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

[bushido]

great thread.

 

so hard to find great used asian pens

 

that's because people want to keep 'em!

[LedZepGirl]

1.) I think the Lamy Safari is the ugliest pen ever. I know many people rave about what great pens they are but I just can't get over how ugly they are. They remind me of an old 1980s computer, calculator or wrist watch- moderne to the point of being utilitarian. Although plain at least Parker '51's have some mid century moderne flair to them! Is it just me or was the 1980s finally the point in history where aesthetics were completely cast by the wayside? I'll stick to my Pelilkan for a functional, smooth writing, moderne, everyday FP.

 

2.) I am not a fan of any type of fountain pen that is or can be be used as a status symbols. Status symbols are the stupidest things ever invented by humankind. Think about it- some person with money goes out of their way to buy something expensive just to flaunt- just to go around and say 'oh and btw, I'm better that you'- without any words spoken. How dumb is that? That particular person could be as dumb a bag of hammers (they more than likely are if they use their money in such ways), material status is not a way of showing that you are a better person than the masses.

 

3.) When FPs and bling meet. A fountain pen must be functional and aesthetically pleasing. When diamonds and other such gem stones are included the functionality completely goes down the crapper, it's a piece of jewellery with a nib on one end.

[rainyday2306]

Platinum 3776 Gathered, earthworms, intestines and vacuum cleaner's suction tubes -- all related either by blood or adoption.

 

No, thank you.

[cuza]

Hey,

 

Now that we're on a roll. Why would anyone pay more than $1.50 for a fountain pen that doesn't have a screw-on cap?

 

And what's wrong with Pelikan? Some of us like our pens plain. Fancy doesn't make them put ink on paper any better or efficiently.

 

There ought to be a law (1) concerning highly polished, metal sections, (2) against converters that fill counter-clockwise and (3) ink that doesn't taste good.

 

So there.

 

-- cuza

 

 

 

PS: I don't like my P51 any more.

Edited March 12, 2010 by cuza

[ANM]

I need stronger glasses or have a dyslexia problem. I thought this was about fountain pen tatoos.

 

LedZepGirl, another layer to your comment about status pens are the people who hope you think they are cool because they use status symbols.

[CS388]

For me, it's the ludicrous packaging that accompanies many high end pens.

Hardwood boxes with satin lining and jewelled metalwork with a luxurious full colour brochure the size of a shoebox.

 

I'm not suggesting the Montblanc WEs (eg) should come in a blister-pack. But a better sense of proportion would be appreciated.

[mr mobius]

 

3.) When FPs and bling meet. A fountain pen must be functional and aesthetically pleasing. When diamonds and other such gem stones are included the functionality completely goes down the crapper, it's a piece of jewellery with a nib on one end.

 

 

 

Whats up with a bit of bling ??

 

 

 

http://i847.photobucket.com/albums/ab37/bitsforsale09/Visconti_Fountain_Pens2-thumb-450x6.jpg

 

http://i847.photobucket.com/albums/ab37/bitsforsale09/aaaB-6eBGkKGrHgoH-DkEjlLly9hRBKrReO.jpg

 

 

Moby

Edited March 12, 2010 by mr mobius

[macaddicted]

I cannot for the life of me understand why anyone would choose to use a pen with a metal section. Just the thought of it sets my teeth on edge.

 

My Pelikan Majesty and Visconti Metropolis are two of my favorite pens. Different strokes for different folks.

[jamesh]

one thing that few want to talk about is how Lamy rips off people by using three different names for one single pen (vista, al star, and safari).

 

:mellow:Wow, it's like seeing the sunlight for the first time. Who could I have been so blind.

[Silvermink]

For me, it's the ludicrous packaging that accompanies many high end pens.

Hardwood boxes with satin lining and jewelled metalwork with a luxurious full colour brochure the size of a shoebox.

 

I love the boxes, but I'm not quite sure why since they never do anything but sit around and take up space. My Divina Desert Springs came in just such a box.

 

It did seem vaguely ludicrous opening that huge heavy box to remove a pen taking up maybe one-fiftieth of the space inside, though.

Edited March 12, 2010 by Silvermink

[NotPiffany]

I don't like a pen I can't cart around horizontally in my purse. So far, I've been lucky with that, but I'm not entirely sure about my Hero 616. And about that 616... I like the way it writes, but I'm not fond of that hooded nib. I want my pens to look like they can poke an eye out.

[BeachBum]

I enjoy cheap pens because you can try a lot of them for not too much money, and occasionally fall on a real gem.

 

If I had the $500 spare I wouldn't buy a pen at all. I already have two expensive interests - cycling and photography - and I don't intend FPs to become a third.

+1

[karmakoda]

I cannot for the life of me understand why anyone would choose to use a pen with a metal section. Just the thought of it sets my teeth on edge.

 

Completely agree. Sorry, but they all come off looking like the press fit kit pens, not that there's anything wrong with that.

There is a certain amount of the Emperor's New Clothes Syndrome going around when it comes to Limited Edition pens by many manufacturers. The artisans' abilities are wonderful, the materials? exquisite, the results?..crash and burn. But that's only my opinion. Two examples.

Does anybody love Tarzan this much?

http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz218/Valaccar/Tarzan.jpg

http://www.executiveessentials.com/Krone-Tarzan-Limited-Edition-Fountain-Pen/KRO-PF-KR4990-M

and is the Montegrappa Eternal Bird created for the local chapter of the Mugu-gubu cult? (made that up)

http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz218/Valaccar/EternalBird2.jpg

http://www.stylophilesonline.com/11-05/11brd.htm

[bushido]

 

I love the boxes, but I'm not quite sure why since they never do anything but sit around and take up space.

 

not all boxes just take up space:

http://www.thewatchery.com/WatchImages/large/DVIEP-2.jpg

[artaddict]

Great thread!

 

My 2 cents:

 

I don't like cheap, poorly designed knock-off pens.

 

I don't really like how vintage Parkers write, but they are pretty.

 

After one bad Visconti, never again.

[wallylynn]

I got really confused by the topic title. I though taboo was something I shouldn't do.

 

Turns out you're just looking for strong opinions. Here's one I didn't see mentioned:

 

- FPs should be inked and used. Why have a pen (probably expensive) and just let it sit there.

 

As for expletives,

 

May you drop your pen on the nib!

May Bulletproof Black blot your shirt!

[jungle]

What passes for art is highly subjective, what passes for good engineering is highly objective. I would rather spend the money on good engineering when considering a tool that serves a useful purpose. Others may not, but that is entirely up to them.

There are more makers catering to the former than to the latter ideal.

Good engineering tends to be less expensive and more functional than "art".

[CS388]

For me, it's the ludicrous packaging that accompanies many high end pens.

Hardwood boxes with satin lining and jewelled metalwork with a luxurious full colour brochure the size of a shoebox.

 

I love the boxes, but I'm not quite sure why since they never do anything but sit around and take up space. My Divina Desert Springs came in just such a box.

 

It did seem vaguely ludicrous opening that huge heavy box to remove a pen taking up maybe one-fiftieth of the space inside, though.

 

Imagine if high-end cars were supplied with the equivalent amount of packaging!

 

I understand your comment, though. I have no top tier pens, so I'm commenting hypothetically. I'm sure that if I did I would keep the boxes.

 

And pens aren't always the worst offenders re unnecessary packaging. Look at software. How many CDs could you fit into the average retail software box?

Edited March 12, 2010 by CS388

[sombrueil]

• 
   
  
• metal pens
  
• metal caps
  
• metal trim over and above the minimum
  
• black pens (bhr excused)... why get a pen you can't tell from any other pen?
  
• loud-colored pens
  
• new pens -- so far I haven't seen a post 1950's pen that pleased me aesthetically, except ones that are copying old pens. In that case, why not buy vintage with vastly more character and options? I feel generally that after wwII we entered a period of stylistic ugliness in virtually everything (clothes, buildings, pens) that we've never escaped, even though we keep moving things around in here.
  
• lead carrot pens (I know, I stole that, but so perfect!)
  
• encrusto-bling sucker pens (made for people with the taste of a crow)
  
• pens that don't write well (for anyone's taste)
  
• and people who misrepresent what they have to sell although they know better.
   
  

 

okay, that was nasty. I really feel like a crank.

[bushido]

 

okay, that was nasty. I really feel like a crank.

 

it's called catharsis. now you can move on with your life!