The Best Of The Worst

[bphollin]

My current dreamboat is a Pelikan M215 with B nib and my favorite workhorse of the hour is a Lamy Edition 2000 with Medium Binder CI. At this point, just about all my pens are my best pens. Like Bruce above, there's really no reason for me to own a less-than-perfect pen.

 

Thats not to say I didn't meet a bunch of stinkers along the way, though. Most of the tossers were due to aethetic or ergonomic differences. I think the Lamy Accent fit the bill for both of those. It was long and heavy, but at least it was hard to grip and refill! :roflmho:

[dsatco]

Best: Namiki Falcon (M) & Montblanc Boheme non-retractable (CI)

 

Worst: Sailor Sapporo (M) horrible nib

[Lothianjavert]

Best.... at the moment my emerald pearl parker vacumatic major, the golden pearl major is pretty nice as well. I have a couple sheaffer triumph nib types that are up there too- good pens, I just need to get the filling systems properly restored. They are just nice, smooth writers.

 

Even the old 60's/70's sheaffer cartridge pens are nice and smooth (except for the one I dropped that landed nib down, but that's not a fault of the pen)

 

My worst... I have two wearevers that are as scratchy and unpleasant as can be... ICK! And no matter what they seem to skip.

[anaximander]

My best and worst are from the same brand: Pelikan

 

Best: modern M400 with a factory EF nib. Amazing writer!

 

Worst: Epoch. It looked good online, but when I got it, it looked and felt cheap and wouldn't write.

[klw]

 

My worst was a Reform 1745 which had a very scratchy nib and skipped all the time- no matter what ink I put in it or how hard I tried to adjust the nib.

 

 

Funny; the nicest, smoothest nib I have is on a Reform 1745 (purchased a couple of years ago on fpn from jjblanche). I guess that ymmv stuff is really true.

[corniche]

 

My worst was a Reform 1745 which had a very scratchy nib and skipped all the time- no matter what ink I put in it or how hard I tried to adjust the nib.

 

 

Funny; the nicest, smoothest nib I have is on a Reform 1745 (purchased a couple of years ago on fpn from jjblanche). I guess that ymmv stuff is really true.

 

Hello KLW,

 

YMMV- I had to look that up. Yes, I was surprised to read above that a member had a Sheaffer 330 Imperial on his "worst" list- mine is one of my favorites!??? Proof that fountain pens are truly individual implements- not only within their own rights- but also among their owners/users.

 

All the best,

 

Sean http://www.millan.net/minimations/smileys/ribbons/black2.gif

Aka, the friendly curmudgeon

[ToasterPastry]

As much as I have moved beyond FPN, there are topics like this that make me realize the importance of such an internet bulletin board. For example someone mentioned awhile back that the John Holland Jewel fountain pen was the most beautiful pen ever produced, and someone else (LedZepGirl) said the W-E Doric was the most beautiful one. I now own 6 John Hollands and 3 Dorics, and I'm always looking for more. To the subject at hand:

 

Best:

http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/nn130/ToasterPastryphoto/IMG_1830.jpg

 

The Moore 94-A (1941-1946). Why? I own three of these pens, and they all are in heavy rotation. As opposed to the Parker 51, the Moore 94-A has a nib that also cuts through carbon paper, but it offers a lot more character in daily writing. That's not to say I don't like the Parker 51. I have acquired one recently that has made me a believer. Honorable mentions go to the Parker 21 (the best pen performance for the price), and the Pelikan M215 (a perfectly built modern pen).

 

Worst:

 

http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/nn130/ToasterPastryphoto/pilot_610_2.jpg

 

I have a few pens that I have disliked. But the model I dislike the most is the Pilot Vanishing Point. Why? As opposed to earlier designs from the 60s and 70s, the newer models are heavy, and are uncomfortable to hold. I have owned two, both had flow problems with their existing nibs. The only saving grace was a Binder-stub nib I acquired that makes it much more enjoyable to write with. For a first time pen purchase, I would never recommend this pen in any color.

Edited March 6, 2011 by ToasterPastry

[JefferyS]

...

We heard that story recently. Any brand can create a lemon, but throwing away a new 146 instead of demanding ultimate satisfaction from MB is silly. You have only yourself to blame for that wasteful act.

I have to differ. When my 146 turned out to be useless, I demanded satisfaction from MB. Repeatedly. What I received was two large charges for factory repairs on what was clearly a defective pen, plus a pen scarred by what appears to be plastic cement around the end of the barrel. In my experience trying to deal with MB was a waste of time and money. Had I known then about the network, I would have been far better off sending the new pen to an independent restorer.

ron

I've sent many new pens from a variety brands back, sometimes multiple times, and eventually I've gotten satisfaction, either a perfectly functioning pen or a refund. I am very persistent when I know my rights and what I am entitled to. Even if you don't get satisfaction the first time or two, throwing away an expensive new pen isn't the most brilliant idea.

 

 

I'm miffed enough with MB never to buy another pen from them. My wife bought me an Oscar Wilde limited edition FP right after we were married. MB had an offer to personalize it with my name for free, so I sent it in and told them to pay particular attention to the spelling of my name (Jeffery, not Jeffrey) as everyone seems to want to correct the spelling (I think Jon Voigt has this problem as well). The personalized it, and mailed it back along with my note...with the first name misspelled as Jeffrey. I wrote back to Mont Blanc to complain about it and got a phone call from someone in TX who sells Mont Blanc. When she heard that I had not bought the pen from her, all bets were off.

Edited March 6, 2011 by Jeffery Smith

[tonybelding]

Best pen: Sheaffer Imperial VI, touchdown-filling, black, fine nib. I have some other pens that I adore, but that's the best in terms of something I'd carry everywhere and use all the time for typical everyday use, not for some sort of special purpose. The style and proportions are impeccable and the nib is simply perfect. (And I got it off eBay for $35, still with the factory chalk marks and the matching pencil!)

 

Worst pen: Sheaffer Intrigue, blue-on-blue, medium nib. It wasn't cheap, but it wouldn't write reliably. It skipped and sometimes was very hard to get started. When it did write, it gushed like a garden hose. I sent it to Sheaffer, where they first charged me for repair work, then sent it for an excursion through Deep Space for about six months before finally returning it to me with, apparently, nothing done to it.

Edited March 6, 2011 by tonybelding

[TSWard]

Best: Parker Vacumatic. I just love writing with this thing.

Worst: Lamy Al-Star. Even after sending it immediately to Lamy for repair, it never wrote consistently. It was a soul-less, skipping nib, in an uncomfortable section, attached to a body that chipped and scraped easily. Disappointing!

[heineda]

I have two of my best pens: A Retro 51 Tornado and a Levenger True Writer. They can both be left for a week and write perfectly. I would have to say the Retro 52 ranks #1 and the True Writer a very close #2.

My biggest dissapointments include a Lamy Al Star - does not put down a consistent line of ink and an Aurora Ipsilon - cheap plastic for a steep price.

[Phormula]

Best: Schneider Base - I have been using it for ten years as a daily writer, running it on the cheapest cartridges I can find and after a lot of usae & abuse it still does the job like the first day. I actually bought a replacement one because they are not sold in Italy. The replacement is still sitting uninked since at least five years.

Second best: Faber Castell Ambition Black - Not exactly the same performance but a design that makes it my "serious" pen for taking notes in meetings.

 

Worst: a Ferrari FP that turned out to be some cheap Chinese stuff turned expensive by applying a Ferrari logo on the clip. Scrapped.

Second Worst: Platignum No 1. I have read wonders of this brand and before buying the Ambition I gave a try to their No 1 model. I got an average performer, quite heavy and with cartridges bouncing in the barrel and sometimes getting loose. Scrapped as well.

[georges zaslavsky]

My best but problem is that all my pens except one are my best :roflmho: :ltcapd:

 

The worst pen I have has to be my 2002 duofold cnetennial in marbled green. Writes well but not so responsive or consistent as my other pens.

[richardandtracy]

Best: My P61 Insignia. So nice I to write with I loose concetration on what I'm writing.

Worst: Guang Ming 812, reviewed here: https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=89856

Second worst: Osmaroid lever school pens of the 1970's. I saw several barrels collapse spontaneously during use. Ghastly pens.

 

Regards,

 

Richard.

[pelman]

Best - Pelikan 400NN, Waterman Serenite, MB 144 Vintage, Some of my new Fine point Deccan Pens

 

Worst - A Ferrari Pen by Artena (might have it ground to an italic or stub)

[ticoun]

 

My worst was a Reform 1745 which had a very scratchy nib and skipped all the time- no matter what ink I put in it or how hard I tried to adjust the nib.

 

 

Funny; the nicest, smoothest nib I have is on a Reform 1745 (purchased a couple of years ago on fpn from jjblanche). I guess that ymmv stuff is really true.

 

Hello KLW,

 

YMMV- I had to look that up. Yes, I was surprised to read above that a member had a Sheaffer 330 Imperial on his "worst" list- mine is one of my favorites!??? Proof that fountain pens are truly individual implements- not only within their own rights- but also among their owners/users.

 

All the best,

 

Sean http://www.millan.net/minimations/smileys/ribbons/black2.gif

Aka, the friendly curmudgeon

 

well, my 330, before getting clogged, was my best pen. surprisingly smooth stub, lots of line variation. but then it clogged. and it still is. i'm almost sure that if i ever manage to unclog it's feed, it will rocket back to second or first place.

[sexauerw]

Best pen: I'm not sure I can pick just one. So I'll list three.

1. Pilot Custom 823 with a medium cursive italic nib by John Mottishaw.

2. Sheaffer Sterling Silver Imperial Touchdown with a factory stub nib tuned by Ron Zorn.

3. S. T. Dupont Vertigo with a factory stub nib.

 

Worst pen: A previously owned Parker 51 aerometric that someone had apparently filled with India ink. It wrote but only just barely, dry as the Sahara desert. Not even a trip to Nashua could make it flow normally.

[OcalaFlGuy]

well, my 330, before getting clogged, was my best pen. surprisingly smooth stub, lots of line variation. but then it clogged. and it still is. i'm almost sure that if i ever manage to unclog it's feed, it will rocket back to second or first place.

 

Sonicate the nib section on it. If you don't have an ultrasonic cleaner, rinse the section good, get a small container like the bottom 6" of a fast food cup and head to a local jeweler. Put your section in your cup of water/ammonia and ask them to put the cup in their cleaner for 5 min. The sound waves will go right thru a thin plastic cup and the cup will keep the ammonia water and ink out of their solution.

 

I think removing the feed from an imperial type pen is not a beginners task and for all intents and purposes, the nib itself is there to stay in the section too.

 

Couldn't hurt to roto-root the feed out from the open end with a fine enough guitar string.

 

I'll bet sonicating clears it though.

 

Bruce in Ocala, Fl -with the magic unclog machine

[raffaele]

HI everybody

my best pen is surely a MB 146 (IMHO.."The pen")

 

the worst i've ever had a Parker Duofold International....beautiful for the eyes but really not satisfacting when working...

[raffaele]

As much as I have moved beyond FPN, there are topics like this that make me realize the importance of such an internet bulletin board. For example someone mentioned awhile back that the John Holland Jewel fountain pen was the most beautiful pen ever produced, and someone else (LedZepGirl) said the W-E Doric was the most beautiful one. I now own 6 John Hollands and 3 Dorics, and I'm always looking for more. To the subject at hand:

 

Best:

http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/nn130/ToasterPastryphoto/IMG_1830.jpg

 

The Moore 94-A (1941-1946). Why? I own three of these pens, and they all are in heavy rotation. As opposed to the Parker 51, the Moore 94-A has a nib that also cuts through carbon paper, but it offers a lot more character in daily writing. That's not to say I don't like the Parker 51. I have acquired one recently that has made me a believer. Honorable mentions go to the Parker 21 (the best pen performance for the price), and the Pelikan M215 (a perfectly built modern pen).

 

Worst:

 

http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/nn130/ToasterPastryphoto/pilot_610_2.jpg

 

I have a few pens that I have disliked. But the model I dislike the most is the Pilot Vanishing Point. Why? As opposed to earlier designs from the 60s and 70s, the newer models are heavy, and are uncomfortable to hold. I have owned two, both had flow problems with their existing nibs. The only saving grace was a Binder-stub nib I acquired that makes it much more enjoyable to write with. For a first time pen purchase, I would never recommend this pen in any color.

 

 

Why are you saying so?? it hurts me veeeeeery much....i want to buy a pilot capless....but you can't say it works bad....pleeeease!!!