What Was Your Last Impulsive Pen Acquisition?

[OldTravelingShoe]

2 minutes ago, NgunnawalJack said:

Lovely match of pen and ink. Thanks for sharing! 

[NgunnawalJack]

16 minutes ago, OldTravelingShoe said:

Say, Kaweco at €20 or less? Can do.

My limit also, but I would like to try a brass Sport. 

[Chimera01]

11 hours ago, OldTravelingShoe said:

Congratulations, @Chimera01. Thanks for sharing. Photos would also be much appreciated. 

I'm preparing some but they have yet to pass quality control 😆 I think there have been any number of photos of the Pelikan M1000 black green but it's the nib that's so cool - and the hardest to photograph well! 

[essayfaire]

7 hours ago, NgunnawalJack said:

My limit also, but I would like to try a brass Sport. 

My Kawecos have always ended up costing more because I eventually send them off to get tuned.

[ParramattaPaul]

1 hour ago, essayfaire said:

My Kawecos have always ended up costing more because I eventually send them off to get tuned.

Why?

I'm not being sarcastic. I'm genuinely asking why does a well-made, quality pen need tuning? Is it the pen? Is it how you write? Is it just you, personally?  Why?

 

[JonSzanto]

2 minutes ago, ParramattaPaul said:

Why?

I'm not being sarcastic. I'm genuinely asking why does a well-made, quality pen need tuning? Is it the pen? Is it how you write? Is it just you, personally?  Why?

 

Tuning is only going to refer to the performance of the nib, so while the rest of the pen may be "well made", that doesn't mean that each and every nib is going to write precisely how one would want. Sometimes there are quality control issues, as well. From even the best makers, a brand new pen may sometimes perform... not to one's expectations. Not "send it back" bad, but not how you would want to write every day. If the nib has issues, the easiest way - assuming you haven't gone about learning some rudimentary nib tuning tricks - is to send it off and get it just right. Not uncommon.

[ParramattaPaul]

Thank you.

 

Having nibs tuned is a common topic here and frequently mentioned.  It  was only in reading your comment did I ever think to question why. 

 

I  personally haven't had the need nor the inclination to have it done.  I can't remember ever having a fountain pen that didn't write satisfactorily in the 60 plus years of using them. 

 

I expect that my tastes in pens must be rather "pedestrian". I'm not a calligrapher, and only write for my own needs. 

[JonSzanto]

26 minutes ago, ParramattaPaul said:

I expect that my tastes in pens must be rather "pedestrian". I'm not a calligrapher, and only write for my own needs. 

 

How we use and appreciate our pens is certainly individual, and you needn't denigrate your own use as commonplace or pedestrian. I, too, have the good fortune of having the majority of new purchases be in good order, but I also deal a lot in Vintage pens, which sometimes may come with an issue.

I would just leave with one other thought: does ever single pen that you own write identically? Likely not, and there may very well be one/some/a select few that are a couple of notches up on the "Delight Scale" for your writing experience! So... what is it about those nibs (speaking only about nibs at this point) that makes them rise to the top of your pens? It is likely the tiniest bit of refinement in the way the nib is setup and tuned, and it is always something that you can both count on and not think about. If that could be said for every nib, and if you could achieve that by having your nibs tuned by someone who has those skills (assuming you aren't interested in doing any of this on your own), would it be worth it to you?

 

I think that is why many people have a nib tuned/adjusted, not merely to correct a poorly made product.

[inkstainedruth]

2 hours ago, ParramattaPaul said:

Thank you.

 

Having nibs tuned is a common topic here and frequently mentioned.  It  was only in reading your comment did I ever think to question why. 

 

I  personally haven't had the need nor the inclination to have it done.  I can't remember ever having a fountain pen that didn't write satisfactorily in the 60 plus years of using them. 

 

I expect that my tastes in pens must be rather "pedestrian". I'm not a calligrapher, and only write for my own needs. 

I've had to get a few nibs tuned due to issues with skipping and flow (in general it was cases of baby's bottom).  One pen needed the tines opened up a bit to get better flow (but that only turned a $2 purchase into a $22 pen, so STILL my least expensive vintage 51...).  A couple of pens needed work because the nibs were bent (one came that way -- I wasn't sufficiently diligent on looking at the sellers photos; the other, the nib assembly on one of my Decimos got knocked off the bathroom counter; while I was perfectly willing to take a stab at straightening the nib on the vintage Estie (and then handing it off to a pro) there was no WAY I was going to even make an attempt on an 18K rhodium plated nib....  And in a few cases (mostly notably the Cedar Blue 51 Aero with the EF nib) the nib work was just part of the general rehab of the pen to make it not write scratchy.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

 

[gweimer1]

One thing to note...with NOS Esterbrook nibs (and there are still a lot out there), it's recommended to flush them with a little warm water before using.  This is to remove any manufacturing residue that may be there.  I would suggest that just about any new pen might benefit from this.  I nearly always check the nib of any new pen I get (either vintage or modern) to make sure it feels/looks right.

[ParramattaPaul]

2 hours ago, JonSzanto said:

I would just leave with one other thought: does every single pen that you own write identically? Likely not, and there may very well be one/some/a select few that are a couple of notches up on the "Delight Scale" for your writing experience! So... what is it about those nibs (speaking only about nibs at this point) that makes them rise to the top of your pens? It is likely the tiniest bit of refinement in the way the nib is setup and tuned, and it is always something that you can both count on and not think about. If that could be said for every nib, and if you could achieve that by having your nibs tuned by someone who has those skills (assuming you aren't interested in doing any of this on your own), would it be worth it to you?

 

I have more vintage pens than modern pens.  Most of both are British made and the remainder are German made.  That is my choice since they are the pen brands I am familiar with and have used since my school days (despite my father only ever using Sheaffers).

 

No, none of them seem to write identically.  I don't expect them to for two reasons.  The first is that I understand the production process, especially as it existed before the advent of CAD/CAM, and I appreciate that each pen is unique in very small ways.  The nib of a pen produced in, say, 1930 was minutely different from the nib produced before and after it on the same press and by the same operator.  That is one of the attractions -- for me at least -- to collecting, preserving, and use vintage pens.   The second is that with the above, and the fact that a vintage pen has been used, it has what my late wife would have called a 'personality'.  That is something I think should be cherished.  When for instance, I pick up the 1935 De La Rue I recently acquired and write a line with it, I am picking up where its previous owner left off.

 

So, I leave them unchanged to be enjoyed by my like-minded children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren who will eventually inherit everything I own.

 

New pens don't possess that same uniqueness, nor the history (and connection to the past and past owners) of vintage pens.  I buy new pens for one of two reasons.  Some I buy simply to try them, to test them, their design, ergonomics, or other features.  Those are the pens I pass on as gifts to anyone who shows an interest in fountain pens.  The majority of pens I buy are almost exclusively Conway Stewarts and Onotos, and are for collection (unique limited editions) and use.

 

 

[JonSzanto]

49 minutes ago, ParramattaPaul said:

I have more vintage pens than modern pens.

 

Well done - we are alike in this. All of what you say makes good sense. Not everyone has such good fortune with pen purchases and occasionally a little touch from an expert can take a less-than-stellar performer to a new lever... or just make it work! Enjoy your pens.

[amberleadavis]

On 10/1/2022 at 11:31 PM, Tashi_Tsering said:

Must de Cartier Trinity. Slim quality made pen with 18k fine nib and ebonite feed. 

 

Wonderful photos!  I have one Cartier pen, it is similar and I love it.

[essayfaire]

1 hour ago, amberleadavis said:

 

Wonderful photos!  I have one Cartier pen, it is similar and I love it.

Looks lovely!  I would have thought this would be too narrow for @amberleadavis.

[chromantic]

I ordered a Leonardo MZG 2.0 in Stardust (which seems identical to the Angel Skin dms525 showed pics of over in the Italy section) from Stilo e Stile today. Was a little torn as I'd passed on the Benu Armenian Pomegranate due to the same 5.9" capped size but the Leo seemed too pretty to pass up and a 10% pre-order discount - 1 day 4 hours 50 minutes left !!! - clinched it.

 

eta - Thanks to Goldspot, I see the pics I thought were Angel Skin were actually the Stardust. I was confused by the mention of Angel Skin in relation to the pics. Angel Skin is a pink marbled material, which makes sense (d'oh!) but is also kind of creepy (ew!).

[Tashi_Tsering]

14 hours ago, amberleadavis said:

 

Wonderful photos!  I have one Cartier pen, it is similar and I love it.

Thank you!

[gweimer1]

A good deal came my way, and I've been considering getting one of these to see how they are.  Not a bad pen, but the nib needed work before I could use it.

 

 

[mizgeorge]

2 hours ago, gweimer1 said:

A good deal came my way, and I've been considering getting one of these to see how they are.  Not a bad pen, but the nib needed work before I could use it.

 

 

Which model is this? It's a very pretty colour. 

[USG]

Alright, alright, alright, I'm only getting 2 more... 😁 

 

 

But come on, help a guy out,  do they look better with the Lamy Aion nib or the standard Lamy nib? 😬🤡

 

 

[gweimer1]

1 hour ago, mizgeorge said:

Which model is this? It's a very pretty colour. 

 

It's the newer Esterbrook JR pen.