The Pilot Myu, a Pen from the Past Made for the Future

The 1970’s were a time of wild innovation in engineering design, architecture, and pop culture. The United States had just won the Space Race and NASA’s continued efforts in space exploration captured the public’s imagination and sparked the craze of the future. The future was envisioned as a time of sleek, streamlined designs and the Myu’s design ethos follows that idea to a T.

The Pen

Introduced in 1971 alongside the Custom K series, the Pilot Myu 701 sparked a huge interest and was very popular after its initial release. It is a unique and sought after fountain pen by many collectors even today. One of the most striking aspects of the Myu is its minimalist, industrial, and futuristic design. The pen is constructed entirely of stainless steel, which gives it a sleek, modern appearance even by today’s standards. This material choice not only contributes to the pen’s durability but also gives it a lightweight and precise feel in the hand, making it a pleasure to write with. The seamless transition between the body and the nib creates a unified and continuous profile, which was a groundbreaking design at the time of its release. It really envelops the feel of precision engineering that the Japanese are so well known for.

Photo: The Pilot Myu with Japanese made Mitutoyo Vernier Calipers 

The Nib

Ever since I laid my eyes on this pen, I was drawn in by its sleek design. But I have put off writing with one of these pens for a very long time because I was worried that I would be disappointed in the way it performed. I could not have been more wrong! The integrated nib design is both aesthetically pleasing and functional. Even though it could be described as “stiff as a nail” due to its material and design, it provides a surprisingly smooth writing experience. Scratchy is the last way I would describe this nib. I think “hard” is a better word for it. The ink flow is generous without being over-the-top, which provides the stainless-steel nib with perfect lubrication between it and the page. If you have been eyeing one of these pens but are holding yourself back because of the nib, do not make the same mistake I did. Pull the trigger!

 
Photos: A Close up of the Myu's integrated nib design.

Photo: Pilot Myu writing sample.

The Construction

The pen is composed of 3 pieces of machined stainless steel. The nib/grip section, the barrel, and the cap, which when posted, makes up the majority of the pen. The cap is a snap-cap, utilizing three tabs at the edge of the grip section, which are not at all noticeable by the fingers or hand. The cap posts on to the back of the pen securely without being too hard to remove when you are finished writing. One potential design flaw I have discovered is, because the tolerances of the cap and barrel are so tight, a polished or worn-out barrel or cap may not securely post, causing the cap to come off while writing. This pen utilizes standard Pilot cartridges and converters. The Pilot CON-20 and CON-40 converters are usable in this pen. The CON-70 is too large to fit in the pen and cannot be used.

Photo: The Myu with a leather journal.

The Size

 This pen is small. Named after the Greek letter µ (Mu) which in the science and engineering world is the metric prefix for “micro” this pen certainly lives up (or down??) to its name. Length wise, it is not too far out of the realm of modern pocket pens. At a capped length of 119mm and a posted length of 142mm, it is comparable in length to a modern Pilot e95s. The grip section measures 10mm at what I consider to be the ideal grip point, making it suitable for a wide range of hand sizes. The capped length makes this pen convenient to carry in a wide range of shirt pockets or bags which makes it a perfect EDC pen. Like most pocket pens, the Myu is far too short to write comfortably unposted. Which may make it inconvenient for quick notes, as you would have to post the cap every time you jot something down, but due to the snap cap, the time saved by not needing to unscrew the cap may outweigh the time it takes to post.

Photo: A full frame shot of the Pilot Myu

The Cost

When it was released in 1971, the Myu was considered a “cheap” pen. Costing only ¥3,500 Japanese Yen which, adjusted for inflation and accounting for the JPY/USD exchange rates of 1971, would equate to a mere $35 USD. Today, you would be hard-pressed to find one for under $200. Here at G.C. Murphy, we often sell these pens for $195-$250 depending on condition. The rarer, more sought after Myu Stripe can go for around double this price. From a construction and material standpoint, it is safe to say the Myu is not worth its $200+ price tag. But you are getting more than just a stainless-steel pocket pen, you are getting a highly collectible piece of Japanese fountain pen and design history.

Photo: A close up of the integrated nib unit of the Myu

Final Thoughts

Overall, the Myu truly is an amazing little pen. What it may lack in size certainly makes up for in character. That seamless profile line and finish makes it look like something right out of a 70’s or 80’s sci-fi movie! And the integrated nib is far more pleasant to write with than one may think. It’s price point, though significantly higher today than in 1971, is really a testament to its timeless design and collectability. And in reality, the new Pilot e95s’ cost $145. At $200-$245, it is safe to say that the Myu, being $100 more, has about 100 times the character of the e95s. I think that is a pretty good tradeoff. But, like all things, it really comes down to your personal preferences. So, what do you think of the Myu? Is the design character and collectability worth the price tag? Let us know what you think down in the comments!