What Is Your Favourite Material And Pattern/colour Of Fountain Pen?

[Arkanabar]

I'm still exploring this. I want to try an ebonite pen; I've held an ebonite Konrad, and I really liked the slightly tacky feeling. I'd probably start with a glossy black ASA Daily. I can't really tell any difference between my Pelikan M200 (acrylic) and M400 (celluloid). If I actually liked writing with my various Noodler's pens, I might better be able to discern the difference between acrylic and the celluloid that Nathan's subcontractors use.

As for visual aesthetics, I regard those as somewhat less important than tactile. Pens are tools for me, and how they are to use is more important than how they are to look at. That said, I've also previously described fine pens as jewelry you use. Bright colors (especially blues) are better than dull ones, combinations (both relatively random swirls and more defined patterns) are better than solids, shimmer and sparkle are better than opaque, and gloss is better than flat. I like both bold and subtle patterns.

I'd like to have a Black Python in Pearls Konrad (if it doesn't have the drying issues that make my Pequod's Smoke Konrad unusable), just for it's resemblance to some truly gorgeous Parker Duofolds of the mid-late 1990s. The Ahabs my wife gave me are Jade and Medieval Lapis, and chosen over all other Ahabs based purely on visual aesthetics.

Random swirls of bright and attractive colors that complement each other is one of my preferred aesthetics. But I also like brushed stainless, glossy black with either gold or white metal furniture, and nearly every striped celluloid Pelikan I've ever seen (except the red, don't ask me why). Lots of Parker Vacuumatics and other patterned celluloids also appeal to me.

I've never found anything that resembles tartan or plaid attractive on a pen. Because I dislike a pen that isn't good for writing on principle, bizarre silhouettes such as high relief dragon overlays and silver ants soldered onto the body of the pen are right out. And the solid opaque plastic with a metal cap style ushered in by the "51" (and echoed in my PFM-II and Hero 616s, and late Esterbrooks) was never really my thing. It didn't really strike me as awesome when it was part of my Pentel S55 mechanical pencil.

[Barkingpig]

Sterling silver with ornate patterns or overlays, preferably wide-barreled. Other pens--bright red when I can find it!

 

Here is my SS dream pen--the Yard-O-Led Viceroy Grand Victorian; as well as a red and silver (vintage) shuttle pen that I covet, and a red vintage Shaeffer pen that's currently on its way to me.

I recently cleaned my sterling silver pens & stored them for the winter because the gas furnace has been doing it's "nasty" effect of promoting tarnish of same. I had cleaned the cap of a Marlen shuttle in red & got it out to find that mine had a DIFFERENT clip than yours. I was stunned because I had it sitting next to another Marlen pen that had a clip IDENTICAL to YOURS!

 

Did Marlen make different models of the SAME red Shuttle? I am very confused; but wanted to note that the pen body is identical in shape & color, with exception of a very PLAIN clip. If the clip were identical I would have offered it to you if you indeed were searching for it. It is merely one of many pens I liked enough to buy BUT seldom seem to use. (My clip that is identical to the one pictured on your pen is on an orange Marlen, "Rainbow over Hong Kong.")

[Manalto]

I recently cleaned my sterling silver pens & stored them for the winter because the gas furnace has been doing its nasty effect of promoting tarnish of same.

 

Is it safe to store pens with those cloths that are used to keep silverware (cutlery) from tarnishing?

[Barkingpig]

 

Is it safe to store pens with those cloths that are used to keep silverware (cutlery) from tarnishing?

I "fashioned" an inner liner for a pen sleeve after tiring of watching a Silver Yard o Led turn colors as though I beat it. I used Pacific Cloth (the silverware cloth that is used for wraps & storage.) It has suffered no "ill effect" that I am aware of. The "innards" of the pen are protected by a large chunk of sterling silver so I used it without worry. When I collected the silver pens, some only caps & clips, I lined the box with the same cloth. Every pen sleeve I tried, including the one that came with the YoL did not inhibit tarnish so this was my resort. God knows I am sure someone would warn me against using Sunshine Cloth with excessive frequency so I felt this was a risk acceptable to me.

 

I half way suspect the Sunshine Cloth to be composed in a similar fashion to Pacific Cloth; but as I am not a chemist (nor really interested) I am just pleased with the tarnish protection it offers.

[basterma]

There is a Dunhill Slimline made from brushed silver with a simple checkerboard pattern. It feels amazing to me next to the bottom of the barrel stuff I like to get. The silver feels nice to the touch and the size of the checkerboard is just right to give it a balanced and elegant appearance.

[sidthecat]

I like a lightweight pen, so my tastes run to BCHR and celluloid. My prettiest pens are celluloid: Moores, Mabie Todds and a couple of no-names. Watermans write beautifully but they're not very interesting in design terms...at least not the ones I buy. The business end is a little more important to me than the appearance.

[Buzz_130]

I enjoy the Parker "51" Vacumatics with double jewels. Simple forms with elegance and made from durable Lucite. The material is comfortable in the hands, and the colors are simple yet appealing.

 

Buzz

[kestrel]

Ebonite and celluloid for the lightness and the warmth when I write. I haven't seen too many color patterns in either material that I don't like. Some of the vintage celluloids are breathtakingly beautiful and I have a special fondness for the woodgrain ebonite patterns.

[pkotrcka]

Chrome or matt black finish, nothing fancy.

[rbeef]

I like heavy pens. The heavier, the better, so anything that isn't metal feels cheap. I also like black, I'm not really into models on my barrel. Well, with a few exceptions. I have a Hero 88 Red Jubilee, which I found to have a very nice design. And I've seen here, a few days ago, a Danitrio Hanryo „Niwano-hana", which is probably the most beautiful pen design I ever saw. Too bad it's discontinued and currently way beyond my budget.

[Manalto]

I used Pacific Cloth (the silverware cloth that is used for wraps & storage.) It has suffered no "ill effect" that I am aware of.

 

That's good to know. Assuming (and we all know how dangerous that is) that the mechanism of silverware tarnish-proof cloth is to slow oxidation, could there be a chance that it's beneficial for other materials? Could a celluloid pen that had coincidentally been stored in a silverware box with a tarnish-proof cloth (not improbable) provide some evidence?

 

My prettiest pens are celluloid: Moores, Mabie Todds and a couple of no-names. Watermans write beautifully but they're not very interesting in design terms...at least not the ones I buy.

 

I'm a sucker for beautiful celluloid and any other opalescent material. Besides jewelry, few things are regularly so close to us that we get to enjoy this subtle effect.

 

I have a Waterman 'Opera' which I think is a handsome pen, but other than that, I agree. I want to like them, but they've been making us snore since the Red Ripple was discontinued. Their conservative design makes me think of Waterman's as pens for government officials and clergy. (I'm not being hostile to government officials and clergy. If I were, I'd call Waterman's designs "uninspired.")

Edited December 27, 2015 by Manalto

[kazoolaw]

 

I have a Waterman 'Opera' which I think is a handsome pen, but other than that, I agree. I want to like them, but they've been making us snore since the Red Ripple was discontinued. Their conservative design makes me think of Waterman's as pens for government officials and clergy. (I'm not being hostile to government officials and clergy. If I were, I'd call Waterman's designs "uninspired.")

I would have thought the Serenite, the Liaison, and the Edson might not be to everyone's taste, but not conservative.

 

gary

[Manalto]

I would have thought the Serenite, the Liaison, and the Edson might not be to everyone's taste, but not conservative.

 

gary

 

I didn't intend for my comment about the Watermans to be all-inclusive. It was made as only a general impression about many of their pens; of course there are exceptions, which are eagerly noted here. Frankly, I'd consider the Liaison and Edson among their sleepy-time designs.

Edited December 27, 2015 by Manalto

[dogpoet]

Another vote for classic Parker staples here: the lucite used to make P51s, the gorgeous laminated celluloid in the vacumatics (pretty much the best looking pens ever, imo: the contrast between the slightly tatty green ones that turn up up most often and a golden or blue pearl in good condition with a body that's still properly translucent is remarkable), and the stainless steel used to make anything flightery.

(I'm not sure, but isn't the Sheaffer PFM and original touchdown Imperial fashioned from the same type of lucite as the P51? If so, that's another great advert for the stuff.)

 

A good case can be made for brass, particularly when it's been decently laminated. Gives a nice heft when the pen's in the hand as well.

 

I'd also mention makrolon: surely I'm not the only person here who likes the Lamy 2000?

[jkingrph]

Sterling Silver, it seems to have a warmth in the hand other materials do not have. I have a couple of Montblanc Silver Doue models, one a striped top, black barrel the other the Silver Barley with the same pattern in the silver cap and resin body. After that, celluloid.

[cobalt]

My favourite material for the bulk of the pen is "not metal". I'll pass on silver, gold, brass, titanium, steel, aluminium (is that the list?) pens no matter how exotic, pricey, or rave reviewed.

 

Plastic, resin, celluloid, acrylic, etc.: light, warm to the hand; for dip pens I use wood, but am not partial to wood fountain pens. I don't mind if the cap is metal, as I don't post the caps anyway.

[pollandakuma]

For now, metal, as in the metal on old Mont Blanc 146s and Parker 75s.

[dogpoet]

I'm still exploring this. I want to try an ebonite pen; I've held an ebonite Konrad, and I really liked the slightly tacky feeling. I'd probably start with a glossy black ASA Daily. I can't really tell any difference between my Pelikan M200 (acrylic) and M400 (celluloid). If I actually liked writing with my various Noodler's pens, I might better be able to discern the difference between acrylic and the celluloid that Nathan's subcontractors use.

Might an Indian eyedropper suit? A lot of those seem to be ebonite.

[visvamitra]

Ebonite, wood, metal.

[max dog]

Sterling Silver. Started with various Cross sterling silver pens, then Montblanc 146 Solitaire this year. Would like to get a Sheaffer Legacy Heritage sterling silver next followed by a Yard O Led. Maybe the Parker Sonnet Cisele too.