just recently found out the 2 generations of automacs. still need new black and older silver
I just find these to be some of the best visually appealing industrial design aesthetics on a pencil. still within reason to buy but seems it’s trending up.
Not long after PILOT discontinued the 2011 Automac, prices shot up pretty quickly. Some people were actually lucky to find a few for really good prices on “closeout,” one person saying they got theirs for about $30 USD. In the auction bidding melee that ensued, some people were able to get around $150~$200 USD for ones in mind condition with tags (or sticker?).
PILOT made a rather decent number of these so despite the collecting surge, there were still plenty coming up in resale listings. In time, the prices began to recede. I bought one in silver and one in black. Both were lightly used but no scratches (that I could see) and function was up to spec. I’d seen some people complain that the lead advancement was kind of sloppy on theirs… a “luck of the draw” kind of thing. I believe I got the black one for about $75 and the silver for $60.
My black one has “ 1404 ” and the silver one has “ ‘51 “. How do you tell if it’s 1st or 2nd release?
I got hosed on the black one before I knew better but kinda worked out since it older I guess. I got $110 in it like a fool lol. silver, I learned my lesson but it also newer gen $65.
I don’t know the date delineation but visual tell is the clip end style.
1st gen has the triangular clip end and clip itself has slight hump.
2nd gen has the round clip end and straight clip.
@drifand shared one recently with the curved clip. Yours and his are the only ones I have seen.
The sparkle on your black one is fantastic.
Aside from the aesthetics of the clip, is there any difference between them?
functional exactly the same afaik. didn’t see any differences internally. @griffisu
all the black ones I’ve seen has the glitter. nice detail by pilot. @amjacobs7
I remember seeing some posting clearance price of $15. they bought 2 lol. crazy seeing it now @cytherian
That’s really interesting. I have the same situation as you. My black Automac has the triangular clip and the silver one has the rounded clip.
it’s a lot easier finding the round end clip models.
what’s funny it I saw copies of both the ones we don’t have listed for cheap 30-40 each. they both were dailys from I saw but still nice condition. but I wasn’t aware of the 2 generations till after both sold lol
