What Pen Did You Get Today?

[HLeopold]

I work nights, and this morning I got off work for the next 4 days, I was hoping that I might receive a package today, and so I did, when I got up at 7PM I found a package sitting at my computer, Diane had retrieved it from the uniformed minion of the Postal Service. Seems that the PENguin came through in fine fiddle, inside the box was packing peanuts, buried in them was a section of 1” heavy PVC tubing, inside of that was a very nice Black, old model Pelikan 800 well wrapped in tissue paper. Packaging was very good, I doubt anything at all could have damaged this pen short of driving a tank over it.

 

I pulled it out and just admired it for a time, looks great, nice size, a bit small (in my hands) but proportioned so that I find it quite comfortable. In size it is very similar to the Parker Lucky Curve Duofold (Big Red), the Sheaffer over-size Balance or the Mabie Todd Swan 2060 that I also have. Thickness of the barrel is similar in each, length is approximately the same as well. I think the Parker is the worst of the lot as far as fitting me, but that is only in comparison, in reality each is quite easy to handle and fill the hand nicely.

 

The new Pelikan posts much better than the Swan, posted it feels like it is made to be held that way, solid and stable. Quality of the materials are excellent, the pen itself is well-built, looks and feels solid and business-like. The pen is used, but not worn, I don’t see any brassng. So far, so good.

 

The nib, 18Kt, two tone, fine. The line is a bit wide, in my opinion, for a fine, but that is what seems to be normal for Pelikan. Can’t complain at all about the smoothness, I actually tried to find a position while writing that would feel scratchy, it was possible, but only by rotating the pen almost 45 degrees to either side. Very smooth nib that is not at all picky about its’ sweet spot. The ink I used is Noodler’s Galileo Manuscript Brown, an ink that I have found is very juicy in the pens I use it in, not a bad thing, just seems thinner than other Noodler’s inks. Very free-flowing and it also tends to lubricate less, a scratchy pen tends to show that it scratches, you can really feel any catches the nib makes with the paper. Didn’t feel any here, not even on thermal paper receipts. On good paper it just skates along like a figure skater. (Now if only the figure skater didn’t have the brain of Jerry Lewis my writing might actually look good. ;-)

 

I think Rick picked me a very good pen, it was worth the wait (I mailed off the payment just before he went to the D. C. pen show, so I had to wait until he got back. Hell of a nice way to wake up, and a very nice pen to wake up for. Good show, Mr. Propas, very good show, indeed.

[krz]

My latest is a jet black 20's Sheaffer 5-30 flattop with 2 deco bands (4 1/2"). I bought it for the novelty of it, but every time I reach for a pen lately it's been the 5-30.

[Splicer]

Purchased from Dan Carmell, a Waterman Dauntless. It's my first lever filler and it arrived yesterday. Didn't get to ink and write with it until today. Very smooth, and reasonable flex if approached with a light enough touch. Very sweet!

[Tricia]

Thanks to Pam Braun - a Pelikan M 625 in that gorgeous deep red.

[krz]

Purchased from Dan Carmell, a Waterman Dauntless. It's my first lever filler and it arrived yesterday. Didn't get to ink and write with it until today. Very smooth, and reasonable flex if approached with a light enough touch. Very sweet!

You'll have fun with that Splicer. Some of my fav. drawing pens are Dauntless ilk.

[PelikanPenman]

I work nights, and this morning I got off work for the next 4 days, I was hoping that I might receive a package today, and so I did, when I got up at 7PM I found a package sitting at my computer, Diane had retrieved it from the uniformed minion of the Postal Service. Seems that the PENguin came through in fine fiddle, inside the box was packing peanuts, buried in them was a section of 1” heavy PVC tubing, inside of that was a very nice Black, old model Pelikan 800 well wrapped in tissue paper. Packaging was very good, I doubt anything at all could have damaged this pen short of driving a tank over it.

 

I pulled it out and just admired it for a time, looks great, nice size, a bit small (in my hands) but proportioned so that I find it quite comfortable. In size it is very similar to the Parker Lucky Curve Duofold (Big Red), the Sheaffer over-size Balance or the Mabie Todd Swan 2060 that I also have. Thickness of the barrel is similar in each, length is approximately the same as well. I think the Parker is the worst of the lot as far as fitting me, but that is only in comparison, in reality each is quite easy to handle and fill the hand nicely.

 

Congrats on your new pen. Glad you are enjoying it. If the M800 is a bit small have you tried the M1000?

 

[andyk]

A Sheaffer Balance Vac fill striated Silver colour, with one of the long ink windows, a bit of brassing but filling system has been restored and it fills and writes well so quite pleased with it for £18.00 including shipping from USA.

 

One to use on a regular basis I think.

 

Andy

[Ghost Plane]

I'm a day late posting because I couldn't put my new pen down! Thanks to Pam Braun I have my grail pen! I knew I'd lusted after it for sheer aesthetics for years. But her incredible pricing made it possible and it's even better than I could have possibly imagined. Reviews later when I can get my breath back, but...

 

I'm now the proud owner of a Yard O Led Grand Viceroy Victorian. I'd had a regular sized Barley before, so I thought I knew what a good B nib on a good pen felt like. But I am now in pen nirvana. I love a wet nib that's not sloppy. I love one that slides over the page. But never before had I experienced one that I literally could not feel touching the page at times it floats so.

 

The weight is perfect. The length and diameter are perfect. The balance is so incredible that I simply lay the pen on my hand and barely have to do more than touch my fingers to it to write. I'm writing with it posted, even with the gorgeous silver because it is a pen I will be using the rest of my life, so I don't have to worry about scratching because they'll be MY scratches if they happen and it is posting perfection. The workmanship on the silver is absolutely incredible. This is something worthy of a Renaissance queen!

 

I feel like a musician who's been handed a Stradivarius. Like a pilot placed at the controls of an incredibly responsive fighter jet. A driver having a hand made sports car tuned just to them. This is incredible!

 

I'll still love my Viscontis, Krones and Carenes. They're good pens and will travel with me. But this will never leave my desk because it is a GREAT pen.

 

I was willing to risk a car payment on this beautiful silver pen because of the great customer service I received from Yard O Led when they overhauled my aging Barley. It made me confident this really was a lifetime pen purchase I could safely make. But I had NO idea I was getting perfection in a box. I'll do a review when I'm capable of coherent thought. Right now I'm busy laying ink on the page...after page after page after page...

 

And Pam's incredible service made it all possible. If she weren't half the length of the country away, I'd find her and HUG her. Little did I know when I picked up the phone and asked about possible availability of a B nib that my life as a writer would CHANGE. Thanks, Pam!

[Sakura]

I'm now the proud owner of a Yard O Led Grand Viceroy Victorian.

GP...oh, no you don't...you hush there, right now. If I start wanting one of those, my DH will jump out the nearest window -- if not to kill himself, then to escape forever the nightmare that is his FP-obsessed wife :roflmho:

 

Congratulations and many happy years with your new YOL. I would love to order something from Pam Braun, but if I speak of anything beyond ink at the moment, I will be immediately sent to the doghouse. (My Waterman Kultur was a secret post-Carene purchase operation...c'mon, people, I was about to leave France and I can only get those there, and 13 euros is nearly undetectable from household budget :roflmho: .)

 

So, with the acquisition of that pen, surely you find too many Carenes on your hands, let me help you with that [evil grin]

 

 

[Ghost Plane]

Not to worry. You don't want to know how many years I've been lusting after and saving for one of these. I will not lead you down the path of pens that cost more than my first car until you have at least one Visconti under your belt. <truly evil grin> I probably wouldn't have dared to take the plunge if I hadn't experienced Yard O Led's phenomenal repair service because, for this price, this pen is going to be with me a looooooooooooooong time. This pen is one of those perfect moments of synchronicity that could probably never be repeated [altho' I suspect from what I've read that Pam comes pretty darn close regularly!]

 

You just keep practicing with that Carene and be glad you're starting with the good stuff!

[Sakura]

Not to worry. You don't want to know how many years I've been lusting after and saving for one of these. I will not lead you down the path of pens that cost more than my first car until you have at least one Visconti under your belt. <truly evil grin> I probably wouldn't have dared to take the plunge if I hadn't experienced Yard O Led's phenomenal repair service because, for this price, this pen is going to be with me a looooooooooooooong time. This pen is one of those perfect moments of synchronicity that could probably never be repeated [altho' I suspect from what I've read that Pam comes pretty darn close regularly!]

 

You just keep practicing with that Carene and be glad you're starting with the good stuff!

 

Starting? Hah. Pre-Carene, my "collection" was small, but included a Sheaffer Fashion pen, a gold-plated Cross (something like a Century predecessor), and an MB 146 (which I've just brought back among the living, news at 8 on the MB forum).

 

The 146 was a gift though; I'm sure I wouldn't have spent the money on it myself. And some people wouldn't call it "good stuff" but the Cross undeniably is.

 

More than your first car? You could justify that, being a writer, but I'm going to have to suddenly think up a writing career for myself if I'm to find any justification for that. I don't think jewelry making (beadweaving, not fine gold and diamonds) seems a logical tie-in. And it will have to be a good enough career to buy myself a pen AND a car, which I happen to need right now (sniff).

 

Kidding aside, I'm truly happy for you, and there's not a doubt in my mind you deserve it. However, you must keep us posted about its health and happiness and perhaps the inks that you find it likes.

 

In any case, the Carene is the crown jewel of my tiny palace, and will remain as such at least until that Visconti comes along. Oh darn, you did it again [truly evil knowing grin].

 

 

[pmsalty]

Friday, (I've been busy! ) I received a red, double jeweled Esterbrook J, 2668 nib off of ebay. $9.95! It writes great! Smooth as butter. My new favorite pen! And boy is it pretty.

PMS

[djahughes]

My Marlen Basilea has just arrived; all the way from Malaysia by FedEx is just a few days - how I love the Internet!

 

A beautiful pen.

 

What a great way to start the week.

 

 

[HLeopold]

I work nights, and this morning I got off work for the next 4 days, I was hoping that I might receive a package today, and so I did, when I got up at 7PM I found a package sitting at my computer, Diane had retrieved it from the uniformed minion of the Postal Service. Seems that the PENguin came through in fine fiddle, inside the box was packing peanuts, buried in them was a section of 1” heavy PVC tubing, inside of that was a very nice Black, old model Pelikan 800 well wrapped in tissue paper. Packaging was very good, I doubt anything at all could have damaged this pen short of driving a tank over it.

 

I pulled it out and just admired it for a time, looks great, nice size, a bit small (in my hands) but proportioned so that I find it quite comfortable. In size it is very similar to the Parker Lucky Curve Duofold (Big Red), the Sheaffer over-size Balance or the Mabie Todd Swan 2060 that I also have. Thickness of the barrel is similar in each, length is approximately the same as well. I think the Parker is the worst of the lot as far as fitting me, but that is only in comparison, in reality each is quite easy to handle and fill the hand nicely.

 

Congrats on your new pen. Glad you are enjoying it. If the M800 is a bit small have you tried the M1000?

 

No I haven’t even seen one in real life yet. I think I would want to handle one first, I find the barrel and section of the 800 just about perfect, mostly it is the length that seems a bit short, weight is near perfect. I find that I like a well-built but light pen, heavy ones tend to be uncomfortable and are also not so good to carry when you wear pocket tees mostly. I don’t do dress up.

 

I haven’t used the pen much today, I spent the day at home and mostly catching up on sleep, too hot and muggy to do much of anything else, but tomorrow it goes wandering about town with me. I really do need to take some time tomorrow and put together a pen case to carry it and at least one more pen. I have the needed leathers and the rest of the stuff needed to put it together, I just need to get around to it. Basically it is going to be a 2 or 3 pen version of my 5 cigar case I use for my smaller pens.

 

I think 3 pens is probably the best to make it for. Now if I could only find that roundtoit I need.

[Ghost Plane]

Sakura - go see Pam Braun's website and you'll see how much my cars and pens go for, respectively. :embarrassed_smile:

 

I can guarantee the pens last a lot longer

 

I can't put this thing down! Which is good because I spent too much time typing in chapters I'd done while the laptop was dead [long live the new one!] and it's time to lay more ink on the page for real.

[Sakura]

Sakura - go see Pam Braun's website and you'll see how much my cars and pens go for, respectively. :embarrassed_smile:

 

I can guarantee the pens last a lot longer

 

I can't put this thing down! Which is good because I spent too much time typing in chapters I'd done while the laptop was dead [long live the new one!] and it's time to lay more ink on the page for real.

Don't put it down, ever, because of the sheer delight and the price :roflmho:

 

If ink cost as much as gas...oh let's not go there.

 

Just remember to cap the dear pen before you go to sleep

 

 

[Splicer]

If ink cost as much as gas...oh let's not go there.

 

Wow, now there's a nice thought! at under three cents per ounce imagine how many different kinds of inks I could buy! ::swoon::

[AndyHayes]

My Marlen Basilea has just arrived; all the way from Malaysia by FedEx is just a few days - how I love the Internet!

A beautiful pen.

What a great way to start the week.

 

Be thankful that you don't live in Shetland. My last Malaysian order was in the country within 2 days and then took a further 5 days to get to Shetland from Newcastle. I think that it came by slug :ltcapd:

 

[Deca]

A Pelikan M200 with a 0.7 mm cursive italic nib from Richard Binder. My first Pelikan and my first venture into customized nibs. Very much looking forward to trying this pen, but it is a birthday present so I really ought to wait until Wednesday - will this be possible?

Deca

[Ghost Plane]

Sure. Just buy another pen to use until then.