Desk Pen Vs Nornal Pen

[tnaskar]

Hi,

 

What is the difference between desk pen and normal pen? It is just the way it kept or have anything to do with comfort level during writing?

 

Thank you

Regards

Tapan

 

[Buzzie]

For me, I kept a minimum of three vintage desk sets and a variety of bottled inks on my desktop at work. Why? 1. speed/convenience - just pick it up, write, and put it back - always wet and ready, no cap, no posting 2. always at my fingertips, no hunting 3. selection of inks and nibs instantaneously 4. nothing to wag around all day 4. for show - every visitor makes a comment 5. a statement that I appreciate the "finer things" of a different era. And, it always put me in a different and better world whenever I reached for one, even just to jot a note or comment, which I did a jillion times a day. And, they don't "walk off". Love 'em.

[Bo Bo Olson]

My Sheaffer touch down is in the 'box' right now. I have a double Pelikan desk stand. In the wider pen holder I have my 605 Pelikan with a 400N's semi-flex B, that I reach for all the time. It is faster or as fast as a BP. In the slightly narrower holder I have a Lamy Joy, which because of it's long end is more the desk pens form.

 

A desk pen has superb balance...in it is 'posted' naturally.

[Aurko]

Desk pens are longer, and is generally long and tapered. It is not meant to be portable, but as the name suggests be kept on the desk, preferably with a pen stand. They're fairly convenient if you work mostly on one desk, and very hard to lose. Desk pens are pretty comfortable, and you never need to worry about a cap. Sadly I never really work on one desk, so capped and portable pens are more useful to me. Vintage deskpens, as suggested by the previous posters, are highly recommended but you can find some really nice, fairly cheap ones from Japanese makers, such as Sailor or Platinum (the ones I have in mind come in extra fine only, steel nib).

[ANM]

Vintage Parker desk pens were convertible to pocket pens but I am unaware of any other desk pen that would allow you to cap it and take it with you when you left the house.

[Paddler]

Desk pens are always on the desk top, ready and wet to write at the first touch to the paper. For most people, they are very nicely balanced - even better than a pocket pen, whether posted or unposted.

 

Their only negative attribute, in my view, is that, when the ink reservoir is nearly empty, changes in temperature and atmospheric pressure can cause the pen to burp a drop of ink, from time to time, into the holder. Eventually, (months?) this ink can be deep enough to coat the nib and look unsightly. When this happens, you merely have to poke a twisted piece of rag or paper tissue into the holder to soak up the ink puddle.

[PDW]

I've used a desk pen when I have exams to mark - easy to pick up the pen, write a comment, put it back while thinking/reading the next part. Saves a lot of uncapping/capping.

 

The best so far is an Estie lever filler desk pen. Plenty of ink capacity plus all the above advantages.

[AAAndrew]

I have used two different desk pens: a Sheaffer with an inlaid nib (have no idea how to ID such a sheaffer since they made many models with the inlaid nib and a desk pen gives you almost no other clues), and a Parker 51 (had to cannabalize the nib section from my other 51 to see how it works as the one that came with it needs serious repair). I also have a Sheaffer snorkel with a nice Triumph nib that I'd like to get restored one of these days.

 

I do really like the convenience, as others have mentioned. There's a reason that every single desk you see in the old movies had a desk set on it. They also have really nice balance with the long taper. As I clear off my desk and start to write more there, I use my desk pen more.

 

They can also be decorative and fun.

 

I'm not sure I'd bring one to work as I work in IT and we tend to have cubicles which are none too secure.

 

Get one if you can, fix it up (or buy new) and try it out. What, you need permission to buy another pen???

[ac12]

I enjoy writing with a desk pen more so than a clip pen. The length of the taper/tail seems to make the desk pen balance better. Then again that could simply be my imagination, but my Pilot 200 feels really nice in my hand.

 

As for a portable desk pen, there are 3 that I know of:

- Lamy Joy. Same section as the Safari, so all the same nibs are available. This is probably the best desk pen for those that like to use different nibs. I have one with a 1.1 nib, and am thinking of getting a 2nd Joy.

- Pilot series; 70, 200 and 500. I have the 200. Max tip width is a M nib.

- Plantinum.

These all have caps, so you can use it without the hassle of a base, and you can travel with it.

But in use, because they don't have a base, you have to use it like a normal clip pen, and cap it.

There is a separate base for the Platinum desk pens, which I think also fits the Pilot desk pens.

Unfortunately the Lamy Joy does not have a base, or at least I have not been able to find one that fits.

 

One caution in the Pilot and Platinum pens. Since they are Japanese pens, the nib size is smaller than the corresponding western size. A Pilot M is like a Lamy F, maybe a bit smaller.

 

Andrew, get an Esterbrook dipless pen set. If someone tries to steal it they will have a MESS on their hands when the ink drains out of the inkwell. It is called a dipless, but it is a dip pen that you dip less than a normal dip pen. It has a fountain pen nib with a feed, so you can write maybe a half page to a page or more between dips. The Morriset Constant Flow is a similar pen set, but there are less of a nib selection (only XF, F and M) than the Esterbrook.

[Ernst Bitterman]

I keep two on my desk at work; fingertip convenience, certainly, and also when doing a stack of stuff that calls for alternation of keyboard and ink/paper the long tail makes it easier to balance the pen across thumb and middle finger while tapping the keys.

[AAAndrew]

Does the Esterbrook Dipless pen use the same nibs as the rest of the Esties? If so, I think I have a new item to add to my purchase list as soon as I get a new job.

[ac12]

@Andrew

Yes.

It is the SAME nib unit. It just does not have an ink sack behind it, so the only ink it stores is what is in the feed.

Watch the prices to get an idea of what the going rate is, some are priced way up in nutty land.

Here are some model numbers to check out to see which one you want:

• 404
• 407
• 444 (there are 2 variants of the 444)
• 447

These are also in the pix left to right in the same order as above, including the 2 variants of the 444.

[AAAndrew]

I remember seeing these in antique stores back in the late 90's when I last collected. I didn't know what they were. Now I do. I want one. I really like that 447! Thanks!

[Moshe ben David]

OK, gents. So the one thing not answered is: do any of our usual suspect pen merchants sell new desk sets? Or is this something only to be found on eBay and those who specialize in vintage pens?

[ac12]

I think the the 447 is similar to the 444 but with a plastic base instead of the glass base of the 444.

 

The thing with the 444 and likely the 447 is that the gasket that seals the upper part to the well (the glass base of the 444) is likely VERY old and hardened. The problems are

#1) It could be hardened and makes taking the top off very difficult and dangerous (you could crack the lip when prying it up, so you have to be VERY VERY careful).

#2) It may not seal.

I think there is a tread some place that talks about replacing the gasket. But first you got to get the top off.

 

I like the 404 and the 2nd variation of the 444.

[ac12]

 

 

OK, gents. So the one thing not answered is: do any of our usual suspect pen merchants sell new desk sets? Or is this something only to be found on eBay and those who specialize in vintage pens?

 

Not that I know of.

 

However, you can put together a desk set.

Get #1) a Platinum desk pen #2) a Platinum desk base for it. now you have a set.

Goulet has these 2 items. But the pen has a XF nib, which might be a bit too fine.

As for the other manufacturers...not that I know of.

 

If you don't like the Platinum desk pen, there is a post that the poster said the Pilot desk pen will fit the Platinum base.

My Pilot 200 desk pen has a M nib (similar to a Lamy F nib). I have not purchased a Platinum based for it...yet.

 

After that it is vintage dealers and eBay.

 

IMHO, a good starting desk pen set is a Parker 45. Cartridge/Converter, so no hassles and extra cost of having to replace an old hardened ink sack. And the P45 is a real easy pen to clean, since it can be taken completely apart. Should be able to find a decent P45 set for about $30-40.

After that things get complicated fast with various fill mechanisms and the pros-cons of each pen: Esterbrook (lever ink sack), Parker 21 (aerometric), Parker 51 (vacumatic and aerometric), Sheaffer Snorkel (snorkel mechanism + pnumatic + ink sack), Sheaffer Touchdown (pnumatic + ink sack), etc, etc.

[Bo Bo Olson]

The Turkish pen company...forgot the name does. Starts with a S I believe.

[Mr. Pink]

I have a Sheaffer desk pen and it tends to dry out quickly, so I use it as a dip pen only. That's fine with me as I like to try different inks with it.

[georges zaslavsky]

Normal pen for me please

[Moshe ben David]

 

 

Not that I know of.

 

However, you can put together a desk set.

Get #1) a Platinum desk pen #2) a Platinum desk base for it. now you have a set.

Goulet has these 2 items. But the pen has a XF nib, which might be a bit too fine.

As for the other manufacturers...not that I know of.

 

If you don't like the Platinum desk pen, there is a post that the poster said the Pilot desk pen will fit the Platinum base.

My Pilot 200 desk pen has a M nib (similar to a Lamy F nib). I have not purchased a Platinum based for it...yet.

 

After that it is vintage dealers and eBay.

 

IMHO, a good starting desk pen set is a Parker 45. Cartridge/Converter, so no hassles and extra cost of having to replace an old hardened ink sack. And the P45 is a real easy pen to clean, since it can be taken completely apart. Should be able to find a decent P45 set for about $30-40.

After that things get complicated fast with various fill mechanisms and the pros-cons of each pen: Esterbrook (lever ink sack), Parker 21 (aerometric), Parker 51 (vacumatic and aerometric), Sheaffer Snorkel (snorkel mechanism + pnumatic + ink sack), Sheaffer Touchdown (pnumatic + ink sack), etc, etc.

 

ac12,

 

Thanks for the suggestions. I agree with your opinion of the P-45. I have a P-45 Flighter -- dynamite.