Phil so many manufacturers in Taiwan have two bob each way with manufacturing plants in both places PRC and Taiwan who after all are brothers in the skin ie the manufacturing skin. I followed for so many years the visits of my friend David from Timberbits where he made his ever so many trips to both countries in fact the largest maker had him provide finished product / pictures of his releases, David pioneered his own market in kits he designed the art work for and obtained exclusivity. I was a very early direct purchaser from China at Ritz Heng. David has a huge advantage over most of us he speaks the language fluently understands the ideom, he pioneered videos of his simplicity in making sharing his knowledge a practice now followed in the USA.
This is not a diatribe against people like you no need for comparisons between suppliers though it seems a favourite game from time to time. Early days I used to pay a premium for my kits choosing branch plating over dip or rolled plating, yes I was never there to visually check or prove the difference. I was on the internet earlier and a guy gave directions to his Pen site where his average price for cheap pen kits finished was 167.00 US.
EArly days I bought round a thousand brass pieces for Slimlines large numbers of winders, clips and component parts enabling me to make or part make numbers of pens at any one time I used to drill mount up to 150 doubles of blanks at a time. Never has making pens been a living rather I chose in the last nearly twenty years to live within my Pensioner means. I spoke to David yrs ago about using Streamline centre bands he bought on the spot 1500 of each plating and this started a trend to give modified or more choice with Slimlines.
Whenever I reply or comment on your use of and reciprocal benefits on this forum I applaud your choices of upgrade refills, introduction of kits, alternate nibs, many products in cooperation with your friend and mine Dan using mutual respect.
Market research, showing new kits, stocking them receives the full backing of the forum as it should.
I love discussions on kits etc Eamonn gave it a go as well love his trying to inform and educate us.
Take care and prosper mate.
Peter.
