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TWSBI
TWSBI VAC Mini Nib Unit
£26.50
Replacement nib unit
Mini version of the popular vacuum filler
TWSBI Vac 700 Nib Unit
£26.50
Spare nib unit for TWSBI Vac 700 fountain pens
TWSBI Kai Fountain Pen
£145.00
Competitively-priced, clear-barrelled fountain pen
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TWSBI FAQ
What’s the history of TWSBI?
TWSBI is a company based in Taiwan, that started life as a manufacturer making all sorts of things for other companies. After more than 50 years of doing that they decided to start making things for themselves, specifically fountain pens.
The original company was called TaShin Precision, but that was probably a bit functional for a range of fountain pens. They went with TWSBI, pronounced twizz-bee, and the reason behind it is a touch convoluted. The TWS is the reverse initials of the phrase ‘San Wen Tong’, which translates as ‘Hall of Three Cultures’; something related to the ‘Hall of the Three Rare Treasures’. That was a room used by Qianlong Emperor, an 18th Chinese ruler, to house his three favourite pieces of calligraphy. The ‘BI’ was added to make TWSBI, because it is the word for pen in simplified Chinese. You can’t accuse them of not taking the time to come up with a good name.
What makes TWSBI different?
TWSBI make pens for pen enthusiasts. Many of their pens have clear barrels so you can see the inner workings, which is something us pen fans really do enjoy. Despite how their range is targeted, and despite the background of the company being high-end manufacturing, the TWSBI range is surprisingly affordable.
Recommended TWSBI products
The TWSBI Diamond 580 is the classic TWSBI fountain pen, featuring the faceted clear barrels that give the range its name. These pens have been made for years, now so they even come in a wide range of colours.
The TWSBI Eco range isn’t particularly environmentally friendly, but it is designed to be wallet friendly, so if you are looking for an entry-level TWSBI, you could do a lot worse than to start there.