What Was Your Last Impulsive Pen Acquisition?

[OldTravelingShoe]

5 hours ago, A Smug Dill said:

Even as recently as 2019 (and perhaps later, as the product remained in the Platinum Catalogue for 2019-2020)

Off-topic: thank you for this link, @A Smug Dill, I did nkt have a recent Platinum catalog and it teaches me many things. 

[A Smug Dill]

14 minutes ago, OldTravelingShoe said:

Off-topic: thank you for this link, @A Smug Dill, I did nkt have a recent Platinum catalog and it teaches me many things. 

 

There was one for 2021-2022 as well; I downloaded a copy as a PDF file. Platinum took it down from its Japanese website a few months ago, though, for some unknown reason. A browsable version of that catalogue can be found here:

https://ecole-rg.meclib.jp/platinum2021/book/

[AmandaW]

5 hours ago, A Smug Dill said:

Platinum was selling (DP-1000AN) desk pens with that type of steel nib for ¥1,000 ex tax. Would the pricing have roughly followed a trajectory of:

1970s: ¥600

 

I have a DP1000AN as well as the "Y600". They are different - and I think the DP1000AN might have been a more expensive model. The logo on the nibs are similar, but the DP1000AN has a character as well. I don't have any of the other models which may have come in between these two - either in date or cost. Except... I just compared the "Y600" to the Platinum Carbon Desk Pen DP-800s and it's not even worth photographing (unless someone wishes to see them together) - they are the same except for the "Platinum Carbon Ink Pen" stamped on the barrel!

 

[A Smug Dill]

On 2/17/2022 at 2:10 PM, A Smug Dill said:

An F-nibbed Pilot Kaküno.

 

And now one more — the first one has a violet cap, and the second one a turquoise cap.

[AmandaW]

11 hours ago, A Smug Dill said:

 

And now one more — the first one has a violet cap, and the second one a turquoise cap.

 

I am guessing you have found a good source?

[Misfit]

One of the two I posted about came today. 
 

 

[A Smug Dill]

1 minute ago, AmandaW said:

I am guessing you have found a good source?

 

Just Amazon AU. $15, ships from Amazon US, but free delivery without minimum spend right now if you have Prime membership. When I was looking at it (and tempted) two weeks ago, there was a minimum spend of $49 to qualify for free international shipping; and when they first started the no minimum spend thing, the prices had gone up to close to $20.

[AmandaW]

1 hour ago, A Smug Dill said:

 

Just Amazon AU. $15, ships from Amazon US, but free delivery without minimum spend right now if you have Prime membership. When I was looking at it (and tempted) two weeks ago, there was a minimum spend of $49 to qualify for free international shipping; and when they first started the no minimum spend thing, the prices had gone up to close to $20.

 

That's a good price for the Kakuno! I like them - and see them as the Pilot equivalent of the Kaweco Perkeo which I'm also fond of. Sturdy, cheery and comfortable to hold. So far I have 4 - Clear EF, Red/grey F, White/pink M and White/purple M. The medium nibs were impulse buys from the ubiquitous office place and definitely a mistake that I have to fix when I figure out how. I'm tempted by the all grey one now because I just saw that it exists.

 

And also the Platinum Starlet/Meteor because it appears it might be their equivalent of the Kakuno and Perkeo (but with better sealing maybe). I will add it to the impulsive list to try sometime because it's hard to know without getting them all together side by side.

[OldTravelingShoe]

15 hours ago, A Smug Dill said:

There was one for 2021-2022 as well; I downloaded a copy as a PDF file. Platinum took it down from its Japanese website a few months ago, though, for some unknown reason. A browsable version of that catalogue can be found here:

https://ecole-rg.meclib.jp/platinum2021/book/

Excellent link, thank you, @A Smug Dill!

 

I found a copy for what I believe is the Platinum Catalogue 2020-2021, updated Nov 2020, small booklet format (72 pages). It's from an online shop, so I assume it's an official catalogue. 

 

I'll add it now to the thread Catalogues For Download, created by @mke (thanks, @mke, this is the kind of information that allowed me to discover FPN!)...  DONE . 

Edited February 19, 2022 by OldTravelingShoe
Updated to say DONE.

[A Smug Dill]

Opus 88 Shell pen, with mother-of-pearl over a brass barrel sandwiched between black ebonite gripping section and finial. I chose the 1.5 Stub nib option, because I haven't been happy with the EF nib that came fitted on my Opus 88 Demonstrator (after waiting months and months for it on account of the retailer having to specially order it in from the manufacturer/distributor), so I'm fully expecting (to be disappointed and have) to rip the nib out of the pen and replace it with something like a Nemosine #6 nib from my stash.

[Misfit]

I just ordered a Kaweco Sport in the new Pearlescent design with BB nib.  My usual online store for Kaweco that lets you get a 1.1mm italic nib was out of stock. The place I ordered from had a stationery brand that is near and dear to my heart because of the name. Ordering a set of notecards as well got me free shipping right on the nose. 

 

[socialmoth]

I bought a Montblanc 221 EF off someone on the Facebook Marketplace.

Cap's got a few scratches, sure, but I figured it was a pretty good purchase at $38 (shipping included)...that was until I found out there's something off with the feed. Everything I've tried from Quink to Noodler's Heart of Darkness runs dry on it, and I mean barely enough ink flows to leave a mark.

Not quite sure what to do with it as having it soak for a day in a cup of water + a drop of dish soap hasn't seemed to work; and given that ink doesn't seem to be seeping out during the soak, I don't think there's anything dried in it.

[HauntedMyst]

Last weeks Endless Pens Hop On sale got me.   Have another Opus 88 Omar on the way in blue.

[Mech-for-i]

Muji ABS mechanical pencil

[Gloucesterman]

13 hours ago, socialmoth said:

I bought a Montblanc 221 EF off someone on the Facebook Marketplace.

Cap's got a few scratches, sure, but I figured it was a pretty good purchase at $38 (shipping included)...that was until I found out there's something off with the feed. Everything I've tried from Quink to Noodler's Heart of Darkness runs dry on it, and I mean barely enough ink flows to leave a mark.

Not quite sure what to do with it as having it soak for a day in a cup of water + a drop of dish soap hasn't seemed to work; and given that ink doesn't seem to be seeping out during the soak, I don't think there's anything dried in it.

The previous owner may have let ink dry in it, thus really clogging it up. This would be especially true if they used ink with "shimmer" or, universe forbid, India ink.

 

If I were you I would soak it in Rapid-O-Eze, "commercial (or make your own) pen cleaner. Also, check out using an ultrasonic cleaner. Finally, repeated soaking and other treatments may be necessary. Often time, with stubborn problems, once is NOT enough!

Please keep us informed with your progress.

Wishing you success.

[DvdRiet]

A Reden's in shagreen leather... not entirely sure I haven't lost my mind... but it supposedly has a *very* smooth gold nib 

[OldTravelingShoe]

14 hours ago, socialmoth said:

I bought a Montblanc 221 EF off someone on the Facebook Marketplace.

Interesting marketplace. Starter question: could you please explain how the Facebook Marketplace (FM) works for fountain pens? I'm very familiar with eBay and Etsy, and Amazon and AliExpress, but I've yet to use FM. Thank you for sharing. 

 

14 hours ago, socialmoth said:

Cap's got a few scratches, sure, but I figured it was a pretty good purchase at $38 (shipping included

It may still be, even if @Gloucesterman's advice does not work for your pen (although it should). To me, it looks like even in the worst case scenario you could still send the pen for repairs, find a replacement feed on a marketplace, etc. The cost may still be good for another $50-$75.

[jchch1950]

Lamy Joy white with 1.5 nib. I went to the store to buy the new Al Star but they haven't arrived yet . I saw the Joy and after reading a post about it a few days ago, I decided to add a calligraphy pen to my collection .😏

[socialmoth]

9 hours ago, OldTravelingShoe said:

Interesting marketplace. Starter question: could you please explain how the Facebook Marketplace (FM) works for fountain pens? I'm very familiar with eBay and Etsy, and Amazon and AliExpress, but I've yet to use FM. Thank you for sharing. 

 

The Philippines is one of the largest Facebook users globally, so just about everyone here has an account. Within its Marketplace, you'll find three kinds of people selling fountain pens: Picker types who've picked them up from surplus stores, people who've inherited them and don't know what to do with them, and members of the local community. When browsing, I tend to look for sellers belonging to the first two categories— but because they aren't generally familiar with fountain pens and how to care for them, buying from them tends to be a bit of a gamble. That said: You're bound to find a good score every now and again (like a 1972 Pilot Elite for $3 or an older Sailor 1911 for $36— both with minimal signs of wear from improper storage).

 

11 hours ago, Gloucesterman said:

The previous owner may have let ink dry in it, thus really clogging it up. This would be especially true if they used ink with "shimmer" or, universe forbid, India ink.

 

If I were you I would soak it in Rapid-O-Eze, "commercial (or make your own) pen cleaner. Also, check out using an ultrasonic cleaner. Finally, repeated soaking and other treatments may be necessary. Often time, with stubborn problems, once is NOT enough!

Please keep us informed with your progress.

Wishing you success.

 

Thank you for the advice; that would make sense. It came with two Montblanc cartridges in the barrel and although one still has its seal, both were pretty much dry on arrival. I'll be sure to give an update if I get it up and running again; but as it stands, Rapid-O-Eze seems to be in short supply here, and I'm not entirely familiar with the whole ultrasonic process. With Heart of Darkness failing, I've taken to submerging the section in water.

[OldTravelingShoe]

3 hours ago, socialmoth said:

The Philippines is one of the largest Facebook users globally, so just about everyone here has an account. Within its Marketplace, you'll find three kinds of people selling fountain pens: Picker types who've picked them up from surplus stores, people who've inherited them and don't know what to do with them, and members of the local community. When browsing, I tend to look for sellers belonging to the first two categories

Excellent summary, @socialmoth, it helped me imagine the approach immediately and vividly. (I think our equivalent is Marktplaats, afaik an independent marketplace.) Thank you for sharing!