By putting an ink window and replacing the diaphragm with a proper plunger (as well as replacing the plastic push button with a metal one) wing sung greatly improved the usability of the parker 51 vacumatic design, and really redefined what it means to be a "clone." Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this pen. I really loved mine, even more so since I had the opportunity to use the original 51 myself. I plan on getting the "flighter" version next.
I think the burping/leaking issue some people have is ink trapped in the hooded part - the trick is to remove the pen from the ink while still holding the button down - then when you release the button it sucks up the ink trapped under the hood.
Wingsung launched brand new limited edition of Wingsung 601, with 14K gold nib and silver cap(92.5%), only 601 pens was produced. I don‘t know if there is any left, but I got one, it's pretty nice. It costs rmb368, nearly 53 us dollar with free shipment to China.
Wing Sung has done a great job with the basic Parker 51 shape. They have made some quality pens with some unique filling mechanisms. I had hoped to get a vacuumatic demonstrator. Failing that, I like my black one. I also really like their draw filler version which actually has a lot if advantages over the vacuumatic. Mostly, I think they have really improved on the original. The original Parker may still hold a slight edge in nib and overall quality.
Josh, this was an excellent review. I concur with all your observations except I found no problem with leaking. This is a truly remarkable little pen. I worked on the nib and now it writes like butter a real jewel!
I have two, they're both absolutely spectacular vacumatic fillers. And boy do they write so well. I don't love hooded nibs either, but I have a lamy 2000 and a vintage american pencil co. Venus. And this thing writes so nicely.
I have one of these but have not inked it up yet. I do, however, also have a 618 -the piston one in transparent blue. The nib is a nail, it’s a bit dry, but first time every time, even if I leave it for weeks. Super reliable, comfy in the hand, looks great. The clip wobbles. Looks stunning.
I agree it is an excellent pen. I have had two that leaked at the hood and one that did not. I discovered that it is a problem with whatever they use to seal it. Once I heated the hood to loosen the sealant removed the old seal and and sealed with a silicone sealant used for bathrooms. Now it doesn’t leak. The nib is significantly finer than a hero 616 but very very smooth. Also consider the wing sung 613 if you want a converter pen
I have this one also and it’s a true winner. It always writes, easy to fill, writes pretty smooth with a nice fine line. It’s definitely worth the $$. Good review and I completely agree!
I have a couple of these as well as a 601A. That one is interesting. It isn't hooded; it has what I think is best described as a tubular nib. I seem to remember reading that it is a nod towards Sheaffer but I don't own or have experience of many Sheaffers. The 601A has the same filling mechanism, originally using a diaphragm but I believe replaced in new models with a proper piston. The pen disassembles well if you get a fairly cheap tool to unscrew the plunger assembly. Apparently the diaphragm version collects ink in the diaphragm area itself, whereas the piston version doesn't seem to do this. For a solid-colour model it's probably a non issue but with the demonstrators it could get annoying quickly. Edit: having just watched your WS 233 review, this tubular nib on my 601A appears to be similar, with Chinese characters and "Made in China", but it is steel coloured rather than "gold". There are no leaks that I've found and it is fairly smooth even on cheap paper.
Even the original Parker "51" filling instructions say to remove the hood from the ink before releasing the plunger for the final time. If you don't do that, the collector will be completely flooded.
JPL welcome back. I have heard that the Wing Sung 601 is a descent pen due to the points you have made. I must admit that i do like the filling mechanism and the ink window on the pen. I think i will get one to see what they are like. I would just like to ask how is your Mont Blanc performing with the new nib. And as always thank very much for another excellent review.
I have the Wing Sung 601 and it's really good. I also have the Jinhao 601 which no one reviews. Perhaps you could do one. Good to see you back on the air.
I had a jinhao 601, it was one of the first fountain pens I bought from china, it had the old jinaho nib which was very springy and it railroaded like crazy. It is the only fountain pen that I have lost, hence why I have never reviewed it.
The problems I had with the 698 compared to cheaper versions of the same model were that the 698 nib was reliable but boring, too round, and that the body was too smooth and slippery. Seems like the same here based on your review. I am sticking with the lighter hero models for now.
I was wondering what paper you used in th writing sample . I saw no feathering and was wondering if its rhodia or a cheap paper. I just ordered 2 of these to use on the awful cheap copy paper at work. I'm hoping they won't feather. I love your reviews . Keep it up.
Possibly but I don't think so, this cap doesn't really create a vacuum. The pilot prera has a tight seal on its cap and that pen really suffers from leaking.
I actually write at a shallower angle with any fountain pen than most people. Depending on the pen my writing angle varies between around 20 and 38 degrees.
Chinese pens are all the same--scratchy or too wet. Occasionally you get a decent JinHao but they skip and dry out when not used for a few days. Cross with slightly bent nib is the best. Now China is making bent nib pens which are probably okay--it allows more ink to remain in nib to prevent shipping and other issues--or just get a cheap Cross and close cap tight--if you don't close cap it will dry out. Beautiful smooth, thick line in medium point.
Sorry for the wait, a little truck you could to is to saturate the feed with ink, a quick, but not permanent fix. Just press the plunger and saturate the feed. I believe you can also shim the slit in the nib to make it slightly wider. I believe SBREBrown has a guide on that.
I like the Jinhao 601. A better Parker Sonnet influenced pen than the Baoer 388. The nib is much better. The Jinhao 601 is my everyday desk pen now. The Baoer 388 is a better writer now since I put a Bock 1.1 nib on it. Still had issues with the converter so I have put a Schmidt in it. The Jinhao 601 has a great non hooded smooth nib with no feed or flow issues. I have it in deep blue and its lovely to look at.
Funnily enough the Jinhao 601 was one of the first Jinhao pens that I ever bought, and to this day is the only fountain pen which I have lost. I was never a great fan of the nib, it got full of gunk and stuff, and used the old jinhao number 5 nib which wasn't amazing. I wonder if they have changed the nib since I got mine. The one I had used to flex like crazy but had serious issues with railroading.
Hey there! Just want to ask how does 601 compared to 613? Worth the extra cost? How bad is the leaking of 601? I'm working in china until September so this is my perfect chance to pick it up so please help me decide! I know 698 is probably better but that "lucky" on the clip is a dealbreaker for me... I've been using my lamy for some years but I kinda want to try something else, particularly something from wing sung!
I have not used the 613, but I love the 601. The leaking is only occasional, and only if I don't store the pen nib side up. I use it all the time so it certainly doesn't make me like it any less. If you get the 601 don't overfill it and store it with the nib up. Also sorry for the late reply
@@jpl2475 Thanks for your reply. I'm looking for a permanent black ink, it's kind of a must-have in my field of work. I've had a terrible experience with Noodler's Black, the stuff literally smears for days. Do you have any suggestions?
wow, I have never had an issue with noodlers black, I swear by this stuff. Unfortunately I am not an ink guy so I am not sure what other inks there are.
@@robp.7769 i dont have a problem with Noodler's Heart of Darkness smearing EXCEPT on very slick surfaces like some postcards. I think that's because the HoD is made to bond with cellulose fibers and it can't find them with a super slick surface. I love the saturation of the ink as well as the bulletproof qualities.
I restored a 51 in Nassau green I found in my Dad's old pen basket, along with a Duofold. They both have personality, but the 51 is kind of boring, apart from the color. That said, it's still in my EDC rotation for nostalgia's sake.
@JPL hey man, always great to see your videos.. Go for a wing sung 618. It's a modern take on parker 51. You would be already knowing about it. But the 618 is a better performer than the 601. The vaccum filler isn't just that dependable as compared to the piston filling on 601 even though they may have updated it as a vaccum piston filler.
Hiya Handsome...thanks for posting this one and I'm going to be getting one maybe two of these. I do have a Parker 51 with a stub nib about 1.1mm wide and when I have the WingSung I'm going to show them on my Instagram feed. Now bearing in mind your Uni work has priority... Have you thought of a dedicated email for this channel which is more personal than on you tube ? ? ? Just a thought. I'm not good enough to do videos like you so I've started an Instagram for my pens et al,,, so maybe see you from there ? Sorry, I digress. Another commentator said the ink in the cap is caused by vacuum when pulling the pop off and I completely agree and would venture to say THAT is the cause. Solution... Don't know??? but it needs a breather hole in the cap to stop the vacuum. Ok thanks Josh and I'm wanting to see a moon man if you have any links to buy one please let me know. Best wishes as always to all pen people. LeZc @@
Nothing worse than a burping or leaking fountain pen. The vintage 51s never did. The burpers were the 21s and the parkettes. ..the steel nibbers . I was born in the 55 so the pen I got for my 10th birthday was a green 45 arrow. The 51 was for bigger kids and grown ups. What happened was as we baby boomers got to uni age. The ballpoint or bic biro had arrived. Good to see fountain pen interest being restored. Jk
By putting an ink window and replacing the diaphragm with a proper plunger (as well as replacing the plastic push button with a metal one) wing sung greatly improved the usability of the parker 51 vacumatic design, and really redefined what it means to be a "clone."
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this pen. I really loved mine, even more so since I had the opportunity to use the original 51 myself. I plan on getting the "flighter" version next.
I think the burping/leaking issue some people have is ink trapped in the hooded part - the trick is to remove the pen from the ink while still holding the button down - then when you release the button it sucks up the ink trapped under the hood.
You could be correct, ill try this method from now on, cheers.
@@jpl2475 He's right.The manufacturer also suggests to do the thing like this.
Wingsung launched brand new limited edition of Wingsung 601, with 14K gold nib and silver cap(92.5%), only 601 pens was produced. I don‘t know if there is any left, but I got one, it's pretty nice. It costs rmb368, nearly 53 us dollar with free shipment to China.
Wing Sung has done a great job with the basic Parker 51 shape. They have made some quality pens with some unique filling mechanisms. I had hoped to get a vacuumatic demonstrator. Failing that, I like my black one. I also really like their draw filler version which actually has a lot if advantages over the vacuumatic. Mostly, I think they have really improved on the original. The original Parker may still hold a slight edge in nib and overall quality.
Josh, this was an excellent review. I concur with all your observations except I found no problem with leaking. This is a truly remarkable little pen. I worked on the nib and now it writes like butter a real jewel!
Cool, this must mean that the leaking issue isn't a problem with the vast majority of wing sung 601 pens then
I have two, they're both absolutely spectacular vacumatic fillers. And boy do they write so well. I don't love hooded nibs either, but I have a lamy 2000 and a vintage american pencil co. Venus. And this thing writes so nicely.
I have one of these but have not inked it up yet. I do, however, also have a 618 -the piston one in transparent blue. The nib is a nail, it’s a bit dry, but first time every time, even if I leave it for weeks. Super reliable, comfy in the hand, looks great. The clip wobbles. Looks stunning.
Welcome back. Love the close up shots. This pen has been on my eBay watch list for a while.
Chers, its much easier now that I have a proper macro lense (Canon EF-S 35mm f/2.8 macro)
I agree it is an excellent pen.
I have had two that leaked at the hood and one that did not. I discovered that it is a problem with whatever they use to seal it. Once I heated the hood to loosen the sealant removed the old seal and and sealed with a silicone sealant used for bathrooms. Now it doesn’t leak.
The nib is significantly finer than a hero 616 but very very smooth.
Also consider the wing sung 613 if you want a converter pen
I have this one also and it’s a true winner. It always writes, easy to fill, writes pretty smooth with a nice fine line. It’s definitely worth the $$. Good review and I completely agree!
Did your 601 ever leak?
No, both of mine have given me no problem at all. If your's leaks, I'd write to who you ordered it from and get a replacement. Good luck!
I don't have one, just asking if that's a common issue
Oh, got it. It has not been with mine. They have no hard start issues either.
I have a couple of these as well as a 601A. That one is interesting. It isn't hooded; it has what I think is best described as a tubular nib. I seem to remember reading that it is a nod towards Sheaffer but I don't own or have experience of many Sheaffers. The 601A has the same filling mechanism, originally using a diaphragm but I believe replaced in new models with a proper piston. The pen disassembles well if you get a fairly cheap tool to unscrew the plunger assembly. Apparently the diaphragm version collects ink in the diaphragm area itself, whereas the piston version doesn't seem to do this. For a solid-colour model it's probably a non issue but with the demonstrators it could get annoying quickly. Edit: having just watched your WS 233 review, this tubular nib on my 601A appears to be similar, with Chinese characters and "Made in China", but it is steel coloured rather than "gold". There are no leaks that I've found and it is fairly smooth even on cheap paper.
Even the original Parker "51" filling instructions say to remove the hood from the ink before releasing the plunger for the final time. If you don't do that, the collector will be completely flooded.
I love this pen. I remember that Parker said at some point that it would cost $200 to make it today. Wing Sung made it better for $10.
wow, for a pen that is made in China, I wouldn't pay $200, even if it had the parker logo on it.
$45 for one with a 12K nib...
JPL welcome back. I have heard that the Wing Sung 601 is a descent pen due to the points you have made. I must admit that i do like the filling mechanism and the ink window on the pen. I think i will get one to see what they are like. I would just like to ask how is your Mont Blanc performing with the new nib. And as always thank very much for another excellent review.
I have the Wing Sung 601 and it's really good. I also have the Jinhao 601 which no one reviews. Perhaps you could do one.
Good to see you back on the air.
how is the jinhao 601?
I'd also like to know
I had a jinhao 601, it was one of the first fountain pens I bought from china, it had the old jinaho nib which was very springy and it railroaded like crazy. It is the only fountain pen that I have lost, hence why I have never reviewed it.
Is the nib swappable?
That feeling you describe seems to happen with cheap tipping I think, Micromesh doesn't fix it
The problems I had with the 698 compared to cheaper versions of the same model were that the 698 nib was reliable but boring, too round, and that the body was too smooth and slippery. Seems like the same here based on your review. I am sticking with the lighter hero models for now.
Nice review
I like fountain pens and turtles! What's your favourite animal?
my Labrador :)
@jpl also, how's the writing experience when compared to a jinhao 911?
Since both have same hooded nib unit. Only the filling mechanism is different.
I was wondering what paper you used in th writing sample . I saw no feathering and was wondering if its rhodia or a cheap paper. I just ordered 2 of these to use on the awful cheap copy paper at work. I'm hoping they won't feather. I love your reviews . Keep it up.
Mine also deposits ink onto the section when decapping. Perhaps the cap draws a vacuum?
Possibly but I don't think so, this cap doesn't really create a vacuum. The pilot prera has a tight seal on its cap and that pen really suffers from leaking.
I actually write at a shallower angle with any fountain pen than most people. Depending on the pen my writing angle varies between around 20 and 38 degrees.
Chinese pens are all the same--scratchy or too wet. Occasionally you get a decent JinHao but they skip and dry out when not used for a few days. Cross with slightly bent nib is the best. Now China is making bent nib pens which are probably okay--it allows more ink to remain in nib to prevent shipping and other issues--or just get a cheap Cross and close cap tight--if you don't close cap it will dry out. Beautiful smooth, thick line in medium point.
Hi. How ingrease the Ink flow? When I writing I have to do a excessive press between pen and paper. My Hero 616 has a better Ink flow. Thanks.
Sorry for the wait, a little truck you could to is to saturate the feed with ink, a quick, but not permanent fix. Just press the plunger and saturate the feed. I believe you can also shim the slit in the nib to make it slightly wider. I believe SBREBrown has a guide on that.
I like the Jinhao 601.
A better Parker Sonnet influenced pen than the Baoer 388.
The nib is much better.
The Jinhao 601 is my everyday desk pen now.
The Baoer 388 is a better writer now since I put a Bock 1.1 nib on it. Still had issues with the converter so I have put a Schmidt in it.
The Jinhao 601 has a great non hooded smooth nib with no feed or flow issues. I have it in deep blue and its lovely to look at.
Funnily enough the Jinhao 601 was one of the first Jinhao pens that I ever bought, and to this day is the only fountain pen which I have lost. I was never a great fan of the nib, it got full of gunk and stuff, and used the old jinhao number 5 nib which wasn't amazing. I wonder if they have changed the nib since I got mine. The one I had used to flex like crazy but had serious issues with railroading.
Hey there!
Just want to ask how does 601 compared to 613? Worth the extra cost?
How bad is the leaking of 601?
I'm working in china until September so this is my perfect chance to pick it up so please help me decide! I know 698 is probably better but that "lucky" on the clip is a dealbreaker for me...
I've been using my lamy for some years but I kinda want to try something else, particularly something from wing sung!
I have not used the 613, but I love the 601. The leaking is only occasional, and only if I don't store the pen nib side up. I use it all the time so it certainly doesn't make me like it any less. If you get the 601 don't overfill it and store it with the nib up. Also sorry for the late reply
Please review Moonman M2
I have then pen, the review is coming :)
Can't wait :)
I'm curious how difficult this pen is to flush (e.g. when changing colours)?
It is not difficult at all to flush, it just take a little bit of time to flush it
Mine develops a drop of ink at the feed several hours after I fill it. I wipe it off and afterward it is just fine.
That's fair enough, but for me, when I'm in a uni lecture its a bit akward
That's because you are filling it The wrong way: vacumatics won't do that if you release The plunger AFTER you are done sucking ink in
Does Montblanc Permanent Black take a long time to dry?
I would say that it takes slightly longer than average than most inks
@@jpl2475 Thanks for your reply. I'm looking for a permanent black ink, it's kind of a must-have in my field of work. I've had a terrible experience with Noodler's Black, the stuff literally smears for days. Do you have any suggestions?
wow, I have never had an issue with noodlers black, I swear by this stuff. Unfortunately I am not an ink guy so I am not sure what other inks there are.
@@robp.7769 i dont have a problem with Noodler's Heart of Darkness smearing EXCEPT on very slick surfaces like some postcards. I think that's because the HoD is made to bond with cellulose fibers and it can't find them with a super slick surface. I love the saturation of the ink as well as the bulletproof qualities.
Thank you so much. I need to feed off of these videos while mine is still in shipment.
I restored a 51 in Nassau green I found in my Dad's old pen basket, along with a Duofold. They both have personality, but the 51 is kind of boring, apart from the color. That said, it's still in my EDC rotation for nostalgia's sake.
@JPL hey man, always great to see your videos..
Go for a wing sung 618.
It's a modern take on parker 51.
You would be already knowing about it.
But the 618 is a better performer than the 601.
The vaccum filler isn't just that dependable as compared to the piston filling on 601 even though they may have updated it as a vaccum piston filler.
Anant Kumar I think of 618 as a modern take on Parker 61.
Tiny demonstrator looks so cute
Hashtag Me too. I was writing with... then I had ink everywhere. It did write however.
I can lone you a Parker 51 for a review.
If the pen manufacturers don't pay you royalties, they should. Now I'm on ebay watching the 601 and 698...
Cheers, but they don't. Great pens though.
It's not a Parker 51, but if you can't afford one, buy the Wing Sung.
Hiya Handsome...thanks for posting this one and I'm going to be getting one maybe two of these. I do have a Parker 51 with a stub nib about 1.1mm wide and when I have the WingSung I'm going to show them on my Instagram feed.
Now bearing in mind your Uni work has priority... Have you thought of a dedicated email for this channel which is more personal than on you tube ? ? ? Just a thought.
I'm not good enough to do videos like you so I've started an Instagram for my pens et al,,, so maybe see you from there ?
Sorry, I digress. Another commentator said the ink in the cap is caused by vacuum when pulling the pop off and I completely agree and would venture to say THAT is the cause. Solution... Don't know??? but it needs a breather hole in the cap to stop the vacuum.
Ok thanks Josh and I'm wanting to see a moon man if you have any links to buy one please let me know.
Best wishes as always to all pen people.
LeZc
@@
Nothing worse than a burping or leaking fountain pen. The vintage 51s never did. The burpers were the 21s and the parkettes. ..the steel nibbers . I was born in the 55 so the pen I got for my 10th birthday was a green 45 arrow. The 51 was for bigger kids and grown ups. What happened was as we baby boomers got to uni age. The ballpoint or bic biro had arrived. Good to see fountain pen interest being restored. Jk
There are a lot of Parker 51 imitations from China that you can buy in 10 items pack for 15$ and they are very decent fountain pens.
Nice review but to long.