Do you use a fountain pen?

Do you use a fountain pen?

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Robbo 27

3,605 posts

98 months

Monday 24th April 2017
quotequote all
Thats amazing Alex, I have seen work from professional pen repairers who do not achive this quality of results, the pattern on the pen is so vibrant, didnt even know what it was like before the restoration.

Impressive work.




Edited by Robbo 27 on Monday 24th April 08:13

Hosenbugler

1,854 posts

101 months

Monday 24th April 2017
quotequote all
Does anyone have a contact/source they can share for supply of Mont Blanc pens?

I cannot find anyone who sells these at less than full retail, or rather a specific model as such.

The pen in question at full retail is £610 , yet this apparently reputal company in the states is offering them at $468

http://www.jomashop.com/montblanc-114725.html?utm_...

Anyone?

Robbo 27

3,605 posts

98 months

Monday 24th April 2017
quotequote all
Hosenbugler said:
Does anyone have a contact/source they can share for supply of Mont Blanc pens?

I cannot find anyone who sells these at less than full retail, or rather a specific model as such.

The pen in question at full retail is £610 , yet this apparently reputal company in the states is offering them at $468

http://www.jomashop.com/montblanc-114725.html?utm_...

Anyone?
You may be able to obtain a small discount (5-10%) at Penshop but they dont usually sell anything other than the mainstream 145/6/9 range. Montblanc is very aggressive with discounters and can remove the dealership.

Buying from the US may attract duty and fees but will still be less than UK retail.


I dont know Jomashop, you will see that they have some mixed reviews:

https://uk.trustpilot.com/review/www.jomashop.com

I am sure that they sell the real deal but there are some suspect deals on the internet and I would be very careful about such advertised discounts or ebay offers. I know for example that you can buy a whole range of fake MBs in Singapore, not direct copies, enough differences to stop legal action from MB, but close enough. These copies are not worth buying at any price.





Edited by Robbo 27 on Monday 24th April 16:26

The Mad Monk

10,474 posts

116 months

Monday 24th April 2017
quotequote all
Robbo 27 said:
is very aggressive with discounters and can remove the dealership.
Is that legal nowadays?

Robbo 27

3,605 posts

98 months

Monday 24th April 2017
quotequote all
The Mad Monk said:
Is that legal nowadays?
I dont know MM, they are tough cookies at MB, I have seen them threaten legal action for using their pics, including threatening forum owners who allow such pics to be made available, they also take the attitude of we decide who sells our products. They specifically dont like cheap deals on the internet.



blugnu

1,523 posts

240 months

Monday 24th April 2017
quotequote all
The Mad Monk said:
Is that legal nowadays?
I don't believe it is, so I expect it wouldn't be the reason given for no longer supplying someone they didn't want to be a stockist, even if it was the real reason.

AlexC1981

4,904 posts

216 months

Monday 24th April 2017
quotequote all
Robbo 27 said:
Thats amazing Alex, I have seen work from professional pen repairers who do not achive this quality of results, the pattern on the pen is so vibrant, didnt even know what it was like before the restoration.

Impressive work.
Edited by Robbo 27 on Monday 24th April 08:13
Thanks. You can see on the post-wash photo how much better it looked after a wash and was still glossy from being wet. I bought it because it had no missing parts and I was curious to see what could be done with a really scrappy pen and I wanted to practice and learn the techniques on something cheap and relatively common before working on something really nice. I could not perfectly re-shape the end as the bite marks were so deep that to sand them out and get a good curve would see me going right through the plastic. Luckily the plastic was quite thick to start with. Saying that, I do like it and I'll definitely be using it at work. I might buy a better one at some point if it comes up at a good price as I like the design.

I've inked it up now and it's writing nicely. It just needed a tiny amount of smoothing on the 12000 micro-mesh. It writes better than my broad Pilot 78G. Bad writing and photo, but It's late and I'm due for bed!

DSC01034 by 1891CxelA, on Flickr




Robbo 27

3,605 posts

98 months

Tuesday 25th April 2017
quotequote all
You have done well with this pen, especially when you think of what you had to start with. Presumably the cap started life on different pen?


You could do with gaving a rummage through a pen dealers parts box at a pen show and see if you can find a blue marble barrel and a red marbled cap, I think there is a compete but poor condition in the red marbled Osmiroid pen on ebay now.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/OSMIROID-65-VINTAGE-FOUN...




Edited by Robbo 27 on Tuesday 25th April 07:07

SystemParanoia

14,343 posts

197 months

Tuesday 25th April 2017
quotequote all
what is the plastic part inside cap that allows is to snap onto the barrel called ?

i think mine is broken and i need to replace it.

smile

Robbo 27

3,605 posts

98 months

Tuesday 25th April 2017
quotequote all
SystemParanoia said:
what is the plastic part inside cap that allows is to snap onto the barrel called ?

i think mine is broken and i need to replace it.

smile
Called an inner cap or some call it a cap lining. A symptom of the break is that the cap is not held onto the pen. These can crack, it is repairable if you can manage to remove the lining from the cap.

Replacing a part will probably more difficult than a repair.

Hosenbugler

1,854 posts

101 months

Tuesday 25th April 2017
quotequote all
Robbo 27 said:
You may be able to obtain a small discount (5-10%) at Penshop but they dont usually sell anything other than the mainstream 145/6/9 range. Montblanc is very aggressive with discounters and can remove the dealership.
Buying from the US may attract duty and fees but will still be less than UK retail.
I dont know Jomashop, you will see that they have some mixed reviews:
https://uk.trustpilot.com/review/www.jomashop.com
I am sure that they sell the real deal but there are some suspect deals on the internet and I would be very careful about such advertised discounts or ebay offers. I know for example that you can buy a whole range of fake MBs in Singapore, not direct copies, enough differences to stop legal action from MB, but close enough. These copies are not worth buying at any price.
Interesting, you have addressed an issue I had in the back of my mind, that being fakes. I have had for years a specialist collecting hobby, and the presence of dangerous fakes in that field has accentuated the importance of the sources in buying from. Go outside those sources of relevant expertise and purchases need to be made with caution and much scrutiny.
The Chinese firms manufacturing cheap pens rings alarm bells for me, once they build their expertise, they could in theory churn out copies of many high priced branded goods. They already do in many spheres. At least you have confirmed my suspicions.

As for Montblanc, I'll steer away from them , I notice numerous brands can be bought from reliable sources at less than top retail, as it should be, compettion and all that.

I have my eyes on the Yard-o-led Grand Viceroy with the Barley finish. I'm hoping to get my beady eyes on one in the next fortnight or so. Seems its a oversize pen , so should have great presence. I have a bit of a fetish for silver , so should be a great writing pen . I'm thinking of a broad nib, to help enable expression in my writing. I'm aiming to keep a journal so will get regular use.

I'm thinking of using black registrar's ink , with grey, red, and green inks for highlighting, as I feel. I'll probably get myself some cheaper pens , probaby with medium nibs to use with those colours.

Decisions, decisions !

motco

15,919 posts

245 months

Tuesday 25th April 2017
quotequote all
It's interesting that you raise the subject of fakes. I was in Taipei a few years ago and my watch packed up leaving me floating somewhere twixt UK and Taiwan with no timepiece. I wandered about the city and found a jewellers selling nice looking unbranded cheap quartz analogue watches for a few Dollars so I went in. The proprietor asked which one I fancied and when I showed him the one (gold coloured case and face with plain hands called something Chinese) he then took me out the back of the shop into a back room. Once I realised I wasn't going to be mugged or knifed, it became clear that he was selling me the very same watch but now it was branded Rolex! Lovely looking watch for about US$10

Robbo 27

3,605 posts

98 months

Tuesday 25th April 2017
quotequote all
I thought you might like to see the pen I am using today, a Parker Vacumatic.

This particular pen was made in Canada in 1945 and is a great favourite of mine. The pen is called a Vacumatic due to the filling system, a plumger at the rear of the pen presses down on a rubber diaphragm expelling air through the nib, ink takes the place of the air when the plunger is released filling the barrel of the pen with ink.

These pens are becoming very difficult to find outside of collectors hands and they tend to start in price at around £50 for a pen needing attention, something rare or new and unused could be worth £500+. This pen is not in that league, sorry to say.

The writing sample is on Tomoe River paper, this paper is intended for the Midori Travellers notebook, very nice to use but exceptionally narrow width, unless your handwriting is very small I would be making sure that this size of notebook is suitable for you.












SystemParanoia

14,343 posts

197 months

Tuesday 25th April 2017
quotequote all
TSWBI vac inkwell.

perfect fill every time... as long as you have the right pen hehe



http://blog.gouletpens.com/2013/02/

SystemParanoia

14,343 posts

197 months

Tuesday 25th April 2017
quotequote all
Robbo 27 said:
SystemParanoia said:
what is the plastic part inside cap that allows is to snap onto the barrel called ?

i think mine is broken and i need to replace it.

smile
Called an inner cap or some call it a cap lining. A symptom of the break is that the cap is not held onto the pen. These can crack, it is repairable if you can manage to remove the lining from the cap.

Replacing a part will probably more difficult than a repair.
thanks for that Robbo.

I managed to use that to google various different ways of removing it from an assortment of pens.

Turns out it was a simple case of unscrewing the "jewel tip" removing the clip and pressing the exposed plastic threads with my thumb gently.
the inner cap was substantially cracked on the Platignum, so i have effected an temporary repair by wrapping it in selotape.

Im debating whether a gluegun and sandpaper would be a better option, or if there is something else i could try...

In the meantime, ill have to look out for a replacement inner cap.. i may get lucky some day hehe

AlexC1981

4,904 posts

216 months

Tuesday 25th April 2017
quotequote all
Robbo 27 said:
You have done well with this pen, especially when you think of what you had to start with. Presumably the cap started life on different pen?


You could do with gaving a rummage through a pen dealers parts box at a pen show and see if you can find a blue marble barrel and a red marbled cap, I think there is a compete but poor condition in the red marbled Osmiroid pen on ebay now.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/OSMIROID-65-VINTAGE-FOUN...




Edited by Robbo 27 on Tuesday 25th April 07:07
I already put a sneaky bid on. I can't help myself hehe

There is a blue/grey one here too, but there is a massive hole in the end of the barrel frown there's no saving that one. I couldnt help but notice that rather nice black Waterman in the bundle that doesn't look like it would need too much work scratchchin

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Osmiroid-French-Waterman...

One of the nice things about this hobby is that I can enjoy using the pens at work, so when I'm writing at work I'm actually enjoying the activity. I write much more now and I'm always looking for an excuse to pick the pen up. The Osmiroid has been completely flawless today being used for fast note taking in a meeting and all day generally.



Edited by AlexC1981 on Tuesday 25th April 22:19

AlexC1981

4,904 posts

216 months

Tuesday 25th April 2017
quotequote all
Robbo 27 said:
I thought you might like to see the pen I am using today, a Parker Vacumatic.
I think I've seen you post that pen before, very smart. I don't think people can appreciate the quality of decently made plastic. If something is light in weight it is associated with poor quality, whereas the opposite could well be the case. You only have to look how watches have grown in size and heft over the last few years.

ClockworkCupcake

74,404 posts

271 months

Tuesday 25th April 2017
quotequote all
AlexC1981 said:
I don't think people can appreciate the quality of decently made plastic. If something is light in weight it is associated with poor quality, whereas the opposite could well be the case.
I must admit (and I hope this doesn't cause any offence or appear ungrateful) that when the Platignum 75th Anniversary arrived from Exige77 my first reaction was how cheap and plasticky it seemed. paperbag

However, I've grown to really like the pen and it writes really well.

SystemParanoia

14,343 posts

197 months

Tuesday 25th April 2017
quotequote all
ClockworkCupcake said:
AlexC1981 said:
I don't think people can appreciate the quality of decently made plastic. If something is light in weight it is associated with poor quality, whereas the opposite could well be the case.
I must admit (and I hope this doesn't cause any offence or appear ungrateful) that when the Platignum 75th Anniversary arrived from Exige77 my first reaction was how cheap and plasticky it seemed. paperbag

However, I've grown to really like the pen and it writes really well.
I was also surprised by the lightness. i felt afraid i may break it whilst carrying it in a pocket or bottom of a bag.

It has since been kidnapped by my daughter as she prefers it to the 599 she had. she never did get on with the metal pens as they were too heavy.

Robbo 27

3,605 posts

98 months

Wednesday 26th April 2017
quotequote all
SystemParanoia said:
thanks for that Robbo.

I managed to use that to google various different ways of removing it from an assortment of pens.

Turns out it was a simple case of unscrewing the "jewel tip" removing the clip and pressing the exposed plastic threads with my thumb gently.
the inner cap was substantially cracked on the Platignum, so i have effected an temporary repair by wrapping it in selotape.

Im debating whether a gluegun and sandpaper would be a better option, or if there is something else i could try...

In the meantime, ill have to look out for a replacement inner cap.. i may get lucky some day hehe
There are some powerful adhesives around, wrapping the inner cap in a strong adhesive tape should work. Loctite have a strong adhesive called loctite epoxy plastic bonder, a twin tube glue. I think this is a US only product and may be worth finding if on business or holiday.