What Was Your Last Impulsive Pen Acquisition?

[Penguincollector]

On 3/27/2023 at 2:02 AM, PithyProlix said:

Lamy 27 with EEF nib. First impression: dare I say that I think I will prefer this to my Parker 51s?

I am not sure which specific Lamy 27 model - I've asked in this thread: 

 

 

 

 

 

Gorgeous blue pen, that nib!

[AmandaW]

13 hours ago, Misfit said:

Well, I had decided I should stop ordering impulsively. I made a mistake in not researching prices, and overpaid on a pen. The website I got it on uses a countdown timer on sale prices. However, they had the same price counting down when I looked again. That site showed the Kaco Retro pen. I used to want one. This time I searched around, and got the red one for under $10. 

 

Beaut! I hope you will show it and write what you think of it once you have a chance to form an opinion. The clip on those is so cute.

[Misfit]

@AmandaW  I had resisted that pen because I wasn’t a fan of hooded nibs. I’ve gotten used to them, so I caved after finding out I overpaid for that (Nebula) Labintou Eco pen, and got the Kaco Retro. I like the clip, and read that it is not as useful, though you can get it to clip on thinner things, like a shirt pocket. 
 

I think buying another pen after overpaying for a pen is not the best judgement, but I’m looking forward to it. Ali Express tends to do better than their shipping estimates.  At least I learned that Labintou has been around for awhile because I researched it to find out what the Nebula pen with Labintou on the cap cost elsewhere. I also spent time looking up the Kaco Retro, and learned about other Kaco pens. So many pen makers out there, and so many fountain pens. 

[AmandaW]

23 minutes ago, Misfit said:

Kaco Retro. I like the clip, and read that it is not as useful, though you can get it to clip on thinner things, like a shirt pocket. 

 

I don't think I've ever used a clip for what it's meant for. In my little world they're decoration...like jewellery... for pens.

 

23 minutes ago, Misfit said:

I think buying another pen after overpaying for a pen is not the best judgement, but I’m looking forward to it.

 

If getting another at a good price heals the wound, it's excellent judgement. We don't buy them for the good prices anyway, but because we enjoy them. And you are smart enough to fix the upset rather than letting it spoil something that makes you happy. Sometimes that's inexpensive, sometimes a good deal, others... um.. er... make our eyes water, but we do it because it's what gives us more than some other thing might. I've liked stationery since I first went into a news agency as a very small child - I liked it better than the toy store. It still amazes me to find this forum and all these other people who get it.

 

I'm still thinking about the Kaco, but might be about to join the Jinhao 82 Club.

 

ETA: this is my post #2000...

[Misfit]

Hurray! I helped you reach post 2000! I need to test the bent nib on the Jinhao 82s I got. I will soon. The Kaco Retro is also on Ali Express. It comes in a plastic case. 
 

Wow, this is my 5550 post. Chatter posts don’t count, or we’d both have many more posts. 

[AmandaW]

6 minutes ago, Misfit said:

I need to test the bent nib on the Jinhao 82s I got

You found bent nibs? That's enough for me to climb aboard the wagon. I received an order yesterday that included bent nibs for my Jinhao 992s - it was the reason for the order - and they don't fit. They look right, but don't fit to the feed and just fall out. OK, going to look for 82s with bent nibs. Thankyou.

 

7 minutes ago, Misfit said:

Wow, this is my 5550 post. Chatter posts don’t count, or we’d both have many more posts. 

Congratulations!

 

[Misfit]

I don’t know how to use bent nibs. Good thing I got some 1.1mm stub nibs coming for the pens. 

[AmandaW]

6 minutes ago, Misfit said:

I don’t know how to use bent nibs. Good thing I got some 1.1mm stub nibs coming for the pens. 

Pretend it's a brush.

[Misfit]

Bent nibs are made for Chinese and Japanese and other languages, aren’t they?  Not for English?  I dipped the nib in ink, so that might have hindered writing with it. 

[AmandaW]

2 minutes ago, Misfit said:

Bent nibs are made for Chinese and Japanese and other languages, aren’t they?  Not for English?

Yes it is, but it can be used to write English with brush-shaped strokes. I use them for drawing too. Do try it. A little practice and I'm sure you can get some nice effects from it.

[Misfit]

Thank you my friend, I will try. 

[ethernautrix]

14 hours ago, Penguincollector said:

It’s not *my* impulsive purchase, but my husband’s for me- a Kaweco Kalligrafie twin nibbed Sport. It was in my browsing history. 

 

Oh wow, I'm going to look for one of these at Pen Show Poland this weekend! Kaweco is one of the sponsors, so holding my thumbs (Polish crossing my fingers).

 

I prefer EF and PO nibs, but that twin nib looks like a lot of fun, and Sports are so cute and collectible.

 

Nice husband to step up like that. 😄

[Misfit]

My brother got a twin nib. He mainly uses it as a title on a letter, I think each page. 

[MarcoA63]

I bought, out of curiosity, a Majohn A1 Capless pen. A Chinese copy of the Pilot Capless. It isn't as cheap as the usual Chinese pens, Jinhao, but for trying this pen 'style' the price isn't as high as for the real Pilot. What can I say? I've had it a few hors so I'll refrain, not enough time to make my mind up.

Want to understand what is the hype for a push button fountain pen. Screwing/unscrewing a cap vs pushing the button at the back like any 'rotten' ball point? Puzzled!!!

[PithyProlix]

1 hour ago, MarcoA63 said:

Want to understand what is the hype for a push button fountain pen. Screwing/unscrewing a cap vs pushing the button at the back like any 'rotten' ball point? Puzzled!!!

 

While not quite gimmicky, it seems like a modicum of convenience to me and I've never had a desire for one. To me, they are a little bit clunky looking and there are significant negative constraints on nib design, sealing of the nib (it doesn't really make sense to call it cap sealing but it's the same idea), and ergonomics. Also more moving parts increases the probability of wear and failures. 

 

But de gustibus non est disputandum. I'm glad folks enjoy them. 

[Mercian]

2 hours ago, MarcoA63 said:

Want to understand what is the hype for a push button fountain pen. Screwing/unscrewing a cap vs pushing the button at the back like any 'rotten' ball point? Puzzled!!!

The push-button feature is useful for those who need to be able to pick up their pen and write with it while using only one hand.

E.g. doctors, nurses, and paramedics often cannot spare two hands to deal with a pen, or might be in a situation where one only hand is ‘clean’, while the other is ‘not clean’/‘dirty’.
 

[TitoThePencilPimp]

1 hour ago, PithyProlix said:

 

While not quite gimmicky, it seems like a modicum of convenience to me and I've never had a desire for one. To me, they are a little bit clunky looking and there are significant negative constraints on nib design, sealing of the nib (it doesn't really make sense to call it cap sealing but it's the same idea), and ergonomics. Also more moving parts increases the probability of wear and failures. 

 

But de gustibus non est disputandum. I'm glad folks enjoy them. 

I used one extensively for 8 years, 5 days out the week, and it has held up well. I have no idea of how good the seal is, since I ran it dry every day.

[51ISH]

1 hour ago, PithyProlix said:

 

While not quite gimmicky, it seems like a modicum of convenience to me and I've never had a desire for one. To me, they are a little bit clunky looking and there are significant negative constraints on nib design, sealing of the nib (it doesn't really make sense to call it cap sealing but it's the same idea), and ergonomics. Also more moving parts increases the probability of wear and failures. 

 

But de gustibus non est disputandum. I'm glad folks enjoy them. 

 

As Mercian said, but I would add, anyone who wants to use a fountainpen at work, and wants to use a pen as and when required to make notes while doing other stuff,  putting a cap on and off a pen many times a day takes time, and would try my patience. That's why my ballpoint is always in the 'on' position (I work at a desk so it sits on my keyboard) and 'ready to write'. And that's why I'l never change from a ballpoint at work.

[51ISH]

I've emptied my 'Money Box'  on a 'Previously Owned'  Parker 45....... 🤣🤣🤣

 

I know what you're thinking.....  😴 🥱.....

 

I've owned quite a few Parker's over the years....and they have all had good smooth nibs.

 

But wait, there's more.... the Parker 45 comes with a Stub nib  😈

 

I don't own any 'High End' pens...but I do have some 'medium priced pens'  Lamy 2000, Pilot Custom 74, Parker 75 that kind of thing.... I also have quite a few Chinese pens.

 

One thing I have learnt is, you don't necessarily have to spend a lot of money to have a pen that is a pleasure to use. My most used and permanently inked pen is a Chinese pen that cost me less than £15.

 

 

[Penguincollector]

15 hours ago, AmandaW said:

I've liked stationery since I first went into a news agency as a very small child - I liked it better than the toy store. It still amazes me to find this forum and all these other people who get it.

 
  This was 6 year old me, at the university bookstore my much older cousin worked at. Combined with Sanrio, I was done for. I still have paper from the ‘80s that was bought for school.  I think that’s why this board resonates so much with me. 

 

12 hours ago, ethernautrix said:

 

Nice husband to step up like that. 😄

 

  He’s the best, it also helps that we both browse through our household Amazon account so we both know what the other was looking at. 
 

12 hours ago, Misfit said:

My brother got a twin nib. He mainly uses it as a title on a letter, I think each page

  I was thinking of using it for headers and maybe to illuminate the first letter of something like a letter or a story. It looks really fun.