Jim Pingle

Father, geek, serial hobbyist.

I'd been ignoring the Lanbitou 3059 because I prefer actual TWSBIs, but when I was ordering more converters this one was too tempting to pass over. $2.70. And TWSBI has not produced an actual *red* ECO/Diamond pen for years.

It's obviously trying to be a TWSBI, but doesn't quite make it. No stub nib, sadly. Piston doesn't lock either (not even friction). Hooded nib is an interesting difference. Writes smoothly, seems pretty wet. We'll see how the seal does.

Close-up oblique angle photo of an uncapped fountain pen and writing sample. Focus is on the pen nib, the writing is not all visible, but is written in red ink. The cap is bright red with silver accents. The pen section is completely transparent, as is the feed inside. Both are saturated with red ink. The nib is hooded in transparent plastic and there is visible ink between the hood and the top of the nib.
Top-down photo of an uncapped fountain pen made of transparent plastic, and a writing sample on paper. The cap is bright red with silver accents. The pen section is completely transparent, as is the feed inside. Both are saturated with red ink. The nib is hooded in transparent plastic and there is visible ink between the hood and the top of the nib. In is visible inside the body of the pen. The writing sample is in red ink and reads "Lanbitou 3059 - EF 0.38mm / Diamine Red Dragon"
Photo of the Lanbitou 3059 pen next to a TWSBI ECO pen. The ECO is on top and has a transparent body with a fuchsia cap and tail/piston knob, with dark metal accents. The 3059 is on the bottom and has a transparent body with a bright red cap and tail/piston knob, with silver accents. It is slightly longer than the ECO and there are subtle differences all over, such as: Metal ring at the base of the piston knob, longer knob, slightly longer cap, different shape of the cap base, different end position of the piston, and different clip shape (not in photo)

At this price it can be a sacrificial pen for questionable inks if nothing else.

I'll drop it in a hot second if/when TWSBI actually sells me a new red pen. Plum is nice, but still not red.

Imported from Mastodon

Updated:

Questions or comments? Contact me on Mastodon

You May Also Enjoy