Thread: Fountain pens- info needed

Aaahh Nibs, inks, pens, paper..... What a slope you are entering!!!!
To start and SEE if you like the idea and use of the FP...Get a Waterman Phileas ~ $15
Here's my everyday writer. Cross Townsend Green Tortoise ~ 1990


My everyday carry is the Namiki Vaishing Point Fine Nib ~ $85


Here's some of my vintage pens. I do like writing with these.


T

This is the pen I bought about a month ago. I whish this thread would have come up so I could have tried a Waterman or Pelican. I didnt know german pens and vintage pens were affordable. I thought they all were $100+.




Don

No problem; the Retro 51 is a good value in a FP, and there is no reason not to have multiple pens...
Ken.

I really want a nice Pelikan, so I second everyone on that. I've been eyeing the m605 for a few weeks, that blue and silver looks amazing! Though they're out of stock everywhere I look. Does anyone know if they're still in production? The 405 would also be good.

Of course, I need to settle for something at least $100 cheaper, and probably won't be able to get a new pen for months now that I've emptied my "fun fund" (It was a German beer stein filled with quarters, I miss it already) on a startup razor setup. I did get some nice new inks (Noodler's in good colors) out of the fund, too, though, so that should hold me over.

Have you tried Pam Braun here? http://www.oscarbraunpens.com/
She isn't showing the 605 edition but her service and prices are excellent and she will know what the market situation is. Lots of other places to try and why not ask on FPN - link earlier in thread. Somebody is bound to want shot of one - sorry, Pelikan aversion showing through again! The 1000 is a cracker though, 800 a bit small and below that just not for me. Be a shame if we were all the same!
Nobody has mentioned the Pilot 78G yet. Great wee pen. I have it in a BB and it is great for italic style writing. Check the bay and you can usually pick one up new for about $15 - a really nice starter pen actually.

Stephen

Originally Posted by Abraxel

I really want a nice Pelikan, so I second everyone on that. I've been eyeing the m605 for a few weeks, that blue and silver looks amazing! Though they're out of stock everywhere I look. Does anyone know if they're still in production? The 405 would also be good.

Of course, I need to settle for something at least $100 cheaper, and probably won't be able to get a new pen for months now that I've emptied my "fun fund" (It was a German beer stein filled with quarters, I miss it already) on a startup razor setup. I did get some nice new inks (Noodler's in good colors) out of the fund, too, though, so that should hold me over.

I've had a couple of the very cheap (under $10) fountain pens that can occasionally be found at office supply stores, and an introductory set of fountain pens for doing calligraphy. I think the Pelikan m205 is calling me.

I have FPAD as well. +1 on Pilot/Namiki, Waterman Carene, Cross Townsend. If you want a classic fountain pen, look for a Parker Duofold....you see them a lot in old films.


I also have Graf Faber-Castell, Shaeffer, S.T. Dupont, and some antique ones no longer made.

Try before you buy...most quality stationery shops/pen shops will let you try out a pen. It must have a good balance, feel comfortable, sit at the correct angle so the nib has good contact with the paper. If the pen feels rough on the paper or drags, don't get it...when writing, it should feel like it is gliding. The line should not skip or change thickness (unless you turn the pen).

Quality ink is important - Pelikan, Mont Blanc, Cross...or cartridges if you tend to be messy. DO NOT use architectural pen ink - it is more like diluted paint and will ruin a fountain pen.

Paper is also important....but even on crappy paper and FP is wonderful.

Be careful - they are addictive....

DC, it depends what you're looking for. Do you like a big, small, light, heavy, pen that will flex and give variation or a stiff nib and so on.

I like most Japanese pen makes, because they come in very fine sizes which suits my tiny writing. Namiki, Nakaya, Sailor...
Pelikans are nice enough as well and you can get a great deal on a white tortoise 400 just now. They are a bit small for our large hands (depending how you hold them.)

My personal 'go-to' pens are my beloved Namiki fine VP, and my Lamy AL-Star XF. The Lamy is damned near bullet proof, but not as handy as the VP. Whatever your interest in fountain pens, fer the love of God DO NOT go to fountainpennetwork.com. You (and your budget) will be doomed if you do. Trust me on this.


Wayne, who only has ten different inks for thirty pens

This is as bad as razors, round tip, right oblique, italic. custom grinds, adjusting.

I did a quick look a the phileas as a starter pen. Am I right in thinking fountain pens are essentially a 1 nib per pen kind of item OR are there fountain pen systems that let you more easily switch nibs? I could see myself going through a lot of nibs before I found something that worked well for me. And then starting again with fancy nibs.

Is there a short-cut or an easy way?

-Bob