Do you use a fountain pen?

[Robbo 27]

JiggyJaggy said:

I purchased a Porsche TecFlex gold/ss fountain pen today. It looks great. Can't wait to receive it. Stock pic below:

I have only held one of these pens and it was amazing, superbly made and well designed, could not fault it. The owner didnt want to let me write with it, some people are like that, but he said it was smooth and a delight to use. Also said that the balance was wrong if he tried to stick the cap on the end of the pen, which isnt a good idea with any pen.

His pen was an early version, this was around 2010 and had Porsche Design on the nib rather than PD, sure that it just a detail improvement.

I appreciate that you have already spent a lot of money on the pen but I would suggest spending just a little more on a Porsche leather pen case, it will keep the pen looking at its best and give some protection if it is ever dropped.

http://www.penbox.co.uk/porsche.pen.cases.htm

...and if you ever sell the pen it will fetch a higher price, pen with Porsche case.

[ClockworkCupcake]

Robbo 27 said:

The owner didnt want to let me write with it, some people are like that

Yes, my dad is like that with his Mont Blanc - as if a few words written in someone else's handwriting would instantly grind the nib into a different shape.

[Robbo 27]

ClockworkCupcake said:

Yes, my dad is like that with his Mont Blanc - as if a few words written in someone else's handwriting would instantly grind the nib into a different shape.

Some car owners too, short drive round the block will make the engine fall out.

[C&C]

Since I got the Parker 51 Vac (a couple of pages back), I also bid on an 51 Aero (1958) Alloy cap and blue/green body clearly being sold by someone just getting rid of it. It went for £35 partly due to lack of description and really bad photos, but since giving it a thorough soak, it's working really well. The body needs a bit of a polish, but really pleased.

Whilst looking further into fountain pens, I've become quite interested in how they work, and wouldn't mind potentially doing a bit of basic repair/improvement - at least being able to take them apart to give them a good clean.

There is some information on the web, but it seems that there are a couple of highly recommended books on the subject, which is why I'm posting this as it may be of interest to people.

One of the recommended books is "Pen Repair" by Marshall and Oldfield, so I went off in search of it only to find it's out of print with very little availability used (they only did limited print runs), and where it is available, it's stupidly expensive (seen it for upwards of £300, and cheapest I think was over £100).

Well in trying to track it down, I came across Laurence Oldfield's website - penpractice.com, and it seems that they are releasing the 4th edition next month for £32 +£4 uk delivery. I emailed him and very helpfully he's taking advanced orders. Just thought it might be of interest to people. Also the tools section on his website is really interesting as he makes all his own tools. Good to see some good old fashioned craftsmanship!


Finally, as I really like the Parker 51s, and was reading about Parkers in general, apparently regarded as one of the best Parkers is the Parker 75. So I was reading about these on parker75.com when I clicked on the left hand side on parker75/parker75 family tree/premier and saw a picture of the Chinese Laque version which I'm sure looked like a pen I'd seen on ebay. Anyway, ended up bidding on it and it's now on its way (see below - photos of actual pen).


I've promised myself not to get another pen for a good number of months and instead spend time using the ones I've got!


Oh, and the other thing, is I'd like to join several other people on this thread and thank Rob (Robbo 27) for his really interesting and useful contributions.




PP4 by conradsphotos, on Flickr

PP3 by conradsphotos, on Flickr

PP2 by conradsphotos, on Flickr

[Robbo 27]

Thats very kind of you, I really appreciate the compliment.

Laurence Oldfield is an amazing man, a now retired GP who has done a great deal in terms of finding out how to repair pens for the amateur, a mine of information, the book, written with Jim Marshall, is perfect for the pen repair person who wants to learn more.



If you are particularly interested in the Parker 51 there is a book written by David Shepherd on the Parker 51, it is out of print and hard to find but it is worth looking for if that is your interest. I have his books on the Parker Vacumatic and the Duofold, superbly produced and written.

http://www.penhome.co.uk/parker-51-book.html

You will also have found the parker 51 website,

http://parker51.com/

The Parker 75 is soaring in price, has been for the past 4 years or so, if you find one in good condition it is worth buying, some people say it is the best pen Parker have ever made, I can understand why that is said, although I really like the 51 for its simplicity and quality in design. If that is a pic of the actual Parker 75 that you have bought then you have done well, one of the most attractive finishes. A common problem is to see some wear and tear on the ring just above the nib, that one looks to be perfect.

You may wish to know that there is a series of Pen Shows throughout England, see the link below, the biggest is the London Writing Equipment Society show in October, very near Russell Square underground. The other shows are smaller and therefore friendlier. These are places to buy and sell and meet up, at least as much a social occaision as anything else.

http://www.ukpenshows.co.uk/show-locations/


Thank you again for the kind words.

Edited by Robbo 27 on Wednesday 22 March 14:09

[Exige77]

A few unused Schaefers I found in my desk

[Exige77]

[Exige77]

[Exige77]

[ClockworkCupcake]

Exige77 said:

I've always loved that design of Sheaffer.

I'm seeing my dad this weekend and hope to come away with the one he promised me, and possibly a Parker 51 of my grandmother's.

[Robbo 27]

Exige77 said:

A few unused Schaefers I found in my desk

They look superb, all in perfect condition. I think they are all cartridge pens, Sheaffer did some weird and wonderful filling systems including one called a Snorkel which produced a tube out from the nib so that the pen could be filled without having to clean the nib.




If you want to recommission them it should be a fairly simple process of flushing through.

Very nice pens to have.

[Vroom101]

[quote=C&C]Also the tools section on his website is really interesting as he makes all his own tools. Good to see some good old fashioned craftsmanship!
[/quote]

Those tools are fascinating!

In other pen related news, I've ordered another medium nibbed Jinhao X750 from China. Of all the pens I've bought recently, it's the one I'm most comfortable with. That surprises me because I thought I preferred slim, fine nibbed pens - turns out that's not true!

Oh, and another big thank you to Robbo27 for generously sharing his knowledge and enthusiasm

Edited by Vroom101 on Wednesday 22 March 16:16

[ClockworkCupcake]

Vroom101 said:

In other pen related news, I've ordered another medium nibbed Jinhao X750 from China. Of all the pens I've bought recently, it's the one I'm most comfortable with. That surprises me because I thought I preferred slim, fine nibbed pens - turns out that's not true!

Same here. Out of all the Jinhao and Hero pens I have bought so far, I think I like the X750 the most too, although the X450 continuously drying out on me doesn't endear itself to me. Talking of which, that Hero 448 dried out again.

Incidentally, if you're buying another X750 and don't have the Lava Red yet then give it a go - I think it looks really good.

Vroom101 said:

Oh, and another big thank you to Robbo27 for generously sharing his knowledge and enthusiasm

Yes, indeed.

[Vroom101]

ClockworkCupcake said:

Vroom101 said:

In other pen related news, I've ordered another medium nibbed Jinhao X750 from China. Of all the pens I've bought recently, it's the one I'm most comfortable with. That surprises me because I thought I preferred slim, fine nibbed pens - turns out that's not true!

Same here. Out of all the Jinhao and Hero pens I have bought so far, I think I like the X750 the most too, although the X450 continuously drying out on me doesn't endear itself to me. Talking of which, that Hero 448 dried out again.

Incidentally, if you're buying another X750 and don't have the Lava Red yet then give it a go - I think it looks really good.

Yep, Lava Red was the one I went for originally. It certainly looks more expensive than the few quid it cost! I've ordered a cream coloured one this time, simply so I can tell them apart when I fill them with different ink.

[Vroom101]

Cupcake, do the X750 and X450 have different nibs? What other differences are there?

[Robbo 27]

Vroom101 said:

Oh, and another big thank you to Robbo27 for generously sharing his knowledge and enthusiasm

Edited by Vroom101 on Wednesday 22 March 16:16

Thank you.

[JAGS]

I have a spare bottle of 60 ML Mont Blanc Lavender Purple ink that I have used a handful of times at best.

Not too keen on using it further, so it is free to anyone who will be able to make use of it.

First come, first serve etc etc.

[JiggyJaggy]

I would love that seeing as my company colours are purple and my name is also Jag!

[JAGS]

Done!

Please PM me where you want it sent to.

Will get it out tomorrow.

[Robbo 27]

I havent worked on either the 450 or the 750, both are on their way. If the ink is not flowing properly can I suggest that you look at the pen with the barrel removed, nib pointing down. is there an air pocket that is keeping the ink at the top of the converter?

Whilst you are looking make sure that the converter is properly seated into the section, give it a firm push.

If there is, this could be due to surface tension in the converter. Empty the pen and make up solution of warm water and a drop of washing up liquid or hair shampoo. Flush the pen several times. This is to remove any oils from the manufacturing process.

Then refill the pen with ink. If you had a surface tension problem it will now have gone away.

CC - if you have this as a problem with the Hero, try this same process.

If you still have a problem with the pen drying out then some people say to make a better seal in the cap using melted wax. I have just been looking at my 250 and it seals perfectly so I cannot see this as a problem, its also not an issue with my 159s.

This has to be a straightforward fix, it should not be happening.