Italian Resin Pens

[EventHorizon]

While window shopping this weekend on isellpens.com, I fell in love with the Laban pens purely for their looks plus the cost is not horrible The photo attached is going for $69 plus shipping. Whats with the Italian resin though? Why is it special or atleast advertised that way?.

 

FYI - E-Bay has them also but at an elevated cost Laban

Edited April 2, 2007 by EventHorizon

[meanwhile]

It's marketing speak. Although not as inspired as MB's "precious resin" - I hope they gave the marketing droid who thought of that one equity.

[FrankB]

I agree it is an advertising gimmick. A good one, though.

 

I like the pen.

[EventHorizon]

I sent Laban an e-mail asking what "Italian Resin" is and why it's "unique". Let's see what they come back with. I agree it's probably an advertising thing.

[EventHorizon]

Well, at least they saw my e-mail:

 

Dear Jerry,

Please contact with this customer accordingly.

Regards

John

[jonro]

It's a pretty pen. I'll be interested to find out if Italian resin is marketing speak for acrylic or an actual resin.

[kenneth cooke]

Laban pens were been offered on a UK site for £50.00 each

[EventHorizon]

QUOTE (kenneth cooke @ Apr 4 2007, 06:55 PM)

Laban pens were been offered on a UK site for £50.00 each

If I'm figuring correctly, that's about $98.00

I would like to mention that there were some on isellpens that reached this price but they were the 14 or 18 k gold nibs. You could pick the nib you wanted.

Still no info from Laban yet.

[EventHorizon]

QUOTE (jonro @ Apr 4 2007, 11:53 AM)

It's a pretty pen. I'll be interested to find out if Italian resin is marketing speak for acrylic or an actual resin.

The fact that I haven't gotten an answer from them yet means:

 

a- They don't know

b- It's advertising/marketing speak

c- They are formulating a good answer.

Edited April 5, 2007 by EventHorizon

[handlebar]

I ahve a Laban Pumpkinseed Mento.Beautiful pen.Not as good a writer but for the price,decent.

 

JD

[kenneth cooke]

can I ask- why Italian resin pens when companies like Visconti produce beautiful celluloid pens that are far more durable?

[jonro]

Maybe because they cost 5 times the price?

[Jeff E]

Resin=Plastic.

[jonro]

QUOTE (Jeff E @ Apr 6 2007, 01:18 AM)

Resin=Plastic.

That's the question. There is what is called plastic resin, but plastic is not resin, at least when it comes to fountain pens. Fountain pen resin should be some type of tree sap (i.e., urushi is a resin). Unfortunately, the terms are often used interchangeably, so you may not know what you are buying. What started this particular thread was the question of whether Laban's "Italian resin" is resin, plastic or perhaps a nice mix of garlic-infused olive oil

[ViolinWriter]

QUOTE (jonro @ Apr 6 2007, 02:22 AM)

QUOTE (Jeff E @ Apr 6 2007, 01:18 AM) Resin=Plastic. That's the question. There is what is called plastic resin, but plastic is not resin, at least when it comes to fountain pens. Fountain pen resin should be some type of tree sap (i.e., urushi is a resin). Unfortunately, the terms are often used interchangeably, so you may not know what you are buying. What started this particular thread was the question of whether Laban's "Italian resin" is resin, plastic or perhaps a nice mix of garlic-infused olive oil Wouldn't the "mix" have to include marinera sauce to give that beautiful tomato-y red to the plastic resin?

[ViolinWriter]

QUOTE (jonro @ Apr 6 2007, 02:22 AM)

QUOTE (Jeff E @ Apr 6 2007, 01:18 AM) Resin=Plastic. That's the question. There is what is called plastic resin, but plastic is not resin, at least when it comes to fountain pens. Fountain pen resin should be some type of tree sap (i.e., urushi is a resin). Unfortunately, the terms are often used interchangeably, so you may not know what you are buying. What started this particular thread was the question of whether Laban's "Italian resin" is resin, plastic or perhaps a nice mix of garlic-infused olive oil Wouldn't the "mix" have to include marinera sauce to give that beautiful tomato-y red to the plastic resin?

[jonro]

QUOTE (ViolinWriter @ Apr 6 2007, 12:40 PM)

QUOTE (jonro @ Apr 6 2007, 02:22 AM) QUOTE (Jeff E @ Apr 6 2007, 01:18 AM) Resin=Plastic. That's the question. There is what is called plastic resin, but plastic is not resin, at least when it comes to fountain pens. Fountain pen resin should be some type of tree sap (i.e., urushi is a resin). Unfortunately, the terms are often used interchangeably, so you may not know what you are buying. What started this particular thread was the question of whether Laban's "Italian resin" is resin, plastic or perhaps a nice mix of garlic-infused olive oil Wouldn't the "mix" have to include marinera sauce to give that beautiful tomato-y red to the plastic resin? Elizabeth,   You are exactly right. Marinara sauce is the secret ingredient to producing beautiful yet delicious Italian resins.   Jon

[EventHorizon]

My how we digress or do we go off on a tangent?

 

handlebar - I saw the pumpkin seed and liked it also. To be exact, I liked the:

 

Coal Flake

Celebration Shell

Tiger Pearl

Tortoise Shell

Ice Craked

 

Still nothing from Laban on the uniqueness of "Italian Resin". Which is still the main question.

[wiglaf]

I have had the Laban toroise for about a year now- I like the nib, not love it- there is something about that two-tone steel nib that is unsettling- something that is trying to be one thing while genetically another- on the other hand, the weight, girth- all the specs are genuinely fine- but one does not buy a Laban mento as a "luxury" pen, but rather as a journeyman's pen- as as such, I think it is an excellent investment.

And I realize the FPN is no place for a momento mori, but I must say that whatever the constitution of a fountain pen body- it will outlast the majority of us on this forum. So, aside from the ebonite body's generating a "warmth," most of the other surfaces will have little change from one owner/use to the next. Perhaps the fp, in addition to being a recorder of the past, present, future, may also contain within itself the history and future of its users.

 

Tony

[EventHorizon]

Well, it's April 13th and this original post started April 2nd. Laban has not given me any answers other than one person telling another to get me an answer via e-mail so I will now agree 100% with everybody that said it, it's market speak

 

I'll still buy one hopefully soon as I can't resist the colors....FP Bling