All My Pens Are Broken

[Grisotto]

This is my unfortunate fountain pen story.

 

Roll back to mid 90's. A buddy of mine was the distributor of Bic/Ballograf and I purchased a bunch of pens for Christmas gifts that year. I payed next to nothing for quality pens (well, at least I thought that at the time). For myself I got a Ballograf fountain pen that I was very fond of for a while but eventually it ended up lost in a storage box in the attic. I don't think I had the courage to bring a freakish pen like that to work.

 

A couple of years ago I found the pen again, inked it and started using it in meetings at work. Wow, what a writing experience! There was no turning back and I didn't care anymore if people would give me strange looks.

 

A few months later I passed Zurich airport and while waiting for my connecting flight I stopped by the Caran d'Ache store and walked out with an Ecridor Retro (medium nib). I remembered borrowing CdA clutch pencils from my father as a kid and using them myself in the engineering drawing classes, so the brand has a special meaning to me.

 

Now I had two pens I alternated between and started visiting FPN on and off, and thinking about my future purchases. Unfortunately the CdA started leaking between the section and the nib last year so I have not kept it inked.

 

In June my Balograf pen also broke (the threads on the section came off) so I ordered a Waterman Carene as a replacement. Since both the previous pens had medium nibs I opted for a fine nib. Although it does make my notes in the Moleskine more readable I prefer the writing experience with a broader nib. Thus, I also ordered a Sheaffer Valor but it seems to have been lost in the mail. However, I'm sorting it out and expect to get a new pen sent to me.

 

On the way to a meeting today I dropped the Carene on the floor and when I uncapped it I found that the section was broken.

 

So, to summarize, of my four pens, three are broken and one is lost. Maybe some of them can be repaired but what I need is a pen that is not so delicate and can take a bit of a beating. Any suggestions on a daily writer for me? I prefer black pens with silver trim.

 

Balograf (section without threads)

 

Caran d'Ache Ecridor Retro (leaking)

 

Waterman Carene (the nib is almost off)

[PAKMAN]

Hi and Welcome to FPN! Wow never thought that a Carene would break like that! I bet the manufacturer could fix the CdA. Sounds like it's time for you to get a new pen (always a good thing!)

[Brian C]

51

[Grisotto]

Thanks Perry! I'm quite surprised myself that the plastic was so weak.

 

While the 51 does not appeal to me I may consider one anyway if it is more durable then the average pen. Thanks for the recomendation Herac.

 

/Hakan

[Redbarchettayyz]

Rough go. Im just getting into fountain pens myself, so I don't really have a suggestion. I would however look at getting that Caran d'Ache fixed, that is one beautiful pen!

[welch]

Parker 51 is probably the best fountain pen ever made. That's why Parker produced them from 1941 through the mid-70s, and why they outlasted the Parker 61, a fine pen with a weird filling system, at least in the beginning. The 51 is tough: today I used a 51 Special and an aero, both about 55 - 60 years old. Just make sure you have the nib you want (most US-made 51s were fine point), that the nib is tuned and has plenty of tip.

[jgrasty]

Look on the bright side, you've probably used up all your bad pen karma.

 

BTW, I'd recommend a Pelikan M200 or M400.

Edited August 12, 2011 by jgrasty

[DrPJM1]

You need 4 more pens: a Rotring, a couple of Lamy Safari/AlStar pens and a Parker "51". Call us when you break those.

[Snarf]

A lamy safari in black or a lamy studio should do it....I've dropped mine plenty of times (i know I shouldn't, but it happens) and it's always held up really well.

[Koyote]

Lamy 2000 fits your criteria: tough, and it is black(ish) with silver-colored trim. Also not too expensive.

[Ruminator]

That is indeed a run of bad luck. Good luck getting things fixed up and finding something new to play with use.

 

If you don't find the grip unusable, a Lamy Safari or Al-Star (some pen, one is plastic and the other aluminum) is a pretty good choice. The medium nib is probably what you want. The medium is a bid wide for me and the extra-fine is a bit too thin.

 

I am seriously lusting after a Lamy 2K with a fine nib. I think that could be one of my workhorse pens. Goulet Pens has a nice video review of them if you haven't seen it. I also would like one of the Studio models as well. Of course, if I buy one Studio, I'll have to have one of each color.

 

So many pens; so little cash.

[minnman]

Not to go too astray here, but I have had TWO Carene sections break just like the picture above. One broke as I carefully unwrapped it and the other (the replacement) as I screwed it into the barrel. Try explaining that to a seller.

[retro50]

Might I be so bold as to suggest the C.E. Levi Colossus - solid bronze and virtually bullet proof!

[Lennart Wennberg]

Just drop me a line Håkan and I could let you try a Sailor Sapporo or Sailor Professional Gear already Monday evening.

 

Lennart

[dizzypen]

Lamy 2000 fits your criteria: tough, and it is black(ish) with silver-colored trim. Also not too expensive.

 

+1

 

Take a look at this Lamy abuse test. This pen was exposed to heat, cold, and it was dropped from two stories up. It survived it all.

[kauloltran]

sorry about your pens. From the photo of the broken Carene, I presume that the section is made of resin, while the rest of the pen is brass, as there's no way on earth a brass metal section can break like that. If you drop your pen often, you should absolutely avoid resin pen. The only pen that can withstand damage from blunt forces is a Visconti Homo Sapien, made from molten rocks, very hard and will never break, even when pounded by a hammer. I don't want to be selfish here but just ignore what the others had recommended in previous posts. The only pen that can take some good beating is a Visconti Homo Sapien. A seller on Ebay runs auctions for the homo sapien every week. With that said, it would be possible to have one for less than $300

 

http://www.theonlinepencompany.com/product_images/V_HomoSapiens_Black_FP_L.jpg

 

Another consideration would be an all metal pen, something similar to your CdA. I would not consider Pelikans, since their pens are all plastic construction. Plastics should have some tensile strength, hence somewhat flexible and less fragile than the resin material, but are still prone to breakage and deformation. Last but not least, you should consider carrying your pens in a soft/rigid case, like one shown below.

http://www.artbrown.com/images/Pen2_CN.jpg

 

 

- I have never dropped a fountain pen in my whole life. I don't know how the others managed to do it so well!

Edited August 12, 2011 by kauloltran

[georges zaslavsky]

sorry to hear this I would try to locate a new carene and get that caran d'ache fixed because caran d'ache is a very serious firm. Otherwise try to locate a waterman laureat or a man 100, you will love these pens.

[Bo Bo Olson]

From my reading CA pens have a life time guarantee if I remember correctly.

 

That's some horrible bad luck.

 

I do think Pelikan is sturdy enough and so is an Esterbrook....but of course some folks have broken ones of them too.

 

This is the only good full metal pen, I have a Lamy Persona Black Titanium Oxide.They have it in a silver oxide I think it is also.

 

It had a worthless OB 18 K gold nib on it. Modern Obliques are worthless IMO...I have some 8-9 vintage obliques that are great.

Pendleton Brown changed this pen from in the box to in rotation. It is now a medium broad cursive italic.

 

Nope you don't want this one either...I just unscrewed it. The thread section inside the metal section is plastic. :embarrassed_smile:

http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm300/BoBoOlson/IMG_3993.jpg

http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm300/BoBoOlson/IMG_3994.jpg

 

http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm300/BoBoOlson/IMG_3985.jpg

 

http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm300/BoBoOlson/IMG_3981.jpg

[olivier78860]

Yes, what happened to the Caran d'Ache happened to my Waterman Executive years ago. It's a feed defect, or the nib moved a little and isn't placed correctly anymore. You should send it to a Caran d'Ache retailer and it should be fixed for free.

 

Regarding indestructible pens, consider a Waterman Lauréat (NOS on ebay , <30€) , a Waterman Expert (New, 70-100€) or a Parker Rialto (NOS on ebay, <30€).

[olivier78860]

I have been considering TiO2 pens for a while, especially since I discovered a NOS Parker T-1 at a local shop.

 

But Titanium dioxyde is a material I'm not sure about, same as for Ruthenium.

 

There are some studies showing those material might be carcinogenous, and both have been classified by official agencies as "possibly carcinogenous".

I guess we'll know for sure in 20 years.