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CAAR
75
Aug 22, 2017
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RkiteFisher refills are some of the longest lasting (only the modern Caran d'Ache Goliaths seem to come close in my experience). Supposedly, the pen is loaded up with enough ink to last a normal user's entire life, and if it doesn't they will refill it for free. As a value proposition, it is questionable, unless you really, really love Fisher M sized refills and spend a lot of your pen budget on them, because you just keep writing them down, you are not likely to ever save money with them refilling it for free (not to mention you have to ship it to them to do it). Otherwise, it is our community's classic question of "is it neat enough/nice looking enough/speaks to me enough/etc." to justify buying over a similar, cheaper item (in this case one of the fancier normal Fisher Bullet pens or other similar pocket pens). I like Fisher's a lot but they are not my irrational collection preference (see the Caran d'Ache comment above, Parker Jotters, or my far too many Lamy Al-Safari's, etc.).
okester
117
Aug 22, 2017
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RkiteSo, I've had a Millennium since '98, and received two replacements since then. See, I liked the pen, but thought it was a good candidate for pen spinning. One time, it dropped on its tip, and that made a nice pressurized ink mess. Got a free replacement (minus shipping of the old pen) in 2002. Took better care of that one, but still, it got some dings/dents in it. IIRC, because I knew it had a lot of ink, I used it a bunch to the point where it actually ran dry of ink, so around Christmas of '09, I sent it in for another replacement. Haven't had any issues with this one and have attempted to take better care of it. It was kinda funny to get a new 2010 (or, Millennium) space pen right after the new year.
The Infinium's mostly just an updated/upgraded version with a different name, and with a medium instead of bold point, which is supposed to write better (w/ no oozing, which happens sometimes with the bold). The Millennium was supposed to last easily until 2000 (and when I got mine, it was called the Magnum Bullet Space Pen by the retailer I got it from). Then the 2010 was supposed to last well after 2010. Next, the Mars was supposed to last until humans got to Mars. And so now, the Infinium is just supposed to convey the idea that it'll last a good long while, I suppose. In one email, as a reply from folks at Fisher, I seem to remember the fact that, when compared with "regular" refills (though I'm not sure of the specifics - were ones from a Bic Cristal included in the comparison?), the ink reservoir of the Millennium/Infinium would last the average writer 80 times longer, or around 50 years. So if a person could hold onto the pen long enough, it would last almost a lifetime, and if needed, it could be replaced, no questions asked.
Well I think it's a pretty dependable pen, 'cuz it always writes (referring to the Millennium, though the Infinium should be the same).
Just sharin' my pair o' Zinc Linc's, which won't even get ya an ounce of unleaded gasoline... :p
Oh, and related to your query, here's some o' the deets about the Millennium, from an email from a great guy back in '98 - he used to be vp of Fisher way back when and branched out on his own for a spell, and it's neat to correspond with him and gain insights about the Fisher products. Just sharin' as a way to pass on stuff folks might not know and maybe stuff ya might find interesting - I figure most of the info applies to the Infinium as well. :D
"Here's the skinny on the Millennium:
The Millennium is technologically, the most advanced writing instrument ever accomplished. It is the first and only writing instrument of its kind that does not accept a refill. The entire back barrel chamber is filled with ink and pressurized to approximately 45psi with Nitrogen. The physical ball used on the point is made to tolerances approaching 3millionths of an inch. The housing where the ball sits is made to 2/10,000th of an inch. The R&D cost in developing the ball point alone approaches $150,000. These ball-point tolerances are critical in maintaining the smooth delivery of thixotropic (visco-elastic) ink. The ink is the viscosity of chewing gum and activated by the friction caused by the ball point coming into contact with a stationary surface. This friction or heat shears the chain-polymers of the ink which allows the ink to flow.
Most space pen ink cartridges employ this type of process, with the Millennium being the most state-of-the-art. In linear write-out testing, the Millennium has successfully performed to 60, 53 and 37 miles. We quote the least distance of 37 miles, yet if for any reason your Millennium fails to perform to your satisfaction, a new one will be sent to you free. All Fisher Space Pens have an unconditional lifetime guarantee. This guarantee even covers accidents like running over your pen with a delivery truck filled with 2 tons of cookies, which actually happened when I was VP of Fisher. I still have the man's crushed Millennium which still writes!"
The Infinium's mostly just an updated/upgraded version with a different name, and with a medium instead of bold point, which is supposed to write better (w/ no oozing, which happens sometimes with the bold). The Millennium was supposed to last easily until 2000 (and when I got mine, it was called the Magnum Bullet Space Pen by the retailer I got it from). Then the 2010 was supposed to last well after 2010. Next, the Mars was supposed to last until humans got to Mars. And so now, the Infinium is just supposed to convey the idea that it'll last a good long while, I suppose. In one email, as a reply from folks at Fisher, I seem to remember the fact that, when compared with "regular" refills (though I'm not sure of the specifics - were ones from a Bic Cristal included in the comparison?), the ink reservoir of the Millennium/Infinium would last the average writer 80 times longer, or around 50 years. So if a person could hold onto the pen long enough, it would last almost a lifetime, and if needed, it could be replaced, no questions asked.
Well I think it's a pretty dependable pen, 'cuz it always writes (referring to the Millennium, though the Infinium should be the same).
Just sharin' my pair o' Zinc Linc's, which won't even get ya an ounce of unleaded gasoline... :p
Oh, and related to your query, here's some o' the deets about the Millennium, from an email from a great guy back in '98 - he used to be vp of Fisher way back when and branched out on his own for a spell, and it's neat to correspond with him and gain insights about the Fisher products. Just sharin' as a way to pass on stuff folks might not know and maybe stuff ya might find interesting - I figure most of the info applies to the Infinium as well. :D
"Here's the skinny on the Millennium:
The Millennium is technologically, the most advanced writing instrument ever accomplished. It is the first and only writing instrument of its kind that does not accept a refill. The entire back barrel chamber is filled with ink and pressurized to approximately 45psi with Nitrogen. The physical ball used on the point is made to tolerances approaching 3millionths of an inch. The housing where the ball sits is made to 2/10,000th of an inch. The R&D cost in developing the ball point alone approaches $150,000. These ball-point tolerances are critical in maintaining the smooth delivery of thixotropic (visco-elastic) ink. The ink is the viscosity of chewing gum and activated by the friction caused by the ball point coming into contact with a stationary surface. This friction or heat shears the chain-polymers of the ink which allows the ink to flow.
Most space pen ink cartridges employ this type of process, with the Millennium being the most state-of-the-art. In linear write-out testing, the Millennium has successfully performed to 60, 53 and 37 miles. We quote the least distance of 37 miles, yet if for any reason your Millennium fails to perform to your satisfaction, a new one will be sent to you free. All Fisher Space Pens have an unconditional lifetime guarantee. This guarantee even covers accidents like running over your pen with a delivery truck filled with 2 tons of cookies, which actually happened when I was VP of Fisher. I still have the man's crushed Millennium which still writes!"
aroberts0820
0
Aug 23, 2017
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okesterGood information. My limited knowledge of "Fisher Space Pens" was restricted to the ink chamber is pressurized and it can therefore write in zero-gravity or space. I had no idea they were meant to last as long as they do. Thanks!
Detex
537
Aug 28, 2017
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RkiteBecause you will lose it before it runs out of ink? I carry one every day, and have had a couple of the Original Space Pens over the last 20 years. I have never actually replaced the cartridge before losing it. Not trying to be funny but they last FOREVER! The one I carry daily has probably 5 years on it and still writes like new...
I am honestly trying to figure out how this one could possibly be priced at six times the price of an original (which appears to be the same) but I guess I am missing something. Aside from the long life ink I just don't really get it.
I am honestly trying to figure out how this one could possibly be priced at six times the price of an original (which appears to be the same) but I guess I am missing something. Aside from the long life ink I just don't really get it.
okester
117
Aug 29, 2017
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DetexRe: This excerpt:
"I am honestly trying to figure out how this one could possibly be priced at six times the price of an original (which appears to be the same) but I guess I am missing something. Aside from the long life ink I just don't really get it."
It could be that the thing you don't notice (when there isn't much around for comparison or to get a sense of scale) is that the diameter of the barrel of the Infinium is larger than that of the original bullet space pens.
I did a quick Google search of images which show both an Infinium (or Millennium) and an original bullet space pen side by side, and my google-fu must not be up to snuff. And although I could upload another image of my own writing instruments, I decided to harken back to the cache of the site where I got my first Millennium space pen; on the page is what looks like a promo or catalog image of the Magnum (Millennium) bullet space pen along with a few of the original(-sized) bullet space pens (though notice how the Magnum is clipless and the cap looks like it somehow fits over the middle of the pen barrel - I had asked Fisher folks about that shot, and they said the Millennium was never constructed like that): http://web.archive.org/web/19971012223042/http://www.elitescribe.com/spacepen.htm
So, I believe it IS because of its larger size, that the entire pen barrel is the ink reservoir and can carry such a large capacity of ink such that it should last for the average writer's lifetime (or at least 80 years), that makes it cost more than the regular-sized bullet pens. Is it worth it? That's a judgment call of its value, and your mileage may vary.
I said in another comment that, by next year, I'll have had one (Millennium) for 20 years, which averages out to just $4+ per year, which is pretty neat, imo.
However, if you wanted to read another pov, here's a review you can peruse (and it looks like, in the 5th picture, there's a glimpse of the cap of a bullet space pen when an Infinium is also in the shot, though they're not side-by-side for comparison): http://clickypost.com/blog/2016/7/3/fisher-space-pen-titanium-nitride-infinium
Just fyi, though maybe I misunderstood your statement. If you do already understand how much more ink the Infinium holds than the original bullet space pens and don't think the Infinium should cost much more than the smaller bullet pens, then I could see how it's a stumper. :)
I did a quick Google search of images which show both an Infinium (or Millennium) and an original bullet space pen side by side, and my google-fu must not be up to snuff. And although I could upload another image of my own writing instruments, I decided to harken back to the cache of the site where I got my first Millennium space pen; on the page is what looks like a promo or catalog image of the Magnum (Millennium) bullet space pen along with a few of the original(-sized) bullet space pens (though notice how the Magnum is clipless and the cap looks like it somehow fits over the middle of the pen barrel - I had asked Fisher folks about that shot, and they said the Millennium was never constructed like that): http://web.archive.org/web/19971012223042/http://www.elitescribe.com/spacepen.htm
So, I believe it IS because of its larger size, that the entire pen barrel is the ink reservoir and can carry such a large capacity of ink such that it should last for the average writer's lifetime (or at least 80 years), that makes it cost more than the regular-sized bullet pens. Is it worth it? That's a judgment call of its value, and your mileage may vary.
I said in another comment that, by next year, I'll have had one (Millennium) for 20 years, which averages out to just $4+ per year, which is pretty neat, imo.
However, if you wanted to read another pov, here's a review you can peruse (and it looks like, in the 5th picture, there's a glimpse of the cap of a bullet space pen when an Infinium is also in the shot, though they're not side-by-side for comparison): http://clickypost.com/blog/2016/7/3/fisher-space-pen-titanium-nitride-infinium
Just fyi, though maybe I misunderstood your statement. If you do already understand how much more ink the Infinium holds than the original bullet space pens and don't think the Infinium should cost much more than the smaller bullet pens, then I could see how it's a stumper. :)
okester
117
Jul 18, 2018
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DetexI realize that ya might've wanted a possible answer or at least wondered about the cost almost a year ago, so folks have left ya hanging for a spell, yet I thought I'd find a way to maybe possibly explain and/or justify the cost difference.
Since this drop's inactive, I forget the price which the base model Infiniums went for here, but I figure I can recalculate it from what I wrote before... Since I know I paid $74 for my Magnum Bullet Spacepen/Millennium back in '98, plus $7 shipping, for a total of $81, and previously said - https://www.massdrop.com/buy/fisher-infinium-space-pen/talk/1790961 - I paid over $9 less than the lowest drop here, then I suppose the base model Infinium drop was over $90 here? So the "original product" you were referring to was possibly a $15 original chrome bullet space pen? Aside - I think that, if you can find an original for that price, then you're doin' well (though I do remember them for around $18 at a Staples or Office Depot at one time...)! :D
Anyway, I decided to attempt to figure out the ink amounts or, at least, the difference in the ink capacity, between the medium point PR1 pressurized space pen ink cartridge - https://www.spacepen.com/blueinkmediumpointspacepenpressurizedrefill.aspx - and the Infinium, where I'm using the write-out distance of over 30 miles (referenced from an old cache of a webpage for the Millennium - https://www.massdrop.com/buy/fisher-infinium-space-pen/talk/1790989) or the lower value of 37 miles from a range of write-outs (from an email about the linear write-out of the Millennium, which would be comparable - https://www.massdrop.com/buy/fisher-infinium-space-pen/talk/1790186).
The PR1 can lay down a line for 15,000 feet. The Infinium is essentially a larger ink refill with a cap and clip, and using the specific value of 37 miles, that converts to 37 miles times 5,280 feet/mile, or 195,360 feet. If one were to divide the number of feet of ink which the Infinium could write by the distance the PR1 could write, then that's 13+ times more or farther. If you just used 30 miles for the Infinium's write-out, that's 158,400 feet, or 10.5+ times longer than what the PR1 refill can do.
Sooo... If you were to compare the price (from Fisher Space Pen's site) of the PR1 refill ($6.50) with the price at their site of the Infinium ($120), then you'd get roughly the same order of magnitude, where $120/$6.50 is about 18.5 times more, or possibly on the high side.
However, if you were comparing the price of an original $15 bullet space pen with a $90 Infinium space pen, then, while you would be paying 6 times more, you'd be getting an ink supply that's 10 to 13 times more, and possibly, by lookin' at it that way, $90's a better price than, say, paying strictly for the equivalent capacity of ink (though, with less metal than 13 ink refills), which is $15x13=$195. Even if you were paying for a chrome bullet space pen ($26) from the Fisher site - https://www.spacepen.com/chromebullet.aspx - and decide that the price of the Infinium should only be just 10 times more (for 10 times the ink capacity), then the Infinium should be $26x10=$260. Whoa. One thing left out of the cost comparison is not taking into account the wholesale costs; just making comparisons with values I know.
Long story longer? Paying 6 times more seems like a good deal. As always, ymmv. :)
Again, just my pair o' Zinc Linc's, which won't even get ya an ounce of unleaded gasoline.
Since this drop's inactive, I forget the price which the base model Infiniums went for here, but I figure I can recalculate it from what I wrote before... Since I know I paid $74 for my Magnum Bullet Spacepen/Millennium back in '98, plus $7 shipping, for a total of $81, and previously said - https://www.massdrop.com/buy/fisher-infinium-space-pen/talk/1790961 - I paid over $9 less than the lowest drop here, then I suppose the base model Infinium drop was over $90 here? So the "original product" you were referring to was possibly a $15 original chrome bullet space pen? Aside - I think that, if you can find an original for that price, then you're doin' well (though I do remember them for around $18 at a Staples or Office Depot at one time...)! :D
Anyway, I decided to attempt to figure out the ink amounts or, at least, the difference in the ink capacity, between the medium point PR1 pressurized space pen ink cartridge - https://www.spacepen.com/blueinkmediumpointspacepenpressurizedrefill.aspx - and the Infinium, where I'm using the write-out distance of over 30 miles (referenced from an old cache of a webpage for the Millennium - https://www.massdrop.com/buy/fisher-infinium-space-pen/talk/1790989) or the lower value of 37 miles from a range of write-outs (from an email about the linear write-out of the Millennium, which would be comparable - https://www.massdrop.com/buy/fisher-infinium-space-pen/talk/1790186).
The PR1 can lay down a line for 15,000 feet. The Infinium is essentially a larger ink refill with a cap and clip, and using the specific value of 37 miles, that converts to 37 miles times 5,280 feet/mile, or 195,360 feet. If one were to divide the number of feet of ink which the Infinium could write by the distance the PR1 could write, then that's 13+ times more or farther. If you just used 30 miles for the Infinium's write-out, that's 158,400 feet, or 10.5+ times longer than what the PR1 refill can do.
Sooo... If you were to compare the price (from Fisher Space Pen's site) of the PR1 refill ($6.50) with the price at their site of the Infinium ($120), then you'd get roughly the same order of magnitude, where $120/$6.50 is about 18.5 times more, or possibly on the high side.
However, if you were comparing the price of an original $15 bullet space pen with a $90 Infinium space pen, then, while you would be paying 6 times more, you'd be getting an ink supply that's 10 to 13 times more, and possibly, by lookin' at it that way, $90's a better price than, say, paying strictly for the equivalent capacity of ink (though, with less metal than 13 ink refills), which is $15x13=$195. Even if you were paying for a chrome bullet space pen ($26) from the Fisher site - https://www.spacepen.com/chromebullet.aspx - and decide that the price of the Infinium should only be just 10 times more (for 10 times the ink capacity), then the Infinium should be $26x10=$260. Whoa. One thing left out of the cost comparison is not taking into account the wholesale costs; just making comparisons with values I know.
Long story longer? Paying 6 times more seems like a good deal. As always, ymmv. :)
Again, just my pair o' Zinc Linc's, which won't even get ya an ounce of unleaded gasoline.
Liberty
345
May 9, 2019
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DetexI have two of these pens along with literally tens and tens other pens made by Fisher. I gave one of the two to a friend and the second one is resting in its original box - never used. There is no real advantage or extra value in this pen and the overall quality of Fisher pens tells you not to buy something you plan to keep and actually use for a lifetime.
Tedthelead
0
Dec 2, 2023
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CAARI find the Infinium writing experience to be more sensual than any other pen . It is smoother than Fisher refills , inkier yet easy to write precisely.
37 miles is difficult to believe though ! A 2 mile line would yield about 15,000 pages of handwriting !! My fave .
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