Discussion
^ Exactly the same as my old Schaeffer, well, except the degree and diploma bit, but ditto with the blue/black.
I've a couple of Rotring 600s kicking about as well, I think I got the whole set (tri-colour, f/p fine & med, pencil, rollerball etc). They are sturdy and hefty pens no doubt.
I've a couple of Rotring 600s kicking about as well, I think I got the whole set (tri-colour, f/p fine & med, pencil, rollerball etc). They are sturdy and hefty pens no doubt.
nigelpugh7 said:
I personally have MontBlanc and Cross Fountain Pens, that I use all the time, but the Pen I own and really love is my Rotring as well as the Pencil too!!
Not sure if you can buy them any more, but ebay seem to have some options.
From a weight and balance point of view, the Rotring is hard to beat, its also very engineering tech if you know what I mean!!
I have a few MB's too, but likewise I love my Lava Rotring 600:Not sure if you can buy them any more, but ebay seem to have some options.
From a weight and balance point of view, the Rotring is hard to beat, its also very engineering tech if you know what I mean!!
Often overlooked, but Alfred Dunhill pens are beautiful writing instruments. I've used this pen daily for the past 11 years
This one is a limited edition "AD2000" model to celebrate the millenium. Carbon fibre body, palladium metal. Dunhill made 2000 pieces each of the fountain, rollerball and ball point. This one's the ball point. I've not used my Mont Blanc since I've had this. For writing comfort, weight and size, for me, it's nigh on perfect.
This one is a limited edition "AD2000" model to celebrate the millenium. Carbon fibre body, palladium metal. Dunhill made 2000 pieces each of the fountain, rollerball and ball point. This one's the ball point. I've not used my Mont Blanc since I've had this. For writing comfort, weight and size, for me, it's nigh on perfect.
LooneyTunes said:
Nice thing about those ^^^ is that the lacquer over the CF is very robust and doesn't seem to scratch... although watching others try to figure out how to make them work can be amusing! 
Agreed. The lacquer is very good quality, though I've dropped it and have some very fine scratches, but it's travelled the world with me and is in fantastic condition.Also, have to praise the after-sales services. I had the pen for about 6 years, and was on a business trip and manage to drop it on it's nib end (though the pen itself was retracted). The net result was the tip bent in and I couldn't use the pen as the dent fouled the opening and caught the refill, effectively blocking it.
Took it into Alfred Dunhill on New Bond Street, fully expecting and prepared to pay for the repair. The guy took it from me, went upstairs, 2 minutes later, all fixed. I asked, how much. No charge at all. I checked the nib area. It wasn't even repaired, completely new part. I asked him if he was sure there was no charge, his reply was "thank you for buying our writing instrument". Made me a fan of the brand.
As for watching others try to figure out the mechanism, agreed, it's definitely amusing watching them twist and pull with a vengeance!
Fas1975 said:
Also, have to praise the after-sales services. I had the pen for about 6 years, and was on a business trip and manage to drop it on it's nib end (though the pen itself was retracted). The net result was the tip bent in and I couldn't use the pen as the dent fouled the opening and caught the refill, effectively blocking it.
Took it into Alfred Dunhill on New Bond Street, fully expecting and prepared to pay for the repair. The guy took it from me, went upstairs, 2 minutes later, all fixed. I asked, how much. No charge at all. I checked the nib area. It wasn't even repaired, completely new part. I asked him if he was sure there was no charge, his reply was "thank you for buying our writing instrument". Made me a fan of the brand.
That IS impressive!Took it into Alfred Dunhill on New Bond Street, fully expecting and prepared to pay for the repair. The guy took it from me, went upstairs, 2 minutes later, all fixed. I asked, how much. No charge at all. I checked the nib area. It wasn't even repaired, completely new part. I asked him if he was sure there was no charge, his reply was "thank you for buying our writing instrument". Made me a fan of the brand.
Regret not having bought the AD2000 FP when I saw one...
OK, so this is slightly fortuitous for me, as I am now in the market for a Fountain Pen, so rather than starting a new thread, thought I would use this one.
Having looked at the suggestions made in this thread, plus having taken a look at a local shop and their stock, I like the Pelikan M800 and the Cross Apogee. The M800 is too much, unless I can find one 2nd hand, which having looked around does not seem likely. The Apogee whilst nice, is not quite what I like, no idea why, its an aesthetic thing I think.
So any other suggestions greatly appreciated, I'm a leftie, so in theory need an oblique nib(or so I'm told) and the budget is around £100.
Having looked at the suggestions made in this thread, plus having taken a look at a local shop and their stock, I like the Pelikan M800 and the Cross Apogee. The M800 is too much, unless I can find one 2nd hand, which having looked around does not seem likely. The Apogee whilst nice, is not quite what I like, no idea why, its an aesthetic thing I think.
So any other suggestions greatly appreciated, I'm a leftie, so in theory need an oblique nib(or so I'm told) and the budget is around £100.
£100 and a leftie makes for a difficult combination I'm afraid.
You might get lucky at one of the pen fairs and see something pre-owned that you like and works for you. Would take time (and probably spending more time talking pens than you probably want to devote).
Buying new it is probably a case of getting into the shops and trying a few. At that price level I really like the Cross Townsend (especially the titanium) but not sure what they do in terms of nibs.
The other consideration is going to be ink. Visit somewhere that REALLY knows pens and inks - Penfriend (London) gets my vote - and see what you can find that balances flow rate with speed of drying. Some pens write very wet, and some inks dry slowly. You probably want a combination of relatively dry and fast drying if you're to minimise the risk of smudging BUT not too dry that it affects the handling of the pen.
You might get lucky at one of the pen fairs and see something pre-owned that you like and works for you. Would take time (and probably spending more time talking pens than you probably want to devote).
Buying new it is probably a case of getting into the shops and trying a few. At that price level I really like the Cross Townsend (especially the titanium) but not sure what they do in terms of nibs.
The other consideration is going to be ink. Visit somewhere that REALLY knows pens and inks - Penfriend (London) gets my vote - and see what you can find that balances flow rate with speed of drying. Some pens write very wet, and some inks dry slowly. You probably want a combination of relatively dry and fast drying if you're to minimise the risk of smudging BUT not too dry that it affects the handling of the pen.
Beachbum - I'm sinistromanual and I don't need an oblique nib. I need something - my handwriting looks like the trail left by a spider after a particularly heavy night - but an oblique nib isn't it.
Have a look at how you write - if the heel of your hand naturally sits below the line of your writing, then just go pen-shopping as if you were inferior and wrote with The Hand Of The Drooling Masses.
The only constraint I have is that really broad nibs don't work well for me. The medium nib my Duofold came with, though, is just fine.
There's no substitute for a test drive, though.
Have a look at how you write - if the heel of your hand naturally sits below the line of your writing, then just go pen-shopping as if you were inferior and wrote with The Hand Of The Drooling Masses.
The only constraint I have is that really broad nibs don't work well for me. The medium nib my Duofold came with, though, is just fine.
There's no substitute for a test drive, though.
I'm another leftie who has never needed an oblique nib.
Try a few pens and I'd be surprised if you notice much difference Beachbum. You may find a 2nd hand pen worked in by a right handed person may be scratchy, but that can be the case with any 2nd hand pen.
In my experience if you find a new pen with the right weight and feel for you, the nib will settle to your style over time.
I've been using a Caran d'Ache (Leman, I think) for the last 7 years, and from new it took a couple of months to really settle in, but is the smoothest and most comfortable pen for my style I've ever had (even better than my trusty school Parker 25
)
ETA, a little like the Commander, I can only use fine nibs if I want the reader to be able to actually distinguish letters in my scrawl...
Try a few pens and I'd be surprised if you notice much difference Beachbum. You may find a 2nd hand pen worked in by a right handed person may be scratchy, but that can be the case with any 2nd hand pen.
In my experience if you find a new pen with the right weight and feel for you, the nib will settle to your style over time.
I've been using a Caran d'Ache (Leman, I think) for the last 7 years, and from new it took a couple of months to really settle in, but is the smoothest and most comfortable pen for my style I've ever had (even better than my trusty school Parker 25
)ETA, a little like the Commander, I can only use fine nibs if I want the reader to be able to actually distinguish letters in my scrawl...
Edited by nelly_h on Tuesday 27th September 22:21
I have to say that having used the Pelikan for a few weeks now it is fantastic to write with. I think I've fallen a bit lucky really but definitely money well spent. The Pelikan ink is perfect for now (and reasonable value) but I may experiment in time. I'm also convinced that my writing style has improved.
Thanks to all for the advice.
Thanks to all for the advice.
Damn this thread! The myu looks absolutely stunning, I need one! Might see if I can find something similar until I have the funds for a NOS one, does anyone know if there is a Parnis or alpha-esque homage? I've done a bit of googling and it seems hero do an integrated nib model (the 850?) but I can't find one for sale!
Can anyone suggest a suitable bricks and mortar shop near Bristol/Bath where I can try before I buy? It's all very well looking at online shops, but I need to try them out, as I've previously owned pens which I just can't write with. I'd prefer to buy vintage, but a suitably refined modern would get my money too!
Thanks in advance!
Thanks in advance!
Fas1975 said:
Often overlooked, but Alfred Dunhill pens are beautiful writing instruments. I've used this pen daily for the past 11 years
This one is a limited edition "AD2000" model to celebrate the millenium. Carbon fibre body, palladium metal. Dunhill made 2000 pieces each of the fountain, rollerball and ball point. This one's the ball point. I've not used my Mont Blanc since I've had this. For writing comfort, weight and size, for me, it's nigh on perfect.
I've almost got three complete sets of these now - a set of a fountain pen, ballpen and propelling pencil in both red and blue laquer and a fountain pen and ballpen in carbon fibre - I'm still on the lookout for a carbon fibre propelling pencil if anyone has one?This one is a limited edition "AD2000" model to celebrate the millenium. Carbon fibre body, palladium metal. Dunhill made 2000 pieces each of the fountain, rollerball and ball point. This one's the ball point. I've not used my Mont Blanc since I've had this. For writing comfort, weight and size, for me, it's nigh on perfect.
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