After my last gathering of Pentel PD1135 and Pilot Young Cap, I managed to fish out a couple more adjacent designs. It’s fun to see that Kerry was not the first to attempt a capped fountain pen-esque mechanical pencil.
In fact, the Pel was also not the first technically, except that it was a knock-mechanism. The first MP in this shot is a Newman 0.9mm using the then conventional continuous twist mechanism. That it also happened to have a super compact form factor pioneered by various pocket FP designs was ingenious.
What I find interesting is that after the Kerry came out in 1971, Pilot stuck to the simpler cap-on-button implementation pioneered by the Pel. I think Pilot’s designers simply couldn’t overcome Pentel’s patents for the button-passthrough mechanism, or found that the simpler approach was more cost effective.
Once the caps are posted, these pencils took on a more balanced length and handling. In comparison, the PD1135 and Young Cap felt a bit longer, although still quite well balanced.
For myself, I am still on the lookout for a black Pel and maybe a Pilot Cap in cisele finish, if the price feels right. Do you have a favorite capped MP?
I will probably sound very clichéd, but for me it all boils down to three contenders: the Uni Kuru Toga Dive, the Pentel Kerry and the Tombow Zoom “SuperPen” (which is a pencil), also known as Tombow 505 MP — in that order.
Before the Dive, I used to oscillate between Pentel and Tombow, with a slight preference for the former. Also, I use all the mentioned pencils unposted, and while the Dive seems to me better in many technical ways, the sheer elegance of the Kerry is hard to beat.
[I wonder how that Newman in 0.9 feels in the hand, once the writing half is separated from the cap; it looks like a potential marvel, but also a terrible disappointment. It sure seems…different.]
Finally, two pencils which play each in a league of their own are the Tombow Variable (does it count as a capped pencil even though the cap has the most ingenius and “in-your-face” hole in all history of pencil caps?) and the Uchida Art Holder “Dessin”, a.k.a. one of the most interesting capped clutch pencils around.
I am sure I am forgetting a ridiculous amount of good stuff, but those were the first names on the tip of my tongue.
I didn’t know about the Rokkaku - thank you! I found your post about it and saw the photos - it’s definitely the same mechanism. I suppose when the Rokkaku ended production, the Muji version ended too. Probably the fountain pen is from another supplier.
I was so embedded in the “capped-model” feature, that I forgot those two. In my defence, I see those two MP’s as so beyond any of their specific features.
Besides, also the Mitsu-Bishi Hi-Uni 5-5050 FF-Matic UniCarbo (and all its relatives) is actually a capped pencil, in a sense — but then again, it goes completely beyond that aspect.
While all the ‘caps’ protect the tips, not all caps can be posted. I see this integral quality as something that the Hi-uni 20/30/5050 series lacks. But yes it’s a cap! Haha
Yes, indeed, that cap is a “service cap”, “utility cap”, or just “protection cap”. I totally agree on the different nature.
I was also wondering whether there are 2.00 mm leadholders which can be used in a posted-cap-position (none pops up in my mind right now); I know about some modified Pentel Kerrys, but I really mean an official leadholder.
Maybe some luxury model with gilt engravings, or some very old retractable-tip, pocket-size pencil, but I am afraid it is an even rarer use-case than that of capped knock MP’s.
Well, there are older lead holder designs that rely on a front mounted screw clutch instead of our familiar top mounted button. The one I know best is the Eagle Turquoise 3375. If you fit a cap on it and post it behind, it would still work.
