Editing The Pen Addict 265/transcript (section)

== Aurora Duo Card ==


'''Brad Dowdy:''' So what do you think about the Aurora Duo card that I reviewed last week and I'm giving away this week? Actually, I have still time to get in on the giveaway. Sorry there was a typo in the ending date, but the little application shows the correct ending date of this Saturday. But I'm giving away an Aurora Duo card. I reviewed the black and silver model with a medium nib. And what is your take on this pen before I continue?

'''Myke Hurley:''' So the first time I was reading it, I thought that you'd bought a vintage pen. And it's not that, right? Mm-mm. So this is a pen that they still make now, but it was first made in the 50s and it keeps the design?

'''Brad Dowdy:''' Yeah. Well, it's not even a still make. It's a brand new remake, if you will. Right. This isn't something that they've always carried. They just did it. They actually, the story, and you can check out Matt's review at Penhabit to get the full story or on one of the Aurora pages, but they had an Italian company come to them wanting to make some pens, do something special for their employees for some anniversary. So they basically pulled this one out of the archive and made them, you know, a huge run of these Duo cards to give to their employees. Well, then they decided that, you know, this came out pretty well.

'''Brad Dowdy:''' So they offered it up for sale as like a normal product item. So that's kind of how it came out. But it was a popular item for them back in the 50s. One of the first cartridge pens, I believe.

'''Myke Hurley:''' The name comes from the fact that it holds two cartridges in a barrel. I assume that's for storage purposes.

'''Brad Dowdy:''' So the original pen, and you can go hunt down some pictures. I didn't link any in my post, had like a metal sleeve inside the barrel and just picture like two international cartridges, which you'll see some pen vendors do these days, you know, just more for storage reasons. You would have these two cartridges, one engaged, and then one in the back of this little metal container in one of the vintage pens. And that's where the name Duo Cart came from because it was kind of a big deal at the time. Nowadays, it's a non-deal. And it doesn't, the new pen doesn't come with, you know, that metal insert to hold the two small cartridges. It just comes with cartridge or converter. It holds international cartridge size or international converter. So I just use the converter that comes with it. That makes it better for me. But the Duo Cart is the original name of the pen when it first came out. And it's clear what they did, right? I mean, it's identical to the Parker 51 for the most part. There's a few small changes, but when I put it next to my 51, it's really hard to tell the difference, isn't it?

'''Myke Hurley:''' Yeah. Yeah, they're very, very, very similar looking. Like it really does have, I mean, because when I first saw the review, like I literally just thought that this was like a new old stock kind of deal. Like I was wondering, why did you choose to review this vintage pen?

'''Brad Dowdy:''' Yeah, yeah. They did do some of them actually with the original boxes from like the 50s. They found some. Mine did not come with that box, but some of them came with the very original box. I wonder if it's just the Burgundy model. For some reason, the Burgundy model wins 20 more dollars than the one that I reviewed. And that gets into the kicker, right? What do you feel about the price? They're about $150, 155. I think there's definitely some pushback there, right? Understandable.

'''Myke Hurley:''' Okay, so what I like about this pen, if you like vintage looks, it's great because it's modern manufacturing for vintage looks. Like if you buy vintage pens because you like the look of vintage pens, this is a perfect pen for you because it looks old, but it's made new, right? And it's going to be warrantied and all that sort of stuff. So big thumbs up. I don't like, I don't particularly like the look personally. I do like the hooded nib thing. Like that is nice, but there isn't really enough going on here that would make me want to spend $150 on it, honestly.

'''Brad Dowdy:''' Yeah, so this is probably never going to be someone's first pen, right? If you're going to ask me to pick a pen in this price range, this one's not going to make the list. You know, you're going to get Lamy 2000 and Pilot 92s and all kinds of other things around this price range. But as a fun throwback pen, and you've always wanted a Parker 51, but never wanted to commit to buying something you don't know that's going to work for sure, this is an option. I think I would like this pen, and there was two things that kind of held me back from even, from maybe buying my own. One, the cap is more of a slip cap and it doesn't like snap on or have this firmness when it's on the barrel. And I noticed Matt had the same issue with his. Like it's completely fine sitting on a desk, but if I put it in my pocket, I'd be worried. And that's what I think this pen is. I think it's a great pocket pen. And I would also have to get the nib modified because it only comes in medium. Now the Aurora's nibs are fantastic and this one is a wonderful steel medium nib, but that's not for me. I'd want, if I could get like a tight fitting cap and an extra fine nib in this pen, this pen, I think I would like carry in my pocket on a daily basis. Like it's, it's that style of pen. I really, really enjoy it. But yeah, I can see the hesitancy, but I think they'll do well with this pen. And it's got a really good aesthetic. And yeah, you know, the, the price is not, I don't think the price is outrageous. I mean, it just kind of is what it is.

'''Myke Hurley:''' Yeah. 150 is not, not crazy, crazy. I'm just wondering like how it would compare to other pens in that price range.