Exactly! Not only Automac, but PMG, PG4, and even the PGXXXX series went through the same pattern. Right before and right after they were discontinued, they were heavily criticized, but as their market value increased, so did their reputation. With Automac, people complained a lot about scratching, and it received a ton of harsh reviews. As for PMG, people downplayed it, saying it was basically no different from the PG5.
But now?
I think the S30 might end up taking a similar path.
Of course, pencils like the Xs, which really flopped, still get called failures even long after they’ve been discontinued. Haha.
I’ve taken one apart myself, so I know that the S30 actually uses a brass clutch. Just because it’s metal doesn’t mean slippage is less likely, and just because it’s plastic doesn’t mean slippage is more likely. You can see the same thing with the Dive as well.
It’s a common issue that’s hard to avoid with automatic mechanical pencils. I’ve mentioned this in other replies as well, but if you remove the mechanism and shake it vigorously in 50–70% rubbing alcohol, the graphite residue inside will be cleaned out.
Thank you for correcting my misinformation that I’d read off of a comment about the S30. The PILOT Automac seems really good in my experience. Granted, I don’t use it frequently… but I have two and they’re working just fine. Not scratchy… but not quite as smooth as the FC Alphamatic.
Sounds strange, what you said about the PMG… as it’s not an automatic pencil, just a standard 0.3 mm drafting pencil. The mechanisms on the two I own work perfectly.
How has been your experience with the Orenz Nero? I find the 0.5 mm works pretty well. But I’ve heard the 0.3 mm is a little scratchy and the 0.2 mm really needs to be held nearly perpendicular to avoid scratchiness.
This was also a big problem with the Faber-Castell Alpha-Matic and TK-Matic as well as the Staedtler Marsmatic. Someone in the trade told me many years ago that this had led to numerous service requests.
The mention of PMG was just an example to illustrate how discontinued mechanical pencils tend to increase in value after they’re no longer in production. It wasn’t related to automatic pencils, haha.
What I wanted to say is that when something is discontinued and its market price goes up, people tend to evaluate its value based on that rising price.
As for the Orenznero, the 0.5mm version feels like a typical mechanical pencil, but the 0.3mm and 0.2mm versions inevitably scratch the paper.
Once you get used to it, it’s pretty comfortable, but when I looked around Korean communities, I saw a lot of people who couldn’t get used to it.
To address that issue (or maybe to cut costs?), Faber-Castell has changed the mechanism several times — at least 3 or 4 times that I know of.
But the same problem keeps happening anyway, haha.
It’s an inherent, chronic issue with automatic mechanical pencils.
Yes, I see your point. Definitely for the most part, discontinued pencils will increase in value, but it’s largely dependent upon available stock and collector community interest. As you know, all it takes is just 2 people (out of many hundreds) with a high interest… and a bid war can establish a perception of a new market value.
There was an early period after the Automac was discontinued and the bargain sales prices vanished. And then… there was a meteoric rise in market price. I saw some people paying upwards of $200 USD. Of course, that was just spontaneous desperation. In time, you could grab one for closer to $50 USD with minimal signs of use. Average price has gone back up, but bargains can still occasionally be had. It’s amazing how cheap the Orenz Nero is now. I just bought a boxed 0.3 mm for about $10 USD after fees (international shipping will probably add another $2 USD with combined shipping). When first available, they were commanding nearly $50 USD.
I love how cheap and ubiquitous the OrenzNero has gotten despite being a “flagship” pencil (and living up to that quality).
The cheapest the Automac ever got in the US was maybe ~$30 on Amazon right before being discontinued. You can get OrenzNero’s for $16.00 USD now - which is really like $12 in Pre-Covid money. It’s super accessible given how cool of a pencil it is.
Also, the Automac only coming in 0.5mm and the OrenzNero’s pipe protection really shining at 0.2/0.3mm make for an awesome pairing. They’re both so space age-looking in different ways too - the Automac is sort of retro-futuristic with the art deco grip and the metallic flake finish on the barrel, and the OrenzNero looks like an alien spaceship.
