limited production :: hand crafted :: high performance :: rechargeable :: premium flashlights

This is my blog about creating a startup LED flashlight business. I'm a designer, fabricator, and strategist and I'm passionate about making ideas real. I believe that products are about people, that they should be built to last, deliver real value, and that we need to do a better job than we have in the recent past.

Most of my career has been contract or freelance work and I've crafted products and strategies for both big international companies and startups. I also used to work in the "industry" fabricating special effects for film and TV, along with the occasional hot rod. Bottom line, I love making things.

I'm starting this blog so you can follow along, from day one, and see what it's like to start a business, or fail in the process. Only time will tell, but I hope you find this interesting enough to stay tuned, comment, link, like, tweet, and (most importantly) participate in turning this idea into something tangible and valuable.

For a good place to get started with general info about who, what, why, etc., check out the "Stickies" on the left side of the page. Thanks for stopping by and please don't hesitate to ask questions and get involved!

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Sunday, July 29, 2012

Prometheus "Writes": Montblanc style

Okay, so I haven't been posting much because I've been busy coming up with more awesome. I've been wanting to do this project for years but just never got around to it. I've you've never used a Montblanc, it's writing nirvana. I mean the cartridge, not the pens themselves. Considering a Montblanc starts at about $350 and goes to well over a grand, most people have never used one. I bought a good friend a Montblanc when they graduated from law school and I took it for a test drive before handing it over. I was astonished and I've used nearly every pen on earth.
The Mont-Alpha ? 
The prototype in the photo is armed with the Montblanc "FineLiner" which refers not to a cosmetic product, but to a fiber-tip ink cartridge. It's kind of like a felt tip, but it's firm and doesn't wear down and get fat like felt pens. However, you can control the line weight like with a fountain pen, and it writes just as smooth and dries immediately. For you traditionalists they also make a liquid-ink ball point cartridge that is interchangeable. The FineLiner comes in blue and black, while the RollerBall comes in a host of colors.


A brass button head screw
This prototype is raw, un-plated aluminum with a "machined" finish. This is how it looks right off the lathe, no sanding or polishing or anything like that. I plan to offer a nickel plated (to match my lights) and (drum roll) a titanium version as well!



The cap screws on and uses the titanium clip that I make for the Peak Eiger flashlight, with a slightly shorter bend at the shoulder. Blue fluorosilicone o-rings provide a nice grip surface. Soft but positive. Since the photo was taken I've added a 5th ring closer to the tip of the pen. The "styling" is up in the air and just what ended up with after a frenzy of machining. The production version may (or may not) look similar. Whatever the case, it will be a full-size pen with a screw cap and accept either the Montblanc FineLiner or RollerBall refill. The refills cost about $7-$8 each.

Any interest? :)

15 comments:

  1. Yeah, I want one, maybe two, in both finishes!

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  2. Holy cow! Price? I would love this even more if you made one with classic rotring style hexagonal barrel/knurling or even if you added the "bamboo" looking machining to the cap as well.

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    1. This is a guess but I'm shooting for under $150 for the aluminum/nickel and under $200 for the titanium. It mainly depends on how many I can afford to have made...so tell all of your friends to comment here if they are interested :)

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  3. That's incredible. I'm a fan of pens and pencils, so to add this to my collection would be mandatory. :)

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  4. I would be in for one of your pens to match my light you made.

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  5. Ericb445@gmail.com
    I would get one

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  6. Your prototype is awesome!!! as most of your work, Jason.
    depending on the price, if not too high, I'll buy one

    aflashinthenight/Denis

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  7. I want one or two.

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  8. Jason, You know I want one to match my Alpha Ice! But is there going to be enough room on the cap for the little led and where will the trits be located?
    alex

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    Replies
    1. Ohh I hadn't thought of trits!

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    2. You know you want to do those trits, to add note of distinction to your special pen.I know of no other custom pen that has this feature. And what about an anodized clip as an option as well? After that you can turn it into a flashlight as a future model!
      alex

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  9. Damn that's a good looking pen! I'll get one in Ti and one in whatever else.

    Fine addition to my Alpha and Moleskine

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  10. Jason, You know I want one to match my Alpha Ice! But is there going to be enough room on the cap for the little led and where will the trits be located?
    alex

    ReplyDelete