Do you use a fountain pen?

[dapprman]

CVP said:

Franklin-Christoph are perfectly happy to post to the UK.

And may, or may not also be inventive on the customs slip. I've had three orders with them:
1. 66 Stablis in Antique Glass with a fine SIG steel nib.
2. 45 XV in blue/pink swirls - advertised on Facebook, sold out in 2 minutes, I got lucky - Medium steel SIG nib.
3. 20 pen folder from their discount section plus a bottle of Midnight Emerald ink.
Also managed to get a second hand, once used only 20 Marietta in Tiger Red (steel medium) at the London Pen Show last month.

[The Mad Monk]

I haven't bought a new fountain pen for a while. i am getting withdrawal symptoms.

Any suggestions?

[dapprman]

What's your budget ? After dodging for about 3 months I finally bought one of these with the flex nib in their 'black Friday' 15% off weekend event. I'm being a good boy aside from that (though tempted by a Pilot Custom 823 if i can get one at the 'right' price0.

[Robbo 27]

The trouble with buying pens from America as shown above, is that you risk some hefty additional charges if the pen is worth more than £15.

[dapprman]

Yup which is why I hummed and hawed over buying a Himalaya for so long.

[soad]

Clearance fee (by RM/ParcelFarce) is a major pita.

[The Mad Monk]

dapprman said:

What's your budget ? After dodging for about 3 months I finally bought one of these with the flex nib in their 'black Friday' 15% off weekend event. I'm being a good boy aside from that (though tempted by a Pilot Custom 823 if i can get one at the 'right' price0.

I am afraid I have been spoilt by Jinhao prices. Become very mean in my old age.

[Robbo 27]

The Mad Monk said:

I am afraid I have been spoilt by Jinhao prices. Become very mean in my old age.

I know just what you mean, you can spend £5 on a Jinhao and have a pen that works well, I am not sure that you get anything 10 times better when you spend £50+, a little more prestige perhaps. if you would like to try a Parker Frontier I would be happy to put one in the post.

I used to recommend Twsbi as the next step up at around £30 but I hear more and more tales of cracking plastics, stuck pistons and loose nibs and feeds, unless they are used regularly and you dont take them apart.

Edited by Robbo 27 on Thursday 30th November 14:25

[8Ace]

Been a bit quiet for a while on the buying front, but recently got busier with the acquisition of a TWSBI Eco and Lamy Safari from Cult Pens.
Also picked up two Sheaffer Targas from eBay. Paid about £22 for each as the auctions finished at funny times, so feel I got a reasonable deal for these.

One is the Fluted gold plated finish (1005), one is the Chrome plated lined one (1000). They look lovely side by side.

For pictures of the model numbers, and to see what these look like have a look at www.sheaffertarga.com

This is a starting point really, what i really want is to have a pair, one gold and one silver Targa, in the gorgeous barleycorn finish (numbers 1009 and 1026 respectively).

[Robbo 27]

8Ace said:

Been a bit quiet for a while on the buying front, but recently got busier with the acquisition of a TWSBI Eco and Lamy Safari from Cult Pens.
Also picked up two Sheaffer Targas from eBay. Paid about £22 for each as the auctions finished at funny times, so feel I got a reasonable deal for these.

One is the Fluted gold plated finish (1005), one is the Chrome plated lined one (1000). They look lovely side by side.

For pictures of the model numbers, and to see what these look like have a look at www.sheaffertarga.com

This is a starting point really, what i really want is to have a pair, one gold and one silver Targa, in the gorgeous barleycorn finish (numbers 1009 and 1026 respectively).

Those Targas were a bargain, at least half price. The targa site is down this morning so I couldnt see if the model numbers are for the slimline or the regular targa.

The Slimline Targa cartridges are now obsolete, so if anyone else finds one it should ideally be sold with a converter although the Waterman Mini cartridges should fit, all the other cartridges are too wide to fit down the slim barrel.

[8Ace]

Robbo 27 said:

8Ace said:

Been a bit quiet for a while on the buying front, but recently got busier with the acquisition of a TWSBI Eco and Lamy Safari from Cult Pens.
Also picked up two Sheaffer Targas from eBay. Paid about £22 for each as the auctions finished at funny times, so feel I got a reasonable deal for these.

One is the Fluted gold plated finish (1005), one is the Chrome plated lined one (1000). They look lovely side by side.

For pictures of the model numbers, and to see what these look like have a look at www.sheaffertarga.com

This is a starting point really, what i really want is to have a pair, one gold and one silver Targa, in the gorgeous barleycorn finish (numbers 1009 and 1026 respectively).

Those Targas were a bargain, at least half price. The targa site is down this morning so I couldnt see if the model numbers are for the slimline or the regular targa.

The Slimline Targa cartridges are now obsolete, so if anyone else finds one it should ideally be sold with a converter although the Waterman Mini cartridges should fit, all the other cartridges are too wide to fit down the slim barrel.

Thanks Robbo - I'm writing with the gold Targa now. It's beautiful, exceptionally smooth and a lovely balance. It's taken 36 hours to clean out though - there was the remains of what looked like an entire cartridge dried into it.

It came with three slimline cartridges (one of which I'm using now), but I ordered a converter from Cult Pens. The other Targa came with a converter, so I now have two.

The pens are both the regular (non-slimline) model. I think the slimline ones would be a bit too slender.

[Robbo 27]

8Ace said:

Thanks Robbo - I'm writing with the gold Targa now. It's beautiful, exceptionally smooth and a lovely balance. It's taken 36 hours to clean out though - there was the remains of what looked like an entire cartridge dried into it.

It came with three slimline cartridges (one of which I'm using now), but I ordered a converter from Cult Pens. The other Targa came with a converter, so I now have two.

The pens are both the regular (non-slimline) model. I think the slimline ones would be a bit too slender.

The Targas look fantastic, some of the nibs have a bit of flex to them too. I have just sold a Slimline, the one below, you are right it was a bit slender for me but then I am 6'2 and have boxers hands so many pens feel small.

[Clockwork Cupcake]

I love my patinated Targa. Looks gorgeous, and writes beautifully. Probably one of my favourite pens, alongside my Mabie-Todd Swan.

I'm using a Lamy Safari as a daily writer right now and really liking it. Easily replaced should it become lost or 'mislaid' too, not that such a thing has ever happened to me.

[g3org3y]

S.T. Dupont Tie Fighter fountain pen. Limited edition of 1977 pcs, £1400!?

https://www.wheelersluxurygifts.com/product/s-t-du...

Is this worth the money? Is this supposed to be super collectable?

[Desiato]

g3org3y said:

S.T. Dupont Tie Fighter fountain pen. Limited edition of 1977 pcs, £1400!?

https://www.wheelersluxurygifts.com/product/s-t-du...

Is this worth the money? Is this supposed to be super collectable?

£499 from TK Maxx
https://www.tkmaxx.com/uk/en/home/hobbies+leisure/...

[g3org3y]

Desiato said:

g3org3y said:

S.T. Dupont Tie Fighter fountain pen. Limited edition of 1977 pcs, £1400!?

https://www.wheelersluxurygifts.com/product/s-t-du...

Is this worth the money? Is this supposed to be super collectable?

£499 from TK Maxx
https://www.tkmaxx.com/uk/en/home/hobbies+leisure/...

That's actually where I noticed it and was wondering whether I'd stumbled across some kind of super bargain. I suspect not.

[Desiato]

g3org3y said:

That's actually where I noticed it and was wondering whether I'd stumbled across some kind of super bargain. I suspect not.

I was tempted at that price, but certainly not at the £1499 price.

[Robbo 27]

Still a chunk of money even at the discounted price.

The company has a superb reputation for quality and like so many things in life if its something you want and you can justify the money then why not.

These pens are obviously not fakes but a word of caution if you see a ST Dupont for sale on ebay and other places you need to know that there are a huge number of fakes around, many made in the 90s and its hard to tell the difference between the fake and the real thing, there are around 12 signs and all have to check out.

Big collectors market for these pens in the US, not so much in the UK.

[dapprman]

Well my FPR Himalaya arrived today - it's a nice pen and the flex nib works relatively well (it is steel).

Costs with Flex nib-
Pen - $22.20 (15% off sale)
Postage - $9.00
(£23.59)
Post Office - £11.99 including £8 handling fee (which is I seem to remember is cheaper than Fedex and UPS).

So yes the postage, duty and VAT were slightly more than the pen.

[8Ace]

dapprman said:

Well my FPR Himalaya arrived today - it's a nice pen and the flex nib works relatively well (it is steel).

Costs with Flex nib-
Pen - $22.20 (15% off sale)
Postage - $9.00
(£23.59)
Post Office - £11.99 including £8 handling fee (which is I seem to remember is cheaper than Fedex and UPS).

So yes the postage, duty and VAT were slightly more than the pen.

Nice. Looks a bit like one of the Goulet / Edison special editions - https://blog.gouletpens.com/2017/01/edison-nouveau...

What colour did you go for? The blue swirly one looks lovely.

Edited by 8Ace on Thursday 14th December 12:49