My new marlen Basilea

[alvarez57]

I got it yesterday after thinking and thinking if I wanted the Red , the black or the combined version. I also liked the price $169 with shipping from PenGallery in Malaysia.

The lines are classical, not gawdy; the pen is of a medium to large size (small large?) and very light. It has a nice wet line and the nib is medium. I have not yet used it much, so the nib has not broken in yet, but it is smooth.

[alvarez57]

The cap is really pretty

 

 

Thanks!

Edited February 14, 2007 by alvarez57

[alvarez57]

Sorry, but I still haven't learned how to gather all the photos in the same post!

[alvarez57]

[johnr55]

Beautiful pen, Doc, and I like the way it tapers down to the nib section. How does it feel to hold?

[Dan Carmell]

Thanks for the review--I too have been tempted by that price at pengallery! I like the color combination you chose--dark with a splash of color.

 

Enjoy!

 

Dan

[georges zaslavsky]

It uses the same system than the vac and very nice pen as well Does marlen have a website? I might give a try to this pen.

[alvarez57]

Thank you guys!

To answer your questions:

1. website http://www.marlenpens.com/

2. It holds very comfortably, now it does have a VERY wet line.The nib still needs break-in, but the pen does not tire nor cramp my hand. I'm really enjoying it for it has beautiful lines/shape. :

3. I have another Marlen I continenti: America, and it's also gorgeous although I'm not too happy with the F nib (it was another special from Pen Gallery @ about 150-169$; it sells now for close to 200$). Maybe either it needs break-in or my handwritting just doesn't go with some F nibs.

 

This is an M400 next to it.

Edited February 16, 2007 by alvarez57

[alvarez57]

Again, the Marlen Continenti America

[RichardS]

I like Marlens very much and have a Basilea like yours, but with a red cap. The nib is great; smooth, wet and with a little spring to it. Just remember to keep that sterling silver polished! (It tarnishes surprisingly quickly!)

 

Here's a pic of the Marlen (dot)com model; nice pen, but the nib needed some work to keep it from skipping. Now it's great.

 

http://img491.imageshack.us/img491/7003/img0003afpnloresx2nx.jpg

 

 

[georges zaslavsky]

Thanks for the precision alvarez 57

[alvarez57]

Richard, that is a very nice pen. I may be wrong, but to me the Italians are the kings of celluloid. I'm glad you're enjoying your pen. I loved the red one, but I ended up favoring the black.

[alvarez57]

QUOTE (georges zaslavsky @ Feb 15 2007, 06:51 PM)

Thanks for the precision alvarez 57

Georges, vous pouvez m'apeller Sonia.

 

If you're interested on cheaper Marlens, go to ebay to this link:

 

http://stores.ebay.com/pensgallery

 

I have found that their eBay store is cheaper than their on-line website

 

http://www.pengallery.com/default.aspx?cat...cat_sub_index=0

Edited February 16, 2007 by alvarez57

[saintsimon]

QUOTE (alvarez57 @ Feb 16 2007, 06:57 AM)

... I have found that their eBay store is cheaper than their on-line website ...

Sometimes, yes, but the nib choice is often limited compared to their website.

[alvarez57]

QUOTE (saintsimon @ Feb 17 2007, 03:44 AM)

QUOTE (alvarez57 @ Feb 16 2007, 06:57 AM) ... I have found that their eBay store is cheaper than their on-line website ... Sometimes, yes, but the nib choice is often limited compared to their website. And you're right, that's how I got my I continenti with F nib. Another pen on line to a visit to Richard binder.

Edited February 17, 2007 by alvarez57

[maryannemoll]

I have a question about the Basilea's filling type. Does it hold much ink? How much does it hold when compared with the Pelikan M400 or M600?

 

Thanks in advance.

[alvarez57]

Good question, I haven't like yet come to a formula to calculate how much, except by watching how many turns it takes to empty the barrel/cartridge.

So I cannot really compare with the M600 but I can tell you it really holds quite some ink. Now, the nib is kind of temperamental... Pelikans, Omas behave almost the same with any type of paper; this Marlen NOT. In some papers it squeaks! And believe me, I'm learning not to put a heavy hand on the writing. Also it skips. I'm just being patient with it because that is a similar problem I had with my Montegrappa and it took a good amount of months to get where it's at: one of my favorite writers.

So I would give a 4/5 to this nib because it is still VERY smooth and I love the classic looks of the pen.

[maryannemoll]

Thanks for your input! As for the skipping, sometimes it's just a pen getting used to us.

[maryannemoll]

QUOTE (georges zaslavsky @ Feb 14 2007, 07:57 PM)

It uses the same system than the vac and very nice pen as well Does marlen have a website? I might give a try to this pen.

If it uses the same system as the Vacumatic, does it then hold the same ink as the Vacumatic?

[RichardS]

It really doesn't use the same filling system as a Vacumatic.

 

The Basilea uses a captive converter piston system, and the Vacumatic uses a vacuum diaphragm. They're quite different. If a Vacumatic is in good shape (good diaphragm, air-tight seals) then it will hold far more ink than a Basilea.

 

The only modern pen I know with a vacuum-filling system is a Tibaldi Iride. And that seems to hold even more ink than a Vacumatic!

 

If you're interested, I wrote a review of it HERE