What Was Your Last Impulsive Pen Acquisition?

[inkstainedruth]

3 hours ago, JonSzanto said:

 

 

Thank you both. It's interesting to collect a lesser known brand, and wonder that if they had had a better business plan or marketing, if they could have had a bigger impact. In any event, the best of their pens are well made and the cherry on top is their nib design, which is a 14k nib called a "Maniflex". True to it's name, it is somewhat stiff but has just a little flex, not unlike a contemporary Japanese SF or SM nib. Most have a slightly italic shape, too. Here's an earlier purchase, one of my best finds:

Wow -- this one is a BEAUTY!

I have a few Morrisons (mostly ring-tops), so completely understand the interest in lesser known brands.  I bought my first one at my first pen show (a gold-filigree overlay ring top with a lovely semi-flex stub nib, restored & in working condition).  The only issue with it is that it tends to unscrew itself from the cap while on the lanyard, so it doesn't leave the house anymore....  Paid more for it than for my Plum Demi 51!  

Finally scored a sterling filigree overlay Morrison ring-top a couple of years ago. 

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[Misfit]

4 hours ago, JonSzanto said:

 

 

Thank you both. It's interesting to collect a lesser known brand, and wonder that if they had had a better business plan or marketing, if they could have had a bigger impact. In any event, the best of their pens are well made and the cherry on top is their nib design, which is a 14k nib called a "Maniflex". True to it's name, it is somewhat stiff but has just a little flex, not unlike a contemporary Japanese SF or SM nib. Most have a slightly italic shape, too. Here's an earlier purchase, one of my best finds:

Thank you for explaining the nib, and its performance. This one is also a beauty. I don’t think I knew of Moore. How are the prices?

[JonSzanto]

14 minutes ago, Misfit said:

Thank you for explaining the nib, and its performance. This one is also a beauty. I don’t think I knew of Moore. How are the prices?

 

They are still... reasonable. There are certainly some lesser models and the company started in the teens, so you can find HR safety pens (their first success) fairly often. When I first got hooked about 10 years ago I could regularly find unrestored models for as little as $20, but collectors and buyers have caused the prices to rise. On their better pens, the materials are good and the hardware, similar to Wahl-Eversharp, was well plated and cleans up nicely, without a lot of pitting and plating loss often found in lesser brands. One last pic to show a bit of the range, a little more.... showy (note that the middle pen is a Cascade in similar celluloid):

[TgeekB]

How often do you refresh this thread! 🤣
 

Last night I purchased a Platinum 3776 Celluloid Jade from Japan. Before that, well,  lots of others…

[carola]

20 hours ago, JonSzanto said:

 

 

Thank you both. It's interesting to collect a lesser known brand, and wonder that if they had had a better business plan or marketing, if they could have had a bigger impact. In any event, the best of their pens are well made and the cherry on top is their nib design, which is a 14k nib called a "Maniflex". True to it's name, it is somewhat stiff but has just a little flex, not unlike a contemporary Japanese SF or SM nib. Most have a slightly italic shape, too. Here's an earlier purchase, one of my best finds:

 

I LOVE this one. The design of this pen is right down my alley.

 

And I have been a tiny little bit impulsive today...

Went to the pen and paper store to buy a refill for one of my mother´s ballpoints, when I saw a few Pelikans lying around on the desk. Turns out they had an M200 Café-Crème (M nib, unfortunately no B in store) and an M205 Clear Demonstrator (B nib) at a 50 % discount each. Just couldn´t pass up buying two for one. 🤷‍♀️

[inkstainedruth]

 

Well, you can always swap the nibs between the Café-Crème and the M205 Demonstrator....  

I don't blame you for jumping on a deal like that.  I probably would NOT have bought the Demonstrator (except possibly to swap the nib into the Café-Crème...).

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[Karmachanic]

20s Tibaldy Ebonite NOS Safety pen, new seal/cork.  The Minimalistica was lonely

Now to choose an appropriate ink, as it will live with that ink for the duration.  Probably an IG

 

 

 

[carola]

19 minutes ago, inkstainedruth said:

 

Well, you can always swap the nibs between the Café-Crème and the M205 Demonstrator....  

I don't blame you for jumping on a deal like that.  I probably would NOT have bought the Demonstrator (except possibly to swap the nib into the Café-Crème...).

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

 

Well, no, you can´t.

I mean, technically, you can, but the Demonstrator has a steel nib, whereas the Café-Crème has a gold plated steel nib. As it is the only gold plated steel nib I own, there is no swapping. But I can always buy a spare one, or an M400 nib (or even a vintage 400 nib), if I don´t like the M well enough. 🤷‍♀️

 

I have been thinking about the Clear Demonstrator for a while but never made up my mind to buy one because I can see myself lamenting about the ink that got behind the piston seal before I have even filled it. On the other hand I would very much like seeing some nice, brightly coloured ink (I am currently thinking about some intense red, or the beautiful green Sailor Manyo Ukikusa) sloshing around in that pen. At about € 60 I decided to take the risk of getting annoyed with the cleaning.

[inkstainedruth]

Okay, that makes sense.  

But I'm also the one who has a mis-matched nib on my M405 Stresemann.  In order to get the nib width I wanted (broad) I wasn't able to get a completely rhodium plated nib.  For me, the nib width was more important than to get a completely "correct" nib; and I figure that if there's ever an issue of "that's my pen" with anyone, I can go, "Nope -- YOUR pen probably has a rhodium nib, but MINE has a 2-tone nib...."  And as my most expensive pen, I do NOT want anyone walking off with it by mistake....

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[JonSzanto]

3 hours ago, carola said:

Just couldn´t pass up buying two for one. 🤷‍♀️

 

Indeed, you performed well! Congrats!!

 

1 hour ago, Karmachanic said:

20s Tibaldy Ebonite NOS Safety pen, new seal/cork.

 

That's a very handsome pen. Congratulations!

[mizgeorge]

2 hours ago, Karmachanic said:

20s Tibaldy Ebonite NOS Safety pen, new seal/cork.  The Minimalistica was lonely

Now to choose an appropriate ink, as it will live with that ink for the duration.  Probably an IG

 

 

 

Beautiful!

[carola]

Update on the Pelikan M200 Café-Crème I bought yesterday:

I have inked it up with Pelikan 4001 Brilliant Brown, what else. To me, that M nib writes like an F, probably because I am rather used to the somewhat wider gold nibs. As I know I will never really take to it, I just ordered an IB nib that should arrive here some time next week. This is going to be my first steel IB nib, so I am curious what it will be like.

 

Oh, and the Demonstrator got inked up with some wine red ink made from Pinot Noir I received as a present a few months ago. Looks VERY nice.

[Shannon]

Just won an auction for a lot of three vintage Auroras: two 98s and an 888.  I know nothing about them, but I have a weakness for hooded nibs.

[OldTravelingShoe]

On 1/9/2023 at 10:18 PM, Mercian said:

I could always keep it in the car’s glove-box (with an unopened cartridge), as an ‘Emergency FP

Very nice idea, @Mercian! 

[OldTravelingShoe]

On 1/10/2023 at 8:50 AM, AmandaW said:

A 2021 Lamy Safari Terra Red with fine nib, it's the orange one with black nib and trim. I got the green one - called Savannah, I think - back then.

Beautiful pens, congratulations.

 

I have them both, but I've been using the Terracotta much more, probably because I use much more browns in my drawings. 

[OldTravelingShoe]

On 1/11/2023 at 3:41 AM, DrDebG said:

I am a negotiator - that's what I do. And today, I negotiated to purchase a Montblanc 221 with a medium nib and a Montblanc 22 with a fine nib.  I love these older Montblanc piston fillers, and wanted another 221.  Well the 22 became the "icing" on the cake.

Not sure what the amazing price was, but congratulations, @DrDebG! I like very much these pens, too.

--

DrOldTravelingShoe

[Horseflesh]

I just put a Hongdian Black Forest with fude nib in my cart. This is my 3rd Hongdian. They seem really great... Very good nibs, nice all metal construction, decent converter included, a nice finish that includes the nib, and less than $20. The cap also includes a rubbery liner and I am optimistic that these pens will seal well and be resistant to drying out. 

 

Got a <F> for my wife as a test, immediately followed up with a <M> and now trying the fude. 

 

There are so many nice inexpensive pens! 

 

[Misfit]

On 1/19/2023 at 6:21 PM, JonSzanto said:

 

They are still... reasonable. There are certainly some lesser models and the company started in the teens, so you can find HR safety pens (their first success) fairly often. When I first got hooked about 10 years ago I could regularly find unrestored models for as little as $20, but collectors and buyers have caused the prices to rise. On their better pens, the materials are good and the hardware, similar to Wahl-Eversharp, was well plated and cleans up nicely, without a lot of pitting and plating loss often found in lesser brands. One last pic to show a bit of the range, a little more.... showy (note that the middle pen is a Cascade in similar celluloid):

Thank you for the information. I do appreciate it. Those three pens are stunning. Wow! So pretty. 

[OldTravelingShoe]

I just gave in and bid for (and won) a trio of Waterman 92, 94, and matching pencil, in marbled gray with red specks. Silver Pearl, I believe they called this material. 1930s.

 

Now I need to figure out why... As in, find a good use for them. What to draw, what to draw? 😄

[JonSzanto]

2 hours ago, Misfit said:

Thank you for the information. I do appreciate it. Those three pens are stunning. Wow! So pretty. 

 

Thank you, Misfit, that is very kind. Happy to share new (old) and unusual finds.