Pencil Review: Retro 51 Tornado Pencil

I’ve held off writing much on Retro 51 over the past year because I wanted to first see what was happening with the future of the company. As many of you may have heard, Retro 51 announced last year that their owners were retiring, and that the company would be “wound down” over the first six to nine months of 2020. Many were surprised - and a bit puzzled, to be honest - as Retro continued to roll out a seemingly endless stream of special and limited editions, store exclusive pens, and new products throughout the year, only to announce in January 2021 that the company wasn’t closing after all, that it was being acquired by new ownership, and that most of the staff would stay on to maintain continuity of operations.

View fullsize

The Retro 51 “The System” Pencil designed by my friend, Mike Dudek of Dudek Modern Goods and The Clicky Post. I have a pen/pencil set, and it’s probably my favorite of all the Retro 51s.

While Retro 51 has never been one of my main collecting interests, the possibility of any pen company shutting down made me sad. While I’m glad to see the pens will still be available, and presumably all the Retro employees will keep their jobs, I will admit to some unease about how the company took an entire year to announce the “change in plans,” presumably knowing that fans were snapping up Retro 51 pens as “last chance” purchases because - as far as they knew - Retro 51 was shutting down. For now, I’ll give them the benefit of the doubt until we know more details about what happened over this past year and the plans new ownership has for the company.

View fullsize

Shown here in-hand, the Retro 51 “Albert” pencil from the Vintage Metalsmith Collection.

But back to the substance of today’s review: the Retro 51 Tornado Pencil, a somewhat unique writing instrument that’s often overshadowed by its (much) more famous sibling, the Retro 51 Tornado Rollerball. Shape-wise, the pen and pencil versions of the Tornado are identical, save for the large (and very good) eraser on the pencil. The pencil even uses the same twist mechanism to retract the lead, which is an ultra-wide 1.15mm. In terms of weight and balance, the Tornado Pencil and Rollerball feel nearly identical, so if you’re a fan of one, you’ll like the other. IF you can get past the lead size….

View fullsize

Twist mechanism and eraser.

That brings me to the main downside of this product. A 1.15mm mechanical pencil lead is extremely broad - almost as broad as a leadholder pencil, but still too narrow to sharpen in a lead pointer. That leaves you with a rather blunt pencil point. For me, it limits the utility because I can’t write small, and annotations/marginalia while reading are my primary use case for mechanical pencils. You also won’t find many refill options other than the Retro 51-branded option, as 1.15mm is an odd size, and you’re typically stuck with standard HB grade without the option to go darker or harder.

View fullsize

Takeaways and Where to Buy

Overall, the Retro 51 Tornado is a good mechanical pencil, and I keep a couple in my collection. Since I enjoy writing small, the lead size on the Tornado Pencil makes regular use a challenge, despite the functional twist design and quality build. When I do use this pencil, it’s typically to jot quick notes to myself. Those with larger handwriting, or who prefer a broader pencil point for things like drawing, may not be bothered by the lead size, and if you find standard woodcase or mechanical pencil barrels too narrow, you may appreciate the more substantial Tornado.

View fullsize

Writing sample shown here against a Rotring 800 with a .5mm lead. Paper is the Write Notepads Engineer Notebook.

Retro 51 Tornado Pencils are available for purchase individually, or as part of a pen/pencil set, from most Retro 51 dealers such as our friends at Vanness Pens. stand-alone pencils are priced between $40-45 and sets anywhere from $60-80, depending on the edition. This pricing is consistent with most high-quality mechanical pencils and the Retro 51 Tornado Rollerball, which I consider good value. Refills are somewhat difficult to find, given the uncommon lead diameter, but are mostly available from Retro 51 dealers.

Further Reading on Retro 51

I’ve not written much on Retro 51 in the past, but I have previously reviewed the Retro Collection Desk Set, as well as a piece comparing the Tornado Rollerball and the Baron Fig Squire. Even though I don’t use it as much as other rollerballs these days, I should eventually do a stand-alone review of the Retro 51 Tornado Rollerball.

Comparison: Baron Fig Squire vs. Retro 51 Tornado

The Baron Fig Squire and the Retro 51 Tornado are two of the most popular - if not the most popular - liquid ink rollerball pens on the market. Both are well-made products from smaller, "boutique" manufacturers. Both pens also regularly make their way onto recommendation lists, and are among a handful of pens that I recommend to those approaching me about a "nice non-fountain pen for work" or a gift for someone graduating or starting their first job. You can't go wrong with either pen: they are both excellent, but still different. In this post I'll highlight some of the pros and cons of each, and talk about which pen I personally prefer and why. 

Retro 51 Tornado: Pros and Cons

View fullsize

The first pen from the left is the Retro 51 Tornado Joey Feldman Artist Series from Vanness Pens. The next two from left are the Bioworkz Artist Series set, also from Vanness, though both have long been out of stock. Check the secondary market if you're interested in either design.  

• Availability. If you like the look of Retro 51 pens, a key advantage is that almost any specialized pen retailer sells them, and there are dozens of different colors, designs, and special editions to choose from, including store editions specific to a given location. If you have a local pen store, you likely will be able to walk in and pick up a Retro 51 quite easily. 
• Refill. The Retro 51 also uses the excellent .7mm Schmidt P8127 ceramic capless rollerball refill, which is the gold standard in terms of availability and reliability. You can also swap in the Schmidt Easyflow 9000, another Parker-style gel refill, or the finer-tip Schmidt P8126 rollerball. 
• Fun Designs. Many people partial to Retro 51 love the pens for their special and limited editions, as well as their outright crazy designs and themes. Designs range from the understated Tornado Classic to the more intricate Metalsmith series, or all the way to the new KISS-themed pens. The Retro 51 that I use the most, however, is this vintage-style desk pen that I reviewed a while back. 
• Clip. If you prefer a pen with a clip, or clipless pens flat-out don't work for you, you'll want to go with the Retro 51 Tornado. The Baron Fig Squire only comes clipless.
• Price. The classic Retro 51 lacquer Tornado sells for as little as $25, and even the special edition rollerball pens rarely exceed $55 or so. You can get a great pen at a reasonable price.
• Cons. I personally find the Retro 51 less comfortable to use due to the fact that the pen tapers towards the front, as opposed to the Baron Fig Squire, which has a thicker grip section and tapers towards the back. Also, because I have a tendency to rotate my ballpoints and rollerballs as I write, the clip on the Retro 51 sometimes digs into the webbing of my hand between my thumb and index finger. The clipless Squire doesn't have that issue. 

View fullsize

My Joey Feldman Retro 51 in hand. Note the "V" shape to the Retro 51, which differs from the Baron Fig Squire, pictured below. 

Baron Fig Squire: Pros and Cons

View fullsize

• Ergonomics and Balance. What makes the Baron Fig Squire such a great pen to me is the shape. Though some may find the pen a bit boring and overly minimalist, the teardrop pen body sits perfectly in my hand, and the fact that the pen tapers towards the back makes it comfortable to write with for long periods of time. The matte aluminum finish of the standard editions makes for a nice grip. I don't mind the lack of a clip - I typically carry the Squire in a Baron Fig leather pen sleeve, tucked into a pen case or the inside of one of my notebook covers. 
• Understated Special Editions. For their special and limited edition Squires, Baron Fig has thus far chosen to stick with solid colors and small, understated engravings, even for what could be considered their most "out there" editions, like the green "Experiment" and the orange "Mysterium". The "Precious Metal" Squires in brass and stainless steel (still available!) also turned out really well, and the pen's ergonomics counteract the added weight of the materials. 
• Price. The Squire starts at a higher price point than the Tornado, with the basic pen priced at $55, standard special editions priced at $60, and the "Precious Metals" rollerballs priced at $85. That said, these pens still don't break the bank. 
• Cons. There aren't many for me personally, and I've gone so far as to say that the Squire is pretty close to my perfect non-fountain pen. Some might be put off by the lack of a clip, and I understand how that could be a deal breaker depending on how you use your pens. Also, the Squire may roll off a slanted work surface, though given how the pen is weighted it tends to roll much less than many clipless pens. 

View fullsize

The Baron Fig Squire "Mysterium" edition in-hand. Note the subtle "teardrop" shape as the pen tapers toward the front. 

View fullsize

My good friend Thomas thought it would be helpful to have a side-by-side comparison, so I added a photo of the Mysterium edition Squire compared against the Joey Feldman Tornado.  Many thanks for the recommendation! 

Conclusions and Where to Buy

For my own daily writing needs, I use the Baron Fig Squire as my rollerball of choice. The teardrop shape and overall balance of the pen just works better for my hand, and I like that the default refill is the Schmidt P8126 .6mm. Finally, I simply like the look of the Squire better than the Tornado, as some of Retro 51's designs can be a bit busy for my taste. While Baron Fig has released a bunch of special and limited editions over the years, and recently introduced different color pens into their standard lineup, most of their pens are relatively understated and forego a lot of the somewhat crazy patterns for which Retro 51 is known (and loved by many).  

View fullsize

The Fig Wine Baron Fig Squire - my personal favorite of the standard edition Squires. 

In terms of where to buy these pens, as I mentioned above, the Retro 51 Tornado is a relatively easy pen to find at most pen retailers. Pen Chalet carries the entire range, including most of the annual special editions, and has even partnered with Retro 51 on their own "in-house" edition, a sci-fi take on the myth of Jason and the Argonauts which is well worth a look. Vanness Pens also stocks Retro 51, and has partnered with the Company on a series of "Artists Series" pens, including the pens pictured in this review. The most recent "Artist Series" pens have sold out, but keep your eyes peeled as new ones are always right around the corner. Finally, to give you an even better idea of some of the unique design partnerships out there, check out the Anderson Pens "Chicago" edition, as well as Mike Dudek's "The System" space-themed pen.  

The Squire can be purchased directly from Baron Fig, via their website. Currently, the standard Squire is available in four colors: Fig Wine, Rose Quartz, Blue Slate, and Silver. At the time of this review, two limited editions are also available: the Stainless Steel "Precious Metals" and "Mysterium" orange. The latter two likely won't last forever, so if they interest you, pick them up now. Though I haven't used one, Baron Fig recently released a Squire "Click" ballpoint, which is a bit slimmer than the standard Squire and has garnered good reviews to date. 

Disclaimer: This post contains links to paid sponsors and affiliates. The pens pictured here are a combination of pens purchased with my own funds, pens for which I received a discount in exchange for a review, and pens sent to me for review purposes free of charge.  

Pen Review: Retro 51 Retro Collection Desk Set

Regular readers of this blog likely already know Retro 51, the maker of the “Tornado” line of rollerballs, fountain pens, and pencils. Their special editions - including the most recent “Zodiac” pen - sell out quickly, and fuel a lively sub-group of Retro 51 enthusiasts and collectors within the larger pen community. For today’s post, I’m going to take a look at a pen from Retro 51 that doesn’t receive the attention it necessarily deserves: the vintage-style desk set.

View fullsize

Retro 51 has clearly modeled the vintage-style desk set after the classic Esterbrook version that became a fixture at banks and post offices in the mid-20th century. While this modern desk set features a rollerball and not a fountain pen, it maintains the “vintage” look and truly does class up your workspace. Plus, it’s a Retro 51 product, so the build quality is solid.

View fullsize

The dark black cherry lacquer is gorgeous. I'm a sucker for anything red-black, so when I saw that this color was available... you know the rest. The only branding on this set is a small imprint around the pen holder on the base. 

My desk set has been beautifully finished and looks great on my desk. Per the manufacturer’s specs, the base is made of poly resin and coated with polished lacquer, which on this particular desk set is "Black Cherry," a dark red-black color. The bottom of the desk set sports a felt pad, so it won’t slide around or scratch your desk. The pen itself is made of metal and coated with the same lacquer as the base - I would guess it’s aluminum, given the extremely light weight. Despite the metal barrel, the pen is not noticeably heavy, and in any event the length and tapered design lends it exceptional balance. Since I received this pen in the mail, I’ve alternated between it and the Inventery Machined Pen as my tool of choice for working things out on my Baron Fig Mastermind desk pad. Both sport the same excellent Schmidt liquid-ink rollerball refill, and also accept the Schmidt Easyflow 9000 ballpoint refill.  

View fullsize

View fullsize

Takeaways and Where To Buy

I’ve dabbled with collecting vintage-style desk pens over the years, and this has piqued my interest once again. You can purchase the Retro 51 Desk Pen from our sponsor Goldspot Pens. As with all Retro 51 Pens, the pricing is well below what I would expect for an item of this quality. Typically priced at $60 for the desk set, Goldspot has them on sale for $48, available in Turquoise, White, “Chalkboard Black” (matte), Stainless Steel, and the Black Cherry version reviewed here.

View fullsize

Disclaimer: Goldspot provided me with this item free of charge, for review purposes. Many thanks to Goldspot for sponsoring the blog.

Travel Edition: The Gentleman Hits the Road

Just a quick post for the beginning of the week, since I've been traveling since Thursday (and, at least for the time being, am stranded in the airport.  What pens/stationery/writing equipment do you all take on the road?  For this particular trip, I've chosen my "non-fountain pens of choice."  If I'm going on a particularly long vacation or business trip, where I might be doing a lot of journaling or writing, I will take one or two fountain pens, but since this was a long weekend where not much writing was going to get done, I went with convenience.  

Four of my preferred "road pens"

So, from left to right, the Sakura Pigma Micron 02 (.3mm); Hi-Tec-C Coleto Lumio in Matte Black; Retro 51 Tornado Stealth with the .7mm black refill; and the TiPen with a 0.4mm Blue-Black Hi-Tec-C refill.  The Coleto has four .4mm refills in black, purple, apricot, and orange.  I tucked these into my Nock Co. Hightower with a ruled kraft paper Field Notes and four or five Exacompta index cards and I was ready for pretty much anything:  

View fullsize

So far, I think the Hightower has been the favorite of my Nock Co. cases.  I received all of them, but this is my favorite so far.  Reviews forthcoming.

I'm comfortable with this as my "travel rig" for now.  I've been experimenting with various setups on recent business trips and nearly always have come home concluding that I've carried too much stuff that never gets used and just bulks up my bag.  We'll see where this goes. . . .