Dimensions 尺寸資料
Capped 含蓋：11.8 cm
Uncapped 不含蓋：10.0 cm
Posted 套蓋：14.7 cm
Weight 重量資料
Capped 含蓋：10.7 g
Uncapped 不含蓋：6.4 g
以前我只關注日本三大筆廠的短鋼，直至上次介紹完台灣品牌S.K.B.的RS-301N黃銅短鋼，才發現其實台灣也有不少優秀筆廠製造過短鋼。現在就來介紹一枝我之前意外入手的S.K.B.老短鋼筆吧！
I used to be focused Japanese pen manufactures like Pilot, Platinum and Sailor. But after introducing the RS-301N brass pocket pen of Taiwanese brand S.K.B., I discovered that there are lots of good pen manufactures in Taiwan who did produced pocket pen. Today, let’s talk about a vintage S.K.B. pocket fountain pen with gold-plated barrel and green stripe.
有關1960至1970年代台灣三大鋼筆廠S.K.B.的歷史介紹，請參閱之前的文章：重拾經典的溫度——SKB文明鋼筆 RS-301N(Kano) 黃銅短鋼筆 鼠團200K+特別版
Click HERE to check the history of S.K.B., one of the biggest Taiwanese fountain pen manufacturers in 1960s to 1970s.
設計導賞 The Design
由於S.K.B.老鋼筆的資料極少，我暫時未找到這枝短鋼的型號資料。從外觀設計風格推測，應該屬於1970年代的產品。
I couldn’t confirm the model of this S.K.B. pocket pen, because I could barely find any information about the vintage S.K.B. fountain pen. I speculate that it belongs to 1970s.
這枝筆的做工相當精美。金屬筆桿的拋光打磨處理得無可排剔。筆身上的湖水綠色條紋噴塗得十分均勻細緻，沒有越界或缺色，即使歷經年月，除了小面積稍微掉色，其他都保持完好。筆夾上還有精細的「SKB」字樣雕刻。質素高，而且設計時尚，讓我在購買時一度誤認這枝筆是日本某間一線筆廠的出品。
The quality of the pen is excellent. The metal pen barrel and cap were well-polished. The green stripes on the pen body were sprayed evenly and meticulously. A word “SKB” is engraved on the clip. It is high-quality and fashion, make me feel like it is a product from top-class Japanese pen company.
根據創辦人盧榮火的說法，S.K.B.當時是從日本引入生產技術。不過由於大廠商都受到約束，無法順利入台，所以S.K.B.大多只能依靠普通小工廠的技術人員私下來台傳授。在那個資訊不甚流通的年代，要造出如此高品質的鋼筆，所需花費的心力可想而知。
According to the founder Lu Rong Huo, S.K.B. had imported manufacturing techniques from Japan. At that time, however, main pen manufacturers in Japan were restricted and not able to enter Taiwan. S.K.B could only rely on technicians from small Japanese factories. We could imagine how much time and effort S.K.B. put in order to produce fountain pen.
筆尖 The Nib
另一個值得留意的地方是筆尖。本筆裝配鍍金不鏽鋼筆尖，我推測同樣是S.K.B.自家的出品。尖上有「SKB」商標與「W.M.H」的刻字，「W.M.H」應為品牌的中文名稱「文明行」的拼音縮寫。由於沒有入墨書寫，不清楚寫感如何。
The pen nib is another thing worth paying attention to. The pen comes with a gold-plated steel nib, which should be produced by S.K.B. itself. The trademark of S.K.B. and the word “W.M.H”, which should be the acronym of the Chinese name of the brand “Wen Ming Hang”, are engraved on the nib.
S.K.B.曾經是台灣極少數有能力自製鋼筆筆尖的筆廠，甚至研製過14K以至18K金筆尖。不過可惜的是，隨著1970年代後逐漸轉型至原子筆市場，停止生產鋼筆，S.K.B.的技術已經失傳。
S.K.B. was one of the few pen manufacturers in Taiwan capable to produce fountain pen nibs. They even developed techniques for producing 14K and 18K gold nib. But, sadly, S.K.B. turned their attention to ballpoint pen and stopped producing fountain pen after 1970s. Those pen nib manufacturing techniques have been lost.
S.K.B.如今新推出的鋼筆款大多都裝配德國進口的筆尖，考慮到書寫用具市場持續萎縮，而且要培訓技師所需的資金和時間巨大，想再看到台灣製造的筆尖，恐怕是相當困難了⋯⋯
S.K.B.’s new fountain pen models are all equipped with German-made nibs. Considering that the market of writing instrument continues to shrink, and the money and time required fortraining technicians is huge, I am afraid that it is impossible to see Taiwanese-made pen nib again……
S.K.B.與白金的謎團 The Mystery of S.K.B. and Platinum
拍攝筆尖期間，我意外發現一個驚人的細節：這枝S.K.B.短鋼所裝配的筆尖竟然跟日本白金牌短鋼使用的4號尖極其相似！
When I was shooting the picture of the nib, I discovered a shocking detail: the nib of this S.K.B. pocket pen is very similar to the No.4 size nib used by Platinum pocket pen!
除了S.K.B.筆尖的氣孔較為貼近握位，其餘地方包括尺寸大小、筆尖外型、筆舌設計等，兩款筆尖都幾乎一模一樣。
Except the breather hole of the S.K.B. nib is closer to the grip than that of the Platinum’s, the size, the shape of the nib and the design of the feed are identical.
Comparing the nib of S.K.B. pocket pen with the No.4 size pen nib of Platinum PK-23-2000, we could see that they are almost the same. It’s a pity that I don’t have the tools in my hand for disassembling the nibs.
翻查資料，白金在1970年與台資合作，成立白金鋼筆股份有限公司，並於1974年正式設立台灣工廠，在台灣生產鋼筆。當時台方有選派人員赴日研習，白金也有派員來台指導，交流開發、設計和生產技術。
After checking information, I found out that Platinum cooperated with Taiwanese company in 1970 to establish the Platinum Fountain Pen Co., Ltd. in Taiwan and established a factory in 1974 to produce fountain pens in Taiwan. A number of Taiwanese were selected and went to Japan to study. Platinum also sent technicians to Taiwan to guide the development and production.
會否有可能是S.K.B.當時藉白金來台設廠的機會，學習對方製筆經驗，從而開發出這款短鋼？又或者是S.K.B.委託台灣白金工廠代工生產筆尖、以至整枝短鋼？一切都要留待獲得進一步史料後方能解答。
Is it possible that S.K.B. took the opportunity of Platinum setting factory in Taiwan and learnt its pen manufacturing experience, then created this pocket pen? Or is that S.K.B. commissioned the Platinum factory in Taiwan to produce nibs and even pocket pen? We still need more evidence to make the conclusion.
結語 Conclusion
總括而言，這是一枝充滿驚喜的S.K.B.老筆，不論做工、設計和筆尖皆令人稱妙，能夠入手，實在幸運。而且我在撰文過程中翻閱了不少台灣文具業的史料，實在大開眼界。台灣其實也有許多好筆。希望將來有機會入手更多台灣筆廠的短鋼吧！
All in all, this is a wonderful vintage S.K.B. pocket pen. No matter the quality, design or nib is amazing. I am so glad to have it. In addition, I learned a lot of history about Taiwan’s stationery industry when writing this article. It has opened my world to not only Japanese pocket pen but also Taiwanese’s. I wish I could collect more Taiwanese pocket pen in the future!
余維達 Jerry Yu
2021.03.14
最後的最後，早前搜集資料時發現這個網站：「台灣文具史——專訪篇」
裡面有許多台灣文具工作者的訪談，補充了不少相關史料（可惜訪談都有點短）。有興趣的筆友可以看看。
References:
- 王文卿、陳朝樑、常君毅、鄭智元、錢文照：〈盧榮火先生訪談錄（文明鋼筆）〉，《台灣文具史（人物專訪篇）》，Retried: http://www.tasi.org/history/history_01/pdf/chapter_21.pdf
- 王文卿、陳朝樑、常君毅、鄭智元、錢文照：〈蔡春金先生訪談錄〉，《台灣文具史（人物專訪篇）》，Retried: http://www.tasi.org/history/history_01/pdf/chapter_24.pdf
短鋼編年史 Pocket Pen Chronicle 