Camel Brand Pens Anyone?

[budgetpenlover]

I was looking into aquiring a Camel 1968 Medium Nib (http://www.ebay.com/itm/CAMEL-1968-Rosewood-Color-Medium-Nib-Fountain-Pen-new-/150971590994?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item23269ba952) for notetaking and school use, but I have some reservations because I have never heard of the manufacturer. I really don't want to go through the hassel of returning it to China if it's a piece of (bleep).

 

Has anyone heard of Camel pens; if so, I would love to hear some feedback.

 

Does anyone know of any cheaper pen brands that preform well compared to their cost?

[Mags]

I use a Jinhao and Baystate Blue Noodler ink in my most recent academic pursuits.

[budgetpenlover]

I use a Jinhao and Baystate Blue Noodler ink in my most recent academic pursuits.

I have a Lanbitou 865 with Noodler's Antietam which I found to work well but was looking to expand to something less bold in appearance.

Edited October 10, 2013 by budgetpenlover

[dgreenwood116]

I haven't heard anything about camel, though i have multiple hero 616's and a jinhao that i use both to take notes with that way i'm not worried about losing or breaking them! I even have a baoer on the way! All are about the same price, maybe sticking with those would be more safe!

[sandraw]

Very pretty and inexpensive enough to try. Wonder if it posts.

[Randal6393]

I bought a no-brand Chinese pen from Wuhan on a similar deal. Turned out to be an excellent pen, as advertised, and delivered within 14 business days. Did a little conversion, ground the fine-to-medium nib to a fine italic, loaded it with Noodler's Black Swan in Australian Roses, and started writing. Now my favorite pen for addenda and notes on the margins.

 

Enjoy,

[budgetpenlover]

Very pretty and inexpensive enough to try. Wonder if it posts.

My Lanbitou is quite a bit top heavy when posted which can make it uncomfortable to use for long periods time and I wonder if these suffer from the same problem.

[WirsPlm]

For $1.50 more you can get a Pilot 78G that ships free from Hong Kong. Not as pretty, but if what you want is a cheap, reliable school pen that's what I'd get. They come in F, M and B (B is actually an italic, a pretty decent one). Link: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Pilot-red-78G-fountain-pen-medium-nib-free-cartridge-/360265107768?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item53e1794938

 

For about the same price you can also get a Pilot Penmanship, which comes in XF only (and looks kind of like a clear squid - not as bad as the Plumix though).

 

If you're going to super-cheap, you can get Pilot Varsities and refill them (they aren't designed to be refillable, but it's not that hard to do).

Edited October 10, 2013 by WirsPlm

[Aramchek]

I have a Chinese pen from Wing Sung which has Camel written on the cap, so perhaps the pen in the auction is also a Wing Sung (although most certainly not the same model as mine). If so, it would probably be pretty good, Wing Sung pens are usually quite decent.

[sandy101]

The Pilot 78G is a good bet, as is the Parker Vector (which can be fitted with a convertor).

 

The Platinum Plasir and Preppy work fine too - and you can get a widget that allows you to fit international cartridges. No converter for these models, but they work well enough with cartridges. The Plasir is an all metal body and (just) takes long cartridges. (The preppy takes short only).

 

I have also bought a Parker IM Premium (gunmetal) which I have no complaints about. It is all metal and works admirably with a converter and J Herbin ink. It cost me £17 including postage.