Paper Mate fountain pen

[Bernie0104]

Today I found an amazing old-fashioned stationers/print shop which had some great New Old Stock pens. I bought a gold plated Paper Mate fountain pen for only £10.00. I don't know too much about Paper Mate's history regarding fountain pens as they are best known for ballpoint pens and felt-tip pens as far as I am aware. I would imagine that this pen dates back to the 80's, since Paper Mate left the quality pen market a long time ago to concentrate on budget pens and disposables. This particular fountain pen is quite wonderful, buttery smooth and giving a fantastic wet line. It has a gold-plated medium nib and is marked 'Paper Mate W. Germany' around the cap. It is very well made, seemingly to very tight tolerancies, has all-metal construction (with a black anodized section)and a semi-hooded nib. It came with an original Paper Mate piston type converter fitted.

 

I am very impressed with this pen, as it outperforms many of my current fountain pens (including a new Lamy Studio and several Parker Sonnets) in terms of smoothness and sheer writing pleasure. Therefore, I'd like to know a bit more about it. Does anyone here know anything about these pens? I'd be most grateful if anyone could give me more information. Are they all this good, or was I just lucky? Should I buy another while I still can?

 

Bernie.

 

[lalindsay225]

Wow, great find, Bernie! I had no idea that Paper Mate ever made fountain pens. The scarcity alone would make it a keeper, in my opinion. And it's a great writer to boot! The pen gods have smiled on you!

 

Lisa

[Bernie0104]

QUOTE (lalindsay225 @ Apr 15 2007, 04:34 AM)

Wow, great find, Bernie! I had no idea that Paper Mate ever made fountain pens. The scarcity alone would make it a keeper, in my opinion. And it's a great writer to boot! The pen gods have smiled on you! Lisa

Yes, they have indeed! You're right Lisa, this one's a keeper! I've searched the internet, and I can find precious little information about this pen. A bit of a puzzle this one, as I don't ever remember seeing a Paper Mate fountain pen. I recall having Paper Mate ballpoints in the past, and even a refillable fibre tip pen, but I don't think I've ever seen one of their fountain pens until yesterday! Glad I came across it though.

 

The shop that I found it in had some other goodies too:

 

Pilot Birdie fountain pens (white grip section), with matching ballpens and pencils.

Elysee fountain pens (Elysee went out of business in 2000).

Old model Parker Sonnets at heavily discounted prices (50% off).

 

May have to plan a visit again soon! The only problem is that the shop is about 50 miles from where I live. Won't stop me though!

 

Bernie.

 

[EventHorizon]

I would definetly visit again

 

Would you be able to post any pictures? If my math is right that would be about $20 US correct?

[Bernie0104]

QUOTE (EventHorizon @ Apr 15 2007, 01:59 PM)

I would definetly visit again Would you be able to post any pictures? If my math is right that would be about $20 US correct?

Yes, you're correct, around $20 at current exchange rates. And yes, I am going to visit again! As for pictures, I will post some as soon as I can get the time to do it (maybe tomorrow).

 

Bernie.

[DRP]

What a great discovery! I want to see photos, too!

[jonro]

Same here. Since it's marked "W. Germany," it must have been manufactured before unification. Perhaps they came out with them around the same time the fountain pen market started to contract and never made any more. Great find.

Edited April 16, 2007 by jonro

[Oxonian]

Hi Bernie 0104,

 

Papermate made fountian pens, certainly in the 1970s and probably into the early 80s, I only recall seeing one basic design in the better quality pens, a slim cylindrical body with a longish cap made to look longer by the cylindrical end cap above the clip with a recessed but not hooded nib, this model was made in a number of finishes, brushed stainless, gold electro-plate, matt black and assorted mostly matt lacquer colours, I have several, one in a burgundy sort of colour another in grey and a set of FP/BP/MP in stainless, I think that a mid to dark blue, green and a brighter red were others. These pens use international standard cartridges or converters.

Most of the nibs were plated but I think the very top of the range used 14ct, these top end pens were in the same price range as Parker's everyday 61s, or even a little more, so I would be surprised if they didn't have gold nibs. The nibs on the pens that I have I find smooth and quite stiff, they seem to run a little thinner than the marked equivalent in the Parkers of the time.

 

I hope that this helps.

 

Cheers, John

[laburlisque]

Welcom to Sumguydom, Bernie!

[andyk]

I have a matt black with GP fittings Papermate FP with matching BP that I have had since either late 70s/early 80s, will have to dig it out and try it. I also remember seeing gold plated and chrome/stainless steel ones, probably mtched the various colours of BPs at the time. As Oxonian says only one basic design (that I can remember) from distant memory a nice pen.

 

This is what I like about this site makes me think 'I had one of those' and I dig out pens I haven't looked at for years.

 

Sounds like a great buy at that price as they were quite good pens in their day.

[Bernie0104]

OK, Here are some pictures as promised. Not sure how they will look!

 

Bernie.

 

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/202/462217167_d412e15219.jpg

 

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/249/462216858_18fd84f868.jpg

 

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/222/462216832_2b23a5c11e.jpg

 

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/206/462216846_3b294cada0.jpg

 

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/243/462216852_bcb0e8cdf0.jpg

 

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/236/462216828_b038128cea.jpg

 

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/229/462216860_220f42c6c9.jpg

 

 

[Bernie0104]

Hi Bernie 0104,

 

Papermate made fountian pens, certainly in the 1970s and probably into the early 80s, I only recall seeing one basic design in the better quality pens, a slim cylindrical body with a longish cap made to look longer by the cylindrical end cap above the clip with a recessed but not hooded nib, this model was made in a number of finishes, brushed stainless, gold electro-plate, matt black and assorted mostly matt lacquer colours, I have several, one in a burgundy sort of colour another in grey and a set of FP/BP/MP in stainless, I think that a mid to dark blue, green and a brighter red were others. These pens use international standard cartridges or converters.

Most of the nibs were plated but I think the very top of the range used 14ct, these top end pens were in the same price range as Parker's everyday 61s, or even a little more, so I would be surprised if they didn't have gold nibs. The nibs on the pens that I have I find smooth and quite stiff, they seem to run a little thinner than the marked equivalent in the Parkers of the time.

 

I hope that this helps.

 

Cheers, John

 

John,

 

You are quite right about the nib being recessed rather than hooded... I wasn't quite sure how to describe it! Do you really think that this pen could be over 20 years old? Wow!

 

Bernie.

[Bernie0104]

OK. So the shop I bought this pen from also had the matching rollerball pen, which I didn't buy as I thought I may have problems obtaining refills for it. Since a few of you seem to know about these pens, I thought I'd ask if anyone knows what other manufacturers' refills would fit this pen? A set of these things would be pretty cool!

 

Thanks again,

 

Bernie.

 

PS: A gel refill would be really cool!

Edited April 17, 2007 by Bernie0104

[kwinana]

Today I found an amazing old-fashioned stationers/print shop which had some great New Old Stock pens. I bought a gold plated Paper Mate fountain pen for only £10.00. I don't know too much about Paper Mate's history regarding fountain pens as they are best known for ballpoint pens and felt-tip pens as far as I am aware. I would imagine that this pen dates back to the 80's, since Paper Mate left the quality pen market a long time ago to concentrate on budget pens and disposables. This particular fountain pen is quite wonderful, buttery smooth and giving a fantastic wet line. It has a gold-plated medium nib and is marked 'Paper Mate W. Germany' around the cap. It is very well made, seemingly to very tight tolerancies, has all-metal construction (with a black anodized section)and a semi-hooded nib. It came with an original Paper Mate piston type converter fitted.

 

I am very impressed with this pen, as it outperforms many of my current fountain pens (including a new Lamy Studio and several Parker Sonnets) in terms of smoothness and sheer writing pleasure. Therefore, I'd like to know a bit more about it. Does anyone here know anything about these pens? I'd be most grateful if anyone could give me more information. Are they all this good, or was I just lucky? Should I buy another while I still can?

 

Bernie.

 

 

I once owned a Matt black/gold fittings model in the late 80's. It wrote really well as you say. I enjoyed using it with turquoise Lamy or Mont Blanc ink. It was my favourite. I think I gave it to my brother and wish I hadn't. Next time I visit him I will ask him to dig it out. Enjoy your wonferful rare find!

 

Kwinana

 

[bluemax]

I just found my old school one (stainless steel with black neck) the other day. Can't believe I still have it! It must be 25 to 30 years old now, and still looks as good as it did all those years ago. a bit of the gold is coming away from the nib revealing the steel. oh well...

[Oxonian]

Hi Bernie,

 

If you want to get the Roller ball go ahead I have Papermate roller refills in blue and maybe a couple in black, I can upply you with a couple but Schmidt and several others can be made to fit without too much problem. e-mail me if you decide to get the rollerball and if you are interested in the refills.

 

Cheers, John