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Hello Estie lovers, My first real "rabbit hole" into fountain pen collecting was the serendipitous purchase of an Esterbrook that had an 8668 palladium-silver nib attached. I have a background as a chemist and have long been in love with palladium; that coupled with the WWII history (another interest of mine) made this a fantastic discovery for me. It writes just beautifully! The first thing I did, being new to the game (and I still am!) was to look for advertising about these nibs and Esterbrooks in general during WWII. I loved finding ads stating that "only a few pens can be made" due to the war effort, and, "If your stationer cannot supply you immediately with Esterbrook Pens we know you will understand why." Just amazing stuff, and a wonderful look into one aspect of WWII American culture viewed through the lens of a fountain pen lover. I wondered if the 8000-series nibs ever showed up in advertising, and I had not been able to find any such ads until recently. I thought the other Esterbrook fans here might enjoy a look at this Argentinian ad I found that shows the 8000 series... I wonder if anyone else knows of 8000 series Esterbrook nibs showing up in ads or being mentioned in period literature? Cheers! Matt

Hello everyone!

Hello everyone, I just bought this St Dupont Fidelio Sterling Silver cap FP BP set

Garcia-Deschacht “A&A” Sterling Silver Fountain Pen --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Andy Deschacht and Laura Garcia of “Garcia-Deschacht” collaborate on creating art in several forms. One of their endeavors is custom made-to-order fountain pens. I came across their website while looking for a large sterling silver fountain pen. Their site (www.garcia-deschacht.com) is a treat, with beautifully presented examples of their handmade custom pens in a variety of exotic woods, acrylics, and silver. I’m sure there are readers that will feel this pen is unreasonably large and heavy. For many people, that’s probably true. What’s important is that Garcia-Deschacht were able take a rough idea, add to it, and turn that idea into a perfectly finished hand made pen. It’s difficult for me to critique this pen. Once the dialog with Garcia-Deschacht got started, I found they could accommodate almost anything. If I were to rate this pen, it would have to be “exactly what I wanted”. That said, here’s my review. Appearance & Design I wanted a simple, clean, timeless, yet substantial design rendered in sterling silver. This pen has no ornamentation – no homage to anyone, no “theme”, no attempt to recognize an historical event. It’s simply a beautifully crafted functional piece made of high quality materials.I wanted to highlight the sheen of sterling silver. It has a white-ish color when compared to stainless steel, titanium, or tungsten. The simple polished finish shows this. I wanted to retain weight in this pen.I wanted the maker’s name visible. I have a lot of respect for individuals who can conceive and fabricate beautiful, high quality pieces out of simple raw materials. This pen’s barrel and cap were turned on a manual lathe. Other parts were fabricated from scratch. There was no numerical control here, just plain skill and experience. Construction & Quality (10) – Construction and quality look like perfection to me. The polished finish is gorgeous. Removing the cap and section reveals threads that are smooth and well fitted. A signature feature of Garcia-Deschacht pens is a clip attachment that has no ring or seam on the cap. I’m not sure how this is done, but I like this creative touch to keep the pen’s design simple. The clip is 18k gold, handmade by Garcia- Deschacht, and engraved by a jeweler they selected for this work. Weight & Dimensions Capped Length: 14 cm / 5.5”Uncapped Length 12.5 cm / 4.9”Diameter: 1.5 cm / 0.6”Weight: 198 grams / 6.98 oz. Yes, I prefer heavy pens. I don’t write a lot, but when I do, a solid, substantial pen is what I like to use. I understand that this isn’t for everyone. The cap does not post. Nib & Performance – I chose a Boch #6 14k gold fine point nib for this pen. It was wet and very smooth right out of the box. One key point – and a pet peeve for me – is that the cap of a fountain pen should be airtight enough that the pen can be stored for a while without the nib drying out. I asked Garcia-Deschacht about this before we got started. On their metal pens, they put an ebonite insert inside the cap and cut the threads in this insert. The cap threads off and on smoothly and with a slight bit of drag as you turn the cap. There’s no play and the cap appears to seal quite well. So far this pen, even when not used for several days, starts and writes perfectly every time. Filling System & Maintenance - This pen has a standard convertor which was my choice . I filled it with my favorite dark blue ink and started to write straight away. The pen was shipped with ink I hadn’t seen before but am interested to try: The “Hastings Caves” hue from Van Dieman’s “Wilderness Series” - a 30ml bottle of shimmering yellow gold color. Cost & Value – I exchanged emails with Andy and Laura on dimensions, nib sizes and materials, clip shape, engraving, etc. The cost of each specification was provided. I was able to judge the value and make decisions on how to proceed to get just what I wanted. Included with this pen was a bespoke wood box, a card with the pen’s specifications and completion date, a notepad, some fine writing paper, a silver polishing cloth, a drawstring pouch, and a handful of very tasty Côte d’Or Belgian chocolate candies. The pen box is a work of art. Garcia- Deschacht custom tailors a box for each of their pens. The wood used for this box is willow from an historical excavation in Roeselare, Belgium dated around the 14-17th century. The logo on the box was cast in .925 silver. Conclusion – I really enjoyed working with Andy and Laura and I’m delighted with the finished product!

To the point: any advice before I start using a Parker 75 bought used? One with the thinner section, fine size nib. Longer story: I'd given up on the 75 given that I have no way of trying them in person, and they are apparently thinner than Sonnets, of which I have two. But... I came across one for a low price, which seemed in good nick, and in the design that intrigued me the most, milleraies (yes, ciselé looks awesome too). So... Instead of wisely saving for the one pen missing in my collection, a Waterman Carène, there I go blowing the budget... Which was already seriously dented by a Pelikan m205 and a couple of Lamy Studios... Soooo... This might take a while to get to me, but since it's a used pen, what would you recommend? 1. Dunk the section overnight, nib and all in water before anything else, to loosen any dried ink? 2. Try to remove the nib and feed first, by pulling it out, and cleaning them separately? It pulls out straight? This is what I would do with most of my pens, but I don't want to break anything. I did break a feed inside a Sonnet section, probably my fountain pen low point. 3. I understand the nib and feed are not easy to disassemble so better leave them well alone? 4. Very specific info: are these pens rather dry or rather wet? I am very particular about how inks come out, so for instance Ama Iro and Ajisai looked terrible (to me) on most (wet) pens, look consistently great with EF Studios, while Tsuyu Kusa really came into its own with a wet Professional Gear. I will definitely stay away from difficult inks which leave crud or sediments, like Rouge Hematite or Équinoxe 6; if you're happy or unhappy with the ink in your 75, please tell me about it. 5. I think this is silver coated? How does one clean that, if needed? 6. Will a modern Pelikan Parker converter work fine with these? Any other tips? Hopefully it won't be too thin for my L glove sized hands, otherwise... I suppose I'd have to give it away, and I'll probably never hear the end of it. Thanks in advance!

Hello All! I am new to this site, but my father was a frequent visitor to any site devoted to pens, especially fountain pens. Unfortunately, he passed away a couple of months ago and left behind his collection. I am not completely ignorant on the subject, I have a few myself that were given to me (by him, of course) as gifts. His collection consists of Montegrappas, Sailors, Namikis, Lamys, Mont Blancs, Pilots, Watermans and more. My family has given me the responsibility of researching his collection, including the value of the ones that we are willing to part with. The first of which is a .925 Sterling Silver Montegrappa Fountain Pen. I can't seem to find a model name or model number, so I'm hoping that my limited description and the pictures I've attached to this post will be enough for you to identify the model and hopefully, its approximate worth. I want to thank you in advance for your help, and I'm even more thankful for giving my father a place to share his passion with like-minded people.

Just got this interesting little feller...it's marked "Wahl", so it's pre-merger. This probably also explains the engraving style. Anyway, into the shop it will go. Here's a picture:

Hello everyone, Two days back this super beautiful Parker 75 Florence joined my collection of 75s

Hello everyone, I just purchased this set of NoS Aurora sterling silver fountain+ballpoint pens (only FP shown in the photos), i need help with identification of the model name and any other info, many thanks in advance

Hi everyone!! I'm new here and I’m hoping someone can help me identify this pen and/or get more information on it. What I’ve figured out so far is that it’s definitely of Czech origin based on the 14 carat gold nib saying “CZECHOSL”. The cap also has a Czech silver mark of a goat head with a 3 underneath plus the US mark of 900 indicating that it’s 90% silver. There’s another mark that I’m assuming is a makers mark but I haven’t been able to pull up info on it. It appears to say K1P but I’m not sure if it really is a “1”. This was recently given to me after it was found in a desk. It was likely sitting unused for roughly 10 years but it cleaned up and polished up beautifully. Unfortunately the person who owned it has passed away and no one else knows its history. Larger pictures of it can be found in the imgur album link below. It includes the full pen and close-ups of the cap's markers marks and the nib. https://imgur.com/a/F5CPXvp Thank you!!!

It's been awhile since I've written a review, my last one being 3 years ago. Of late, I've been making it a habit to rotate my pens, to the tune of every 2-4 weeks. One of the Montblanc Writer's Edition receiving less love than their peers is certainly the Kafka. Hence my choice today Price: I bought this at the London WES in 2013 from a dealer for 450 GBP/560 Euros, being told it was 'mint' but anyone who's bought a pen or two could tell that wasn't true, from the number of micro scratches found on the pens which you would get with use. But the condition was good, the nib acceptable to write with on paper , so I took a leap and was rewarded. Design: The Kafka is a long pen - in length, the main reason I've not used it as frequently as the rest of my pens, simply because it doesn't fit into my shirt pocket, which is a pity, since it actually has a clip that would make Goldilocks proud. Most fountain pens don't anyway, but this one really sticks out as shown. So it's mostly a pen I use for writing out study notes, or in my journal. It's not a pen I would post. The clips stems off the top of the cap, and is neither too tight to the point of frustration or too loose for comfort. Haven't used the pen in awhile, hence the dull silver, but I think it lends character ! After all it is a 2004 pen, a great way of tracking how old your pens are, when it's engraved on the nib directly ! From top to bottom; Kafka, Pelikan M1000, Pelikan M600, Parker 75 The nib is an 18k gold nib, with the familiar 4810m and Montblanc snowflake symbol engraved on the upper half, and a cockroach to represent one of Kafka's most famous publicly known works, Metamorphosis, where the main character well...not to spoil the story...turns into a cockroach. The nib is not particularly stiff, nor does it have any amount of flex to it, as most modern nibs do. As this is a medium, it doesn't have the 'stub' feel you may get with the broader Montblanc nibs. It was a dream to write with, and the feed keeps up very well, I never had to adjust the cartridge converter mid way ,as you would get with some pens. The sometimes misunderstood, maligned and yet reliable cartridge converter. It seems tightly sealed, so I've not tried seeing what happened if I tugged harder. It's not removable from the pen unit. The choice of colour for the body and cap is a dark ruby red, which at most angles, seem to be a deep and dark black. The body and cap of the pen isn't very reflective for all purposes, so even shining a light directly on to the pen doesn't bring out the reds in a more pleasing manner, as seen in the photo with flash below. Glimmers of red, mostly at the tips. It somehow shuns the light and displays its colours best in a dimly lit room, much like the terror of a flying cockroach landing on your face when the power goes out. Not a finger print magnet, which is a huge plus as well. Why red ? I haven't read enough Kafka, but I can only guess that the term Kafkaesque is frequently applied to the bureaucratic red tape we all find ourselves entangled in on a daily basis . Back to the pen, it's mostly seen at both ends of the pen, where the innards of the pen end at. The bottom end of the pen is tapered off with a piece of sterling silver, which you will see is rectangular in shape, but that transits into a the circular shape which we are all familiar with for most pens. Difficult to capture on camera. but the reflection of light of its surface tells you it changes along the way. Running your fingers along them and you'll find a seamless transition of the shapes. Why wasn't this pen more popular ? My guesses: 1) regarded as being cheaper due to the cartridge converter filling mechanism. I've noticed many FP users here regard having non cc's as being more 'premium', so this was probably seen as Montblanc going cheap on a writer's edition. In my opinion cc's are great, much easier to maintain and less of a hassle to repair. (walking into a minefield here..) 2) less trimmings: The entire body of the pen is mostly 'precious resin, aka plastic' besides the silver trimmings, compared to other pens which had more ornately decorated caps, bodies, nib sections etc. 3) simple design: well some of the writer editions can simply be...quite garish. I've a George Bernard Shaw as well, and it can be, sometimes, a bit ostentatious and invites unwanted conversations and attempts to try it... Overall, it's a design I find very pleasing, simple but elegantly done. I was happy to pay the price for a 2nd hand pen. As I slowly move away from broad nibs, but not yet to fine ones, I think this pen will feature more frequently in my daily pens. Hopefully I've convinced you that this is a wonderful pen ! I didn't score the pen out of a 10, because pens are like watches, love them or hate them, someones 10 maybe someone elses 3.75. I'm always taking suggestions for red fountain pens !

Hi All I'm new to this forum and would very much appreciate if you could help me to obtain any details about this vintage Waterman Ideal ballpoint pen that has been given to me by my father in law amongst many other pens when he was clearing out his house prior to sale. Info: (1) Appears to be a limited edition, the number of the pen is 829 of 2000(2) it shows Waterman 'Ideal' on the card and case.(3) Most likely purchased in the 80s. My father in law is Japanese but lived in France on business in the 80s. There is a chance that the pen was purchased in Japan. (4) The pen is of solid weight, it weights exactly 40g. Please could anyone help me to specify the model, year, what materials it's made out of and anything special about the pen? I've spent a lot of time on google, ebay and other websites and couldn't the same pen.I'm thinking of using this pen on the assumption that it is worth anything up to £150, but if it will turn up that the pen is ultra rare and highly valuable I may reconsider this. I can provide more pictures if required. Many thanks Jay https://8cfvua.bl.files.1drv.com/y4m8Mmb7o0UKAmD1h2jBL36eWFP8zTrdIjXsYyoVmPWNUqOcqSqHp4TuQpcH2o371TWmTcjQWwSgRba87odRizuIyj2sP-dttO_FtkjPzeaZ2EBYKApJm6EHoyr-BT2bOTAwGgtof2geAtb1fpl38l_Xjga-qDlNKv_xfkdd-CuqJiLpQbJuQLEHbsqL04GqZS7lPWI4151Yw5B5foB3QLjSg?width=2592&height=1944&cropmode=none https://8cc6ra.bl.files.1drv.com/y4mEZURCs4o3tuE3xahUFlCvXRNOBz0UXTK6darsKNpAQdPf9af2XpXeBE0tfWLhbhi4Evb2WqDzPQQu6hEbWh5umQrKy7UtuwOEWFJshKsXaF2O6uFHInJhmFF-Bf2nAaQ94CMaNjApTKhUSWh5WPhs44rxBgFOFa75v3CVhkn4H013Uq8ZhliaQxeTk-nZIX0x4nAl5X9qjyxxyZWZ16k5w?width=2592&height=1944&cropmode=none https://8cczqq.bl.files.1drv.com/y4m_gExCSJ1VXkMB664nAiwogdm42gVavT_3Q3J2g_e_l3D610ePooW3_LrkU0eKNmqbfiOhOOq5n26TyiExITHO72RNiZAwvBrASG3xU8CigEbqR4SVc0Ot6PqHHi1wbM2BV7P8yIjLswecA459-gRM1vN6r8Yl6ZE7HYeH5GkVZ-geTYB6OcryzsHOUKn5wTsHB_XOMt1R-YssuLlgn3TEA?width=2592&height=1944&cropmode=none https://8ceyia.bl.files.1drv.com/y4mukT0RyvrZ4SKvkyAmZbkYaBflZfUlHisVTXZc0uMeZSM-pZsSJn9F1NOZGnp80jdeP5njoKoEOwfizgVR9NhqThyki7bi14MY9vwDCpfWvDAmfG2QJD3h9UzWRS5MuR-QHuZDRF8qJdDkqkkFse98TS9YcQ-Nf153CaMVzozdW5v6wGjZHpVFAsgStuTEJwJCG1MpNF9fimDb1MY2WTIXQ?width=2592&height=1944&cropmode=none https://dses0w.bl.files.1drv.com/y4mqgZhq6Uq0tpUFBeQDBoW685wCyFz55uJwq0WoMVgVkit1H_AS3L2XiYkzqDvk1_GJKFgJ4K5vPeBdYXp-WP9O1dj0fTCRFJn9vGAAofHgmU-fodihRDKu7ca-WmuOrtlseuCbJBhpX8Pu1d8xmMBSke8iMC2fcVro4xCnw7hLtx0PFJiflkAHoSjLG2rUT049WYZ5fML4uR9obDsvwvgMQ?width=2592&height=1944&cropmode=none https://etwl1a.bl.files.1drv.com/y4mO7XZSBxEzW2Ka-XdipdEqMqO1CFG96WUMeQPkmztrK3x6qSdqWXwg7qSO9YSO8R0UyfhJsZwDpp526j8D3H47BtBFjcIMmWbvsBKoU2NoingJuqRlU45kAMiUaPe88_Gofk4mG88bIzHukLCQvPv3-rOmew-heoqywKafHRBuwkF_fMMYVIKmGNQTOY7qQg2ir8CGj-S98G0tmDV0W3pEw?width=2592&height=1944&cropmode=none https://etydga.bl.files.1drv.com/y4mAW_3Yv2ntERQLu-RhNoSb56x63fc50G8xglMmConRNX-jSFyC9ADLJh6HbJ8fkZwh6Ss6cg_y6UKlXehHyrVyFHnM2lepaWTy0hO3GFyU6SYaqkDzQHDubYkTLTevwTnvVth_2OhZ-qm7mkuXGraa5EH8sL8mpiZCxxu172jidj2yLClcPl4xmYuhTgjRhwpLMJaYFeNqZvrtW5xJU7rLQ?width=923&height=1231&cropmode=none https://etxudg.bl.files.1drv.com/y4mxaxsVPn8cEKUzMCr6KtZcKR1VehpAhntgSoJb3BkTP66WGS7Vx8ZtHZ1T909NTdd30h85giS4yQfuC2JVxUzzTtalmAX39XFh04RxjRcZvtvFY7pWB1tJkWWgomtOppxfrCiwXrsKk_KPIRRdIC4sl2C8DtUaNT2FzR5Lec4GA8L8NTjRHkvOPdP8EV4p4vWEp4tB7Ww1JGH5CTx8dA1Ig?width=640&height=853&cropmode=none https://etwxrg.bl.files.1drv.com/y4mbxBmLNkK1anSmO-SNcWTHV6_cV7H2YmcMXTWP2UjSb_qbd9sKU_z31BHRTqRTRn9gGAgSPoGdzxik-Q7PkROCTAfU-llbf9BprLi9WXKWbWcueltLJEb5vm8nGGabGUMmElCGoKLdx8njwJdC-WB3UKPIAGILIDd7aZ_fa4MqgEqMD37TOuhCcuRy3W1XxQ2SkBQIdnSv17QQKdZa9fRGA?width=828&height=1103&cropmode=none https://8cdwlq.bl.files.1drv.com/y4mSw2-X5h55xJNCRmitSlcM_GvVbrRlYqF5fYNX49-4eS9B4qalDcn2QaG-sSzgbwR7sGNy0SHDyFw9owABNdTg8mZvhFGrwbhqh93_99tNjeDZBtu_JDSIaHurJDYNPy_gXNCXZnZzGBpdt0k07l7QXYmcqvWLlC2-apayhNxNfq-Cy--_btBBc2vZFDJnWK72Sy9pkSgV2EHPp9gJY4IZQ?width=923&height=1231&cropmode=none

Earlier this year, Anna and I visited Yard-O-Led in Birmingham and had a factory tour. You can read about it here. Enjoy, Martin

Hello, I got this pen last year, and its one of the extremely rare instances where I buy a pen other than FP, but I couldn't resist this beauty, this edition is limited to only 100 pieces. Best regards.

If pens were merely instruments with which we write, FPN would not be as extensive as it is. The truth is that our pens are not only the means of recording our thoughts and everyday tasks; they also say much about our passions, what makes us tick, our aesthetic sense. They are works of art, they give us an object on which to meditate as we are stuck in thought, they tease us with their bemusing patterns and jog our memories of simpler times. This review is about a pen maker who came to the game of making fountain pens relatively late in life, when he had already established his name and reputation as a master silversmith in his homeland of Argentina. Juan Carlos Pallarols is the sixth generation in a long line of silversmiths who in the early 1800s emigrated to Argentina from Catalonia. In his 73 years, he has become the silversmith to the rich and famous in Argentina. The family name Pallarols is found somewhere in practically every important Catholic church in Buenos Aires: chalices, altars, crowns for the Blessed Virgin. It is also found in the halls of civil authority: Every President of Argentina has patronized him in recent history, and his products have been sought after by the crowned heads of Europe and given as gifts to every Pope since St. John Paul II. In fact, the name has traveled the world with decades of visitors to Buenos Aires who have carried far and wide the works of art produced by the silversmith who still lives and works in his house on the Plaza Dorrego, in the heart of bohemian San Telmo. The pen that I present to you today is just such a work of art, but the story of how it came to be made -- its story, in other words -- is, in some ways, as interesting as the intricate chiseling on the body of the pen. In the mid 1980s, I was traveling quite a lot to Argentina and Paraguay. I had not yet dreamt of becoming a lawyer. I was enchanted by the greenery of the jungle, by humid afternoons on a hammock. On one of my trips to Buenos Aires, I was standing in a kiosk downtown, on Calle Maipu, talking to the owners about "yerba mate," the green leaf that grows only in Argentina, Paraguay and southern Brazil and which when dried and ground is drunk as an infusion in a hollowed-out gourd through a silver straw called a "bombilla." Here you see a package of yerba mate, next to a mate gourd and a bombilla. The silver rim on the gourd and the bombilla were also made by Juan Carlos Pallarols . The rim has my monogram engraved onto it as well as the first stanza of the Argentine epic "Martin Fierro" by Jose Hernandez. http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a42/daoud62/IMG_1386_zps529d12bb.jpg Back to the story unfolding on Calle Maipu: In walked a man who listened intently, and when I left, he asked me more about my interest in the national beverage. I prided myself on being an expert of sorts on mate, and even started quoting words in Guarani, the national language of Paraguay, to show how much I had learned about the custom. I told him I was looking for a special bombilla, a silver one, and he said he could help me. He invited me to his workshop the next day to join him for some mate (and, as it turns out, some wine) because he had a colleague who was from Corrientes, the province bordering Paraguay, where they spoke as much Guarani as Spanish. Juan Carlos and I became friends that day, and I saw him frequently between 1986 and 1990. The last time that I saw him was in February 1990. Life took me to New Orleans, then to the Middle East. I often thought of my times in Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay, but never had a chance to return until October 2013. The day after I landed in Buenos Aires, after an absence of a quarter of a century, I took a chance in asking the taxi driver to take me to a house standing on the Plaza Dorrego in San Telmo, where the flea market operates on the weekends and people dance tango almost as if smitten by the Spirit. Perhaps the house now belonged to someone else? Perhaps it had become a restaurant? I rang the bell, and although 24 years had passed since I last saw him, he buzzed me in and, when I got to the top of his marble staircase, he greeted me in the few words in Guarani that I had taught him that day in 1986 on Calle Maipu. I had heard that Juan Carlos Pallarols was making pens because he had come to some of the DC Super Shows. I was in Saudi Arabia or Oman at the time, but I followed with interest this parallel passion. Pallarols had no idea what an aficionado of fountain pens I was. We began to talk. That's when he came up with the idea for a pen for me. This pen is no small object; it weighs in at 93 gm of sterling silver, and when capped it measures exactly as long as a MB 149. Similarly, without the cap, it measures approximately 132 mm from the tip the the nib to the end of the barrel. The nib is a rhodium-plated S.T. Dupont M nib, the hallmark "curved spade" type; the feed and section are likewise made by Dupont. The design on the barrel is of lush tropical vegetation and large leaves. This was Pallarols' idea for me because I so loved the jungle region in Paraguay and Argentina where yerba mate was cultivated. I named the pen "Caaguazu" which means in Guarani "jungle" but also "big leaf." "Caa" is also the Guarani word for yerba mate. As you would expect, the S.T. Dupont nib is silky smooth, but you have to find the sweet spot; this has been the case with every S.T. Dupont I own. I would prefer for the pen to be an eyedropper filler or to use a piston, but the cartridge converter is serviceable. The design on the barrel and cap is mesmerizing, and I never tire of looking at it. Despite the pen's weight, it feels well balanced in my hands. Enjoy the pictures! Bear in mind that the designs on the cap and barrel are not soldered, but actually chiseled into or out of the silver body. http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a42/daoud62/IMG_1396_zps7b0dd0dd.jpg http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a42/daoud62/IMG_1378_zps6a7d3ce2.jpg http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a42/daoud62/IMG_1375_zpsa2b15671.jpg http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a42/daoud62/IMG_1376_zpsa37824e7.jpg The detail on the leaves -- the veins, the stems -- is beguiling, and every single mark by hand was made with a chisel: http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a42/daoud62/IMG_1376_zpsa37824e7.jpg http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a42/daoud62/IMG_1387_zps01115b58.jpg http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a42/daoud62/IMG_1391_zps7b71f3db.jpg Here is the Caaguazu next to my Sailor Hanzi: http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a42/daoud62/IMG_1384_zps14ce1d91.jpg Betwixt my Hakase Rosewood and Buffalo Horn pen and the MB Hitchcock: http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a42/daoud62/IMG_1382_zps52b28de4.jpg Here it is next to a Ralph Prather Titanium 51: http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a42/daoud62/IMG_1383_zps1679a4a9.jpg The Caaguazu keeps company in the rotation with a MB 149, a Grayson Tighe Mokume-Gane, and a Pelikan 101N Tortoise Shell: http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a42/daoud62/IMG_1381_zps27003ee0.jpg Here are two other pens that Juan Carlos Pallarols has made. Again, they are exclusive pieces: http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a42/daoud62/IMG_2721_zps16ea1c22.jpg http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a42/daoud62/IMG_2702_zps804fc62c.jpg

One of my earliest memories of pens being special and valued was a Parker ballpoint and pencil set my grandfather used to wear in his shirt pocket. I always thought they were special and I guess I coveted a set like that for my very own. He had them for many years, but they seem to have been lost during a move in the 90's sometime. So I don't have them now as a memento, but I remember them clearly and always associate that pen and pencil with him. Fast forward many years and I'm poking around on pen sites and there is the same pen that my grandfather had! Turns out it was a Parker 75 Sterling Silver Cisele (not sure if they used that term back then but that's what is known as now). His set was probably from late 60's or early 70's, but I know it was years prior to 1976. Being a lover of fountain pens and wanting something that reminds me of him, I'm looking for a late 60's Parker 75 Sterling Silver Crosshatch (or Cisele) fountain pen, not ballpoint. I have no experience with vintage pens except for a few Parker 21's and 51's I inherited from my father, so I'm looking for advice on any gotchas associated with Parker 75, things to look out for, where might be a good place to start looking, etc. And I'd like to avoid eBay, not my favorite place and I'm too inexperienced to spot fakes. Are there many fake P75's floating around or is that slanted more to the P51 and Montblanc areas? So any good, reputable dealers you would recommend? Price isn't really an issue as long as it's reasonable for the individual pen. I'm more concerned with integrity and friendly service. If you have one, how does it feel in the hand? Would you say it's a good or bad pen? Again, not so much concerned with the specific nib, I can always get that adjusted as long as it's in decent shape. What about the filling system, C/C yes? Any idea on capacity? Does the cap seal well, even on older or well-loved pens? Something along like this, or maybe the Premier version: http://www.carmenriverapens.com/wp-content/uploads/parker-cisele-sterling-silver-crosshatch-fountain-pen-2-e1394133584573.jpg (shameless lifted from Carmen Rivera Pens...) Thanks for your help.

Hello! I'm new to this forum and glad i found it. I was given a beautiful black Pilot Metropolitan a while back, but during a class it feel straight on the tip, bending it completely, and i have deduced from the internet that the most economical choice is just to buy a new Metropolitan. I'm not particulary fond of animal skin or retro pop designs, but those seem to be most readily available. My question is, where could i find a silver Pilot MR/Metropolitan (the one without animal skin or dots) in Europe? Does it even sell in Europe? Thank you for your responses, happy holidays!

Silver pens like the Oppenheim and Gandhi (partly Silver) tarnish rather quickly. MB does have a polishing cloth that does an acceptable job of buffing the pen if it is slightly tarnished. Hoever, once it is a dark tarnish then only a silver polish like Silvo or 3M's Silver polish does a good job. Some say that the latter will eat up the Silver and therefore should not be used at all. Having a dull pen is not an option! Taking it in to MB for a service and polish each time is expensive and inconvenient. Any views, experiences or suggestions?

I recently received a Caran d'Ache Ecridor in guilloché. It's a beautiful pen, but unfortunately I had to send it in for maintenance due to a feed issue. I was always under the impression that these pens were palladium coated. However, the owner of the shop I brought it to seemed to suggest it was silver plated, as was written in his catalog. One of the reviews on FPN mentions it's silver plated and palladium coated, and a second look at the Caran d'Ache website lists various models in different plating. Does anyone know what metal is on the Ecridor?

So, I got this retractable Victorian dip pen today. It's my first dip pen. It writes nicely and I am enjoying it. I was told this was made in late 1800's or early 1900's, but I don't have any other information. I appreciate it if you could help me identify this pen

My specialty seems to be buying filthy, battered pens and keeping nibmeisters in provender. This one was lurking in a case next to something that turned out to be a very tarnished Mabie Todd. I bought that one, too, but that's another forum. It's a 452 1/2 V with a pattern I've never seen before, but it had a bad crack at the barrel end which my jeweler has skillfully repaired. Perhaps someone knows what this pattern's called? Pictures below:

Ferrari da Varese Aura Sterling Silver Fountain Pen -M As part of the Exceptional series, the Aura pens engravings are inspired from antique times. Their caps are masterfully engraved by hand in accordance with traditional rules. The body and cap are crafted from sterling silver. The pen comes with an 18kt gold nib, medium in size and comes with a pump filling system. Together with the engraved patterns, the shape of the pen gives our ever changing world a look at the past. The pen is new and has never been filled or dipped. The dust sleeve shows wear from handling and the lining along the spine of the display box shows wear (holes) from age. Please look over the images carefully, as they are of the actual item for sale. $1,800.00 Email us at orders@airlineintl.com or call (915) 778-1234 for special pricing.

I bought a little silver ringtop on eBay: a Tiffany pen with a William Hicks nib. It's not especially different from other pens of this type, just subtly xbetter, more carefully made. Except for one thing: it leaked. When I uncapped the pen, the section would be covered with ink. I wore it to the L. A. Pen Show anyway, because it's such a splendid writer. Mr. Minuskin had replaced the bulb on the reservoir (it's that old) so I asked him what he thought the problem might be. He observed that there were no holes in the cap. This means that a sufficiently strong vacuum is set up to pull ink out of the section. For some reason, possibly because the pen's so early that they didn't know the breather holes were necessary; possibly because they couldn't talk the client into having them. In any case, the solution to the problem would be a jeweler who won't laugh at me when I ask him to do something weird. Luckily, there's a guy in Sherman Oaks who's been rebuilding jewelry for my sister for years. Also luckily, I had two other silver pens to use as examples (one of which I left with him because the bottom end was cracked). The operation took moments, and it worked like a charm. So instead of feeling like I'd vandalized the pen (which you could argue) I've made it more useful. Lesson: they're made to be used, and it's more useful now. Update: it still leaks a bit, but I think that has to do with gripping the pen too closely to the section. It's dry when I uncap it. Still a fantastic writer.

Had a lovely day out in Manhattan Beach. I was able to put faces to people who have previously been email addresses. And in a display box I saw a dingy little grey stick that turned out to be a sterling MT Swan ringtop with a very flexy MT nib. It'll look swell when it's polished. The dealer had another little silver pen - it had a Waterman nib, which, I suppose, is a matter for another forum. So he did well by me.

Here is the first Tray with pens for sale in 2015 We have different Montblanc fountain pens and one Boheme Rollerball # 1 Boheme cartridge filler, BB nib size, Citrine jewel, price ; 540.- Euro # 2 Boheme Rollerball, red jewel, price ; 340.- Euro # 3 146 size Solitaire, early brass gold plated version ( no tarnishing ) F nib size, price ; 485.- Euro # 4 same then # 3 #5 146 size Solitaire, vermeil version, 925 sterling silver - gold plated, M nib size, price ; 525.- Euro # 6 146 size Solitaire, 925 sterling silver, M nib size; price 520.- Euro #7 146 size Solitaire, 925 sterling silver, Anniversary Edition with rosé gold plated trims ( 1924 Edition ) F nib size, ; price 2100.- Euro # 8 146 size Solitaire, Nikolai Edition, M nib size ; 980.- Euro # 9 144 size Solitaire, 925 sterling silver, Anniversary Edition with rosé gold plated trims ( 1924 Edition ), M nib size , no number because the cap was changed ; price 950.- Euro # 10 144 size Solitaire, Ramses Edition, M nib size ; price 950.- Euro All pens are in near mint to mint conditions, delivered with the "normal" Montblanc Gift box. Shipping worldwide registered airmail is included, if you like Express service via DHL or UPS please ask for the price. Any ??? ,please send a PM for more information or pictures. Any serious offer for for the whole tray ( without the tray ) is also welcome / possible. kind regards Max Other pens for sale : SALE