Jinhao Centennial – by popular demand

Fountain pen lovers asking me to feature Jinhao pens, despite their very strident public posturing to the contrary, is simply innumerable. They seem to be ever eager for more from Jinhao and what I find very strange is that most are not willing to check out other Chinese manufacturers – Moonman, Wing Sung, and the like – even though I always try to herd them toward the other offerings from across the great wall, if just to fathom the level of their obsession and the reasons underlying them.

This particular pen, the Jinhao Centennial seems to be a perpetual favorite with the pen loving masses and I have been inundated with requests to feature it, so here goes. Unfortunately, the dealer here in Kolkata had only one piece left and though I do not like the colour – I find the combination garish, lurid even - I am constrained to acquire it to honour your wishes.

What can I say about the pen, Chinese pens in general, that is not universally known? For the price at which they are offered – and mind you, the dealers that you buy your pens from in India, are making a nice packet by selling each pen, the cheap pricing notwithstanding – is extremely competitive, apart from being of reasonably good quality which makes them perennial favourites. I don’t know if I should be saying this, but part of the mystique about Chinese pens in general and Jinhaos in particular, many experts point out, is due to the push by the dealers, who fuelled purely by pecuniary purposes wax eloquent about them, often influencing the buy decision, or even creating a demand for them.

There are the Jinhao freaks who swear by them and there are the ones who are genuine users, very happy with these fountain pens, which speaks volumes about them, the pens, that is. As a matter of fact, it will not be out of place to mention here that there are lessons for Indian manufacturers here and I sincerely hope that they are listening.

Someday, I propose to do a detailed study about the management practices of the Chinese – explaining the broad trends that are becoming so obvious even to my uninitiated eyes. Do let me know in the comments below if you would like me to do such a story here.