Hello

September 9, 2015

Hello,

I've enjoyed reading this forum for quite a while. The time has come to join.

I live in Los Altos, California, a few miles from Stanford University.

I am an engineer/scientist and my name "Precise" is descriptive of me.

I bought a Montblanc Diplomat 149 new in New York City around 1970. At that time, I think the list price was $129 and I had lusted for that pen for several years. When I saw it discounted to $75 I grabbed it.

I used it extensively for years but gradually drifted away from fountain pens. Then about a year ago I got back in. I had about a dozen pens. But just recently ordered a few more. I'll be reviewing some - I enjoy writing.

At the moment here are some thoughts on some of my pens:

Montblanc Diplomat 149 - Silky smooth, works perfectly, but the medium nib is wetter than I like. I inquired about a nib change but only MB does that and the price is over $300. So at the moment it sees little use.

Pelikan M800 Fine nib. If there was ever a perfect pen, this is it. The line weight and wetness are perfect for my taste. It's silky smooth and has never missed. It writes even when stored vertically with the nib up for months (so does the MB).

Pilot Custom 823 Medium. Another perfect pen. Incidentally, I can write "a lot" without opening the top. I've never run dry and had to open the top.

Pilot Vanishing Point Medium. This was my most-used pen until I bought the "fine" below. It writes silky smooth and is very convenient.

Pilot Vanishing Point Fine. This became my most-used pen after using the "medium" for a year. I like the dry line, which doesn't bleed on the cheap paper that I encounter every day.

Duke D2. A cheap pen which writes very smoothly and reliably. I find the looks a bit garish, but it's performance is first rate. The pull-push cap is more convenient than a screw cap.

Duke D191 (other colors are D190 and D192). Another cheap pen that I like. The multiple threads allow the cap to unscrew or post with one-half turn. That's very convenient. For some reason this nib is not as smooth as the D2, but I'm working on it.

Duke Charlie Chaplin. Verrrry fat and heavy, but I enjoy writing with it. It has been drying out a bit quicker than it should.

Sailor 1911. Essentially faultless, but not seeing as much use as it deserves.

There are more, which I'll write about from time to time. I have a workshop and a microscope, which I use to tune nibs. With the Chinese pens, no courage is required to jump in and start adjusting or polishing. If you wreck a pen, you're out less than the price of a bottle of ink. Incidentally I like Duke Blue ink. It performs great and the bottle is pretty.

All for now.

Alan

Edited September 9, 2015 by Precise

September 9, 2015

Hello and Welcome to FPN!! Glad to have you as a member!!

September 9, 2015

Hello and welcome to FPN.

September 9, 2015

Hi! Welcome to FPN.

I'm really glad you've joined us.

Enjoy!

Best wishes from Japan,

VirtuThe3rd

September 9, 2015

Hi Alan,

September 9, 2015

Hello Alan. Greetings from up north in Mendocino county and a warm welcome to FPN. Glad you've joined us; it's great to have you here.

September 9, 2015

Hello and welcome from Baton Rouge, Louisiana...Enjoy your time here

September 9, 2015

Welcome !

Consider getting the "wet" Montblanc nib tuned. It might help. An alternative might be one of many inks that write less wet.

September 10, 2015

Welcome !

Consider getting the "wet" Montblanc nib tuned. It might help. An alternative might be one of many inks that write less wet.

Thank you.

I've been trying. The Fountain Pen Hospital said they can't reduce wetness. They said, "Most of our requests are to increase flow". Several others have refused. But I think it can be done by reducing the gap between the tines. I may try it myself.

I've found Pelikan ink is dryer in some of my pens, but not in the MB 149.