Choose the best two writers

[wspohn]

Oh yeah - the original question.

 

I'd probably take a Namiki VP as being convenient and easy writing, although it wouldn't work for those with small hands.

 

A good all-rounder would be a Parker 75 or perhaps a 51, but I am still mad at my desk set, one component of which refuses to start up every time without futzing about with it (despite several ultrasonic sessions).

 

I will admit that other 51s perform delightfully, but even in a week of intense study, a welcome respite is often to stare at one's pen in quiet repose for a few moments, and if you have a 51, you find yourself staring at....what..?

[Dillo]

Hi,

 

Just two:

 

Pelikan Level L5

Aurora 88P

 

These hold much ink--you did not say anything about bringing ink, so these are good ones. They fit nicely into hands and they write very smoothly. Both have 14K gold nibs, so the should last.

 

Dillon

[Dillo]

Hi,

 

On second thought, is this a rough place?

 

I would take:

 

Level L65--only

 

Or...

 

Pelikan Level L65

Lamy 2000

 

Or...

 

Lamy 2000 Fountain pen

Lamy 2000 Pencil (Fill the pencil with plenty of leads.)

 

I never had a Lamy 2000 pencil, but I would be hopefully getting one. I traded away my Lamy 2000 once (It was hard, but it had to be done. The logic was that the Lamy 2000 is still being made, so I could buy one after), but I will get another one soon.

 

Dillon

[StanSoph]

MB 149 (F), fat, compfortable, smooth, stiff and boring. Just like I like 'em.

[fjf]

Well, I'll choose a Pelikan m425 and an Omas Paragon. Both very nice writers.

[HesNot]

I only noted one pen so I'll throw out a second (since I can) - a triumph nib Sheaffer is always appealing - my Snorkel has an EF nib which isn't the best for extended writing - thus I'll throw out my 1949 Sentinel which has a smooth medium triumph nib. The thick model is a nice and comfortable pen to use all day long.

[HDoug]

Probably my Pelikan M200 (amber) because it holds much ink and has the highest speed/legibility ratio for me. For the price-is-no-object pen, probably a backup M200, the M205 probably. If I'm going to be doing a lot of writing with the other pen, might as well be identical to the first so my hand won't have to "adjust". Maybe an M205 with a couple of diamonds glued onto the ends, but not big enough to upset the balance.

 

Doug

[HesNot]

I admit that ink capacity was not my number one hot button item - both my pens hold a reasonable amount of ink - but if I had to choose two and those had to last with no refills the entire time I may cut it close...

 

Consequently, I'll throw in perhaps a Pelikan 6XX for capacity sake in place of the Sheaffer. Preferably a 620 Stockholm, Madrid, Berlin or Chicago so that my normal issue with Pelikans being somewhat uninspiring is not a factor!

[corniche]

Greetings all,

 

This is a very insightful question and it is quite difficult to limit it to only two, but if I must, I would be compelled to say "... the best two writers" are William Shakespeare and St. Thomas Aquinas- with Edgar Allan Poe and Flannery O'Connor coming in as close seconds.

 

 

Oh, what's that? You mean pens?! Oh, well, in that case, I would have to go with any one of my Waterman Hemispheres with fine or medium nibs and a tie between my Sheaffer Triumph Imperials with fine or medium nibs and my new Pelikan M200 with a medium nib for second place. These pens have given me the most trouble-free performance, i.e., good flow, smooth writers with nice wet lines.

 

I realize you say "any pen;" however, I feel uncomfortable citing pens that I've never used, e.g., I like the looks of the Pelikan Grand Place, but I don't own one, (yet), so I don't know for sure if it is "the best writer" I've ever used- I can speculate, but I can't say for sure, so I won't.

 

Best wishes to all,

 

Sean

 

 

* Edited: text added.

Edited October 16, 2006 by corniche

[kazoolaw]

To Stansoph: "fat, comfortable, smooth, stiff and boring" - first time I'm seen a description of me used to characterize a pen.

 

I'd actually bring two pens. The first would be either a 51 Vac double jewel, or 51 Flighter. The pens are essentially bullet proof. The Vac has a broader nib for narratives, the Flighter slightly better for editing.

 

The second would be a pen with a cursive italic nib, and a larger girth than the 51s. This pen varies from week to week: this week I'd take a Stipula Etruria 991 with a .9 mm factory nib. It's been flawless from the box, it's gorgeous, and the nib has great line variation, taking into account its width.

 

Now, to ponder on the ink and the paper.

 

Oh yeah, what is it we're writing again?

 

gary

[Nihontochicken]

I will admit that other 51s perform delightfully, but even in a week of intense study, a welcome respite is often to stare at one's pen in quiet repose for a few moments, and if you have a 51, you find yourself staring at....what..?

 

The Borg Queen has been alerted that a dysfunctional member of the collective needs a new implant. :roflmho:

 

P.S. - Stare at this for a while, and it will come to you.

http://www.richardspens.com/images/collection/zoomed/flighter2.jpg

 

:ltcapd: :ltcapd: :ltcapd:

[wspohn]

The Borg Queen has been alerted that a dysfunctional member of the collective needs a new implant.  :roflmho:

 

 

THIS is a NIB, laddie!

 

Dinna blather on about yon wee peckerlet ye ca' a nib!

 

http://www.rickconner.net/penoply/images/duofold.nib.jpeg

[Gdr2004]

One word. Bic.

 

:roflmho:

 

I would use the Waterman Taperite that I got which writes like a dream and the Sheaffer Imperial with a dolphin nib that started off the craze.

 

I would load them with Sheaffer black ink.

Edited October 16, 2006 by Gdr2004

[marklavar]

I was wondering what would you choose in the next situation.

 

If you were sent from work to 1 week of study which involves allot of writing.

Which pen you would choose ?

1.From your own collection.

2.Any pen you want money is not a factor (but remember you must write with this pen allot for a whole week).

 

I would put in my calculation ink capacity, nib performantce, confort in your hand, reliability.

This is a really difficult question!

 

So many pens to choose from.

 

OK, I'll have a go.

 

(1) A tough decision. It could be my Sailor Marbled Red 'King of Pen', or maybe my Stipula Etruria, or then again my Omas Society pen, or possibly my Delta Dolcevita Oversize, but I can't forget my Visconti 'Empire'. All things considered, I'll settle for my Sailor King, because I know it won't ever let me down.

 

(2) As above - I have all the pens I want!

Edited October 16, 2006 by marklavar

[marklavar]

I'd take my Sonnet It's the most comfortable pen I've used so far.

 

As with any other pen...

Though I've never used one, I'm curious as to how a MontBlanc writes (a 149?). I heard they write very wet - which I like.

Kissing,

 

What nib do you have on your Sonnet? Is the medium nib on the wide side, like the Duofold one?

 

I have a MB 149. It's true, it writes dripping wet, and the F nib writes more like a B in most other pens! It's certainly the thickest fine nib I've ever come across.

Edited October 16, 2006 by marklavar

[Nihontochicken]

THIS is a NIB, laddie!

 

Oh, well, typical immature American, overly obsessed with dramatically exposed big nibs. Cannot possibly fathom the sophisticated allure of 51s, possessing nibs, oh, so seductively concealed, hard, yes, yet so buttery smooth to the touch when when put to practice. Oops, I have just been informed that the Borg Queen is not at all amused. I shall cease transmission, now. :roflmho: :roflmho: :roflmho:

[wspohn]

THIS is a NIB, laddie!

 

Oh, well, typical immature American, overly obsessed with dramatically exposed big nibs.

That's the biggest insult of all.

 

There's no need to be offensive.

 

American indeed!

[TMann]

Okay...let's steer the conversation away from nib size and back to the original question...

 

My current favorite writer in my collection is a Pelikan m605 with a medium nib. It writes a nice, smooth wet line and of all my pens it seems to be the most tolerant of poor quality paper. Of course, it goes without saying that the Pelikan filler holds a lot of ink...in this case Waterman Florida Blue.

 

If I had money to purchase any pen out there, I think that I would buy a Sailer 1911 with a medium nib. The one Sailer that I have owned was probably the smoothest pen that I've ever used. The 1911 is a bit bigger than the pens that I usually write with, but it's a very comfortable pen to hold for those long writing sessions.

 

TMann

Edited October 17, 2006 by TMann

[Nihontochicken]

That's the biggest insult of all.  There's no need to be offensive.  American indeed!

 

Well, I was only guessing, but you did admit that you are a lawyer, which leaves only about a 5% probability that you are NOT American. :roflmho: :roflmho: :roflmho:

[krz]

I'd have to take my built for comfort 40's Sheaffer's fat black vac. Valiant fine Triumph nib. It holds a lot of ink too.

 

And to dot the I's and cross the T's in style I'd bring my ultra cushy and nimble Triumph fine nibbed Snorkel.

 

As Jackie Gleason used to say; "How sweet it is!".