Do you use a fountain pen?

[SPR2]

ClockworkCupcake said:

Robbo 27 said:

I think I am correct in saying that your new pens are lacquer over brass and will last longer and with less maintenance than Pelikans and Montblancs, and still look great.

They're certainly weighty and have a metal construction. They don't feel at all cheap and nasty.

I do still like my Parker 45 very much though, but I think it's one of these that I'll be taking to work for everyday use as they are so easily replaced if mislaid. Not that I have ever had a pen go walkies, but since I freelance and move around a lot, you never know.

I too like my Parker 45 but looking forward to getting the Mabel Todd and Parker Duofold back and giving them a go.
You must have quite a collection now.

[RizzoTheRat]

Vroom101 said:

Rizzo, how do you find the 159? It looks quite fat in the photos.

I usually prefer a thinner pen, but have been thinking about getting a thicker one. I find my hand and lower arm aches a bit if I've been writing for a while, so I might try a thicker one to see if that makes any difference.

It's certainly chunky, with a fair bit of weight to it. I like the thickness of the grip, but the bulk of the body means it sits in a slightly different position in my hand that I haven't got used to yet. First few times I used it it felt like I was going to get cramp in my thumb, but I seem to be getting over that. Note really used it that much yet though.

[ClockworkCupcake]

SPR2 said:

You must have quite a collection now.

Six currently, of which 5 are working (1980's Parker 45, 2000's Parker 45, that Sheaffer of unknown provenance with the oblique nib, the Jinhao X750, and the Jinhao 450), and the Parker 25 that I don't intend to resurrect. But I do have a Hero 616 (copy of a Parker 51) on order, and a promise of my 74 year-old dad's school Sheaffer and a Parker 51 of my grandmother's next time I visit my parents.

Gosh, you're right actually, now that I list them!

Edited by ClockworkCupcake on Monday 27th February 21:45

[Robbo 27]

ClockworkCupcake said:

Six currently, of which 5 are working (1980's Parker 45, 2000's Parker 45, that Sheaffer of unknown provenance with the oblique nib, the Jinhao X750, and the Jinhao 450), and the Parker 25 that I don't intend to resurrect. But I do have a Hero 616 (copy of a Parker 51) on order, and a promise of my 74 year-old dad's school Sheaffer and a Parker 51 of my grandmother's next time I visit my parents.

Gosh, you're right actually, now that I list them!

Edited by ClockworkCupcake on Monday 27th February 21:45

Soon be ready for one of these:

[Prohibiting]

I've been very naughty and ordered a second hand "as new" Mont Blanc from eBay. Feel quite guilty about it to be honest but I genuinely enjoy writing with them now. It'll be interesting to see how it compares to my TWSBI Diamond. I read that the Mont Blancs generally write wet and smooth with a slightly thicker line than average and luckily there was one for sale with an EF nib so I've gone for that.

[Robbo 27]

Prohibiting said:

I've been very naughty and ordered a second hand "as new" Mont Blanc from eBay. Feel quite guilty about it to be honest but I genuinely enjoy writing with them now. It'll be interesting to see how it compares to my TWSBI Diamond. I read that the Mont Blancs generally write wet and smooth with a slightly thicker line than average and luckily there was one for sale with an EF nib so I've gone for that.

I hope it all goes well, the good thing about Montblanc pens is the service, pay a fee and you get them rebuilt to as new condition, you would also be very unlucky to lose money on a deal, keep it and use it for a few years and sell it for at least what you paid for it as long as there are no cracks around the cap lip or deep scratches.

Please post some pics when it arrives.

[E24man]

Here's the last fountain pen I bought; a Dunhill Sentryman Explorer II in silver carbon fibre, only 150 made.









Here's a library photo of the torch. The band around the cap is also luminous.

Edited by E24man on Tuesday 28th February 11:31

[The Mad Monk]

E24man said:

Here's the last fountain pen I bought; a Dunhill Explorer II in silver carbon fibre, only 150 made.









Here's a library photo of the torch. The band around the cap is also luminous.

How much?

[E24man]

Some pounds.

[Desiato]

E24man said:

Here's the last fountain pen I bought; a Dunhill Sentryman Explorer II in silver carbon fibre, only 150 made.

That looks fabulous, is it good to write with too?

[Robbo 27]

That looks amazing E24, a very special pen, thanks for posting.

[E24man]

Thank you.

It, like the AD2000's I own, is lovely to write with. The pen doesn't sit quite as perfectly across the hand as the AD2000's do, and the heavy design of the Sentryman cap means the pen is ever so slightly counterweighted against you when you write with it (it is a little too short a pen to write with the cap detached) but it is a lovely thing nonetheless. The luminous band and torch are nice toys, the heads are easy to change and secure when attached, and the only real drawback is the cost of the pressurised ballpoint refills which are specific to Dunhill I believe... but I only really use it as a fountain pen anyway which is the point of the thread.

Here's a size comparison with my daughters Dunhill AD1000 pink sparkle fountain pen and my AD2000 Carbon fibre fountain pen.

[The Mad Monk]

E24man said:

Some pounds.

You really think it is worth 2,600 of them?

[SystemParanoia]

The Mad Monk said:

E24man said:

Some pounds.

You really think it is worth 2,600 of them?

Like a good watch, it will always have a strong retained value.

[Robbo 27]

The Mad Monk said:

You really think it is worth 2,600 of them?

Its personal choice.

I was in Montblanc in Canary Wharf looking for a 149, the assistant asked me if I would like to see a new pen to the range, she went to the safe and brought back a pen made from titanium with an £8000 price tag. Extremely heavy to use and not for me - or my wallet.

Montblanc bring out a number of limited and special editions, usually starting at over £1000, they say that every one they make has been ordered before it reaches the branch, instant sell out.

If you really want to spend some money on a pen have a look at the work of Jack Row, be prepared to spend north of £25,000 if you want one:

http://www.jackrow.com/

[E24man]

The Mad Monk said:

You really think it is worth 2,600 of them?

I would not, and did not, pay anywhere near that for it - is that what you are offering?

[Vroom101]

Robbo 27 said:

If you really want to spend some money on a pen have a look at the work of Jack Row, be prepared to spend north of £25,000 if you want one:

http://www.jackrow.com/

Flippin' hell! They're a bit posh! But then if you've got the money and that's your bag, then why the hell not? No different from somebody spending hundreds of thousands of pounds on a supercar (and we all know there are plenty of them).

[The Mad Monk]

E24man said:

The Mad Monk said:

You really think it is worth 2,600 of them?

I would not, and did not, pay anywhere near that for it - is that what you are offering?

You didn't seem to want to say how much you paid - which is your right, so I Googled....

https://howtospendit.ft.com/womens-style/3022-dunh...

[Treb0r]

I use a Lamy Safari at work and on the recommendation of this thread I bought a Jinhao 159 from eBay for the sum of £3 delivered (UK seller).
It's great!
The nib is very smooth and I love the extra weight compared to the plastic Safari. I find it helps my handwriting to "flow" a bit more and avoid being scratchy.
Thanks for the recommendation!

[Robbo 27]

The Mad Monk said:

You didn't seem to want to say how much you paid - which is your right, so I Googled....

https://howtospendit.ft.com/womens-style/3022-dunh...

However much it cost I am sure it is worth every penny, stunning looking pen with some very clever ideas.