Do you use a fountain pen?

[C&C]

PieSlayer said:

Guys can you recommend me some black & brown ink please.
Do I really have to pay £25 a pot for the Mont Blanc stuff or is there a cheaper alternative?

There are lots of different inks available from the likes of
Cult Pens
The Writing Desk
at varying prices.

You don't need to pay £25 per pot.

Personally I've used both expensive and cheaper inks and found both to be pretty good.

Pelikan 4001, Rohrer and Klingner have both been really good.
Also Graf von Faber Castell and Pelikan Edelstein are very good (but expensive).
I've also used quite a few Diamine inks, which are really cheap especially in the small 30ml bottles.
Some people have reported issues with Diamine inks (not had a problem myself), but keep away from any of their shimmering inks as they contain little particles that can clog pens.

Also ensure you get fountain pen ink and not document/india ink as this can clog your pen really badly if allowed to dry.

Other general advice I've heard is that pen manufacturer inks are usually ok - so Parker, Sheaffer, Pelikan, Waterman, Pilot etc..

You can also buy ink samples to try a small amount of different inks before deciding which one you want to buy a full bottle of.

Funnily enough, I can't recommend a specific black as although I have probably 15 different colours of ink, black isn't one of them (although Graf von Faber Castell - Stone Grey is really nice, but not cheap).

[Robbo 27]

You guys are amazing!

[Robbo 27]

There are very few pen shops in the UK, especially independants. One that has just got going is in Shrewsbury called Write Here.

https://www.writeherekitenow.co.uk/contacts/

https://www.writeherekitenow.co.uk/about-write-her...

[Justayellowbadge]

Back with a new name.

40 grand for a tenner, anyone?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00M1BZH72?m=AEAT0VST2...

[ClockworkCupcake]

Justayellowbadge said:

Back with a new name.

40 grand for a tenner, anyone?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00M1BZH72?m=AEAT0VST2...

Hmmm. I wonder what the scam is? Surely either Amazon or the Credit Card company will do a refund and chargeback when they fail to deliver?

Or they are stolen goods, of course.

[Justayellowbadge]

ClockworkCupcake said:

Hmmm. I wonder what the scam is? Surely either Amazon or the Credit Card company will do a refund and chargeback when they fail to deliver?

Or they are stolen goods, of course.

Several weeks delivery time.

'Seller' is long gone, cloned/hacked/stolen account emptied and on their toes well before anything should land.

Until non delivery, they are meeting the terms.

Buyers lose nowt, Amazon fits the bill.


There are no items - it let me put 30 of those in my basket.

From a worldwide production of 10.

Edited by Justayellowbadge on Friday 21st July 23:09

[ClockworkCupcake]

Justayellowbadge said:

Several weeks delivery time.

'Seller' is long gone, cloned/hacked/stolen account emptied and on their toes well before anything should land.

Until non delivery, they are meeting the terms.

Buyers lose nowt, Amazon fits the bill.

Makes sense.

[TobyLerone]

As a left-hooker, are there any nice writing instruments that I am likely to get on with?

I've tried fountain pens before (albeit cheapo ones) and they feel extremely scratchy, and hard to write with. Not to mention I smudge 100% of the things I write.

I currently use cheap Pilot Precise V5 extra fine pens (see the pic below) - the best pens I've ever used. But I feel like there's far nicer things to write with.

Suggestions?

[Robbo 27]

ClockworkCupcake said:

Makes sense.

Amazon are giving returns now on the original seller, suggest you file a claim without waiting for the pen not to arrive and take the instant payment for a credit to your account.

It was too good to be true.

[ClockworkCupcake]

I managed to source a "new old stock" converter for my Waterman C/F, since the one that Robbo so kindly sent me was the more modern design and didn't fit. It cost £12 inc postage from Amazon, which seemed reasonable.



The new one was ever so slightly too long so I gently ground it down on a bench grinder and it now fits - just!



Inked it up, having first flushed the pen through with water, and it writes beautifully.

Edited by ClockworkCupcake on Monday 24th July 16:05

[Robbo 27]

ClockworkCupcake said:

I managed to source a "new old stock" converter for my Waterman C/F, since the one that Robbo so kindly sent me was the more modern design and didn't fit. It cost £12 inc postage from Amazon, which seemed reasonable.



The new one was ever so slightly too long so I gently ground it down on a bench grinder and it now fits - just!



Inked it up, having first flushed the pen through with water, and it writes beautifully.

This is good news CC, the Waterman CF has a complicated feed, I was concerned that you might have to take it apart for a good clean but the flushing has worked,Parker inks also have a patented cleaning agent within them, this may help.

Your particular Waterman in design terms looks like a modern design, actually over 50 years old. Nice job

Perhaps see if you can find a box for it


Had a nice find this morning, went into a Charity shop because there was something in the window that I thought would be ideal for a neighbour, asked at the counter if they ever got fountain pens in, she brought out a huge pot from under the counter which were all ball points apart from these three.



A Sheaffer Targa Slimline in a gold pattern called Feathers, a Lamy Logo which as never been used, and a no name pen in a black rubberised finish, they wanted 50p each but I didnt pay this small amount as the Sheaffer alone was worth 40 times that. It needs a special converter but is perfect apart from that

Edited by Robbo 27 on Monday 24th July 16:28

[ClockworkCupcake]

Robbo 27 said:

Had a nice find this morning, went into a Charity shop because there was something in the window that i thought would be ideal for a neighbour, asked at the counter if they ever got fountain pens in, she brought out a huge pot from under the counter which were all ball points apart from these three.

A Sheaffer Targa Slimline in a gold pattern called Feathers, a Lamy Logo which as never been used, and a no name pen in a black rubberised finish, they wanted 50p each but I didnt pay this small amount as the Sheaffer alone was worth 40 times that. It needs a special converter but is perfect apart from that

Oh what a great find! I will remember to ask when I'm in charity shops in future. It never occurred to me that pens would be an "under the counter" thing but it makes sense as they are so stealable.

Very good of you to donate more than was asked.

[RizzoTheRat]

Robbo 27 said:

ClockworkCupcake said:

Makes sense.

Amazon are giving returns now on the original seller, suggest you file a claim without waiting for the pen not to arrive and take the instant payment for a credit to your account.

It was too good to be true.

Interestingly I've just had an e-mail from Amazon saying mine's out for delivery..however it's due Friday 18 August and is coming by China Post I'm expecting it to be a Chinese copy rather than a real Pelikan M800 but watch this space.

[8Ace]

Two deliveries from eBay this week.

Parker Classic Flighter. Really delicate, slim pen that writes nicely.

Parker 75 Thuya. Have waned a P75 for some time and this is just lovely. Needs flushing out but the pen is is lovely condition. Something of a bargain too.

Not buying any more for a while. Honest.

[ClockworkCupcake]

8Ace said:

Not buying any more for a while. Honest.

Me neither.

(goes to check eBay again)

[C&C]

8Ace said:

Parker 75 Thuya. Have wanted a P75 for some time and this is just lovely. Needs flushing out but the pen is is lovely condition. Something of a bargain too.

Not buying any more for a while. Honest.

The Parker 75 (and the very similar Premiere) is one of my favourite pens.
Might be why I now have 4 75s and 2 premieres.

Interestingly, the latest I got was a silver Cisele cross-hatch pattern from a seller in Italy, which was also at a pretty good price. On arrival I was somewhat dismayed that it had a number (V3334) embossed into the section, which hadn't been visible in the advert:

P75_number by conradsphotos, on Flickr

I contacted the seller who said that basically all Parker 75s have a number on the section. I was a little sceptical as I had 3 others, none of which had the number, however, following a bit of further research, it turns out that the Italian market was treated differently to other markets, and indeed, all Italian P75s were embossed with a serial number on the section (I've read on at least one website that this was thought to be to help prevent fakes, although why just the 75 I'm not sure - maybe as they were the most expensive).

The silver ones also all have an additional tiny mark on them near the hallmark, with a star, a 3 digit number and a 2 letter code. The 3 digit number refers to the identity of the Italian silversmith that imported the pen and the 2 digit code refers to the city in which they are based.

As this all checks out, and as I actually found it interesting, I decided I was happy to keep the pen. The number looks worse in the photo, and the edges of the numbers will smooth out a little when I clean it up.

I just thought it was an interesting anecdote, and worthwhile knowing it you ever buy a P75 from an Italian seller!

Edited by C&C on Tuesday 25th July 10:54

[Robbo 27]

RizzoTheRat said:

Interestingly I've just had an e-mail from Amazon saying mine's out for delivery..however it's due Friday 18 August and is coming by China Post I'm expecting it to be a Chinese copy rather than a real Pelikan M800 but watch this space.

I am not aware of many, if any, copies of Pelikan pens, and I think piston fillers in general are too complicate to copy, I suppose that they could make a pen that looks like a Pelikan but be cartridge filled.

I asked amazon for my money back and have been refunded in full.

[Robbo 27]

CandC said:

The Parker 75 (and the very similar Premiere) is one of my favourite pens.
Might be why I now have 4 75s and 2 premieres.

Interestingly, the latest I got was a silver Cisele cross-hatch pattern from a seller in Italy, which was also at a pretty good price. On arrival I was somewhat dismayed that it had a number (V3334) embossed into the section, which hadn't been visible in the advert:

P75_number by conradsphotos, on Flickr

I contacted the seller who said that basically all Parker 75s have a number on the section. I was a little sceptical as I had 3 others, none of which had the number, however, following a bit of further research, it turns out that the Italian market was treated differently to other markets, and indeed, all Italian P75s were embossed with a serial number on the section (I've read on at least one website that this was thought to be to help prevent fakes, although why just the 75 I'm not sure - maybe as they were the most expensive).

The silver ones also all have an additional tiny mark on them near the hallmark, with a star, a 3 digit number and a 2 letter code. The 3 digit number refers to the identity of the Italian silversmith that imported the pen and the 2 digit code refers to the city in which they are based.

As this all checks out, and as I actually found it interesting, I decided I was happy to keep the pen. The number looks worse in the photo, and the edges of the numbers will smooth out a little when I clean it up.

I just thought it was an interesting anecdote, and worthwhile knowing it you ever buy a P75 from an Italian seller!

It is said that Parker put all their knowledge into the 75 when they designed and built it, it is certainly amongst the best modern pens they have made. They are really climbing in price, 10 years ago you could have had a choice at £25, now they are anywhere between £150 and £350.

The story behind the serial number doesnt take anything away, nice story, I havent seen that before but then I am always wary of buying or selling to Italy, always seems to be a problem with delivery.


By the way, the Italians made some really bad Parker 51 imitations in the 50s/60s, plunger filled and terrible plastics, they were sold in the UK during the early 60s and ruined many a school childs exercise book.

[ClockworkCupcake]

I just won a 1997 Parker Frontier in translucent purple in original box. I didn't even particularly want it so put in a low bid of £5 max (+£2.90 postage) and won it for just under that.

Oops.

Amusingly the seller described it as a "Parker Frontier IP", not realising that IP simply means it was made in the 3rd quarter of 1997.

[...]

Robbo 27 said:

This is good news CC, the Waterman CF has a complicated feed, I was concerned that you might have to take it apart for a good clean but the flushing has worked,Parker inks also have a patented cleaning agent within them, this may help.

Your particular Waterman in design terms looks like a modern design, actually over 50 years old. Nice job

Perhaps see if you can find a box for it


Had a nice find this morning, went into a Charity shop because there was something in the window that I thought would be ideal for a neighbour, asked at the counter if they ever got fountain pens in, she brought out a huge pot from under the counter which were all ball points apart from these three.



A Sheaffer Targa Slimline in a gold pattern called Feathers, a Lamy Logo which as never been used, and a no name pen in a black rubberised finish, they wanted 50p each but I didnt pay this small amount as the Sheaffer alone was worth 40 times that. It needs a special converter but is perfect apart from that

Edited by Robbo 27 on Monday 24th July 16:28

If you decide you hate the Lamy logo and wish to sell it, I'll take it off your hands