Your Best Cheap Pen?

[torstar]

The Laban Mento has been a very good pen for $80.

[Doug Add]

For $20 and under I have had Hero 616 and 329, Lamy Safari, Parker Reflex, several Sheaffer Viewpoints (similar to No Nonsense), along with multiple vintage Sheaffer pens, but they are all gone now.

 

For me, noting compares to the Waterman Phileas (I have owned many and the two that remain were $15, and $20), and the 1950s Geha Schulfullers (I have owned several of these with the one that remains my most expensive Geha: $25).

 

The fine Phileas nibs are great for note taking, and writing on cheap paper that feathers with wider nibs. The semi-flex steel Geha nibs are an absolute delight to use, and the piston fill mechanism is flawless.

[thoppen]

I use a Parker 21 a lot. The pen suits my handwriting nicely and is a real pleasure to write with. I bought it second hand for € 10,-.

[Bo Bo Olson]

doubled

Edited January 6, 2012 by Bo Bo Olson

[Bo Bo Olson]

Vintage piston pens from the 50's and @1960.

 

Under €25...if we was talking under €50 that would be 9/10's of my pens.

These were NOS mid '50's Austrian Rusewe Fountain pen and ball point...and yep '50's I was forcefully reminded of all the stuff I'd forgotten of how bad ball points were back then.

Both have semi-flex gold Bock nibs.

http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm300/BoBoOlson/B2Cz0hwBGkKGrHqIOKjwEoGHglZJBMg8iqs1z_3.jpg

 

http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm300/BoBoOlson/B2C6B5BGkKGrHqVhcE70KvyV4BMg8uOmRsw_3.jpg

 

"no name" Clipper with a little Super Constellation airplane on the semi-flex 14 K nibs.

http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm300/BoBoOlson/cliro3.jpg

 

http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm300/BoBoOlson/cliro1.jpg

 

http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm300/BoBoOlson/cb6.jpg

I wanted the blue one, had to take the rose and black, a year later got the blue. Then some one nice sent me a second blue.

Edited January 6, 2012 by Bo Bo Olson

[alvarez57]

Esterbrook, no doubt about it. $40 each and in perfect conditions (fleabay).

[Ipno Tizer]

My Pilot 78 G.

 

It cost me three quid from one of the shops in Portsmouth Historic Dockyard.

 

Chris B.

[osrever]

+1 Pilot 78G B nib.

[John54green]

Esterbrook Deluxe Metal cap came with a 3668 nib for $10, beat to heck, but it just keeps writing, smoothly and well!

[anchorschmidt]

The hero fountain pen (the one similar to Parker 51) has to be up there as a very good ultra cheap fountain pen. It can be a bit of a hit and a miss as I own 2. One writes very well and the other leaks constantly other than that, I really like Parker Vector.

Edited January 11, 2012 by anchorschmidt

[bjornhansson]

The best of my cheap pens are Pelikans (M200/M205). Lamy Safaris are almost as good, and they offer even better value for money.

[LostInBrittany]

My favorite cheap (for FPN standards) pen is clearly the Lamy Safari.

[anchorschmidt]

The best of my cheap pens are Pelikans (M200/M205)

 

???

 

I don't even consider Lamy Safari to be a cheap pen. In my eyes the Pelikan M200 is a high end pen.

Edited January 11, 2012 by anchorschmidt

[brunico]

another + for the Plumix with italic nib. I need to figure out how to turn it into an eyedropper.

 

Silicone grease on the threads (I've tried it without, but it will sweat a little ink), and remove the feed and nib so you can fill right up with a blunt syringe. There's a tiny mark in the centre of the section, in front of the threads for the cap, that helps you align the nib. Holds about 4ml of ink!

[hzzhudie]

hero 616 and 329

[pjsmithe]

I have an old Platignum with an aerometric filler and a 14kt nib that writes about as smooth as anything in my collection. I think I payed less than $15 for it shipped. It looks new and is just great to write with.

[atonce]

Pilot 78G, less than USD 6. I have the f nib, like it more than 149 while writing my note.

[ethernautrix]

Two of my favorite cheap pens are (links to jetpens.com):

 

Pilot Parallel 1.5mm (I write either of the corners of the fat, flat nib; it's fun!)

 

 

For a very smooth nib and a very fine line -

Sailor Recycled Material Desk Fountain Pen - Extra Fine Nib

 

 

 

Edited January 27, 2012 by ethernautrix

[robofkent]

Parker Reflex

Lamy Safari

Jinhao X450

Hero 616 Jumbo

Pilot 78g

 

are my current cheapie favourites

[Alohamora]

I think the biggest bang for the buck pen has to be the Pilot Petit1.

 

But I think my favorite cheapie right now is the Pelikano Junior. It's fun to use with a nice wet and smooth nib.