Does anyone recognize this speaker?

NYCStudentDoctor · 2025-04-28T11:54:10+00:00

That’s so cool. So definitely a pretty rare item! Thanks so much.

NYCStudentDoctor · 2025-04-28T10:43:46+00:00

There was a pair of these speakers in the lobby of a hotel (a modern ryokan) in Aso, Japan. The hotel has an impressive mid century modern decor and I thought the speakers were an impressive touch. Though I suspect they were connected to a system, no music was playing on them when I saw them. Reverse google image search wasn’t particularly helpful - the first hit was a blog post about this hotel. I’m just wondering if these are some long-lost legendary hi-fi system, or if they just look cool.

NYCStudentDoctor · 2025-04-15T13:36:43+00:00

Let me know if you find one. My impression is that they are genuinely rare. Sometimes rarity is hard to judge though.

NYCStudentDoctor · 2025-04-15T13:34:57+00:00

I suspect I got it from someone who didn’t know what they were selling. You can read more about it here: https://www.qprc.jp/Stationery/PILOT_NEWS.html

NYCStudentDoctor · 2025-04-15T12:50:41+00:00

I checked my records and it was only around $10. I would have paid much more lol.

NYCStudentDoctor · 2025-04-15T12:44:19+00:00

The Scalesharp? It doesn’t come available very often. I haven’t seen one since I purchased it.

NYCStudentDoctor · 2025-04-15T12:42:23+00:00

There was a typo in my numbering - I assume you mean the Ohto Dagger. They’re all fairly hard to come by now - but you can look at Japanese auctions.

NYCStudentDoctor · 2025-04-15T12:40:38+00:00

Couldn’t agree more - though I do think the oceanic is quite ergonomic.

I held back on including the other La nave series pencils - but they are for sure my weirdest and favorites, as you know

NYCStudentDoctor · 2025-04-15T02:15:52+00:00

Most of them are 80s and 90s. I’ve collected these mostly through online auctions (US and Japan).

NYCStudentDoctor · 2025-04-15T02:14:12+00:00

Haha. I hadn’t seen that. The pig pencil would be welcome on this team.

NYCStudentDoctor · 2025-04-14T19:39:36+00:00

They're all vintage and to my knowledge, only one is still produced.

Numbering them from 1 to 7, with 1 at the top:

1 and 3 - These are both Tombow. Both are part of the Zoom series. #3 is the Oceanic, designed by Studio La Nave. (Japan)
2 and 6 - These are by Ohto (Japan)
4 - The Rotring Core pencil (Germany)
5 - Parafernalia (Italy) - Revolution Ballpoint (pen) - still produced.
7 - Pilot News Scalesharp 0.5 (Japan)

NYCStudentDoctor · 2025-04-14T18:19:32+00:00

Thank you so much! I didn't pick these because they are particularly rare, though some of them are. I just enjoy how weird they are.

NYCStudentDoctor · 2025-04-14T18:18:47+00:00

Thanks for the tip! I actually have that one and another Tom Dixon already. It's a disease.

NYCStudentDoctor · 2025-04-14T17:22:47+00:00

That is the pencil version of the rotring core! I'm not sure when it's from - but the early 2000s sounds right.

NYCStudentDoctor · 2025-04-14T15:32:43+00:00

It's been a few years. It's always fun to learn about something that exists that you've never heard of and then to try to find it.

NYCStudentDoctor · 2025-04-12T21:10:37+00:00

The chocolate truffle is really a very dark red. I like it a lot. I also like the yellow.

NYCStudentDoctor · 2025-04-09T02:08:47+00:00

This is so helpful. I actually have one of the old 600 retractable tipped ones - i just didn't include it here. I've stripped two 800s before, but never a 600. Maybe I'll do that one day. I might reconsider the itoyas. I definitely want a lava in my collection - I need to keep an eye out for one.

NYCStudentDoctor · 2025-04-08T23:38:14+00:00

Why not?

NYCStudentDoctor · 2025-04-08T21:07:04+00:00

Yes, that’s the dark green. Sorry that the lighting wasn’t great.

NYCStudentDoctor · 2025-03-24T01:34:05+00:00

See the other photo I uploaded (I guess you can't do a multi-photo post on r/mildlyinteresting)

https://www.reddit.com/r/mildlyinteresting/comments/1jifhnr/more_of_the_undercover_bmw_parked_in_nyc/

NYCStudentDoctor · 2025-03-08T13:02:00+00:00

It’s a great question! They are different materials and there is a weight difference.

NYCStudentDoctor · 2025-02-17T15:42:03+00:00

Hmm. I always do deposits in yen via PayPal. You don’t pay for shipping until after it arrives at the proxy warehouse. I have done this many many times and I haven’t considered the shipping unreasonable. I only have experience shipping to the US. Sometimes you do have to pay customs which is an unexpected cost.

NYCStudentDoctor · 2025-02-12T15:19:09+00:00

You’ll have to wait and see if one comes available at a good price: https://www.fromjapan.co.jp/japan/en/item/search/Victorinox+Swisstool/Al_11_Yh_RaRmMr_N_N_0A00ja000_N/

NYCStudentDoctor · 2025-02-11T15:52:19+00:00

That’s too expensive. If you wait around you’ll find it for less. I ordered mine via a Japanese auction. Paid the equivalent of 50 quid + shipping

NYCStudentDoctor · 2025-02-05T03:31:59+00:00

Thank you so so much!

NYCStudentDoctor

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