What is your favourite pen brand?

[ushat]

I could ramble on about this distinction endlessly, grasshopper, but I'll try not to

 

There's no continuity between the original Conway Stewart company and the one that exists now. Too long has passed during which time many of the records disappeared, the workforce was dispersed, retired or died and that intangible but vital thing, the ethos of the company, disappeared forever. Acquiring the name doesn't do anything to overcome that break in production, design, development or continuity.

 

I understand that the present Conway Stewart company did a lot of research into the product range and production methods of its predecessor, and I will accept that, superficially, some of their pens give a nod in the direction of the historic product. That's all.

 

Note: This is not an adverse criticism of the present company of Conway Stewart or their pens. For all I know - I've never seen one - their pens are as good or better. Nor am I saying they should go the whole retro hog and try to emulate historic Conway Stewart pens more closely than they already do. I see no point in that.

 

All I'm saying is that they are a relatively new company without the continuity of production that, say, Sheaffer has had despite change of ownership. I cannot regard the modern company of Conway Stewart, revived after a break of decades, as being the same as the original one. Not to make the very necessary distinction would be ridiculous, I believe.

[Tancred]

Your comments about Conway Stewart seem more than a little pompous to me.

 

While obviously CS is not the company it was, that could be said about all other pen brands, as ownership has changed etc. I ma not familiar with the old CS and, frankly, I don't care. What I do know is that their modern pens, while far too expensive, are beautiful and write very well.

[Tancred]

I'm also always intrigued as to why MontBlanc pens are so popular. Of all MB pens I only like the 149, in fine nib, and even that one isn't as good as some others, such as the Pelikan M1000.

 

The problem with MB is that their pens, though good, are too expensive when compared to Pelikan, and the quality is not superior. Infact, many would say Pelikans are better pens overall - though this is open to debate. I also dislike the styling of MB; it seems that, like Henry Ford used to say, you can have every colour as long as it's black! Whilst I appreciate that the conservative styling is suitable for sober businesspeople, the fact remains that this is a limitation. Why not produce a Meisterstuck in blue? This would hardly be earth shattering!

 

Pelikan is a good brand, the best of the Germans. Overall I rate Pelikans as the best pens in the world as far as the overall pen quality is concerned, but again I criticise the styling. Too little choice of colours, especially now that the '50' range with vermeil caps has stupidly been abandoned.

[wimg]

Hi Tancred,

 

First of all, welcome to this Fountain Pen Nuthouse!

 

Your comments about Conway Stewart seem more than a little pompous to me.

No need to use such words, I think, when expressing your disagreement. It was an opinion, expressed in a respectful way, IMO.

 

While obviously CS is not the company it was, that could be said about all other pen brands, as ownership has changed etc. I ma not familiar with the old CS and, frankly, I don't care. What I do know is that their modern pens, while far too expensive, are beautiful and write very well.

Whether pens are expensive or not, is a relative matter. What one finds expensive, the other may not. Since this is a pen forum, you would expect people to have opinions on pens and prices, yes, and on vintage pens vs modern pens, whether a pen is beautiful or not, etc. In the end it is all opinion, and the eye of the beholder. Hey, I like Stipula Etrurias! Of course I am Mad with capital M, and people know, so I am covered .

 

I'm also always intrigued as to why MontBlanc pens are so popular. Of all MB pens I only like the 149, in fine nib, and even that one isn't as good as some others, such as the Pelikan M1000.

Well, I guess that is because we all are different, and all have at least slightly different tastes, and sometimes more so . Next, there is the personal experience. Some people want an absolutely smooth nib, and other like a little tooth. And the latter would probably be called scratchines by the first group.

 

The problem with MB is that their pens, though good, are too expensive when compared to Pelikan, and the quality is not superior. Infact, many would say Pelikans are better pens overall - though this is open to debate.

Yes, it is I guess, open to debate that is. Again it is personal taste. From a marketing point of view it is all about perceived value. And if it sells, and reaches the market it is designed for, I guess the people at Montblanc are happy. Of course it is different when it comes to fountain pen nuts like all of us here. I guess we tend to look at things a little differently, certainly not from the point of view of running a business.

I also dislike the styling of MB; it seems that, like Henry Ford used to say, you can have every colour as long as it's black! Whilst I appreciate that the conservative styling is suitable for sober businesspeople, the fact remains that this is a limitation. Why not produce a Meisterstuck in blue? This would hardly be earth shattering!

There is a blue MB, the Mozart. Of course I am not up-to-date with all their model numbers etc., but there are quite a few coloured pens in their different LE series, the Pope Julius, the Kafka, etc. Of course, they tend to be a bit more expensive, but then, for Montblanc it is a business decision to price them the way they are priced.

 

HTH, warm regards, Wim

[RSVP]

A blue MB Mozart! That's news to me..perhaps you're thinking of the "oh so stylish" Verne.

 

PS: Meisterstucks also come (or rather came) in Bordeaux, but you can still find them in some retailers.

[RSVP]

The Poe is blue aswell.

 

That reminds me of a nasty incident with a librrarian when I taked about reading Poe. I now know it's best to say Edgar Allen Poe.

[KCat]

The Poe is blue aswell.

 

That reminds me of a nasty incident with a librrarian when I taked about reading Poe. I now know it's best to say Edgar Allen Poe.

oh puuulleeeze!

 

(not aimed at you, James - aimed at the Librarian)

 

Sure, there are other people out there with the last name of "Poe" but who doesn't really know that when speaking of Poetry and someone named "Poe" that we are in fact referring to Edgar Allen.

 

sigh..

 

I will refer to Joyce, Carrol (diff. spelling), and Oates and I think as long as I refer to each writer in a separate statement that no one would think I was talking about Joyce Carol Oates in all three cases vs. James Joyce, Lewis Carroll, and Joyce Carol Oates.

 

somehow, I doubt Poe would give a rat's backside.

 

of course, all this coming from a super-AR person who would OTOH chide you endlessly for saying "irregardless" or "continue on."

 

:meow:

 

(apologies for the major thread drift)

[RSVP]

Oh no, she knew who I meant.

 

I was casually talking about reading Poe so it just sounded funny because of the homophone

 

I think she had an image of some horribly tea reading type thing.

 

 

 

[ushat]

Hi Tancred,

 

Clearly, pomposity is in the eye of the beholder.

 

The point I made - and it seemed clear enough to me - is precisely the point that you seem to have missed. Conway Stewart did not just change hands, as, for instance Sheaffer and Parker have done. The company liquidated and ceased to exist as a manufacturer. No Conway Stewart pens were produced for decades. It was reborn, in name, as an entirely new company.

 

Not only are the former Conway Stewart and the present one quite different entities legally, that applies in the historical sense too. That matters to me and I would hazard a guess that at least some others with an interest in fountain pens and their history would feel the same way.

[wimg]

A blue MB Mozart! That's news to me..perhaps you're thinking of the "oh so stylish" Verne.

 

PS:  Meisterstucks also come (or rather came) in Bordeaux, but you can still find them in some retailers.

Hi James,

 

Yes, oops, I was. But then, I know very, very little about Montblancs.

 

Warm regards, Wim

[custar]

Sheaffer has my nod as numero uno. The Snorkel is almost a perfect fit for me since the points are at least semi-interchangeable (just change the whole nib unit), the clips are spring-activated (important if you wear thick polo-style shirts like I do often), the metering of the ink flow makes up for the lack of volume of the sac, and the nibs are stiff like I prefer (heavy hand + I print which means a flexy nib just won't work for me). The colors of the vintage Balances are superb, and the vac-fillers can be converted to eye dropper fillers on a non-permanent basis if you are short of funds and can't just yet afford a full repair.

 

I'm not a big fan of MB, but their LE's are quite colorful. Most of the 149's I have tried have a little tooth, but I prefer that. I wouldn't mind picking up a couple of spare MB nibs to replace those damaged in my other pens.

 

Honorable mention to Parker (for vintage and especially the modern Duofolds) and Esterbrooks. You just can't beat the value of a LJ Esterbrook with a couple of extra nibs to swap around to fit your mood.

 

One of the best things about this hobby is you don't have to chose. You can try a few of each brand, and if you don't like them, you can sell them and try others.

 

custar

[pearlfox]

the "oh so stylish" Verne.

Hey, I like the Jules Verne! I'll take it if you don't want it...

 

As for favorite brand, I'd have to go with Pelikan. And Wahl-Eversharp. And Aurora. And Stipula, Salz, Esterbrook, Perchin, Montblanc, Swan, Wyvern, Rotring, and Montegrappa. Omas is up there too, and I'm giving Marlen a second chance. Wouldn't mind seeing if Chilton, Visconti, Waterman, Dunhill, Soennecken, Waterman, Wirt, Dupont, Parker, Sheaffer, Cartier, Caran d'Ache, Moore, Le Boeuf, Conklin, Kaweco, Conway Stewart (new and old), Lamy, or even Krone might be favorites as well.

 

Whew. I think that's all my current and suspected favorites. :-)

[wimg]

the "oh so stylish" Verne.

Hey, I like the Jules Verne! I'll take it if you don't want it...

 

As for favorite brand, I'd have to go with Pelikan. And Wahl-Eversharp. And Aurora. And Stipula, Salz, Esterbrook, Perchin, Montblanc, Swan, Wyvern, Rotring, and Montegrappa. Omas is up there too, and I'm giving Marlen a second chance. Wouldn't mind seeing if Chilton, Visconti, Waterman, Dunhill, Soennecken, Waterman, Wirt, Dupont, Parker, Sheaffer, Cartier, Caran d'Ache, Moore, Le Boeuf, Conklin, Kaweco, Conway Stewart (new and old), Lamy, or even Krone might be favorites as well.

 

Whew. I think that's all my current and suspected favorites. :-)

Hey Pearly,

 

You could have made it yourself a lot easier by just writing any fountain pen brand past, present or future .

 

Warm regards, Wim

[chris burton]

My favorites are Montblanc, Pelikan, and Chilton. I have both modern and vintage MB's and Pelikans and while they are all nice pens, I really prefer the vintage ones (1930's). Chiltons are great because of the pneumatic filling system and so maybe I should include Stipula in this list as I have a pneumatic-filling Novecento.

[tntaylor]

I was so young and impressionable when I voted on this poll (in July ).

 

My vote was cast for Namiki (as I had just acquired a Vanishing Point, my "first" fountain pen, and was head over heels with the thing).

 

But, I feel so much older and wiser, now.

 

Edit that.

 

So much wiser, now.

 

While I still love my Namiki, the Esterbrook (J-series) is my favorite.

 

t!

[Titivillus]

I was so young and impressionable when I voted on this poll (in July ).

 

My vote was cast for Namiki (as I had just acquired a Vanishing Point, my "first" fountain pen, and was head over heels with the thing).

 

But, I feel so much older and wiser, now.

 

Edit that.

 

So much wiser, now.

 

While I still love my Namiki, the Esterbrook (J-series) is my favorite.

 

t!

Maybe a better way to say it is that I have favorite pens and there are companies that I will look at. There are some companies that it is easier for me to check out their new pens and others that I have reservations about.

 

 

K

[TheNobleSavage]

WHERE IS BEXLEY?????

 

As stated above, I have several favorite pens such as my Pelikans, Bexley, Danitrio, Platinum, just to name a few!!!

 

TNS

[klemenv]

I can't beleive that nobody voted for Omas.

[davyr]

I can't beleive that nobody voted for Omas.

 

ok, another vote for omas.

 

this is, of course, only based on one omas! but God help me, i love it so...

[KentK]

well, this morning I guess it is Visconti but by this afternoon it will probably be something else!

 

Kent