TWSBI
| TWSBI | |
|---|---|
| |
| Founded: | 2009 |
| Founder: | |
| Headquarters: | New Taipei City, Taiwan |
| Key People: | Philip Wang (Wang Chengchang) |
| Products: | Writing Instruments |
| Website: | https://www.twsbi.com/ |
After 40 plus years as an OEM manufacturer for different global brands, Ta Shin Precision decided to start selling under their own brand, and thus TWSBI was born.
TaShin Precision has over 40 years of experience in manufacturing with plastics and metals. Early products ranged from toy lego parts to high end writing instruments. This knowledge trickles down into every product TWSBI has to offer.
TWSBI's name stands for the phrase "Hall of Three Cultures" or "San Wen Tang" (三文堂) in Chinese. The character "Wen" translates into language and culture. The phrase "San Wen Tang" also brings to mind the Hall of the Three Rare Treasures created by Emperor Qianlong as a memorial to three great masterpieces of Chinese calligraphy. The initials of the phrase "San Wen Tang" was reversed and thus turned into "TWS". The last letters "Bi" (笔) was added with its literal meaning of "writing instruments". Thus combining the two segments, creating TWSBI.[1]
Nibs
TWSBI fountain pens currently use JoWo nibs. TWSBI used Schmidt for the nibs for the early 530s , followed by nibs by Bock before changing to JoWo.
Fountain Pens
TWSBI has brought several affordable fountain pens to market over the past few years. The majority of their pens are piston filler pens, but they also have a couple vacuum filler pens. Prices range from $20 USD for the Go to $65 USD for the Vac-700R; there may be an additional $5 cost for the 1.1 stub nib in some models.
Classic
The Classic is a solid-colored piston filler pen, with chrome trim. Available in five colors, it has an ink window on the section just above the cap threads.
Diamond 580
The Diamond 580, often just called the 580, is a demonstrator piston filler pen. Available in two versions, the standard plastic version, and an aluminum version. Both versions are available in limited run colored options, with the cap, section and piston knob colored in the standard plastic version, and the section and piston mechanism colored in the aluminum versions.
Prior versions include the Diamond 530, and Diamond 540
Diamond Mini
The Diamond Mini is a smaller version of the 580. Still a piston filler, and available in the standard plastic or aluminum versions like its full-sized sibling. The cap screws to post.
Eco/Eco-T
The TWSBI Eco, Eco for economical, is one of TWSBI's most affordable fountain pens. At only $30, it is an often recommended starter pen, as it is one of the cheapest piston filler pens on the market. 2018 also saw the introduction of the Eco-T model, T for the very slight "triangular" grip, as well as the piston knob shape being triangular instead of hexagonal. Available in a variety of colors, the Eco is a demonstrator pen with a colored cap and piston knob.
Go
The TWSBI Go is one of TWSBI's more recent addition to their fountain pen lineup. It has unseated the Eco as their most affordable pen and retails for around $20. New for this pen is a spring-loaded piston, allowing for easy, one-handed ink filling.
Micarta - Discontinued
The TWSBI Micarta was TWSBI's only cartridge converter pen at the time. Made out of Micarta, it had two versions, the original (v1), and the updated (v2). Both came with gold plated steel nibs, and gold plated clips, although v2 was also available in a clipless version.
Precision
The TWSBI Precision fountain pen features an all-metal construction. It has a brushed aluminium body with a hexagonal barrel.
Swipe
The newest offering from TWSBI. Available in Prussian Blue and Smoke. It uses Standard International cartridges/converters, however the cartridges and converters offered by TWSBI are a larger variation of the Standard International, and may not fit most pens. Included in the packaging is a TWSBI cartridge, a spring-loaded converter and a twist converter.
Vac-700R
The Vac-700R is a full sized vacuum filler pen. The Vac-700R is a demonstrator pen with a translucent smoke colored section and piston knob. The pen features an ink shut-off valve, when the piston knob is screwed close, it shuts off the ink reservoir from the feed. In order to write for longer sessions, the piston knob needs to be unscrewed. This is very useful for frequent fliers as they won't have to worry about ink leaking while in the air.
Prior versions include the Vac-700
Vac Mini
The Vac Mini is the smaller version of the Vac-700. Available in full demonstrator, or similar to it's full sized sibling, with a smoked section and piston knob.
List of Fountain Pens
| Made in | Pen length capped | Pen length uncapped | Pen weight | Takes refill | Ink capacity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TWSBI Diamond 580 | Taiwan | 142 mm14.2 cm <br />5.591 inches <br /> | 130 mm13 cm <br />5.118 inches <br /> | 28 g0.028 kg <br />0.988 ounces <br /> | Bottled Ink | 1.98 ml0.0697 Imperialfluidounce <br /> |
| TWSBI Eco | Taiwan | 139 mm13.9 cm <br />5.472 inches <br /> | 132 mm13.2 cm <br />5.197 inches <br /> | 21 g0.021 kg <br />0.741 ounces <br /> | Bottled Ink | 1.75 ml0.0616 Imperialfluidounce <br /> |
| TWSBI Go | Taiwan | 134 mm13.4 cm <br />5.276 inches <br /> | 125 mm12.5 cm <br />4.921 inches <br /> | 17 g0.017 kg <br />0.6 ounces <br /> | Bottled Ink | 1.61 ml0.0567 Imperialfluidounce <br /> |
| TWSBI Vac-700R | Taiwan | 147 mm14.7 cm <br />5.787 inches <br /> | 134 mm13.4 cm <br />5.276 inches <br /> | 32 g0.032 kg <br />1.129 ounces <br /> | Bottled Ink | 2.37 ml0.0834 Imperialfluidounce <br /> |
Mechanical Pencils
Precision Mechanical Pencil
The Precision Mechanical Pencil was originally available in two colors, black and silver. Currently (2018) only the silver version is available. It is available in two lead sizes, 0.7 mm and 0.5 mm and with either a retractable sleeve (also referred to as RT for retractable tip) or a fixed sleeve. The retractable sleeve is there to make the pencil pocket safe. It is not suitable for use as a sliding sleeve. [2]
Ballpoint Pens
Precision Ballpoint Pen
The Precision Ballpoint Pen features a similar look as the Precision Mechanical Pencil. It is available in black and silver.
Notebooks
TWSBI has a small line of notebooks, similar to a Moleskine or Leuchtturm1917 notebook, it is available in three sizes; small, medium, and large.
Ink Wells
TWSBI has two ink wells in their product line. They are designed to work with the correspondingly named pens, but will work with the majority of fountain pens.
Diamond 50
The Diamond 50 is a 50mL ink well. Designed to screw onto the barrel of the Diamond fountain pen line, it allows an easy and mess-free inking of the Diamond fountain pen line. It also includes an inner inkwell for filling most other fountain pens.
Vac 20A
The Vac 20A is a smaller 20mL ink well. Designed to work with the Vac line of pens (although it may not work with the newly redesigned Vac-700), it also works with the majority of other fountain pens. The 20mL size offers more usability towards travel.