Who Likes Fountain Pens?

C

Coonskinner

Joined
Mar 28, 2001
Messages
2,491
I know they are a little inconvenient, and not the most cutting edge kind of pen going, but I enjoy using fountain pens. Is anybody else enamored of old-fashioned fountain pens?
 
I don't know about old fashioned, but I just bought a Pilot/Namiki Vanishing Point fountain pen, the one where the nib retracts fully into the handle. It's pretty ingenious, there is a shutter that seals off the opening to prevent lint, etc for getting inside the pen and therefore protecting the nib. Press down on the button and the shutter opens and nib comes out. Pretty neat pen! Kinda unusual too.
 
I hadn't heard about that one, Dexter. I have several, my favorite being an antique Schaefer. But my Waterman and Rotring pens are also pretty cool. The Rotring is awfully heavy, though.

I'll have to check out that vanishing point. Sounds like a neat pen.
 
My other major adiction; I made the mistake of looking for fountain pens on Ebay. Sometime next week I should get the last two of the 10 I won (or ordered in one case), Major plastic meltdown; 4 of the Waterman Man 100 style, one older sterling Waterman, 3 limited editions (2 Ancoras, and a Sheaffer Balence II), a Pelikan Level 5 Sterling, and a Bexley Gemstone collection- Emerald. So yes; in case you were wondering, I do tend to be poor (between the knives and the fp's).

Anthony Lasome
Picture of Ancora pearla fps from Swisher pens

Added: check www.penlovers.com for an online pen magazine Stylophiles
 

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I have a few, but for daily use I've had to switch to rollerballs.

This is a Parker Vacumatic Maxima from around 1939--with some other stuff...
doptntmax.jpg
 
Nice Vac, SAS!

Yep, just got into fountain pens recently (stopped collecting upper end rollerballs) . . . I own a vintage Conway Stewart and a Pelikan 400.
 
Originally posted by Coonskinner
I hadn't heard about that one, Dexter. I have several, my favorite being an antique Schaefer. But my Waterman and Rotring pens are also pretty cool. The Rotring is awfully heavy, though.

I'll have to check out that vanishing point. Sounds like a neat pen.
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Which Rotring do you have? I've also got a Rotring 600 series fountain in the lava finish. It is kind of on the heavy side but I can still write with it comfortably. But I love the convenience that the Vanishing Point provides. No cap to fuss with.
 
You will find a lot of fountain pen lovers here. Someone who appreciates the workmanship and the quality of a good knife is the same person that can understand why somebody might pay $400 for a fountain pen and not use a simple ballpoint pen.


My favorite: Pelikan 1935 green (out in blue, also, since last month!)
Daily users: Pelikan M400, Stipula Novecento, Aurora 88, Visconti Kaleido Voyager
I have some more sitting in a drawer, that reminds me that I also have more knives than I really need...
 
I have loved fountain pens since I was quite young. I can remember finding one of my grandfather's when I was something like eight and being fascinated. I carefully cleaned it up and began using it. Eventually I inherited a few decent ones, although nothing really high-end.

Unfortunately I just can't seem to carry them without getting ink all over myself. I still use them at home sometimes, but not being able to take them along is a real saddness.

I've recently run acrosss the Pilot Namiki Vanishing Point series. Does anyone know whether they seal well enough to be safe in the pocket of a moderately active person?

--Bob Q
 
Dexter, I don't know what model it is. It doesn't say in any of the literature that came with it. It is silver in color with a red ring inlaid into the top of the cap. It is a little on the heavy side but writes very smoothly. It is a fine point model, which I prefer.
 
Originally posted by Coonskinner
Dexter, I don't know what model it is. It doesn't say in any of the literature that came with it. It is silver in color with a red ring inlaid into the top of the cap. It is a little on the heavy side but writes very smoothly. It is a fine point model, which I prefer.
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Coonskinner - sounds to me it is from the 600 series. The barrel and cap are hex shaped? Definitely the 600's. Classic Rotrings!
 
Originally posted by bquinlan


I've recently run acrosss the Pilot Namiki Vanishing Point series. Does anyone know whether they seal well enough to be safe in the pocket of a moderately active person?

/B]
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Bob - You pretty much have to push the button down in order to get the very tip of the nib exposed. You'd probably be safe but if it was me, I wouldn't carry it in a pocket, other than clipped to the shirt pocket or the button down part of a polo shirt. There's no risk having to explain to folks why there is a blue or black stain on your pants :)
 
Hmm, EDC is a Mont Blanc 4810. I also have a Namiki Vanishing Point in my pen holder at work just because I like to play with it. Refill cartridges are a bitch to find, though. Coolest looking is an Esterbrooks from sometime in the '30s. I love that pen, but it's a pain to fill and the steel nib isn't great.

Chad
 
Chad - you say refills for the Namiki VP are a "bitch" to find? :) I recently bought a box of refills from my local pen/luggage store. Also, you can buy them off the net from places that sell the VP's like Fahrney's or maybe even Colorado Pen.

Clay - entry level FP - Not sure how inexpensive you want to go, but Pilot makes the Varsity Fountain Pen, which is a non-refillable disposable type FP. Plastic barrel and cap. Now sure how much they cost but they are not expensive at all. Also, take a look at the Parker Vector series. The Vectors are a step up from the Pilot Varsity, with a more streamlined appearance that leans toward the executive side. These are refillable and take refill cartridges. I've seen the Vectors at Office Depot, Staples, and Office Max. Lest we not forget Lamy. Their Al-Star (?) series have brushed aluminum barrels and caps. These are more expensive than the Parker Vectors but are still considered entry level. Great quality. If you like extreme, take a look at the Rotring Core series fountain pen. If there ever is a SUV of fountain pens, this would be it. Barrel and cap are oversized, and the specially shaped ergonomic finger grip always keeps the nib in the right position for writing. Hope this gets you started in the right direction on looking for FP's
 
Hi CD,
here are a few to consider:

Under $50:
- Waterman Phileas
- Sheaffer Javelin

Under $100:
- Pelikan 200
- Cross Century II
- Sheaffer Prelude
- Aurora Ipsilon
- Aurora Style



Want some eye candy? Check out Grayson Tighe's pen website--care for fittings in mosaic damascus, mammoth ivory & titanium?? Yow!

www.tighepens.com
 
Another entry level FP is the waterman Phileas. Most of the lower end models will write well because the companies can't afford to replace them under warrenty. Chad you may want to check into a converter for the V.P. I think they have a new one that works like most converters (screw type rather than squeeze type). Also I could be wrong but I don't think there is a model 1410 Mont Blanc (couldn't get their web site to load); but I think the 1410 is supposed to be the height of Mont Blanc in the Alps in meters.Is the number on the nib? Regardless; you should be aware that recent production M.B.'S aren't viewed very favorably by most collectors. Their "precious resin" tends to be rather fragile. See http://www.clearsail.net/~forrest/ for comments. I don't know much about Esterbrooks but some (all ?) had replacable nibs (renew points) so you might be able to replace the nib you have. As far as filling goes; it may need a new sack or some other repair. You could check on the pens-pencils newsgroup. If you want to check into other nib try http://www.pendemonium.com/.
If your M.B. is an earlier vintage (60's?) it will not be as fragile as newer models.

Anthony Lasome
 
Originally posted by Dexter Ewing
Chad - you say refills for the Namiki VP are a "bitch" to find? :) I recently bought a box of refills from my local pen/luggage store. Also, you can buy them off the net from places that sell the VP's like Fahrney's or maybe even Colorado Pen.
Click to expand...


Dexter, thanks for the info! The Namiki has been dry for a while now. The refills are a bit scarce (to say the least) in Wichita.

Take care,
Chad
 
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