What Is Your Favourite Material And Pattern/colour Of Fountain Pen?

[Hankschola]

Thank you all to those who answered on my previous post. It was very informative and provided me with interesting insight into your pasts.

 

I was wondering what's your favourite (or favourites) type of material for a fountain pen? What is also your favourite (favourites) colour/pattern for a fountain pen?

 

I am asking this because coming from mostly a disposable ballpoint, roller and disposable fountain pen perspective, true fountain pens seem odd with stuff like twirls, marble-like texture etc. Some fountain pens seem a bit strange compared to plain transparent plastics of normal pens.

[rwilsonedn]

My favorite of the pens I've seen in person is a rose swirl ebonite on an apparently quite rare Waterman vintage pen.

ron

[inkstainedruth]

Some of the vintage celluloid pens have really beautiful colors and patterns. I didn't like Parker Vacumatics at first (not a fan of Art Deco design) -- but then I saw an Azure Blue Pearl and it was *such* a gorgeous color. And then I discovered the Shadow Waves : I got a Vac Junior in the Red Shadow Wave at DCSS in August, at the PCA auction Saturday night, and it's been in rotation ever since.... While my favorite pen overall is my Plum 51, that Red Shadow Wave Vac is prettier....

I've also seen some really nice ebonite pens. I keep hoping that Noodler's will issue Konrads in some of the ebonite Neponset colors (I'm not a huge fan of the modern acrylic pens, personally -- although some people really like them). Some people also like some of the marble and "cracked ice" patterns -- I tend to not like them if there's too much contrast in the colors, but I have an Arnold (a 3rd tier company that made low end pens) pen pencil combo in a yellow that's really attractive, because the patterning is subtle.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

 

ETA: The other nice thing about ebonite is that it has sort of a "warm" feel to it. But ebonite tends to fade in bright light, so I really should keep my ebonite Konrad in a zipper case when it's not in rotation....

Edited December 23, 2015 by inkstainedruth

[wastelanded]

Ebonite is my favourite material, with celluloid a close second. Both warm with your hand, and feel comfortable to touch.

 

I went through a rose/mauve marble period for a while, but for me it's basic black all the way. I do like brown fountain pens, though, when I see them.

[pajaro]

I like the Parker 51 model with a solid color barrel in plastic and steel cap. Streamlined design preferred. I can live with the Montblanc 144 model and the Parker Sonnet Terrecotta model. I consider most other pens, especially celluloid pens, dated. No plans to buy any more pens, though.

[inkeverywhere]

I must admit celluloid used by Parker in their Vac range really floats my boat.

 

The golden pearl, the burgundy pearl and of course the best for last the azure blue. They feel great in hand when writing with them.

 

Platinum brought out something very similar some years ago and I am always on the lookout for one of these to buy to see if they have captured the same feel.

 

 

Greg

[IrishEyes]

Sterling silver with ornate patterns or overlays, preferably wide-barreled. Other pens--bright red when I can find it!

 

Here is my SS dream pen--the Yard-O-Led Viceroy Grand Victorian; as well as a red and silver (vintage) shuttle pen that I covet, and a red vintage Shaeffer pen that's currently on its way to me.

[Alcuin]

My favorite material by far is metal, I'd never pay a lot for a resin pen. I also prefer pens to be solid colors, if there's any color at all. I've never really understood the fascination with patterned pens, they've always seemed particularly gaudy to me.

[MCN]

Two words: stainless steel

 

[jar]

Sterling silver.

 

Then Sterling silver with Mother of Pearl.

 

Then ebonite covered with Urushi or brass covered with Laque de Chine.

 

Or just about anything else that is well done.

 

http://www.fototime.com/7BE35CBF5DA737F/large.jpg

http://www.fototime.com/DFF209ED3DB9153/large.jpg

http://www.fototime.com/69022F1A4F76D9A/large.jpg

http://www.fototime.com/833F8EB2BD606FB/large.jpg

http://www.fototime.com/85EBCF69D082F54/large.jpg

http://www.fototime.com/2E81EB3C390AB51/large.jpg

[john74]

I like black pens - classic or boring depending on your tastes. But I prefer my pens to be understated. Favorite material would be ebonite but I like resin, celluloid, and lacquered brass too.

[FOUR X FOUR]

Sterling silver.

 

Then Sterling silver with Mother of Pearl.

 

Then ebonite covered with Urushi or brass covered with Laque de Chine.

 

Or just about anything else that is well done.

 

 

http://www.fototime.com/7BE35CBF5DA737F/large.jpg

http://www.fototime.com/DFF209ED3DB9153/large.jpg

http://www.fototime.com/69022F1A4F76D9A/large.jpg

http://www.fototime.com/833F8EB2BD606FB/large.jpg

http://www.fototime.com/85EBCF69D082F54/large.jpg

http://www.fototime.com/2E81EB3C390AB51/large.jpg

GORGEOUS

[FOUR X FOUR]

Stainless steel. Titanium. Graphite. I like matte finished pens. Shiny pens, I like to be faceted. It seems to hide the scratches. Same goes for finish of the Justus 95

[DrDebG]

For me i love acrylic. Iy mustbe made well though. The is why i love Delta pens. The are substantial and well made but without being too heavy.

[Manalto]

I like the variety, i.e., all materials. High on the list are the opalescent plastics with their depth and shimmer, sterling, glossy black with rose gold, and ebonite because it transports me to the tire shop. Low on the list are shiny gold and transparent pens.

[inkstainedruth]

@IrishEyes: I have lusted over a Viceroy Victorian for nearly 4 years -- ever since I saw a picture of one posted in a thread about silver pens. Getting one, though, is a matter of "if and when I win the lottery" because I really can't justify the cost of a pen that is priced higher than a car payment....

It's funny -- I really don't like the look of the other YoL sterling models. But something about that hand-hammered pattern just gets to me. I didn't mention it in my initial response, though because of the cost. I once figured out how many average-priced Parker 51s (as in average price I paid for mine, a couple of years ago, before I snarfed up the two sumgai ones a year ago September) that I could buy for the price of one VV.... It was really depressing. I think it was something like 13 or 14.... And that was with the steel nib, not the 18K.

I didn't mention it my initial post because I didn't know what sort of budget the OP had.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[IrishEyes]

Duplicate post. Sorry 'bout that.

Edited December 24, 2015 by IrishEyes

[IrishEyes]

Sterling silver.

 

Then Sterling silver with Mother of Pearl.

 

Then ebonite covered with Urushi or brass covered with Laque de Chine.

 

Or just about anything else that is well done.

 

http://www.fototime.com/7BE35CBF5DA737F/large.jpg

http://www.fototime.com/DFF209ED3DB9153/large.jpg

http://www.fototime.com/69022F1A4F76D9A/large.jpg

http://www.fototime.com/833F8EB2BD606FB/large.jpg

http://www.fototime.com/85EBCF69D082F54/large.jpg

http://www.fototime.com/2E81EB3C390AB51/large.jpg

 

Your taste in pens is impeccable, imho! Get tired of any of them, and let me know :-).

[IrishEyes]

@IrishEyes: I have lusted over a Viceroy Victorian for nearly 4 years -- ever since I saw a picture of one posted in a thread about silver pens. Getting one, though, is a matter of "if and when I win the lottery" because I really can't justify the cost of a pen that is priced higher than a car payment....

It's funny -- I really don't like the look of the other YoL sterling models. But something about that hand-hammered pattern just gets to me. I didn't mention it in my initial response, though because of the cost. I once figured out how many average-priced Parker 51s (as in average price I paid for mine, a couple of years ago, before I snarfed up the two sumgai ones a year ago September) that I could buy for the price of one VV.... It was really depressing. I think it was something like 13 or 14.... And that was with the steel nib, not the 18K.

I didn't mention it my initial post because I didn't know what sort of budget the OP had.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

 

Ruth, I hear ya! I don't care for any of them in that price range except for the Grand Victorian, either. That one, though, just really does it for me! At this time of year, with Christmas and all of its financial strain, we can't afford one atm, either. A lottery win would be grand--if only we played the lottery ! Still 'n' all, I imagine one will make its way into my hands, eventually. About 10 years ago, Z gifted me with my dream car that I waited for 31 years to get (a '64 1/2/early '65 Mustang); he bought me my Hyacinth Macaw, Mikey Blue, about 7 years ago; then 3 years ago, he bought this little beach house for me; and last year he got me my beloved red Jeep Wrangler, Beauty. All of which cost well more than that pen! LOL! I just need to have patience, and know that he will get it for me someday. In the mean time, I appreciate and greatly enjoy the pens I have, including a gorgeous sterling silver Shaeffer imperial touch down fountain pen with a diamond pattern that just arrived today :-). I love writing with all of them :-).

Edited December 24, 2015 by IrishEyes

[ISW_Kaputnik]

The pens that I actually end up using the most are modern pens with, for the most part, not terribly interesting materials, plain plastics or undecorated demonstrators. Performance and feel in the hand are more important than beauty most of the time, not that there's anything wrong with a pen looking good as well.

 

But when I do concentrate on appearance, I'm quite partial to a range of interesting vintage celluloids. If these materials were still available, and if modern pens like the Pilot Custom Heritage and Lamy 2000 were made with them, it would be the best of both worlds.

 

Below, top to bottom, Waterman vest pocket pen, Conway Stewart 388 (1950s), Moore Junior, Sheaffer Lady Balance.

 

http://i614.photobucket.com/albums/tt221/mapn/Pens/Celluloid_zps1uoipab5.jpg