The first PILOT pens were launched in Japan in 1918. At this time, the country was opening up to Western influences and was importing European techniques.

Trade agreements and contracts were being signed and the Japanese whose writing was poorly suited to the demands of commercial trade quickly had to simplify the lines of their characters and adopt international calligraphy standards. Many pen manufacturers were set up in Japan during this time.

Ryosuke NAMIKI, a mechanical engineer and professor at the Tokyo Merchant Marine Collage, was captivated by the ingenuity of these fountain pens which his contemporaries called "10,000 year brushes" because of their uninterrupted ink flow. However, at the same time Ryosuke NAMIKI remained convinced about their imperfections

Using his skills in industrial engineering, he created a high quality prototype. After forming a partnership with one of his colleagues, Masao WADA, he created the NAMIKI MANUFACTURING COMPANY and started producing fountain pens.

In 1964 Pilot's engineers created many new products to celebrate the Tokyo Olympics. The greatest of their achievements was the Pilot Capless fountain pen. Known as the Vanishing Point in the US, the Capless is 'the perfect combination of luxury and technology'. A simple push-button withdraws the nib into the body, closing an air-tight seal behind it to prevent it from drying out. The Capless can be used with ink cartridges but is also supplied with a converter to allow use of bottled ink. The tip of the pen is exceptional.

In our store we carry a few models.

The perfect combination of luxury and technology, Capless’ barrel contains a mechanism of rare precision which allows the nib to retract into the barrel when not in use. Capless is adorned with the prestigious rhodium, also used in jewellery. 18-carat rhodium-plated gold nib with rhodium-plated clip and rings. Capless is available in 3 different nib sizes: fine, medium and broad. An extra fine nib size is also available on request.

Please come visit our store to try one of these beautiful pens.