Do you use a fountain pen?

[ClockworkCupcake]

Robbo 27 said:

if the Chinese government stops subsidising the shipping costs

I always wondered how a business could make a profit on something where it would cost me more than that in postage alone. That makes a little more sense now.

[extraT]

I mentioned to my dad that, inspired by this thread, I was thinking of getting a fountain pen to try and improve my spider's crawl... he said 'don't bother' and gave me his Lamy. Good pen, writes nicely, great chassis- full metal jacket. Highly recommended.

[Robbo 27]

extraT said:

I mentioned to my dad that, inspired by this thread, I was thinking of getting a fountain pen to try and improve my spider's crawl... he said 'don't bother' and gave me his Lamy. Good pen, writes nicely, great chassis- full metal jacket. Highly recommended.

Lamy is a good brand, well made and 100% reliable. They have the added benefit of being able to swap nibs very easily too, takes 2 seconds.

Best way to improve your handwriting is with a lined notebook, write as neatly as you can one page a day. By the end of a month then you should really see an improvement. When you can write 888888888888888888 in a line and the first one is identical to the last you have probably made it, a skill that will stay with you for life.

[AlexC1981]

One of these Jinhao's with a ceramic barrel and decorated with plum blossom and birds would have made a nice mothers day gift. They also do a fountain pen version, but mum would never get around to refilling a fountain pen. Too late to order now, maybe I'll order one and put it away for next year or give as an extra birthday present.

[Robbo 27]

AlexC1981 said:

One of these Jinhao's with a ceramic barrel and decorated with plum blossom and birds would have made a nice mothers day gift. They also do a fountain pen version, but mum would never get around to refilling a fountain pen. Too late to order now, maybe I'll order one and put it away for next year or give as an extra birthday present.

It would have made a nice gift, she would remember the day every time she used it too.

Conway Stewart had the same idea in the 1950s, they produced a floral pattern pen especially aimed at the mothers gift market, they only made 200 and they sold for less than £2, they are now worth over £200 each.

[ClockworkCupcake]

I've been doing some research on that Sheaffer with the inlaid nib I mentioned earlier in the tread which I bought with unknown provenance at an Antiques Fair.

From what I can tell, I think it is a Sheaffer 440, with short diamond inlaid nib, cartridge with included converter, which was a pen made in the 1970's.

http://www.peytonstreetpens.com/sheaffer-440-imper...

So that's nice.

[Robbo 27]

ClockworkCupcake said:

I've been doing some research on that Sheaffer with the inlaid nib I mentioned earlier in the tread which I bought with unknown provenance at an Antiques Fair.

From what I can tell, I think it is a Sheaffer 440, with short diamond inlaid nib, cartridge with included converter, which was a pen made in the 1970's.

http://www.peytonstreetpens.com/sheaffer-440-imper...

So that's nice.

Yours has the special oblique nib too, making it more sought after that the regular fine and medium tipped pens on sale.

[motco]

Well, my X250 writes just as well as the X450. I bought Waterman's ink for it (Tender Purple) and my Good Lady tells me it's rather ghey!

[Robbo 27]

motco said:

Well, my X250 writes just as well as the X450. I bought Waterman's ink for it (Tender Purple) and my Good Lady tells me it's rather ghey!

Hmmm.

Notice that you said Good Lady instead of partner.

[ClockworkCupcake]

motco said:

Well, my X250 writes just as well as the X450. I bought Waterman's ink for it (Tender Purple) and my Good Lady tells me it's rather ghey!

I have Waterman's Tender Purple - it's a lovely colour. However, I don't feel that it has affected my sexuality in any way and find it odd that anyone might think that it could.

[ClockworkCupcake]

Robbo 27 said:

Yours has the special oblique nib too, making it more sought after that the regular fine and medium tipped pens on sale.

Indeed.

Incidentally, today it ran out of the ink it came with (a dark blue-black of unknown provenance) and I refilled it with Parker Quink permanent Black. It's flowing so much better now with this ink, to the extent that it is now running a little wet.

[motco]

Robbo 27 said:

motco said:

Well, my X250 writes just as well as the X450. I bought Waterman's ink for it (Tender Purple) and my Good Lady tells me it's rather ghey!

Hmmm.

Notice that you said Good Lady instead of partner.

Yep! For the avoidance of doubt!

[RizzoTheRat]

Away on work all week, got home yesterday to find my X450 had been delivered...but I'm away on work for the next week and a half and my bottle of ink is work. D'Oh.


I'm getting the occasional inky fingers with my fine nibbed 599. I think it splatters a bit of ink in the cap and then gets transferred to the grip. Writes nicely though, I definitely prefer it to my medium nibbed 159, which is making me wonder if I should have ordered the X450 and the 250 that's on it's way in fine rather than medium too. mind you at these prices I should probably buy each in both and just see which I prefer.

Edited by RizzoTheRat on Saturday 25th March 17:57

[Sway]

Gents, my birthday is coming up, and my other half let me know she's going to need some cash for my present...

Turns out, she was planning to buy me the glasses that correct colourblindness, only problem is that they have a low chance of success and are bloody expensive from the US.

So I'm thinking, perhaps 'she' could buy me a nicer pen than my current Lamy Al-Star...

Really like the idea of a piston filler, so naturally am drawn to the Pelikans.

Any thoughts on whether the M205 Aquamarine with bi-colour m400 nib upgrade would be 'worth' the £145?

I think it looks stunning, love the translucent body, and the 14k gold nib looks lovely.

[ClockworkCupcake]

Sway said:

Gents, my birthday is coming up, and my other half let me know she's going to need some cash for my present...

Reminds me of The Oatmeal's comic strip about "How different age groups celebrate Christmas" but it feels appropriate here too.

Edited by ClockworkCupcake on Saturday 25th March 18:38

[Robbo 27]

Sway said:

Gents, my birthday is coming up, and my other half let me know she's going to need some cash for my present...

Turns out, she was planning to buy me the glasses that correct colourblindness, only problem is that they have a low chance of success and are bloody expensive from the US.

So I'm thinking, perhaps 'she' could buy me a nicer pen than my current Lamy Al-Star...

Really like the idea of a piston filler, so naturally am drawn to the Pelikans.

Any thoughts on whether the M205 Aquamarine with bi-colour m400 nib upgrade would be 'worth' the £145?

I think it looks stunning, love the translucent body, and the 14k gold nib looks lovely.

The 205 is a very nice looking pen, if it has a fault it is a little bit short


It all depends on you, if you have smaller hands then this might work for you but if you can afford the difference I would go for the 400


I also really like to buy a matching leather case for a pen, keeps the pen looking good and helps prevent the pen getting lost. I know of a few people who have had their pen clipped on their inside jacket pocket, pulled out their wallet - with the pen - and it has either fallen and cracked or just plain lost. If ever you wanted to sell the pen it is also worth more with its correct case.




But having said all that I own the Pelikan M200 Coffee Creme, which I think looks great

Edited by Robbo 27 on Saturday 25th March 18:58

[Sway]

ClockworkCupcake said:

Sway said:

Gents, my birthday is coming up, and my other half let me know she's going to need some cash for my present...

Reminds me of The Oatmeal's comic strip about "How different age groups celebrate Christmas" but it feels appropriate here too.

Edited by ClockworkCupcake on Saturday 25th March 18:38

In this case, she's been struggling for years with a 'genetic' condition, only for a chance encounter a year ago leading to a proper diagnosis - so five months ago she had the first op to break and realign her femur, second leg will be in a few months.

So no work for her, and relying even more heavily on me for dosh. Not that I've any issue with that in the slightest.

Here's a link to the pen I'm thinking of:

http://www.pelikanpens.co.uk/acatalog/Pelikan-M205...

Oh, and you may not remember bud, but I bought a tent from you a few years ago - several most excellent holidays in it with the kids (still with the gaffer taped pole) and it's just been handed on to some very good friends to use with thier young daughter - bloody superb purchase, so thanks!

[flight147z]

My jinhao fell apart this week so got two months out of it. The lid cracked and came to pieces. Not sure whether to buy another or get the Lamy it's based on. Enjoyed using fountain pens again!

[Sway]

Robbo - I thought (and that pic seems to back it up) that the m200 and m400 were the same size?

Using a Lamy Al-Star thanks to this thread, in daily use at work. Don't use that posted as it doesn't really work, thought that if the length was an issue the Pelikan posts properly.

M600 is out of budget - couldn't justify double the price for a slightly longer body, plus I'm not as sold on the looks!

[uncinqsix]

Sway said:

Here's a link to the pen I'm thinking of:

http://www.pelikanpens.co.uk/acatalog/Pelikan-M205...

That looks really nice. If you were worried about size, another option might be one of the gold-nibbed Pilots like the Custom 74 or the Heritage 92 - they look to be closer to "full length."