Modernizing - A Masterpiece Or A Monstrosity?

[Kuscer]

For many people out there, the second option is the perfect description of modern pens. Like a lot of us and probably well most of us, I prefer the ''classic, vintage'',call it what you will look. I think that newer pens are cheaper-made, made in China (not meant as an insult but often such products are ill-made) and that they also often look cheaper as well as they are. What do you think about modernizing pens?

Please share your thoughts with us!

Kind regards,

Dingan

[chad.trent]

I don't prefer vintage over modern or vice versa. There are modern pens I love and modern pens I hate, just as there are vintage I love and vintage I hate.

[de_pen_dent]

For many people out there, the second option is the perfect description of modern pens. Like a lot of us and probably well most of us, I prefer the ''classic, vintage'',call it what you will look. I think that newer pens are cheaper-made, made in China (not meant as an insult but often such products are ill-made) and that they also often look cheaper as well as they are. What do you think about modernizing pens?

Please share your thoughts with us!

Kind regards,

Dingan

 

Havent noticed that at all. I prefer newer pens to vintage.

[shawndp]

I don't know what pens you are looking at but there are many modern pens that are not made in China... I am going to say I prefer a modern pen over the vintages that I have and yes that means I think my Sailor 1911 and Platinum 3776 perform better for me than my Parker 51's... I have purchased a few vintage Parkers / Waterman / Sheaffer and none of the vintage models are anything magical. Maybe it is my writing, maybe it is the criteria that I am judging pens one but they are merely tools of communication to me and the most important part is laying down a smooth clean line when I want them to. I don't understand all the fuss over "this is a special colour" that drives the price of some Lamy Safari's into the stratosphere... What specific pen are you referencing as being a monstrosity? Cross - they seem to be made in China these days but the warranty is still there, so I don't see the problem? Maybe nostalgia is interrupting objectivity?

[Wolverine1]

A lot of high quality pen exist that are not made in China or in the Republic of China. dont you know, or do you think that all modern pen are made in China or ROC?

[Kuscer]

I was refering to parker

[Kuscer]

I was refering to parker

mostly, in my case

[Bo Bo Olson]

I prefer semi-vintage or vintage pens because the nibs have more spring to them....in Regular flex, and in vintage there are semi-flex and 'flexi'/maxi-semi-flex nibs available at least on the German and British pens.

 

Besides which I grew up with standard and medium-large pens....not these 'clunky' Large ones.

Of course a Snorkel is a real sleek and well balanced pen.....shocked me to find out it was Large and not medium-large like the P-51.

It's hard for me to imagine a Snorkel is just as long as a Safari.

 

Yep, old used pens are cheaper...and one can get top of the line pens....many more than buying a big brand new, for less than top of the line.

Edited September 5, 2014 by Bo Bo Olson

[Icywolfe]

My Justus95 has a old look to it yet it's a modern pen that tried to copy the old Justus. It's marked with PILOT JAPAN. No China there.

 

Well my Cross pens I used to have were made in China though.

 

The old pen I have is a JP Pilot Elite and I am sure back then it has a futuristic shape. My modern VP and my old Elite are the only ones that have future shape.

[amk]

So much depends on taste.

 

I love celluloid, so for me there are few modern pens that can really compete with 1930s and 1940s pens like Sheaffer Balance, Waterman Ink-Vue, Parker Moderne and Vacumatic and Duofold, or even Wearevers with their bright and gaudy colours and designs.

 

I also far prefer the all-plastic or all-ebonite construction of vintage pens to the prevalent metal inside parts of today's pens.

 

However, when it comes to Edisons, I'm as partial as the next person. Colourful acrylic is the next best thing to celluloid :-)

 

I do think that on bang per buck, you get a lot more in the vintage world, though. You can get a pen with a gold nib, and even flex, fairly cheaply, especially if you're confident resacking a pen - setting aside my near-sumgais at yard sales, I have secured decent (working) vintage pens for $20-30.

[death89]

Speaking as a mostly parker man, my favourite era looks-wise is the 70s/80s but I've not owned any older pens so I can't comment vs earlier ones. However, I do think that there is a noticeable drop in quality on pens made in the last 5-8 years.

 

Maybe just a drop in quality control I guess as I have one Chinese IM which is among my nicest writers, but all others have either been poor in comparison or taken a very long time to become good writers.

[inkeverywhere]

Modern or vintage, cheap or expensive? In this debate opinions are like bums everyone has one.

 

I collect vintage Parker and Lamy FP's as well as demonstrators, I use both modern and vintage FP's daily. Some of the demonstrators are cheapies but I enjoy writing with them and I guess that is what it boils down to, do you enjoy writing with a particular FP. I have seen some very ornate and expensive FP's shown on this site which I think are hideous but obviouly are the owners pride and joy - again opinion.

 

Being a lure fisherman as well as a FP enthusiast/collector, I believe fishing lures and FP's have something in common. Both are made in a particular fashion and colour so as to catch the eye of the user and ensure a purchase, whether they work well or not is not the primary concern in some cases.

 

Greg

[Buzz_130]

I enjoy vintage pens because they come from the golden age of fountain pens. The craftsmanship has withstood the test of time, and a good vintage American pen (the only ones I collect) is writing as well today as they were 50 or more years ago.

 

But I enjoy modern fountain pens as well. I have a small collection of Japanese pens that mean a great deal to me. They are great writers with outstanding nibs. The craftsmanship of my Nakaya is unmatched. I have a good Binderized Onoto and Binderized Pelikan M805 that are both works of art with the desire to be workhorses. I don't find either one to be inferior in any way to my vintage pens.

 

The good news is that we don't have to select either/or. We get to buy and use what we like.

 

Buzz

[svk]

In the dimensions department, modern pens are larger than the older ones and some are not usable because of the size or the weight. The "monstrosity" that you refer to! Many modern pens have a metal grip section which many users do not like. Fountain pen, having become a luxury item, is probably being produced now with 'statement' in mind rather than the comfort of writing. Having said that, some of the modern models, beneath the flagship models, are often wonderful.

My two cents.