Banal Minutiae

OK, I said I’d summarize te differences between the two pens, and here goes my best attempt.

 

First, let’s talk about the similarities.

 

Both are nice modern copies (homages?) of the Parker 51. My reference information (buy them here and here) says that the original Parker factory closed, and the Hero pen factory opened using the same equipment, which explains why they are so similar. Of course, this may be incorrect, but I believe it to be at least somewhat reliable. Both pens are black with lustraloy look-alike caps. Both use aerometric fillers, and both have hooded nibs. Also both are inexpensive, with the 100 retailing for under $25, and the 329 retailing for $5.

 

What’s different?

 

The clips are different. On the 100, you have a nicely shaped spring assisted clip (a little too much pressure? It sure won’t fall out of your pocket.), while on the 329, a cheap bent metal clip. The clip on the 329 is functional, and am only commenting on the aesthetics of it.

 

The end caps are different. On the 100, you have two conical pointed metal caps, in the same material and color as the lustraloy looking cap. On the 329, they’re flat, and a gold color. The 329 caps look like two stacked pancakes. I’d say overall both are nice, with the 100’s caps being slightly more subtle, but I really like the 329’s contrasting color. Just a slight amount of color and difference adds a real nice aethetic to the pen.

 

Cap writing. Under the clip, the 100 sports several chinese characters and “100″. They’re small and engraved, and are not really noticeable unless you look for them. On the side opposite the clip, and the bottom of the cap, is a symbol and underneath that “Made in China”. Slightly more noticeable than the other side, but not at all cheap or unsightly. I’d prefer this side was bare, and I guess I could polish it out, but it’s fine.

 

On the 329, you have much more noticeable writing, and on the side opposite the clip, in black lettering (sprayed, not engraved), the letters fine line. Yikes. Very nasty. I could definitely do without this. It really detracts from the overall professional appearance and hearkens back to the $5 price tag.

 

Bodies. Both bodies are made from what appears to be the same plastic, although the 329 is made from a much lighter gauge of plastic than the 100. Also, the snap ring is a nice matching lustraloy color on the 100. Overall, the 100 feels better in my hand. It has a more substantial weight to it, probably twice that of the 329, but it’s still a light weight pen. The 329 is a veritable feather.

 

Aerometric mechanisms. The mechanisms are the same in appearance, except for engraving on the 100 model that has some chinese symbols, 100, and then two more chinese symbols. It’s nicely done, and their is a quality feel here. The metal is a heavier gauge than the 329, and the end is machined into the same conical point that the caps have. It’s a nice touch. The ink sac has good transparency. Really, the 329 is very similar, but the material feels almost flimsy. The glue failed on mine at the body joint, so you can actually remove the aerometric filling mechanism to see the ink sac in it’s totality. Not a good sign for longevity. However, the mechanism works just fine, and is so simple as to be almost foolproof. I could reglue it, but why?

 

Nibs. Here’s a real difference. The nib in the 100 is nice, with just enough tooth to let you feel the paper. The line is nice and thin, with proper ink flow. Not too heavy, but not stingy either. Some may prefer a slightly smoother nib, but my preference in a line this fine is for a very small amount of tooth. I say tooth, because the nib is not scratchy, it just tends toward a feeling of almost rollerball quality. The line is what I would call between 0.3 and 0.4 mm. Perfect for my everyday writing, and for things like my lab tables, or a checkbook. This isn’t your signature pen, if you think of things that way. On the other hand, 99% of my writing calls for a nib this fine. I have very small script (I should scan a sample), and equations, test results and the like demand my tight script and neat tables. This is the ideal nib size.

 

The nib on the 329 is wider, and has some scratch to it. It’s probably not iridium tipped, which the nib on the 100 definitely is. It’s also probably a different metal, but I can’t be sure of the nib material on the 100. Both are firm, with the 100 having a very slight amount of flex. The 329 nib could go through copies. The line produced by the 329 is wet, with a width similar to somewhere slightly larger than a 0.5 mm ballpoint. It’s noticeably wider than the 100 line. The smoothness is noticeably lacking. While the 100 might have a small amount of tooth, the 329 has a small amount of scratch. Like I said earlier, I attribute this to the lack of iridium on the tip, but other factors could be at play. I’m by no means an expert.

 

Overall, both are excellent writers, and so far have proven dependable, and are both attractive pens. The 100 is a nice, everyday pen, while the 329 fufills a niche of almost disposable pen. I’d definitely take a 329 over a Varsity.

 

Would I buy them again? Yes and no. After using the 100 as my primary pen for over a month, and the 329 for my bill paying pen (a lot less use, fortunately), I’ve got to say I’d buy another 100 in a heartbeat, but I’d probably spring the extra money for the 100 over the 329. However, as I said above, the 329 has a definte niche. It would make an excellent gift pen as a first fountain pen, or maybe for a child, or someone prone to losing pens. For a mere $5, I fail to see how you could go wrong.

 

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