Just a quick side-by-side comparison of the Platinum Angle (2nd version?) with the lesser known Berol Flex .5.
On the outside, everything is similar from the tip up: identical cone design, very similar but not identical spiral cut grooving, same silver color, mid-body pivot… and then, different engraved logos, clips and end-caps.
The Berol stands out for including a standard top button as a secondary mechanism. That means a standard eraser nub as well with embedded cleaning pin.
Breaking them down, even the internals look alike. However, the Berol clutch is sunken in and - to me - appears more similar to some of Pentel’s later designs. The Platinum’s clutch is more standard with the 3 claws held with a retaining ring/collar.
Surprise: the top halves are NOT interchangeable. While I could screw them on just fine, there are some differences inside the upper body that do not allow them to work properly on the other version. I don’t know why but I’m not going to risk damaging either example to find out!
Really fascinating—thanks for showcasing this comparison, Kelvin. At first glance, you’d think the Berol was a rebranded Platinum Angle, but clearly it’s not. I’ve never considered that a body knock can also be operated with a button push.
I took apart 3 of my body knock pencils. A Platinum, Kokuyo, and Artline. Sure enough, all of their mechanisms can be pushed straight from the rear and lead advance happens as normal. Fascinating how Berol took advantage of that capability, so the pencil can be used either way to suit the user!
Yup, yup! All of the MP innovations from side-knocks, to 2020 shakers and body knocks — it’s all about translating bio-mechanical motion more efficiently into forward motion at the clutch. Looks like only Tombow took up Berol’s two-way approach with their OLNO series.
Yeah, thanks for bringing that up – I don’t have a TOMBOW OLNO, so I’d no clue that they provide a dual method as well. Pretty neat. I wish they had a limited edition OLNO made of metal!
The shaker is also a pretty cool idea. I was put off by it on my first experience. I think it was a PILOT Opt. Very loud, plasticky sounding thing. The 2020 is better… but their cheaper models are rather loud. The 2020 ST is more muted. Yeah, a bit of a distracting thing, shaking your pencil up/down to advance lead, but when you get into the habit it’s almost autonomic. And again the benefit of no finger movement. Have you found a particular shaker that you’d say is the most quiet of all others you’ve tried?
With shaker designs, the noise is almost part of the experience? I think, what matters more is finding a shaker that has the (personally) ideal amount of force required to advance a useful (not absurd) amount of lead within 2 (or 3) shakes.
In general, I feel that the higher end shakers with metal bodies and quality dampener springs rattled and echoed a lot less than the cheapie plastic bodied ones. Off hand, I nominate the Pilot Fumi Raku as the ‘best’ shaker equipped MP I have used to-date.
Fumi Raku, expensive and pretty if it’s black. In general, some of the shakers I’ve used tend to release quite a bit of lead with a single shake. A terrible idea. They’re a nuisance in class. At least they exist, thank goodness.
Is it reasonable to think that because the Platinum’s clutch is mounted forward, it allows us to use more of each lead, compared to the Berol?
What a pity! I should have one, NOS & NIB (but mind, it is very bright coloured, like pink and blue if I remember correctly). Do you want it? I won’t take it out of its plastic sleeve, as I already have a white/transparent one in 0.9, and in fairly used conditions.
If interested, let me know.
I’ll also check the noise level with my shakers, I have some variants, but it will be a totally subjective experience, as I don’t have any acoustic sensors to get fair readings.
Also, I checked the other Olno I have (an old, white one), and thanks to @drifand 's mention I discovered that it has both the body knock and a standard knock in the rear button. Cool!
