Do you use a fountain pen?

Do you use a fountain pen?

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C&C

3,277 posts

220 months

Tuesday 19th September 2017
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A further addition arrived today, and for a change it's not another Parker:

Mabie Todd Swan self filler in a slightly unusual colour/pattern.
The (black) lever is stiff, so it's going to need a sac replacement, which I'm getting quite used to these days.

I really like the colour and I like the nib even more - it's an original Swan no.2 nib which is very flexible.
Been looking for a decent pen with a full flex nib for some time, but they all seem to go for £100+ as soon as flex is mentioned in the ad. The ad for this one didn't mention it was flexible, and I got it for a shade under £60 incl postage.

Now I need to start to learn how to write with a flex nib as it's not at all obvious when/how one should vary the pressure! smile

MT_Swan2 by conradsphotos, on Flickr

MT_Swan3 by conradsphotos, on Flickr

MT_Swan4 by conradsphotos, on Flickr

MT_Swan1 by conradsphotos, on Flickr




Robbo 27

3,605 posts

98 months

Tuesday 19th September 2017
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Nib looks great, no cracks and no bite marks, I cannot see much in the way of brassing.

Sac replacements are easy on these lever filled Swans as long as glue hasnt been used.

This was a bargain price, I saw one in Penfriend in Burlington Arcade at £400, ok most expensive shop in the country.

If ever you see a Swan with a 4, 6 or 8 nib,and its a reasonable price, buy it, whatever the condition of the pen, they are worth hundreds of pounds just for the nib.

Best of luck with a flexy nib, I struggle with them because I tend to write too fast, from the side and to rotate the pen but its a special skill if you can master it.

Robbo 27

3,605 posts

98 months

Wednesday 20th September 2017
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The London Pen show is on October 1, I think this is the biggest in Europe and a great many stands of vintage and modern pens, notebooks, spare parts, and everything else thats pen related.

Two minute walk from Russell Square tube or about a 10 minute walk from Kings Cross. £5 entry.

C&C

3,277 posts

220 months

Thursday 28th September 2017
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Robbo 27 said:



The London Pen show is on October 1, I think this is the biggest in Europe and a great many stands of vintage and modern pens, notebooks, spare parts, and everything else thats pen related.

Two minute walk from Russell Square tube or about a 10 minute walk from Kings Cross. £5 entry.
Thanks for the heads up Rob.

As I'm in NW London, and nothing planned for Sunday, I'll definitely pop along there.
I need a gold ring for a Parker Vacumatic (one that surrounds the jewel), so looks like the place to try, as well as a bunch of different sized sacs etc.

Anyone else going along?
Might be a chance for a meet and a beer, or coffee etc... ?
Would be interesting to actually meet some of the what have now become regular contributors to this thread, and see some of the pens in real life as it were??




FredAstaire

2,336 posts

211 months

Friday 29th September 2017
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recently bought a twsbi eco. Its actually a bit chunky in the grip for me, i'd prefer something slimmer. And occasionally the ink stops flowing.

Have a jinhao on its way - a dragon one. Totally tack, but i look forward to turning up to meetings with it.

dapprman

2,309 posts

266 months

Friday 29th September 2017
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I'll be at the London Writing Equipment Show - meeting up with the London Pen Club before hand. Got a pen to discuss with John Sorowka (so will be getting in early) and will also be nervous of Sarj and Conid's tables.

tobinen

9,178 posts

144 months

Friday 29th September 2017
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A local-to-me sale coming up. Lots of Parkers going under the hammer. May be of interest to threadists: http://www.dreweatts.com/media/dreweatts/auctions/...

Skip to page 31 for the pens

Sway

26,070 posts

193 months

Friday 29th September 2017
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Just seen an announcement for the new Pelikan m805...

Pretty much perfect to this viewer, merely need to rustle up the cash over the next couple of months.

dapprman

2,309 posts

266 months

Friday 29th September 2017
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I'm glad I can't stand the nibs in the M80x series (plus M20x/M40x and M60x) else there's been a few I'd have fallen for including this one. Having said that the Renaissance disappoints me in real life (and is yet another case of too much photoshop touch up in the adverts), but the Grand Place - oh boy (and actually looks even better if you put a normal black cap on). I'm also glad they don't seem to do the specials on the M100x series as the couple I've tried I've rather liked.

Should point out I'm one of those people who want the nib to be to my style out of the box, not needing to be adjusted.

C&C

3,277 posts

220 months

Saturday 30th September 2017
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Robbo 27 said:
If ever you see a Swan with a 4, 6 or 8 nib,and its a reasonable price, buy it, whatever the condition of the pen, they are worth hundreds of pounds just for the nib.
Hi Rob, not sure that they are worth quite that amount, but in any case, found a decent condition Swan with no.4 nib, which after a bit of cleaning up and polishing I have to say I'm pretty pleased with. Has a new sac as well, and interesting lever-less fill system. Also love the colour smile:

MT_4_4 by conradsphotos, on Flickr


MT_4_3 by conradsphotos, on Flickr


MT_4_1 by conradsphotos, on Flickr


MT_4_2 by conradsphotos, on Flickr


P.S. Are you going to the London Writing Equipment Show tomorrow? It would be good to meet up with the person behind the Robbo 27 posts! smile



Edited due to moving pics on FlickR breaking links.

Edited by C&C on Tuesday 3rd October 10:23

ClockworkCupcake

74,390 posts

271 months

Sunday 1st October 2017
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C+C said:
Hi Rob, not sure that they are worth quite that amount, but in any case, found a decent condition Swan with no.4 nib, which after a bit of cleaning up and polishing I have to say I'm pretty pleased with. Has a new sac as well, and interesting lever-less fill system. Also love the colour smile:
Oh that's gorgeous. I love the colour. cloud9

Robbo 27

3,605 posts

98 months

Tuesday 3rd October 2017
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That Swan is extremely nice, the Twist fillers wee made for just a short time, as you may know there is a metal bar inside the pen that compresses the sac, it isnt very efficient but still good a good pen. I am no expert on the numbering, usually on the end of the barrel which tells you the pattern and original nib size, either 2, 4 or 6.

Sorry, I missed your post about the meet up.

The show was busy, baking hot inside the hotel - the air conditioning just couldnt cope. Didnt buy too much, an all gold Parker 51, a 1931 Parker Streamline Junior, a new Conklin crescent filler, and a Pelikan M800, last one was lunch money, I couldnt resist it. Also got some Leuchtturm notebooks, £10 reduced to £2 and some inks and repair stuff.

Only bit of bad news was that there was some fake £10 notes in circulation and being given out by one particular seller, including one to me. They had a watermark and the metal strip but a were a new, old style note, the paper felt a bit odd and the printing was not perfect. Someone else handed another one of these notes to the show organiser and the vendor was asked to close up and leave or the police would be called.

Wasnt especially looking for Mabie Todds but I dont remember seeing many at the show, last year there were a few around but too expensive.

Hope you enjoyed the show.


Grandmia Pens made a video of the show, must have been shot twowards the end of day because it looks quiet.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jOeNDFfLobM






Edited by Robbo 27 on Tuesday 3rd October 04:11

ClockworkCupcake

74,390 posts

271 months

Tuesday 3rd October 2017
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Robbo 27 said:
Grandmia Pens made a video of the show
I misread that as "Grandma Pens" and envisaged a wizened knowledgeable old lady dispensing the wisdom of the ages about writing implements. hehe

dapprman

2,309 posts

266 months

Tuesday 3rd October 2017
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Robbo 27 said:
The show was busy, baking hot inside the hotel - the air conditioning just couldnt cope. Didnt buy too much, an all gold Parker 51, a 1931 Parker Streamline Junior, a new Conklin crescent filler, and a Pelikan M800, last one was lunch money, I couldnt resist it.
Think you meant the middle one wink - by the time I found out and got there (via lunch ...) he had sold out.

Integroo

11,574 posts

84 months

Tuesday 3rd October 2017
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I can't. I chew pens to death. I must go through five a day.

C&C

3,277 posts

220 months

Saturday 14th October 2017
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I have a latest eBay acquisition which I'm very, very pleased with, but a little unsure of the exact identification.

Given it's a Parker and marked Made in England on the cap and the aerometric converter, it should be easy to identify, but I haven't found a picture of an identical one anywhere. Looked at Parker APIS site, Parker 51.com and searched several forums.

Pretty sure it's either a Parker 51 or maybe a 61.
My instinct is that it's a Parker 51 Demi Insignia but a late model with a jewel end rather than the rounded end to the body - it has the 51 clutch ring and no arrow on the section.

It was just advertised as a Parker Lady pen and the ebay photos weren't clear as to whether it had several dents in the body:

P51d_ad2 by conradsphotos, on Flickr

P51d_ad1 by conradsphotos, on Flickr



Well, I took a risk and put a bid via a sniper site with a max of £50.

It finished at £25.15 including £4 delivery.

It arrived this morning and I was very pleasantly surprised. I've given it a clean and polish and have to say I'm very happy with the results....








P51d_1 by conradsphotos, on Flickr

P51d_2 by conradsphotos, on Flickr

P51d_3 by conradsphotos, on Flickr

P51d_4 by conradsphotos, on Flickr

P51d_5 by conradsphotos, on Flickr

P51d_8 by conradsphotos, on Flickr

P51d_6 by conradsphotos, on Flickr



Finally, shown with a standard Parker 51 for size comparison:


P51d_7 by conradsphotos, on Flickr


Robbo 27

3,605 posts

98 months

Saturday 14th October 2017
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The pen is a Parker Lady 17 Insignia, also called just Lady Insignia.

It looks unusued, the gold filled cap and barrel look unmarked and the sac is perfect.

The nibs on these pens are often broad and very smooth. If they have a fault it is that they are a little short for large hands unless you post the cap, which many people dont like to do.

Really nice find.


C&C

3,277 posts

220 months

Saturday 14th October 2017
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Robbo 27 said:
The pen is a Parker Lady 17 Insignia, also called just Lady Insignia.

It looks unusued, the gold filled cap and barrel look unmarked and the sac is perfect.

The nibs on these pens are often broad and very smooth. If they have a fault it is that they are a little short for large hands unless you post the cap, which many people dont like to do.

Really nice find.
Hi Rob - yep - looks like you're right in it being a Lady 17 Insignia - many thanks for such a quick ID.

It has been used (ink in the converter, and there was some in the nib/feed), but very little and the exterior is as close to mint as doesn't make a lot of difference.

Thanks.





Celtic Dragon

3,160 posts

234 months

Tuesday 17th October 2017
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Dad came down yesterday so a few pens also turned up biggrin

I knew there was a Lady Sheaffer fountain pen, but it turns out it has its corresponding ball point too.

The complete surprise was the 2 Parkers, which I think are 45's, certainly the shape fits, both with metal cages squeeze fill sacks. One all stainless case and one stainless, with what looks like a black plastic end cap.




ClockworkCupcake

74,390 posts

271 months

Tuesday 17th October 2017
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Celtic Dragon said:
The complete surprise was the 2 Parkers, which I think are 45's, certainly the shape fits, both with metal cages squeeze fill sacks. One all stainless case and one stainless, with what looks like a black plastic end cap.
Parker refer to their all-stainless models as a "Flighter".

The Parker 45 Flighter went through several iterations, some of which had plastic end caps.