Classic Pens seems to be going from one height to another with no rests in between! The CP6 series are great pens, and many would have considered it appropriate for the folks at Classic Pens to maybe take a little break. Savor the enjoyment of bringing a new Limited Edition forth. Relax.
Instead, they have just announced the next in the series, the CP7. The Classic Pens CP series are custom sterling silver overlays, made on many of the best pens from today's manufacturers. Aurora, Sheaffer, Parker and Pelikan pens have formed the basis for CP pens in the past.
With
the CP7, Classic Pens makes the move across the Pacific, and adds the
Sailor Pen company of Japan to the list. Sailor has been in business since
1911, making high quality pens, one of the most popular of which is the
Profit model.
I had the chance to talk with Andreas Lambrou by telephone about the new CP7, and it proved to be an interesting story. It turns out that this won't be the first time that Classic Pens have considered working with Sailor. Andy described the negotiating that occurred in 1996:
"After CP3, I contacted Sailor Japan in order to use the silver Profit for a future CP series. They were very helpful and amicable and offered me the standard production silver Profit (the model called 'Clipper') and in fact sent silver tubes (cap and barrel) to Murelli for engraving."
"I had the Clipper in my collection and enjoyed
using it, but I also had the variation of that model, the 80th Anniversary
in wood (both light and dark Briar wood) which Sailor brought out as a
limited edition in 1991. It was this 80th Anniversary that I really wanted
as a CP pen for the following reasons:
1. It was not available as a production model, therefore something new
for our customers -- Just like CP3, CP5, CP6.
2. While the nib and section are the same size as the Clipper, the form
of the 80th Anniversary pen is much more substantial being longer and
wider.
3. It has a screw-on cap with a plastic liner, which makes better fit
on the barrel and the pen is more secure."
At the time, it proved to be impossible to obtain the 80th Anniversary model in sterling silver for use as the basis for a CP series pen, and Andy decided not to go ahead with the regular production Clipper as the basis for the upcoming CP4. Fast forward to 2002, when the time came to find a pen upon which to base the next in the series, Andy knew where he wanted to look:
"With the help of Dick Egolf, we were able to persuade Sailor Japan to offer us the 80th Anniversary in sterling silver for use as the basis for the CP7-- again, this model is not available in sterling silver as a standard production pen."
"The production of CP7 is a lot more costly than
the silver Clipper. In fact Sailor have to produce new machinery so that
they can produce the cap barrel and liners of the new model. Simply, I
had to be patient again for nine years and to demonstrate to Sailor what
we had done with CP4, CP5 and CP6 before this great manufacturer agreed
to put themselves out for us and for the benefit of both Sailor and Classic
Pens."
The
CP7 will be made using a specially designed variant of the Sailor Profit
model. Cap and barrel will be in sterling silver, with the trim in gold
plate as with the other CP series pens. We were able to get our hands
on the prototype pen for some advance photos, while it's not yet engraved,
it gives a pretty good idea of the size, weight, and feel of the final
pen.
This will be a variation of the current sterling silver Profit model, with a slightly longer barrel, and a screw on cap. The cap has a slightly wider diameter than the standard model, substantially changing the overall look of the pen. It's not much of a change in terms of actual size, but the perceived size of the pen is much different.
The prototype is sans the guilloche engraving for which the CP series is famous, the final designs for the two patterns have not been selected yet. The addition of the engraving should make for a very impressive final result.
The
CP7 will have a "nautical theme" the exact details of which
have not been released at this time. Production will be limited to 500
pieces total, in 250 sets of two engraving patterns. As with the past
CP series of pens, the engraving patterns will be developed by Classic
Pens and then executed on the sterling barrel and cap blanks by the French
company Murelli R S.A.R.L.
The CP7 will be available in seven standard nib sizes, from extra fine to broad, as well as the Zoom nib and Sailor Music nib. In addition, the Nagahara Emperor nibs can also be fitted to the pen, these will be available at an additional cost.
The current plans call for a launch date in September 2003, with a planned retail price of $995 per pen. Sailor Inc., will market 100 sets of CP7 in North America and some European countries. Classic Pens will market the remaining 150 sets to the private sector world-wide and through their designated distributors.
Mr. Dick Egolf, President and CEO of Sailor
Inc. and Andy Lambrou, President of Classic Pens structured the working
relationship and are both delighted with the opportunity to work together
and create the new CP7 series. It should be interesting to see what comes
along in September!