Italix 'parsons' Essential' Fountain Pen.

[Lorna Reed]

I got my first Italix pen - the Parson's Essential, unsurprisingly! - in the post this morning. Absolutely gorgeous, and excellent service, so fast! I am wondering if I made the right choice of nib: I got the fine cursive stub, but my unfortunate habit of rolling the pen inwards towards me a bit due to hyperflexible finger joints seems to cause the same problem as a reviewer above,in that it promptly causes the ink to stop flowing. This is a habit I wasn't even aware of until the cursive nib made it clear, and one I need to train myself out of, so it may be a good thing, but right now it's a little frustrating! - and correct position is a little painful for me because of my joint problems. A friend suggested that an oblique nib might be the answer but I am wary as I've never used one.... If anyone has any advice on this it'd be very welcome; there's no way I can afford a second pen at this time as I had to save for this one, but it would be useful for when I do! Do I just need to work the nib in, or should I have been conservative and got the standard rather than cursive stub? :S Or could it be that it needs adjusting?

 

An absolutely stunning pen, though - perfectly balanced for me when posted, still easy to write with when not posted, very smooth, just gorgeous! Could be the start of a very dangerous habit now that, after a period of financial hardship, I'm gradually being able to afford pens again...!

I'm pretty sure Mr. Pen offers a 30 day nib exchange service.

[fireskink]

I guess I'll keep working with it for a few days and see how I go! What excellent service they have.

[MZielinski]

I got my Parson's Essential a while ago, and never posted what I thought. I have to say the medium italic oblique nib is phenomenal to write with. It has such an interesting feel to it that makes the pen an absolute joy to use. Especially on Rhodia paper. If you hold the pen at just the right angle, it is without question the smoothest nib I have in my collection. I'm always looking for excuses to write with it! This pen is my only oblique nib, and I was kind of nervous about the nib before I got the pen. But as it turns out, I like the oblique better than any cursive or stub nibs I have. I know this is entirely personal preference, but there's a certain something about the angle of the oblique nib that gives my particular style of handwriting much more character than a stub. I can't recommend this pen enough. Another is definitely in my future!

[fireskink]

After a day of working with it, the nib has got immeasurably easier. I'm very interested to try the oblique when I'm able to!

[Shubhranshu Das]

I've been considering which should be my third Italix pen to order.... Thank you all for great reviews as its now a choice of two... One more PE with a medium italic/stub nib and the Captains...

I enjoy using the Italix pens daily and as one reviewer remarked... It's a great way to use different nibs... Which has been the attraction once I started using my first pen from Italix

[mmg122]

Heavyhorses

I got my first Italix pen - the Parson's Essential, unsurprisingly! - in the post this morning. Absolutely gorgeous, and excellent service, so fast! I am wondering if I made the right choice of nib: I got the fine cursive stub, but my unfortunate habit of rolling the pen inwards towards me a bit due to hyperflexible finger joints seems to cause the same problem as a reviewer above,in that it promptly causes the ink to stop flowing. This is a habit I wasn't even aware of until the cursive nib made it clear, and one I need to train myself out of, so it may be a good thing, but right now it's a little frustrating! - and correct position is a little painful for me because of my joint problems. A friend suggested that an oblique nib might be the answer but I am wary as I've never used one.... If anyone has any advice on this it'd be very welcome; there's no way I can afford a second pen at this time as I had to save for this one, but it would be useful for when I do! Do I just need to work the nib in, or should I have been conservative and got the standard rather than cursive stub? :S Or could it be that it needs adjusting?

 

 

I think your friend is right. Oblique nibs were created to compensate for people who rotate their pens.

[rwilsonedn]

After a day of working with it, the nib has got immeasurably easier. I'm very interested to try the oblique when I'm able to!

 

It is characteristic of italic and cursive italic nibs that they care about nib angle. You have to maintain a constant relationship between the nib and the paper to get the line variation for which these nibs are intended.

The good part--the very good part, if you have joint problems--is that an italic nib is an excellent tool to help you write with forearm motion rather than finger motion. If you aren't using your fingers to guide the pen--only to gently hold it in place--the pen won't rotate in your fingers. Then your arm can guide the pen through the strokes. Calligraphers seem to say that this is a more controlled and less fatiguing way to write. I think I believe them.

The great thing about the italic nib is that as soon as you start using your fingers and turn the nib a bit, it will at least give you a different line width, and most likely will just stop writing. So you get instant feedback.

Enjoy!

ron

[lowks]

For years I have used a Mont Bland Le Grande or Pelikan 800 on pretty much a daily basis. These are both fine pens but they, particularly the Mont Blanc, have one downside and that is they would be expensive to replace. I was therefore looking for a pen which I could use at the office and which wouldn’t break the bank if I lost it and had to buy a new one. I purchased a Parsons Essential purely on the strength Lorna’s review. I would like to add a few observations:-

1. The medium point nib is much closer to a fine point nib. It is certainly finer than both my Pelikan which has a medium nib and my Mont Blanc which has a fine nib. I would say its on a par with my Parker 75 which has a fine nib.

2. The nib it not paper agnostic. The pen has good ink flow on good paper but does not write so well on lesser quality paper and is quite poor on the recycled paper available at the office. That said the same is true of my Pelikan albeit to a lesser extent. In fact the only pen I have which is paper agnostic is the Mont Blanc but we have to remember that cost nearly ten times the Parsons Essential.

3. The clip is very tight. When the video on youtube says it grips like a vice it’s not kidding. This can make it difficult to clip the pen to a shirt or jacket pocket.

 

I like a pen that writes quite wet and would prefer it if the Parsons Essential had a heavier ink flow. However, I have to say that overall I’m more than happy with the pen, and currently use it on a regular (close to daily) basis. It is well balanced, generally writes very well, is stylish and good value for money. I am pleased with my purchase and I would recommend it to anyone who is looking for a well made workshorse of a pen.

 

Edited to add:

PS. The ink I use is Waterman Florida Blue. Maybe someone knows of an ink with better flow characteristics.

 

+1 on this about the ink. I changed my ink to Aurora Blue and am much happier with how wet the pen writes now.

[jracey]

On March 09,2016 invoice number 27185 I ordered the Parsons Essential Blue in 18 kt nib. The shipping was super fast. Upon getting the pen I cleaned it out. It must have been dipped as it had black ink in the feed. I am guessing they test them out at the factory. I filled it with my favorite Diamine Royal Purple. Using Rhodia paper I was shocked. This nib was butter on glass smooth. Perfect in every way. The nib had some line variation to it. I think I need another Italix pen.

[TSherbs]

On March 09,2016 invoice number 27185 I ordered the Parsons Essential Blue in 18 kt nib. The shipping was super fast. Upon getting the pen I cleaned it out. It must have been dipped as it had black ink in the feed. I am guessing they test them out at the factory. I filled it with my favorite Diamine Royal Purple. Using Rhodia paper I was shocked. This nib was butter on glass smooth. Perfect in every way. The nib had some line variation to it. I think I need another Italix pen.

What nib size is this?

[DrDebG]

I purchased two Italix Captain's from Massdrop recently. I had heard that they were exceptional, and I was not disappointed. I purchased a broad oblique - right handed (even though I am a lefty - more about that later), and a medium stub. I have a smaller hand, and the pens are rather weighty. But that is the only "con" to the pens. I have used both pens with several different inks, including Waterman South Seas, Franklin Christoph Midnight Emerald, Lamy Blue (very dry ink), and Callifolio Bleu Atlantique. It doesn't matter what ink I use in these pens - they always start up first thing. They flow wonderfully and are such a pleasure to write with. I generally post, but with the weight of these pens, I have found that I can write longer without posting. They are absolutely wonderful pens!

[jracey]

The nib has an "M" on it. I would agree to that and it goes to a "BB" in flex.

[writerstephen]

Hello from a forum newbie and recent fountain pen enthusiast ...

 

I recently purchased a Parson's Essential from Massdrop (so therefore will be waiting most of the rest of my natural life for it to arrive to me). After reading some of the posts on this thread, I'm very glad I bought the pen; a little trepidatious that I bought it with a left-handed oblique (slanted for a lefty, which I am).

 

My question is, does the Parson's Essential accept regular #6 nibs, and are they swappable? Could I switch it out for, say, a #6 Goulet if I so desired?

 

Thank you!

 

 

 

Politics not allowed on FPN to keep us all playing nice, so comment removed... Moderator.

[Dovucoe]

Hello from a forum newbie and recent fountain pen enthusiast ...

 

I recently purchased a Parson's Essential from Massdrop (so therefore will be waiting most of the rest of my natural life for it to arrive to me). After reading some of the posts on this thread, I'm very glad I bought the pen; a little trepidatious that I bought it with a left-handed oblique (slanted for a lefty, which I am).

 

My question is, does the Parson's Essential accept regular #6 nibs, and are they swappable? Could I switch it out for, say, a #6 Goulet if I so desired?

 

Thank you!

 

They're #5 nibs if I remember correctly. You'll probably have to get the Edison #5s to swap out instead.

[PAKMAN]

Hope I'm wrong but I thought lefties needed "right hand oblique's"

[Carrau]

I received two Parson's Essential pens today, one medium and one medium cursive. Both look and write beautifully. I'm particularly happy with how the cursive nib feels and writes; nothing wrong with the medium, just like the cursive more. Pens were delivered to US in 8 days from day of order.

[Erik Dalton]

I've recently discovered that Edison #5 nub units screw right into my Parson's Essential. Being able to change out nibs, makes this pen real multi mission writer.

Put an Edison 1.1 stub on my Parson's Essential. Made a huge difference. It seems the Edison nib units have a wetter feed system then the standard Italix Nib unit. My pen drives like a sports car with the Edison stub in it.

[inkeverywhere]

Looked at Mr Pen's web site in the last couple of days and the Parson's Essential and others in the Italic range are no longer advertised for sale by him.

 

This pen has been a daily writer for me for some time now, I just love using it. Would be sad to think it is no longer available.

 

 

Greg

[milkb0at]

They're all still there, e.g. Parson's Essential.

[TSherbs]

20 pages now!