Piston filler perfection crafted in Kolkata: Kiko

Piston filler perfection crafted in Kolkata: Kiko
Kolkata was once one of the most important centers for fountain pen and ink manufacture in India. Alas! Except for some cheap plastic fountain pens, this once key turner hardly has anything to offer to the discerning these days. But things are changing.
Sulekha, the Swadeshi ink maker of yore has made a glorious comeback. However, the fountain pen-turning scene continues to be bleak. I am not considering Dilip Basak here, as he is more focused on mending pens, as opposed to making them, that too on a commercial scale.
It is in this background that we should approach Arijit Dutta and his brand Kiko. Arijit, a trained Engineer from Chandernagore, a few kilometers upstream from Kolkata, is an enthusiast who has started making fountain pens. And not just ordinary fountain pens - he is making piston fillers of reasonably high quality. I have acquired one from him, which is featured in the video, and am happy to be informed that he is working on various other models which he wishes to introduce in the market progressively.
Before moving on with the story, here is a little Thank You to fellow fountain pen fanatic Sankha Bhattacharyya who had originally tipped me off about Arijit and his creation, suggesting that I not only buy the pen but also feature it on my channel.
The pen looks good. Writes very well and is reasonably well crafted considering the tender age of the brand and the price point at which it is offered. However, while I have no qualms about paying the kind of money that I paid for the pen, I feel that some fellow users and collectors may find it a tad bit too costly. But then again, there are always those who feel that items are overpriced, whatever may be the pricing compulsions of the manufacturers.
Naturally, I am extremely excited about Arijit Dutta and his brand Kiko. This is a potential winner, Arijit knows what he is doing, is passionate about the business, and has the quiet confidence that separates the winners from the also-rans. The point that needs to be underscored here is that he has the daring to start his journey with a piston-filler, making which, is no child’s play in terms of pen turning. Taking the argument further, one is hugely impressed by the fact that Arijit and Kiko are not offering your standard acrylic turned rod with a ubiquitous nib-feed and standardized converter, as most Indian manufacturers are wont to.
However, a note of caution: several ones, in fact. Turning a few pens, even perfectly, is one thing. Making money by selling them too, will be easy - there are always enough aficionados in the market to lap up such offerings even with premium pricing. Scaling up the operations to a commercial scale, where the same pens are put to the grind and must compete with even imported items that are available at a hugely disproportionate price-to-cost ratio is a completely different thing.
Initial reviews, especially positive ones like this often do more harm than good to the makers, as they tend to get swayed by the panegyrics. I will therefore urge Arijit to retain his sanity and continue doing what he does best, turning the pens. A spate of initial orders from dealers wishing to cash in on the novelty of the new pen from the guy next door, too, is something that should be guarded against as these orders are known to vanish as fast as they come. Arijit’s decision to participate in the forthcoming Chennai Pen Show too, I therefore feel, going fast, too soon.
The third thing, perhaps the most important, is that Kiko needs to create a compelling narrative around the brand. Beating the Chinese, let alone the Germans, in a game that they have perfected over years, that too, backed by huge resources, is not something that can be done on the strength of the pen alone. Fountain pen buyers are as finicky as they are impulsive. To catch their eyeballs is one thing, but to compel them to part with their hard-earned cash is a completely different thing. Let us not even talk about converting them into loyal customers who are swayed to place the subsequent order. And remember, being a local manufacturer, Kiko will have both the advantage and disadvantages - for while people like us will go ga-ga and try to back the brand to the hilt, there will be those who will screw their noses in collective disgust and find a million faults, both real and imaginary - largely imaginary.
In the final analysis, yes, I am mighty impressed. Here’s raising my pen Kiko and to Arijit Dutta - to success. May your tribe increase.

[@sudiptachatterjee4593]

I would like to thank Inked happiness for discovering this young entrepreneur. Viewers like me will be eager to see his interview at his place at Chandannagar. I take this opportunity to wish Sri Arijit Dutta all success in life.

[@anitahelton4698]

Injoy the show here in America I will keep a eye out for this brand wish the fellow all the luck

[@paulmchugh1430]

Thank you for bringing this pan and company to my attention. It is certainly worth investigating.

[@mukulchitale5453]

We have camalin Beena ink pen in 80s having piston filler. It was 100% Indian pen and writes well and to write with camalin pen is joy

[@howardcunix8677]

Hello Chawm! Thank you for sharing the news about Kiko. I was not aware of the brand until now, watching your enjoyable video presentation. Good Luck wishes for Arijit Dutta!

[@Sarwesh003]

Sir, please tell us how to order the pen or how to get in touch with Arijit......also if possible tell d price of the pen.....

[@FountainPenNews]

I am so intrigued by the fountain pen industry in India! I want to know more, always. How can I help spread the word about wonderful Indian fountain pens? The tricky thing is, they are hard to get in the US and quite expensive.

[@inkedhappiness]

just ask and i promise to fill you with the details. if there are dealers willing to stock indian pens, we can always help them meet the right turners to ease the process of availability and pricing.

[@drnimish333]

Really very attractive colour. Wonderful pen it seems. This is definitely the pen that draws attention. Liked it. Good video sir. Keep it up 👍

[@vandanarai3108]

Can you let us know how to order/connect with Kiko pens to place an order? Thank you for introducing us to a new brand.

[@TSS161]

it really is such a lovely blue color

[@ashimshome2004]

Beautiful! I always prefer piston filling mechanism.

[@arijitdutta1307]

Thank you very much for the detailed review. I hope you enjoy the pen in the coming days as well as much as I enjoyed making it..

[@ramr6959]

Had the opportunity to meet Arijit at the Pune pen show a week ago. Got this pen in a lovely green color. He is also able to tweak the nib to the feel you like. In my case, he got it to feel almost like a Sailor nib. Wish him the very best for the success of this venture.

[@puritanjc]

One of your best video/presentation. You should have given some details how to order. In case if you are visiting Chandan nagore do drop in. Love to catch up wiht you. Love to start you.

[@PraveenKumar-yo8li]

Thank you Dada, for guiding and navigating us to the most finest indian made pens, as far as piston filler is concerned, I used in my school days, bitto piston filler fountain pen, but when I get back to fountain pen after a long time, it was out of market, piston filler is my actually first choice, which, I found no where in reasonable cost. I shall buy this one as soon as possible.

[@sara_7]

When will kolkata pen show happen any idea chawm da ?

[@inkedhappiness]

it is normally around 15th April?

[@sara_7]

@@inkedhappiness ok thanks 😊

[@prakashpandey8542]

Dada kindly share your contact details if possible ​@@inkedhappiness

[@bonys7]

It's great that such a great new venture has started.best of luck.whatbis the nib size on this pen?is it no 6?

[@poojas-ut4xq]

Superb ! Where can I get this pen? Any useful links...

[@inkedhappiness]

thank you. i will request the manufacturer to get in touch with you :)

[@sudeepmukherjee4430]

Looking forward to the vlog on your Chandannagar visit, especially if you can show him turning a pen, at least partially!!! What is the price of the pen?

[@inkedhappiness]

sure, would love to :)

[@Sulekha1934]

Looks interesting

[@satyaudaybanerjee4613]

Please demonstrate us waterproof test for the various inks produced by sulekha.

[@inkedhappiness]

check the video on sampura which is a waterproof ink. the others, like Maa, have various levels of water resistance

[@anshumansahoo4869]

Sir ji click aristocrat ko eyedropper jaise use kar sakte hain kya? Aur agar haan to kaise karen? Aur agar apne use kar rakha hai to review denge app apne?

[@inkedhappiness]

wait. let me see if harshi gagwani of click will respond to this directly. if not, i will :)

[@inkedhappiness]

harshji has replied that it can be done easily. the threads are cut accordingly :)

[@anshumansahoo4869]

@@inkedhappiness sirji i have decided to keep using the converter only and am now thinking of buying an ink bottle which is best ink for daily use for notes taking? Camlin or Parker quink or daytone(but it only comes as 2 bottles of 500ml i.e. 1L) or bril (which I am unable to find anywhere other than their website)

[@PRATYUSHBISWAL-v5u]

Sir all of my fountain pen keeps drying after some time when my writing ends. I think it is because of hot climate what should I do.

[@inkedhappiness]

please ink only those pens that you will be writing with. it is not wise to ink up pens and leave them unused.

[@malarvannan3400]

Cap is not air-tight. Design limitations.

[@rikhalder5708]

কত দাম এটার?

[@kkkall02]

একটা সময় 4000 ছিল। এখন কত সেটা জানি না।

[@rikhalder5708]

​@@kkkall02কোন দোকানে পাওয়া যাবে?

[@Modulation75]

I do love mine!

[@THE-KING19]

I will be glad if you consider Sulekha Aksharabhyasam for a review in your channel.

[@inkedhappiness]

sure, but you have to give me some time

[@THE-KING19]

@@inkedhappiness The time is all yours.

[@THE-KING19]

@@inkedhappiness also try to review Sulekha Sutlej please.

[@cmw9876]

I've also read the note attached to the video. It seems you are well aware of the pitfalls of the marketplace you are getting into and just how competitive it is with German, Japanese and now Chinese manufacturers producing quality products in the field. Modern fountain pens, even many designed a half century ago, are high precision products and even old designs like Lamy 2000 pens and Montblanc 149 pens are extremely precise products. That is what this marketplace demands. Around the world, many of us are looking to countries like India to start making high quality, high precision products. There's no doubt that China has this intention. Yours is a nice pen but in a crowded marketplace, new products need to be truly outstanding to make their mark. I suggest a combination of quality, precision and a pen that looks great is required. We await, with interest and great hopes, for an explosion of high precision and high quality products from India. I suggest this pen is not the breakthrough you are hoping for. If the number of great physicists and mathematicians is anything to go by, India has enormous untapped talents in quality manufacturing. I await, with great interest a great flowering of high quality in all kinds of products.

[@inkedhappiness]

i couldn't agree more with what you are saying. i will also be honest upfront: i do exaggerate about the quality and competence of some Indian pens, if only in the hope that the manufacturers will take the cue. we have a long, long way to go before we are even worthy of taking names like 149 or the 2000, leave alone reaching the heights that they have attained (and maintained over decades). but i am an optimist and we are trying. i am personally trying to involve the technical schools and get them to be interested in turning pens for example. but the problems are enormous in size and variety. but there are many like me in india who are trying. we may not have the unicorn yet, but who knows? perhaps we are destined to continue the fight, and win. or perish trying :)

[@1OneMinutePlease]

Gentlemen, I had sent a mail with my address. Please, please look on to it.

[@inkedhappiness]

why am i not getting your mail? [e-mail], [e-mail] write in the subject: address for pen

[@1OneMinutePlease]

@@inkedhappiness Greetings Sir, I had sent the mail yesterday afternoon

[@inkedhappiness]

@@1OneMinutePlease yesss! i have received them - now to send you your pen :)

[@1OneMinutePlease]

@@inkedhappiness Thank you gentlemen

[@inkedhappiness]

@@1OneMinutePlease a pen and a bottle of ink has been mailed to you today. let me see if i can send the tracking details to you on monday :)

[@satyaudaybanerjee4613]

Tell us the price and availability of this pen.

[@inkedhappiness]

the contact number of the manufacturer is there in the comments section. please contact him directly for the details

[@sri.anandarup]

How to buy this pen?

[@inkedhappiness]

contact arijit dutta directly :)

[@soumya.dataSC]

What's the cost?

[@inkedhappiness]

please contact him directly.

[@iceberg789]

এই কলমটা একটু বেশিই প্লাস্টিক-প্লাস্টিক। বাস্কোটা যতটা জমকালো দেখতে, পেনটা ততটা নয়, বরং একটু খেলনা স্টাইলের। 🤔 তবে পিস্টন ফিলার শুনলেই ক্যামলিন 47 এর কথাই মনে হয়।

[@shaheenhossain8707]

Kaka Tomar scrap book ta nije tei ekta Rabindra sangeet er moto lage dekhte. Eto sundor

[@inkedhappiness]

uri babba! ki bolo go dada? bhogobaner shonge amar tulona?

[@-mindscape-4988]

Ooooo yes, at Rs 4500/- indeed it's reasonably priced ..... especially when we can get a piston filler of equivalent quality if not more for around Rs 700 /-. The only thing can be talked about is that it is an India made pen, other than that, nothing doing. I know many might not like my view, but, I got to be honest......this pen is highly overpriced for no apparent reason.

[@AmoghRajput]

Yeah even I thought same . I will buy twsbi eco at that price . Or Maybe leave everything and buy platinum plaisir . I love my plaisir .