Ok, I Get The Sterling Silver Pen Thing Now

August 16, 2012

I have been looking at Ciselle parkers, they look great, and as you say are good value for money. Would be great to see some pics/review of yours?

Always interesting to see whats out there.....

cheers

da vinci

Glady, sorry, for now it's just a quickie pic after a bit of initial clean up and clean out. I'll take some nice ones of it soon.

Bruce in Ocala, FL

Thanks Bruce, that looks good! <runs off to eBay>

August 16, 2012

Most of which are to my knowledge well out of my P-75 Ciselle/Sterling Imperial price range...

I could of course, be wrngh.

Bruce in Ocala, FL

Some you might want to take a look at are:

the ones from Grifos:

http://www.fototime.com/053945C81276218/medium800.jpg

http://www.fototime.com/BA0FAC990EA54B7/medium800.jpg

They are just a hair wider than the "75".

Also look for a Waterman Gentleman. I've seen them go for even less than "75s"

http://www.fototime.com/0AA46AAE8BEDBAE/medium800.jpg

August 16, 2012

since you mentioned it and Just FYI for anyone who doesn't know about the BP, they came in two versions. One was cap activated, the other a push button. Both are quite a bit thinner than the FP

http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii101/matthewsno/DSCN0236.jpg

Edited August 16, 2012 by ANM

August 16, 2012

Sterling silver is without doubt my favourite material for an FP! It just oozes a subtle class. My P75 Cisele' + oblique italic nib is just a joy, my Waterman's silver chased overlay a much lighter-weight delight and as for the large and hefty, solid silver, engine turned, Mabie Todd Swan Leverless with the gorgeous, flexy #3 Swan nib - oh my...!

I have a feeling you'll soon be entertaining the forum with your next acquistions in this lovely, lovely material!

August 16, 2012

I'm with you on the feeling of the 75 Cisele in the hand. Something about that particular texture makes the pen feel silky and warmer than plain sterling would. The 75 Cisele begs to be handled and written with. The upside of this is that the finish will stay nice and shiny the more you use it.

As far as the weight goes, I find that the 75 is nearly perfectly balanced if you post the cap, use a loose grip, and just let it rest in your hand. The weight, balance and nib will do the work for you. Also, take the time to get the indentations in the section just right in your hand and then rotate the nib to align it for the proper writing angle. The 75 is one of the most comfortable pens in my opinion.

If you come up for the August FPN meet here in Jax, I'll let you try out my Premier Cisele (the model that replaced the 75).

I will bring a generally well-behaved (with the right ink) 2008 production Sonnet Cisele to the meeting as well. It loves Penman Sapphire but can be hit or miss with other inks. For my hand it has better balance than the 75 but I fully understand the charms of the latter.

August 16, 2012

I desperately want to like my Sonnet. It's a first year product (1999) that has had nib and flow issues since day one. The tipping wasn't applied properly and it's always been scratchy, though I've smoothed it a bit and it's getting better, I simply can't get used to the springiness of the nib and the fact that the flow all but stops unless I apply pressure. And don't get me started on the vented cap that allows the pen to dry out at the drop of a hat. So far, this pen is my most regretted fountain pen purchase.

August 17, 2012

Ah the 75 Cisele. I would have to admit is my favorite pen. When I was a youth (late 1960s) I too saw the full page ads in National Geographic and fell in love with it. I cut out one of those ads and have it to this day. Then I saw that my minister had one. He let me try it and I knew I had to have one. When I was 15 (1971) I saved my hard earned money and bought one from a local jewelry store $25. XF nib. I used that pen through high school, college and since. A few years ago I found a #44 italic nib and wish I had that nib from the beginning.

I have given quite a bit of though as to why I like it so much. The National Geographic ads, as I recall, showed it both in a technical and artistic setting. I am an engineer so the grid pattern to me evokes sketches and drawings and grid paper. Though I think the grid pattern is also very attractive artistically. The grooves of the grid pattern are fairly deep and wide which adds a quality to the finish that I have come to appreciate very much in the 40+ years that I have been using it. The prominent black oxide grid hides a lot of scratches and dings quite nicely. Other pens with delicate patterns or engraving readily show the scratches and minor dings from every-day use.

The 75 is slim but not too thin for my liking. Not too long either. The snap cap makes it quick to access the pen. I just love the arrow clip. It is so iconic and goes well with the grid pattern, . The nib is simple but not bland, not quite "modern" but not "old fashioned" either.

At this point I am a little hesitant to take it out of the house. I carried it for 35 years and it still looks very nice but it would upset me greatly to loose or damage it now. It sits at my desk and signs the occasional check and I hand write return addresses (mostly on-line bill paying now).

I wish I could buy a brand new one now.

Enjoy your 75!

Craig T.

August 17, 2012

<snip>
So you Sterling pen owners, <giving the secret finger waggle/> I get it.

Bruce in Ocala, FL

Yep. I think you're "getting" silver as well -- its look, its feel, its smell... mmmm

I always carry a lump of fine silver around with me, kinda like a worry stone.

Jar, I have a Grifos too, a sort of zig-zag guilloche. I really like it. It's just a steel nib fine, but very fine for a European F grade. Wife wanted to steal it -- too pretty for me, she said.

August 17, 2012

Neither was I...... until I bought one.

Wow that's a handsome pen! What is the model?

Cross 150th Anniversary model. They came in gold filled too.

Bruce in Ocala, FL

Yep, rather handsome, and so is the Cisele!

August 17, 2012

Here are some quick snaps of my Cisele's.

I didn't need to see this thread or that Premier, and I'm REALLY glad I can't make it to the N.Fla. meet-up.

Edited August 17, 2012 by bphollin

August 17, 2012

Silver works really well in the Parker 75. It also makes the MB 144 feel really balanced

I do worry about the plastic section threads on the 75, though

August 17, 2012

What you need next is a sterling Targa. A classic IMO, along with the 75 and Imperial.

http://www.mainstreetpens.com/salepens/pen1711.jpg

Edited August 17, 2012 by Ron Z

August 24, 2012

Darn you OcalaFlGuy! Why did you have to start this conversation?

Now I just had to go buy another P-75 Silver Cisele! I can take it to work with me and not risk my trusty P-75, my faithful companion of 40 years. It stays safely at home.

Craig T.

August 24, 2012

What you need next is a sterling Targa. A classic IMO, along with the 75 and Imperial.

http://www.mainstreetpens.com/salepens/pen1711.jpg

That's a nice pen Ron. Did they make sterling silver versions of both the slim and the normal Targa's?

August 24, 2012

I do worry about the plastic section threads on the 75, though

From what I can find, the issue with the threads is exacerbated by using the threading of the barrel onto the section as the method to puncture a cartridge. That highly stresses the threads and can lead to their premature failure. Thusly, the better idea is just to insert the cart into the section and with the barrel off press down the section onto the cart with the closed end of the cart against something solid. Then screw the barrel on. That way you aren't stressing the threads by applying force against them to puncture the cart.

Bruce in Ocala, FL

August 25, 2012

a gift from my father, the fp, bp, and fiber tip were my first fine pens. i started to use the bp routinely at work, but there were two problems: first, it had sentimental value, so i feared it might walk away. second, and appropriate to your earlier question above, i found the cisele pattern became uncomfortable after a period of writing; not so for the fp where less grip pressure is required. now, i use the set like jewelry, wearing them to meetings where some light notetaking will be done. they always draw compliments.

August 25, 2012

What you need next is a sterling Targa. A classic IMO, along with the 75 and Imperial.

http://www.mainstreetpens.com/salepens/pen1711.jpg

That's a nice pen Ron. Did they make sterling silver versions of both the slim and the normal Targa's?

I don't think they made that pattern in the slim line but they did make the fluted and barleycorn Sterling silver in the slim style.

August 25, 2012

What you need next is a sterling Targa. A classic IMO, along with the 75 and Imperial.

http://www.mainstreetpens.com/salepens/pen1711.jpg

That's a nice pen Ron. Did they make sterling silver versions of both the slim and the normal Targa's?

I don't think they made that pattern in the slim line but they did make the fluted and barleycorn Sterling silver in the slim style.

Thanks Jar. Yet another pen to add to the "want" list. I have a standard Targa, but the sterling silver adds another dimension. Still a Parker remains next in the queue.