Which Demonstrator Pen Should I Buy And Why?

[ac12]

4x4

My having never used a vac, on the 700, can you do a partial load, if you don't want to fully load the pen?

Edited February 16, 2015 by ac12

[prighello]

Pilot Heritage 92 would be my vote. If you're going clear I see little point in CC pen. Piston, vac, eye dropper would be the way to go. Also, the pen will hold it's value better should you tire of it and want to sell for something else. Best of luck

[usk15]

Waterman Kultur. Is a C/C but can take standard international C/C. Cheap pen, great nib out of the box.

[FOUR X FOUR]

4x4

My having never used a vac, on the 700, can you do a partial load, if you don't want to fully load the pen?

Wow, that's a pretty question. I've never purposely tried to just do a partial fill, say 25 to 50% however, if I were trying for that I would try lifting the pen from the ink well or bottle, quicker; after releasing the plunger.

[ac12]

 

Wow, that's a pretty question. I've never purposely tried to just do a partial fill, say 25 to 50% however, if I were trying for that I would try lifting the pen from the ink well or bottle, quicker; after releasing the plunger.

 

I do partial loads with my converter and piston pens when I want to check out an ink but don't want to commit to a full load of ink, or just want to use it for a bit. I suppose I could do a full load, then dump the rest back into ink vial when I deink the pen to put it away.

[FarmBoy]

Yesterday in LA I saw what may be the ultimate demonstrator pen. It was a fully functional clear Red-Band "51".

 

If you are getting a demonstrator, get that one.

[wspohn]

I paid less than $100 for this Parker 51 demo (from Kullock).

Edited February 16, 2015 by wspohn

[FredRydr]

Just don't put ink in it. They never look the same as they did when you first took it out of the box.

 

Fred

[amk]

Sheaffer no-nonsense, if you can find the clear demo (I never have), and Waterman kultur, are good clear demos which you can come across NOS occasionally. They also have ranges of tinted demonstrators which are horribly compulsive (I'm in double figures on both!!!) Very nice nibs available for both, the Waterman a big, big nib in fine and medium (usually), and the Sheaffer swappable with the italics from the calligraphy no-nonsenses if that's what floats your boat.

 

Kaweco's Sport is a lovely little pen and comes as a clear demo, with a good range of swappable nibs. I like the Sport design a lot, it's a mini-pen and takes a lot of hard usage. Might not suit if you have smaller hands though, and the nibs are not for you if you want flex, though again, you will be happy if you want an italic. And it does now have a couple of converter options, a small Monteverde or the Kaweco provided converter.

 

A very cheap demo is the Dollar pen (ebay - made in Pakistan I believe); burps a bit when nearly empty, just like eyedroppers, as the feed is a bit basic, but it's a piston filling demo for just a few bucks (I got two for less than £3) and how cool is that? I had two running in tandem (Pelikan 4001 green and Diamine pumpkin) for a couple of weeks on my desk, and the nibs are very nice, the pens pretty good, fairly slim; apart from the burps at the end they behaved really nicely.

 

Also consider the Indian eyedropper pens like Wality or the ASA Galactic (that latter might be a bit outside your budget). Indian pens have got much better with their feeds and nibs, most using proper tipped nibs and German nibs now, and you get great bang for your buck. Deal with Fountain Pen Revolution or ASA Pens, who will both bend over backwards to make you happy, and have nice demonstrator options.

[Zebra]

Just don't put ink in it. They never look the same as they did when you first took it out of the box.

 

What do you mean, not even after cleaning? Or do you mean the cheaper ones? I guess with demonstrators it's probably best to use inks that have low water resistance, like Iroshizuku.

 

Anyway, my vote goes to the Vac 700 too because it is one of the thickest in that price range, which I prefer. Nevertheless, I would rather save some money and get a Pilot Custom 74 or better yet, a Pilot Heritage 92. These are just a bit more expensive but have better build quality going for them.

Edited February 16, 2015 by Zebra

[wspohn]

Ink can indeed tint a demonstrator.

 

I plan to sue my orange Parker 51 with orange or yellow ink to avoid that (or Noodlers Year of the Pig Highlight ink)

[Cordovian]

The Waterman Kultur can be had in the $50 range.

 

http://www.amazon.com/Waterman-Kultur-Clear-Fountain-Fine/dp/B004K3BAAC/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1424109999&sr=8-2&keywords=waterman+kultur

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61Qj92nQVpL._SL1500_.jpg

[Tasmith]

The Waterman Kultur can be had in the $50 range.

 

http://www.amazon.com/Waterman-Kultur-Clear-Fountain-Fine/dp/B004K3BAAC/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1424109999&sr=8-2&keywords=waterman+kultur

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61Qj92nQVpL._SL1500_.jpg

SBRE Brown's Waterman Kultur review:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J0tEMFaX-kQ

[TeaHive]

I voted for Noodler's Ahab because you can modify it and put a Zebra G nib in it. You can also make it into an eyedropper, and you can get different colors of demonstrator--I like Truk Lagoon! It looks rather dashing with a Goulet two-tone #6 nib in it, too.

 

That said, I've been eyeing TWSBI 700 lately, because I'm a vacumatic nut, and the Lamy Vista. But I think for the Lamy, I'd like to put the fountain pen section on a rollerball barrel so it could be turned into an eyedropper. Lamy nibs, man. Each one I've had has been smoooooth as honey butter. I don't have a Vista currently, but my Safari and Al-stars are durable and take a beating pretty well.

 

These weren't on your poll, but Pilot Prera, Penmanship, and Petit 1 are fun. I have the latter two and love them, but you don't like extra-fine nibs so... maybe not so much to your tastes. Prera you can get in fine, medium, or medium italic.

[Miz Black Crow]

Truth be told I'm more likely to try an EMF mod than a Zebra G mod (if I go for the G I might as well get the Desiderata, right?)

 

I'm torn. The 580 or Vac both seem to be lovely pens, and seem to come highly recommended.... but the Ahab and Konrad offer the flexperience I love so much.... And then there are the pens with the clear feed channels, which just seem super cool....

[LionRoar]

These weren't on your poll, but Pilot Prera, Penmanship, and Petit 1 are fun. I have the latter two and love them, but you don't like extra-fine nibs so... maybe not so much to your tastes. Prera you can get in fine, medium, or medium italic.

 

Note that a Prera medium is like a fine in a European pen.

[deepak23]

I have a bunch of Wality 69TL demonstrators. The caps come in different marbled colours and I pair caps to inks :-) Presently 3 pens with Red, Green and Blue caps inked with Rose, Emerald and Turquoise. And boy they look good. (Oh and they are pretty cheap too)

[Miz Black Crow]

By the way, if anyone wants to hear Brian Goulet's thoughts on this topic, he replied to my query in his latest Q&A video. I'm leaning toward the 580-AL, and probably one or two less expensive demonstrators as well (who doesn't need more pens, amirite?). He also fixed the "how-do-i-look-for-demonstators?" bug less than a week after I asked him, which is pretty damn impressive on a site as big as Goulet's (though I might not have been the first to ask). Soooo this is where I'll be buying things, once all my ducks are in a row and everything is in stock.

[LuckyKate]

Just don't put ink in it. They never look the same as they did when you first took it out of the box.

 

Fred

 

I am curious-- I love the look of the Pilot custom 92 or the sailor 1911, but what is the point of buying an expensive demonstrator, if it's just going to stain? Wouldn't it make more sense to buy an Ahab or a twisbi and then for the more expensive pen, go for something that won't stain?

 

(--hope this isn't too far off topic)

[TeaHive]

By the way, if anyone wants to hear Brian Goulet's thoughts on this topic, he replied to my query in his latest Q&A video. I'm leaning toward the 580-AL, and probably one or two less expensive demonstrators as well (who doesn't need more pens, amirite?). He also fixed the "how-do-i-look-for-demonstators?" bug less than a week after I asked him, which is pretty damn impressive on a site as big as Goulet's (though I might not have been the first to ask). Soooo this is where I'll be buying things, once all my ducks are in a row and everything is in stock.

 

I was wondering if that was you. xD Hope you don't mind I FB stalked you just now. As for cheapie demonstrators, the Platinum Preppies work wonderfully. But the caps tend to crack easily and not snap back on.

 

Man, this topic has me thinking about demonstrators now too. Like you said, this entire forum never talks you out of buying items. Just talks you into spending more and more.. Must. Hold. Fast.