Pilot pocket pens

Here are some of my Pilot pocket pens arranged in manufacturing date order. I thought it might be interesting to photograph each one in a standard way so that we can compare different nib types and models as they were introduced and phased out over time. 

1964

This was the year that Pilot introduced the knock-type Capless, originally for the opening of the Tokyo Olympics. The design is very similar to modern Capless / Vanishing Point pens but they used a now defunct cartridge system called the “double spare” cartridge, so they can be tricky to fill. 

 

Pilot Capless knock type mk1

ED17

Pilot Capless knock type mk1

EI12

1965

 

Pilot Capless (1965-Aug-31, Hiratsuka)
FH31

Pilot Capless short CS-100RW

FX15

1966

 

After the Sporty15, the Short was Pilot’s first foray into the pocket pen market. Sailor and Platinum had dominated the market since 1963 and although we associate Pilot with pocket pens now, they were actually very slow to understand that the Sailor design format was the way to go. 

Pilot Short

GX06

Pilot Short

GX27

1967

 

Pilot Short

HT16

Pilot Short

HU23

Pilot Short

HW21

1968

 

Pilot Short

IB01

Pilot Short

IM30

Pilot Short

IP12

Pilot Short

IP25

Pilot Short

IQ06

1969

 

A school-based pen on the theme of Mach 5, the unique and unbeatable race car used by the popular manga/anime character Speed Racer (マッハ GoGoGo, Mach GoGoGo, in Japan).

Pilot Mach 5

JB18 (1969-Feb-18, Hiratsuka)

Pilot Mach 5

JD06 (1969-Apr-06, Hiratsuka)

This seems to mark the introduction of the “fingernail nib” on Pilot Elite pens. Pens just marked “Pilot” tend to have a different design of nib so I suspect they were sold under another product line. 

Pilot Elite S 18k

JI08 (1969-Sept-08, Hiratsuka)

Pilot Elite S

JJ12 (1969-Oct-12, Hiratsuka) 

1970

 

Pilot Elite S 18k

KD12 (1970-April-12. Hiratsuka)

KF15 (1970-Jun-15, Hiratsuka)

Pilot Elite S 18k

KH10 (1970-Aug-10, Hiratsuka)

KI16 (1970-Sept-16, Hiratsuka)

Pilot Elite S 22k

KL06 (1970-Dev-06, Hiratsuka)

1971

 

LK14 (1971-Nov-14, Hiratsuya)

(yes, I have 2 ‘new old stock’ pens made on the same day!)

LK14 (1971-Nov-14, Hiratsuya)

1972

 
MA09 (1972-Jan-09, Hiratsuka)

Pilot Elite S 18k

H272 (1972-Feb)

Pilot Elite S 18k

MJ15 (1972-Oct-15, Hiratsuka)

1973

 

NB25 (1973-Feb-25, Hiratsuka)

Pilot Elite S silver cap

NC26 (1973-Mar-26, Hiratsuka)

Pilot Elite S 18k

ND09 (1973-Apr-09, Hiratsuka)

NF10 (1973-Jun-10, Hiratsuka)
NF24 (1973-Jun-24, Hiratsuka)

1974

 
OB10 (1974-Feb-10, Hiratsuka)

1975

 

Pilot Myu 25

H175 (1975-Jan)

Pilot Myu 25

H275 (1975-Feb)

1976

 

QI26 (1976-Sept-26, Hiratsuka)

QJ10 (1976-Oct-10, Hiratsuka)

1977

 

Pilot Elite S

RF12 (1977-Jun-12, Hiratsuka)

1978

 

Pilot Elite S

SF11 (1978-Jun-11, Hiratsuka)

This year sees the introduction of the combined nib & section collar, perhaps taking design influences from the Myu which had a section & nib formed from one piece of metal. I haven’t managed to get hold of a Myu yet but they are considered a design classic in the pen world. 

Pilot Volex

H978 (1978-Sept)

1979

 

Pilot Volex

H279 (1979-Feb)

Pilot Volex

H279 (1979-Feb)

Pilot Volex

H879 (1979-Aug)

Pilot Elite S 18k

TC11 (1979-Mar-11, Hiratsuka)

Pilot Elite S steel grid cap

TI09 (1979-Sept-09)

Pilot Elite S

H1079 (1979-Oct) 

Pilot Elite S

TL09 (1979-Dec-09)

1980

 
H480 (1980-April)
H780 (1980-July)
H880 (1980-Aug)
   

2006-2011

 

Pilot Vortex

2023

 

P423 (2023-Apr)

Unknown 

What links all of these undated pens is the fact that they all feature steel nibs and a specific shape of section. The Gakken pens were made for the Gakken publishing house so I think all of these pens were cheap products to be given away as promotional goods or sold very cheaply. 

 
Pilot Super Quality
Pilot Super Quality

Pilot Gakken

Super Quality

Pilot Gakken

Super Quality

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