fountain pen taboos - don't enter if you're easily offended

[Silas]

I like this thread so far....

 

1) I'll never buy another Bexley. I've been unhappy with both the performance and with the service - I own four and each one has had/still has issues.

 

2) The Parker Sonnet is overpriced and poorly designed.

 

 

I've owned a Bexley Jungle Green. Overrated I think. Had Gold fittings which was nice, but just a "Plain Jane Writer."

 

A couple of students of mine had Parker Sonnets: looked cheaply made and didn't write well....horrible ink flow!

[Bookman]

This is probably more anathema to some than taboo, but I have realized that I prefer c/c. IT'S TRUE AND I'M PROUD!

 

That makes two of us.

[Silas]

Myth: Using fountain pens makes you special or eccentric or noteworthy.

 

 

No, no, no, using expensive fountain pens makes you special.

No, using cheap fountain pens is the noteworthy part.

Nope, using only vintage fountain pens proves your superior aesthetics and VALUES.

What? No way, the more it costs, the more special you are!

Make sure everyone notices that you're using CHEAP fountain pens! That way they'll think you're cool and not a status seeker.

Carrying Montblanc pens means you can't think for yourself.

Black is stupid and boring. Who's going to notice you're using a FOUNTAIN PEN if it's a boring black one?

And using really vibrant inks means you're fascinating. No, it does. Watch: [writes in spectacular non-black ink color] "I am fascinating." See how that works?

Hey! Notice me trying to be not noticed for using a fountain pen! Hey! Heyheyhey! I'm using a FOUNTAIN PEN! How come nobody cares that I'm using a fountain pen? No! You can't borrow it. Touch with your EYES!

Why would you spend your money on that? How come you don't think like me? How come you don't think like me? How come you don't think like me? Let me show you how to live....

 

 

You are SO RIGHT!! NOBODY noticed my new big black DANITRIO RAW EBONITE....it stuck out of my pocket and pulled some threads loose....COME ON, PEOPLE!! Are you BLIND?

[voop]

I've always thought that hooded nibs look like...how can I put this delicately? ...

 

... an uncut male member.

 

There, I've said it! Whew!

 

I.e. "natural and un-mutilated"...?

Edited May 31, 2010 by voop

[WendyNC]

in terms of PENS god probably wanted it without the hood. on second thought i know he'd wanted it that way. :ltcapd:

 

In terms of pens, I'm glad there's both (so there are people off chasing those P51's and leaving all the beautiful, big, open Visconti nibs for meeeeee!).

[Boltonator]

I dont have any taboos, what irritates me is the attitude of people in society who ask me why I would want a Fountain Pen. They are just ignorant and in the future, when im sitting in my spacious office with some antiquated desk pens and lots of flash Montblanc desk accessories then I will ask them why they settled for less.

And I dont like or want the 149. Too big and the only drawcard it has is the 18k nib. Im after a 146 (LeGrand) or even a 144 (Classique)

[holgalee]

Vintage Sheaffer pens. There are so many nice ones but I just can't--for the life of me--distinguish between them and remember their names!

 

Statesman, Valiant, Sentinel...

[csmorris]

Not taboos but seems to fit with the thread.

 

1. If you like that style, brand, design, price point, weight, etc. then buy it

 

2. If I like something you do not, too bad, it's mine not yours.

 

3. I value your opinion but if I do not take your advice, deal with it.

 

Basically, your choice in FP should be what makes you happy, for whatever reason. Enjoy your fountain pens!

[Bill_D]

In general, steel nibs write better than gold ones. There, I said it.

[pankajwillis]

no bad/hate-filled language or anything that violates board rules but opinions that are controversial. like how you think 149 is overrated (i disagree). how krone pens are the best thing since sliced bread (i disagree). that you use your lamy 2000 as a door stop (no way...that scratches the door!).

 

you get the picture.

 

remember: what's said here, stays here! no grudges.

 

-----

 

i'll start it out with 2 taboos which is more personal than something that may be representative of the fp enthusiast population.

 

1. i never had good experiences with pelikans. having collected pens since the 90s, my early pelikans were mediocre other than their prices. then i thought to progress to the limiteds and bought 3 at different times; each time the nib was scratchy and didn't write well at all. unacceptable because they were brand new. i flushed it, inspected the nibs, etc. now i wouldn't even look at a pelikan.

 

2. complaints about how expensive fountain pens are. come on. it's a fountain pen, a specialty item and an anachronism in this day and age, a luxury not necessity. so stop complaining about how expensive they are because there are disposable fountain pens you can get at office depot. if you want new and quality, then expect to pay what the market demands.

 

i can go on but i won't because i want to hear what you all say.

 

 

- I totally agree with point number 1. I have 2 M1000s, and I have bought (and then exchanged) another M1000 in past. I also tried some of their special editions. All of them have dissapointed me.

 

 

- I totally agree that 149 is not over rated. It is a beautiful pen.

 

 

- Waterman edson is one pen that I bought and thought, holy cow! why did I pay this much for this. But now I know. There is something about that pen which makes it worth the price. Out of all Pelikam M1000, MB 149, and Waterman Edson - I like Edson the best.

 

- Omas Paragon is the best pen, even overtaking edson. Their celluloid paragon is heavenly! My most favorite pen.

[de Servantes]

Great tread !

 

Not exactly a taboo, but...

 

why is it that when designing a "set", it's seems so hard to do BOTH right: I have several Parker Vector FP's which are surprisingly nice writers, but the Vector BP is just (Potty Mouth), and one Parker Jotter FP which is probably my least favourite, but the Jotter BP is one of the best BP's I've ever handled...

 

Oh well, I'll just be carrying a black and steel Vector FP and a brushed steel Jotter BP, then...

 

 

Greetings

Miguel

[inkyindi]

Staff at pen counters in department stores. Why do they not receive proper basic training beyond selling Mont Blancs? I actually asked a lady at one of them if they sold Pelikan nibs and she asked me what a Pelikan was. I then showed her my pen and pointed out they sold Pelikan inks, to which she replied very few people buy bottled ink nowadays so she'd never really paid attention to them.

/rant

 

Wow, I gotta second this one in a big way! My city has ONE fp store and that's not even their main business (it's luggage). The sales people have no understanding of fountain pens. I mean NONE. What's worse, they have started cutting back on selling fountain pens. They have the Lamy 2k ballpoint and mech pencil but not the fp. When I've bought a safari they've only ever had one converter in stock at any given time. Private reserve is the only bottled ink they carry and the palette choices are limited. I like to support local businesses but trips to that store end in high frustration.

[jniforat]

GREAT TOPIC!!!

 

Will never buy another Montblanc or Bexley or Pelikan!

 

Don't buy 100 cheap pens and complain about expensive pens, you've spent a lot of money on inexpensive pens!

[jniforat]

GREAT TOPIC!!!

 

Will never buy another Montblanc or Bexley or Pelikan!

 

Don't buy 100 cheap pens and complain about expensive pens, you've spent a lot of money on inexpensive pens!

[fabrimedeiros]

In the same FP hobby, people think different. But me, like almost all who once have tried Pelikan, I've falling in love.

[Aeltar]

I prefer C/C pens for the ease of flushing and ink-switching in general. They may have a lower capacity, but I just take a sample vial of ink with me in case I run out.

[dadoody]

I can never buy PENguin pens. That their warranty is void is Noodler's ink is used leads me to believe that their pens must be of inferior workmanship, as they don't explain why their warranties will be voided with Noodler's, just that it is since it is not a factory pen ink; however, they will make an exception for "Diamine" ink.....which is picking favorites. Come on now.

 

Won't touch those pens if they can't guarantee their work with an ink that is very useful to me.

Edited June 27, 2010 by dadoody

[arutha]

I'm curious as to your issues with Krone. I'm looking at possible getting a Krone Spark in the near future.

 

no bad/hate-filled language or anything that violates board rules but opinions that are controversial. like how you think 149 is overrated (i disagree). how krone pens are the best thing since sliced bread (i disagree). that you use your lamy 2000 as a door stop (no way...that scratches the door!).

 

you get the picture.

 

remember: what's said here, stays here! no grudges.

 

-----

 

i'll start it out with 2 taboos which is more personal than something that may be representative of the fp enthusiast population.

 

1. i never had good experiences with pelikans. having collected pens since the 90s, my early pelikans were mediocre other than their prices. then i thought to progress to the limiteds and bought 3 at different times; each time the nib was scratchy and didn't write well at all. unacceptable because they were brand new. i flushed it, inspected the nibs, etc. now i wouldn't even look at a pelikan.

 

2. complaints about how expensive fountain pens are. come on. it's a fountain pen, a specialty item and an anachronism in this day and age, a luxury not necessity. so stop complaining about how expensive they are because there are disposable fountain pens you can get at office depot. if you want new and quality, then expect to pay what the market demands.

 

i can go on but i won't because i want to hear what you all say.

[arutha]

Mine would be very expensive pens with plastic bodies (i.e., "precious resin").

[BrianL]

I seem to be in a very small minority here. While I also never found a MB I liked, my favorite pens tend to be on the low cost side. However, I am a pen user more than a pen collector or admirer. I seem to gravitate to the Parkers though there is such a variation in nib design not all models do it for me. I am looking at going for a Pelikan. Also, while I am a vintage preference person possibly b/c I am a lefty, I find vintage FPs not very satisfying.

 

I do wish all companies would standardize on a single cartridge/converter system.

I do wish the nib size grading was more tightly adhered to. I have medium nibs that range from near fine to near broad.

I do wish someone would come back out with the Schaeffer snorkel system. Would make it easier for those who would like to fill from a bottle but find it too messy.

More enforcement as to knockoff laws (applies to more than just FPs) so when we buy something we know it is for real. Also, require the manufacturers to make the pen with country of manufacture.

 

In some of the posts the Parker Sonnett has been diced. I am finding that I like it enough that it is the pen I grab more than others on the desk. It has some scratch but with time it is getting less as the pen breaks in. OTOH, when I got the Sonnett, I also bought 3 Frontiers that were reviewed as very smooth and they are. However, I find them so smooth they are actually tiring to write with. My Schaeffer desk pen is between the 2 and because of the balance and heft I find tto be one of the best writers I own. It is a brown thick white dot pen with gold nib. I also have a pair of thinner black Shaeffer desk pens that I care less for. I'm gravitating towards getting another Sonnett when I can find one on the cheap, new.