergo cover performances are popular, as then you only owe the industry standard fee to the song writer, and the performer is you, or someone you hire at scale. Objects can't be copyrighted at all. Only writing on them overlaps could be. If it is only a few words, then it can't be copyrighted either. Thus objects are usually patented, and writing and distinctive logos on them might be trademarked, as most product names or slogans aren't copyrighteable. On plus side trademarks can last forever, on downside there are very specific limits to what can be trademarked. Dictionary words are very hard to gain one for, and so is common spelling. Multiword ones or unique spelling helps to gain the mark. Still general mark will be hard to gain. Limited mark may be easier. Pilot might prevent other people using Pilot in the real of writing instruments, but can't do anything about the Honda Pilot SUV, as theirs is not a general mark, and there is no danger of consumer confusion between a car and a pen. Trademarks exist to prevent consumer confusion, so that limits a lot of things. Honda probably could not make a special Pilot pen for their SUV, but if the label it as the Honda Pilot edition pen, then they will be fine, and Pilot can't do much about it. Now MaJohn/Moonman can make perfect copy of a Pilot pen sans the Pilot name and logo, and they will be fine, but if they also copy the manual, even erasing the Pilot name and logo, then they will be in trouble as that is copyrighted. So they have to use their own drawings/art/photos, and then write their own distinct text. Similarly for the box. You could copy the design, but if it featured a photo, then you need to take one with your copied pen on it to avoid infringing the copyright of the photo. The box likely isn't covered by anything otherwise, unless it was some patented mechanism, which if used along with the pen, might be now expired. Shape, color, etc. are very hard to protect as they are often found to be generic. Can you buy the color commercially? Then it likely isn't trademarkable. Some exceptions, like Tiffany's blue, exist here, but color is very hard to gain trademark for, and shape nearly as hard. Design patent is a thing in some countries, but is rare, and would still have expired for the VP, even if it had been a thing anywhere back then, which it wasn't. Hope this is comprehensive enough answer for a KZread comment.

@erad67

Жыл бұрын

@@martinlebl631 I used simplified language to keep my comment more short and simple. A lot of what you noted, I actually am aware of. I've looked into copyright law for several things like books, games, comic books, etc. Can get quite specific and complicated, as I'm sure you know. You didn't directly answer my question, but sounds like the copyright law for pens is similar to games. The rules of how to play can't be copyrighted, but the manual, graphics, box design, and so on can be. So in short, sounds like a pen can be copied from day 1 as long as stuff like logos isn't copied and they don't pretend to be the other maker. However, I've seen numerous copyright applications for things like the Parker Lucky Curve internal design. (I know I'm not using the correct specific technical wording.) Obviously there are is SOMETHING that can be copyrighted with pens other than just the manual, graphics, logo, text, and such. With the Vanishing Point, which was a very different and new design, there had to be something related to the design that was copyrighted. I assume that copyright has expired. How long does it last? Of course it's different country to country, but with books (for example) most of the world uses similar #s. 50 years?

2 is 1. 1 is none.

@Doodlebud

Жыл бұрын

How many is 3?

Man you sound a lot like AVE

@Doodlebud

Жыл бұрын

LOL I hear that almost daily

Decent pen but I don't like to support Chinese manufactures unless there are not alternatives, no matter how good the knock off is.

@Doodlebud

Жыл бұрын

Yup thats fair

可憐

@Doodlebud

Жыл бұрын

驚人

I don’t see how you can ethically promote a knockoff. If you want a VP, save up for it. This is very similar to the fake Rolex watches. Not a fan of this pen.

@martinlebl631

Жыл бұрын

If it said Pilot on it anywhere, then you might have a point. Same with the Rolex, if it is a fake and claims to be Rolex, but isn't, then it is unethical, and selling it as a Rolex is a crime. If it is a watch that looks like Rolex, but clearly says something else, and does not claim to be a Rolex, then it isn't unethical, or a crime. In either case any protection, ie. a patent has expired a long time ago, and only this trademark protects is the name and logo, if those aren't on there, then Pilot and Rolex have nothing to complain, and no legal leg to stand on. Patents are limited in time exactly so that after a limited time of monopoly anyone can and should copy the design for the benefit of the consumer. If oates were forever you wouldn't have generic version of drugs, and millions would die as they could not afford the Rolex version, when the cheap copy would have saved their life. So in fact this is the opposite of unethical. If you want another time of monopoly protection, then design something new and better instead just turning out the same old VP you have for 50+ years. I mean that is the idea in the time limitation of the patent protection to allow copying, and promote more innovation.

I think they're both 'slop'. I can't understand how this is being allowed. I'm also getting confused with all these Chinese pen makers, and their clones. Are all these companies at the heart just under one parent company, because I just find it ridiculous that so many Chinese pens are copies/clones? And, whatever happened to an actually good Chinese pen maker, Hero? But hey, I drink both Coke and Pepsi, so what do I know.