Pentel ROLLY and the GraphGear connection

Discussion by Brand
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IMG_1423
IMG_14232624×3674 3.36 MB

IMG_1429
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When I first discovered the ROLLY PC125 series of clip-release double knock pencils, my immediate thought was: Hey! These look like executive versions of the GraphGear 1000! Was the GG1000 so popular that Pentel decided to make a non-drafting version for ‘civilian use’?

It was early days for me as a collector and it took a while before I learned about the two series’ launch dates: The GG1000 came out in 2001, along with the BK1005/7 ballpoints… while the ROLLY PC125 preceded it by 17 years, launching back in 1984.

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IMG_14303923×2802 3.68 MB

IMG_1431
IMG_14312479×1771 1.33 MB

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Now, there are many other ROLLY designs, with painted colors, wider bodies and accompanying Clicsharp branded models for the USA. But my first love remains with the simpler PC125, and their small splash of color on their clips. Perhaps it’s the difficulty of finding a relatively pristine PC215 in white or black – most that I have seen for sale have some scuffing to the paint job.

If anyone has insights to any design connections, do share! Thank you :pray:t2:

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My favorite Rolly’s are the next step up, the PC215.

PC215
PC2151920×1003 99.7 KB

Surprisingly, being in the US, I have fewer of the PC265 ClicSharp. They apparently weren’t as popular here as the PC215 were in Japan.

PC265
PC2651920×460 48.7 KB

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The GraphGear 1000 and the Rolly/ClicSharp used the clip to hold the tip extended.

There were 3 other Pentel pencils that did the same: the PW25 FlexFit, PW35 FlexFit II/FlexFit GT and the PWE-27 TranXition.

All the other Pentel Double Knocks were traditional: hard click to extend/retract the tip, soft click to extend the lead.

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The Rolly is one of my favorite designs from Pentel. I don’t think the clip design gets the appreciation it deserves. The whole idea was that you could place the pen/pencil in your pocket and when the clip goes over the fabric it auto-retracts. That’s just freaking cool.

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And the first time I saw that feature was on my grandfather’s Sheaffer Reminder Clip ballpoint :slight_smile:

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