Photo Credit: stchel2
Platinum Amazonas PAM-8000 Fountain Pen, Circa 1973
Buy It Now Price: $279 (price as of 2018; item no longer available)
Pros:
-Here is a gorgeous Japanese Platinum Amazonas PAM-8000 vintage fountain pen made from exotic brown Suriname toad leather, circa 1973.
-This Platinum Amazonas PAM-8000 fountain pen measures 5.3 inches (13.4 cm) in length when capped and 6.1 inches (15.5 cm) when posted.
–The Platinum Pen Company was founded in Tokyo in 1919 by Shunichi Nakata. It is one of the “Big 3” Japanese fountain pen makers, along with Pilot and Sailor. While these companies are not as well known in the West as some other pen manufacturers, they have inspired an intensely loyal following among fountain pen enthusiasts because of their high quality and reasonable prices.
-This is the only pen I’m aware of that has ever been made from the skin of the Suriname toad (pipa pipa), a non-threatened amphibian native to South America.
-This vintage fountain pen was manufactured with great attention to detail. In addition to the exotic toad leather covering, the pen sports 18 karat gold plated trim and a burgundy plastic section that is only visible when the pen is posted. Even the jewel ring on the pen cap has a small toad leather insert instead of just a plain metal end. This underscores the craftsmanship and thought that went into the Platinum Amazonas PAM-8000 fountain pen.
-The Platinum Amazonas PAM-8000 fountain pen debuted exclusively in Japan in 1973 in a range of different colors. It retailed for ¥8,000 at the time, which was about $30 at prevailing 1973 exchange rates. This is the equivalent of around $175 in 2018, after adjusting for inflation.
-Unfortunately, the Suriname toad leather proved so troublesome to work with that production of the pens ceased after a single year, rendering them fairly scarce today.
-This Platinum Amazonas PAM-8000 fountain pen comes with its original 18 karat solid gold nib. Solid karat gold nibs are a hallmark of high quality vintage fountain pens and are a step up from the stainless steel or titanium nibs found on less expensive models.
–Vintage fountain pens are significantly undervalued in today’s market. I believe this is especially true for pens from Japanese makers, which are often overlooked because relatively few of these pens are found in the West.
-This vintage Platinum Amazonas PAM-8000 pen comes in its original box, with accompanying Japanese language literature.
-Given the excellent condition, superb craftsmanship and unique materials of this Platinum Amazonas PAM-8000 vintage fountain pen, I feel that the $279 buy-it-now price is easily justified.
Cons:
-I have read that the Suriname toad leather used on this pen is rather thin and can be somewhat fragile. If you are looking for a daily writer, I think it would be wise to look elsewhere. But if you are looking to invest in a magnificent, one-of-a-kind fountain pen for your collection, then this Japanese Platinum Amazonas PAM-8000 is perfect.
-You’ll need to buy a new converter for the pen, which should be quite inexpensive.
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