Classic Pens LB5 King Profit Themes 2012
by Jim Mamoulides, June 25, 2012, Updated August 20, 2013
Themes Chosen: Prototypes to be revealed in July, 2012!
Creating a new Limited Edition pen line involves a lot of choices, not the least of which is the design and themes for the pen. Andreas Lambrou loved working with Sailor on two earlier pens and is excited to be able to use the Sailor flagship pen, the King Profit, as the basis for the new LB5. Once the pen has been chosen, one of the next steps is to select a theme, which leads to materials, colors, and of course, the names for the edition.
Two themes originally considered for the the Classic Pens LB5 were dragon (gold and blue color scheme) and phoenix (red color scheme). That is why two of the rendition designs shown below use these color schemes. Andreas Lambrou also had other themes under consideration, with the final view depending upon which color schemes proved the most appropriate.
The original renditions for the upcoming Classic Pens LB5 King Profit
With customized pens, Classic Pens traditionally created either one pen or a duet. For example, working in collaboration with Sailor in 2003, Classic pens created two customized models, the LB1 Nagahara fountain pen, using a special resin cap and barrel, and a duet of the sterling silver CP7 Ocean Pens, the Pacific and Atlantic.
In view of the company’s 25th Anniversary, Andreas Lambrou chose a Nature theme for LB5, and wanted the pen names and meanings to be associated with Japanese culture, since the King Profit is a Japanese pen and the LB5 will be married with a special edition of Fountain Pens of Japan. He suggested to Sailor a collection of five LB5 King Profit fountain pens, and with careful selection of diffusion bonded acrylic colors, he can achieve this. Sailor appreciates the Classic Pens philosophy, authorized this idea, and are in fact quite impressed with the work through which the LB5 King Profit has been customized.
The Italian acrylic selected for customization comprises many color finishes. They are rich in pearl and every color has some variation within. He felt these were the ideal acrylics for diffusion bonding. Six colors were selected. Carville, the rod manufacturer, shipped the rods to Sailor who produced two sets of six LB5 King Profit prototypes. Of these, five were selected to make the LB5 King Profit series. The edition was increased to 250 fountain pens, which will result in 50 quintets of the Nature pens.
Japanese Kanji characters representing each of the five themes of the upcoming Classic Pens LB5 King Profit
The themes chosen for the new LB5 are:
Kouseki (metal ore)
Metal ore makes the industry flourish. This creates work for people, it enhances human life. This is the gold color prototype.
Tairiku (continent)
Continents are active frontiers. In Japanese, Go-tairiku encompasses the American, African, Eurasian, Australian and Antarctic continents, these benefit humanity. This is the bronze brown color prototype.
Kaen (violent flames)
Violent flames denote human passion. Japanese people hold fire festivals to celebrate nature, which through thunder can cause forest fires with blazing flames. This is the red color prototype.
Tensui (raindrops)
Raindrops make the sea. Ancient Japanese tale describes the sea as the mother of all creatures. Fish come out from the deep sea, through evolution, they transform into new creatures with legs, and live on land and on forest trees. This is the blue color prototype.
Midorigi (new green tree)
New green trees are the next generation. They maintain the forest ecology and balance. In Japanese holy stories, midorigo means a newborn baby. This is the green color prototype.
Of the two sets of prototypes manufactured, a set for Europe is being shipped to Classic Pens on June 27, 2012. They will be photographed to create the Classic Pens special jacket for Fountain Pens of Japan. The other set will be sent to me in the USA for promotion, review, and website photography.
Resin rods chosen for the Classic Pens LB5 prototypes
I will announce the retail price of the LB5 King Profit and FPOJ duet, after July 4, 2012. Once I have received the USA prototype set, with the LB5 cap band engravings I will have created for the series, photos will be released for collectors to see.
Andreas Lambrou told me, "I am delighted and honored with the working relationship with Sailor, and very pleased that for the first time, with its LB5 King Profit series, Classic Pens has customized a full collection of fountain pens, based on one of the greatest and most efficient pen models of our time."
“Carlos Kaplan and I will attend both the Miami pen show on July 20-22, 2012 and the Washington DC pen show August 9-12, 2012. We will have copies of FPOJ and will exhibit the five LB5 King Profit prototypes which will make the series.”
Retail price:
Classic Pens has commissioned a special edition of Fountain Pens of Japan, exclusively for its Lambrou Brown LB5 25th Anniversary Shizen (Nature) Pen series, based on the Sailor King Profit pen model. This edition is slated to be released late in 2013 for a retail price of $350. The Classic Pens Special Edition of the book is limited to 250 copies worldwide, hand numbered by Andreas Lambrou.
The LB5 series comprises five distinct Nature pens, each limited to 50 customized King Profit fountain pens worldwide. Classic Pens will set the Retail price of the pen, once the diffusion bonded acrylic costs are finalized from Carville. Considering the cost of previous diffusion bonded acrylics used for other pens, such as the LM1 Flame Red and the space blue used on the LB3 Jupiter, it appears the retail price of the pen with a standard Sailor nib will be US $1,500. The LB5 with the Sailor Nagahara Cross Point nib will retail for $1,850.
I am really excited to be so close to seeing the actual prototypes and will keep you all posted!
Acknowledgement
All images used in this article are © Copyright 2012 Classic Pens.
Read more about Fountain Pens of Japan by clicking this link
Read more about the Classic Pens LB1 Nagahara at this link
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