Fosfor Islander First Impression And Short Review

[mhguda]

I first saw a pen like this on this forum, when manojd showcased a wooden pen he'd made. I wanted a wooden pen for a long time, so when he offered to make me one, I was hooked. Especially when he also explained he made pens from rolling pins!

This is the first commissioned pen in my collection. I'm not sure if I can really call it commissioned, since the artist himself designed the pen - I was offered some options, but it really is manojd's creation. The most influential decision I could make was clipless yes or no. I chose clipless. Here is a picture, from his website:

This is a beautiful pen: ebonite section polished to a serious sheen, connected to the wooden barrel with a metal insert containing screw threads for the wooden cap; a relatively small but very capacious ebonite (I think!) feed under a Schmidt F nib, ,size 5 I would guess. A comfortable nib with very nice flow: not too wet, never dry, the nib fairly stiff but there is a hint of line thickness variation that I slightly increased by writing a few lines on 600 grit sandpaper.

The wood is a beautiful deep dark brown Indian rosewood, well protected against water-based moisture or oils from my hands; it feels very comfortable in my hand.

This pen cannot have the cap posted because the metal threads in the cap pose a risk of scratching the wooden barrel; but this is fine, it is long enough and in this way does not become top-heavy. The cap, with its metal insert, inner cap, and silver cap ring near the top, is itself quite heavy.

The one half-issue I have with the pen is the metal threads just above the barrel; they are a little sharp and sometimes seem to dig into my fingers as I write, even though I have a fairly relaxed grip (having used fountain pens almost exclusively for decades now). I tend to hold the pen at about that position, or at the section itself, but the section is slender and I like a slightly wider grip, especially when doing more than half a page or so. I would have preferred ebonite threads that are easier on the hand, but visually, the slender section is very nice and I would not want the looks of the pen to change...

 

All in all, I am very pleased with my choice to buy this pen. It is a beautifully made pen that writes just the way I like it.

Here is a small writing sample:

I am also happy that manojd considered my input when naming the pen...

[Moshe ben David]

How do you fill it? Cartridge/converter?

 

sharp looking pen!

[mhguda]

Exactly. It has a big Schmidt converter. Takes up plenty of ink.

[mohan]

That is a beautiful pen.

[manojd]

mhguda,

 

Thanks for this quick review and I am glad to know that you are enjoying the pen. I am already considering changing the thread pitch to 12mm x .75. This should be easy on the fingers. The section width is limited by the brass tube insert. I could go for a thinner tube, but that may make the cap vulnerable.

 

Nice handwriting

[mhguda]

manojd,

 

Thanks for being so responsive. As I said, I really enjoy the pen, and I feel the change you are going to make will make it even better. It will mean my pen will be even more distinctive...

If making the section width greater would put the pen at risk, of course you should not do it - it's such a minor quibble, probably more of an idiosyncrasy. If the threads can be gripped easily it is not a problem at all...