Recommendation, please

[Christine]

Hello! I know this is a difficult and extremely subjective question, but I'm asking anyway. Here's my info:

Currently own 5 FPs. The best writer and most expensive is my red Waterman Phileas. Best weight is my Aldo Domani

Occupation: physician (currently in academics, soon to join private practive group, ie. busier, more writing, less talking)

Budget: I am mom to 4 children under age 7 years , and a very healthy<_< student loan . Able to go to $200, less than $100 would be ideal

Size: Small hands but like a little weight to in a pen (or maybe a lot) then again, I will be writing a whole lot more in my new identity; standard length; mediun to large girth

Appearance: love shiny red laquer, but love functionality more

I don't have a local pen shop to test drive a pen, so I have to wing it...yikes.

Thank you so much

[rroossinck]

Try a Pelikan. One of the 200-series. Takes a ton of ink, so with all the writing you'll be doing, it'll last a while. Well under $100.

[French]

Hi. You might want to check out the Duke line (isellpens.com has excellent prices--no affiliation etc.). A lot of the Dukes are lacquer over brass, which gives a nice weight, and the ones I own are good writers. Another suggestion would be the Lamy 2000, this pen is not at all flashy, you can get it in any color you want; as long as the color you want is black . It is a piston filler and is comfortable for all day note taking. Oscarbraunpens.com and isellpens.com probably have the best prices. Beware the nibs on this pen tend to run a bit wide.

 

The standard disclaimer applie to any merchant mentioned.

 

Good luck,

French

[RonB]

The Pelikan M215 is heavier than the M200 and is under $100. Also, the Waterman Carene and Sheaffer Legacy are heavy, substantial pens that write wonderfully. I have a couple of each. The Legacy is 5.5" long and the Carene is 5.75" long.

 

I'm sure others have some other suggestions.

 

Ron

[Taki]

Pilot/Namiki VP. It has a good heft, comes in dark red. It's very convenient as it has a retractable nib. With F nib you can write a lot and you can always carry a backup cartridge. The only downside is that some people don't like the positioning of its clip. It would be better if you can hold it in person, but I understand that you have to buy it online.

Edited March 5, 2007 by Taki

[BillTheEditor]

Seconding the Vanishing Point, if the clip position does not bother you. Reasons for recommendation: Convenience (you don't have to take a cap off to use it), nib (fairly stiff, which is what you want for doing charts and any writing where you have to hold the paper in your hands while standing), and you can get it in red. Plus, you don't have to hang onto a cap while writing with a Vanishing Point. As Taki just said, carry cartridges.

 

Backup nomination: Lamy 2000, with a medium nib. Reasons for recommendation: Cap clicks on and off easily, holds a lot of ink (easily enough for a day's work and more), and the nib is fairly rigid (though not stiff). Disadvantages: It only comes in black, and it sometimes you will find that you have to send back the first one you get because of piston problems.

 

You should be aware that Pelikans use a threaded cap -- you have to screw it on and off, which takes time and could be inconvenient for you -- and the nibs are semi-flexible, which I don't see as practical for use on the floor or when seeing patients -- having to write on unsupported paper.

 

There are a number of doctors on FPN, so it will be interesting to see what they recommend.

[mysta rave]

Sailor 1911M... believe me you will not be disappointed. I also own a Phileas and the Sailor is much better. The nib is really smooth. Get the Medium, it writes more like a fine.

[lmederos]

Consider the Signum Orione...

 

it is available for about $200 (www.richardspens.com) as a piston filler, with very very nice smooth nib.

 

...or you can get it for about half (your desired price) with a cartridge/converter and a steel nib

Edited March 5, 2007 by lmederos

[Nihontochicken]

Parker 51 Aerometric as sold by a respected pen reseller here (check the Marketplace every day or so). You won't be sorry.

[DavidM1]

I would definitely have a look at Pam Braun's site for a blue Pelikan M605. Here is the rationale:

 

1. You will have a lot of writing and the so piston fill is the way to go (more ink).

2. You will have a lot of writing and the M605 is very light.

3. The blue and silver looks gorgeous in pics on the web - it is not a common colour. It has an engraved 14K nib and looks a little more upmarket than the m215.

4. You mentioned that you like medium to large girth. The length is a similar to the Pelikan M215/ 200/ 250/ 400. The difference is mainly in the girth - the M605 has a fuller diameter without being overly large.

 

and here is the final reason...

 

5. The discounts on blue m605s seem to be exceptionally good on Pam's site and a few others at the moment. They look like a bargain to me.

 

I hope this helps!

[Tricia]

I second the Pelikan 605 recommendation. I just bought the blue one on sale at Fahrney's Pens and I love it! Very smooth writer, and as someone mentioned, nice and light. Heavy pens tire my hand out more quickly. I could probably write for hours with the Pelikan. Pam's price might be even better. Didn't check her site this time, but I've done business with her in the past and she's fast and reliable and really does have fantastic prices.

 

(Scary thing is that I have all the pens mentioned so far, except the Duke! They are all very good pens and you would probably be happy with any of them.)

 

 

[Lennart Wennberg]

Dear Christine,

As a colleague, (Family Medicine), I want to make these comments:

 

At work I use at least two different FP:s:

The first is a Pelikan Go! M75 filled with just any ink. With this pen I make notes while taking the patients history, and while examining the patient.

The second pen is a Parker Frontier with italic nib filled with Noodler´s Zhivago. With this pen I sign important documents like referrals and statements.

 

These pens have at least two properties in common. They are both cheapos but more important: They have snap-on caps. As a busy doctor you simply do not have the time to screw and un-screw a cap all the time and it also wears down the threads faster.

 

Why not a Phileas with italic nib? Or a Pilot/Namiki VP?

 

Lennart

Edited March 5, 2007 by Lennart Wennberg

[goodguy]

Pelikan M200 would be a good bet.

You can go for the Pelikan M600 if you want something a bit bigger (and more expensive).

Another choise would be the Waterman Carene also a beautiful pen and a great writer.

If you are willing to buy a second hand pen the Parker 75 would be amazing (I love those pens and collect them).

[James P]

Hi Christine, I recommend the Sailor 1911M in red. It's neither too heavy, nor too light, and is a great pen for someone with small hands. Best of all, it comes with what many (including me) believe are some of best nibs on the market. Oh, I forgot to mention that it fits nicely in your budget, too, with change to spare!

 

James P.

[johnr55]

I like the way you describe private practice: more writing, less talking.

 

I'll echo what others have said: Pelikans are a great choice. The only question would be size. I like a more compact pen and have several 200's. However, if you like a larger pen one of the 600 or 800 series might be better for you. Their other selling point is the ability to switch nibs if your taste changes.

 

Good luck!

[wiglaf]

Christine-

 

As a PhD, therefore not a lateral colleague, but one who writes constantly, I would second/third/etc/ all those who suggest the Namiki VP or the Lamy 2000- the Sailor is my favorite pen, but you need to pull the cap- and the Sailor just doesn't get it done without a stately removal-

I suggest you time your needs to write- and calculate at the end of the day- lots of immediacy- then a VP no question. Some immediacy, and some thoughtfulness- a Lamy-

If you do not write at all, then a Pelikan 1000 or a Sailor King of Pen-

 

Good luck-

 

Tony

[sleek_lover]

There is a pen that we forget. Holds more ink that a small econpoop of a car...

 

Pelikan Level series. The L5 is a nice gussied up model with gold nib and the L1 is school kid level. Snap Cap.

 

I got an L1 and an Lsomething else. Love'm both.

 

Might just work well...

[BillTheEditor]

QUOTE (paircon01 @ Mar 5 2007, 10:50 AM)

There is a pen that we forget. Holds more ink that a small econpoop of a car... Pelikan Level series. The L5 is a nice gussied up model with gold nib and the L1 is school kid level. Snap Cap. I got an L1 and an Lsomething else. Love'm both. Might just work well...

I thought about the Level pens, mainly for their prodigious ink capacity. The only reasons I didn't suggest them are (1) with a Level, your ink color choices are limited, and (2) I don't have any experience with them but have heard the filling system can be cranky.

 

Maybe ink color choices (The Level system offers, what, black, blue-black, and blue?) aren't that important to a doctor. On the other hand, she did say she likes red for a pen color, so that made me think she might want to be able to use an eye-popping blue, or Zhivago (like Lennart), or a bulletproof ink. Charts can get all kinds of liquids spilled on them, and if I were a doctor I'd appreciate being sure my prescriptions couldn't be altered.

 

With the Lamy 2000, I know there are issues sometimes with QA, but if you order the pen from a seller who checks them out before sending, these are minimal. Maybe that's true of the Level pens, too.

[sleek_lover]

Bill..

You are right...

I am such a darn blue/blue black guy that the lack of color choice in the Level series never crossed my mind...

 

That said, there was a discussion on ??RS, Zoss 4pens?? about emtying the Level bottle out and refilling with the color of your choice and filling from there. I never tried it, but I recollect it worked well for those who did it.

 

As to the filling mechanism...as one dot on the experience graph, with three of the buggers, I've never had any problem (except operator error) in the 5 or so years I've had them.

 

But with other inks...who knows. MB might sludge up the works, Quink might eat away at some delicate this or that.

 

Bill...

[howaboutthat41]

The Waterman Carene comes in a Garnet Red color, I believe. Great writing pens, terrific refinement and workmanship, and sufficiently stiff nibs to handle what you are proposing (there are some regular eBay sellers of solid repute -- authorized Waterman retailers -- with this line at attractive prices). The fine nib would seem particularly appropriate.

 

While I am not an expert as to all of the pens others have mentioned (though I am at least generally familiar with many of them), I sense that perhaps some may be a tad utilitarian given your stated preference for a colorful, aesthetically pleasing instrument.

 

Good luck!