Visconti Speakeasy L.e.

[Chi Town]

Introduction; I was so EXCITED waiting for my Visconti SpeakEasy to arrive, I bought it on 1/19/2017, that I could hardly contain myself! I mean, I waited a whole 4 days, ha, ha, ha, for the delivery......Then I had to run an erand which left the wifey home to sign for the pkg. When I came home, she had not called me to tell me it was there, THERE IT WAS on our $500.00 dollar table. A nick name for a Vintage table that we have. I took it into the Family room where Vicky was sitting so she could see it too. The box, I remember was kinda heavy which struck me as odd? At 1st. Upon opening the USPS mail box, there was a Typical "Yellowish" with brown lettering Visconti box inside, that had a label that said 740ST63 LE#51, The pressure was just building! As I opened that box, I was suprised to notice a cloth with a draw string inside that box, that was kinda silky. I slid that out, and inside that was a heay brown soft box that had Visconti imprinted in the center. As I opened that box, I was SUPRISED to see a Hand Written "Thank You" Letter from Bryant at ChatterlyLuxuries.com. I'll talk about him later. As well there was a Booklet, and a Warranty Card all filled out in typed set. Lastly there was a Nice Metal BookMark from "Bryant". I was SUPRISED AGAIN, to find underneath the metal Visconti Plate, a Metal Funnel and a Eye Dropper.....There also was a Visconti Hip Flask in the box and Finally the most Beautiful Pen I have ever seen, THe Visconti SpeakEasy!

 

1. Appearance & Design ( 1-10/ 10 ) - I believe That the Appearance / Design is one of "Artwork" of a "Modern" era! The Finish is one

a Glossy finish, yet when you 1st look at it, the Glossiness does not stick out. You have to bring the pen into you to catch the Gloss. From a

distance it looks like a Matt finish? The size of the Cap ring is a real eye catcher, along with the desin that in inside it.....As well, the Background

color of Red underneath the words Visconti, on the clip is another eye catcher......But most of all the Body of the pen is made of PolyChrome

Celluloid with multiple coloring in which the Blue / Turquoise REALLY sticks out over and above the Red, Orange and Dk. Blue. The Trim is

that os Sterling Silver, I believe? Then when you take the cap off, you see another Ring between the section and the barrel. This has an ingenious

mechanism in the section that allows the user to rotate a Window to alert him / her to the presence of Liquor in the pen. You Load the Liquor

thru the blind cap, by removing it and the cap underneath it. As it contains a Sanitized chamber that holds a "shot" of it's owner's favorite

Liquor......On the Blind cap is also where you will find your sequential number. For example mine says; 0051/1000. At the cap end there is a

Visconti Emblem that I believe you can replace with a different emblem or your initals or a colored emblem?

 

2. Construction & Quality ( 1-10 / 10 ) - In regards to the construction and Quality of this pen, to me it feels like a VERY SOLID

Fountain Pen! While I would fear dropping any of my Fountain Pens, This particular pen feels to me to be extremely well built and strong.......I

have not found any loose or missing parts..........

 

3. Weight & Dimensions ( 1-10 / 8 ) - I will give you the numeric values 1st then I will give you my impressions related to the

size of the pen;

Size - 6.4"Capped x 5.7" Un-Capped ( This pen does not Post ),

Diameter of the barrel = .66"

Diameter of the Cap = .72"

Weight = 67.59g with a cartridge in it.

This is a VERY LARGE FOUNTAIN PEN, and not one for people with small hands! For me I like all kinds of pens! I like "em" Small, Medium and Large. This one I consider 1 step larger than Large! JUst look at the Diameter's? and Weight?

I think this could be a problem for some buyers? But for me it does ok.......I am scoring this area for others.....

 

4. Nib & Performance ( 1 - 10 / 10 ) - The Nib that I chose is a 1.3 Stub. It came with a 23K Palladium Nib in the

following sizes; EF, F, M, B, DB, and 1.3 Stub. It lays down a nice wet line, but not too wet! My Nib actually says; 23k PD

950 Firenze. I was affraid that it being a Visconti, it would lay down a very wet line, but that is not the case with my pen....

I've only used two papers so far with my new pen, and she workes just fine. The only paper I have not tried yet is Tomoe

I think I spelled that name wrong but you understand? I have never taken a Visconti nib out of a pen, so I am unaware

if this nib is swapable?? But it performs exactly like I would have wanted it too!

 

5. Filling System & Maintenance ( 1 - 10 / 9 ) - This is a Cartridge Filler pen....It uses Universal type cartridges. There

was a problem when I 1st tried to install the cartridge, it acted as if it did not not to fit......I had to FORCE the cartridge into the little hole, it

popped and in she went. It seems like they didn't drill the cartridge hole big enough. I'm praying that I can get the cartridge out when it's time.

But I practiced with it a few times before sinking it all the way in and she was pretty smooth by that point......For a Pen this BIG, they should have

made it a cartridge / converter Filler.......That's my only beef with this pen! Once again, I do not know if the nib is swapable? BUT maintaince

wise, it looks like any other Fountain Pen in how it comes apart. I need to do some research regarding the PolyChrome Celluloid, in case

It needs to take a bath in the Ultra Sonic Cleaner with 90% Water 10% Amonia and a few drops of dishwashing liquid???? I just might have

to delete the amonia??

 

6. Cost & Value ( 1 - 10 / 10 ) - I bought this pen from www.chatterleyluxuries.com from Bryant, who thru the years

has ALWAYS done me well..........The MSRP on this pen is $1,600.00, and I bought it NEW, and did not go near the MSRP.

I think I got a smoking deal from Bryant.....As I don't even need to check prices to see if Bryant gave me a good deal or

not,......I know he did based on my research before hand. I've got two other pens that fall into this category, one of which I

bought from Bryant, and I don't know where I bought the other one??

 

7. Conclusion ( Final Score - 57 ) - I am TOTALLY in Luv with this pen and would consider buying another

as a gift or for myself if A) I had the money and I could get the same deal......I knew going in that it was a Cartridge filler, so yes it has

MET MY EXPECTATIONS! I have debated about using this pen once I bought it, as my other two expensive pens I don't

use . They have never been inked or dipped, they just sit in my display......But this pen WON me over as far as usage, and as

soon as I took it up stairs I inked it up, ha, ha, ha......Even with the knocks that I have given this pen, I WOULD recommend

it to another who likes BIG pens!, and can stand cartridges.........

 

 

 

 

 

Edited January 25, 2017 by Chi Town

[visvamitra]

Nice pen

[Uncial]

Lovely pen. I do wish they had made more pens with this acrylic.

[RalphP]

Beautiful pen Mike - & good review - very clever design & spectacular material...

 

Did someone bring one of these to a club meeting one time? ...just curious

[kazoolaw]

Very pretty.

 

Regarding your last photo and the metal "plug" - if it screws down into the barrel, how do you reach the end of the cartridge to remove it?

 

And if the pen unscrews at the section/barrel to replace the cartridge, why the "plug?" Eyedropper with the double gaskets?

 

Excellent review by the way. Got a writing sample with that 1.3?

 

gary

[Chi Town]

Beautiful pen Mike - & good review - very clever design & spectacular material...

 

Did someone bring one of these to a club meeting one time? ...just curious

Yes Ralph, Bob Brooks bought one, but he is having trouble with his, so PLease don't tell him I bought one and have it in my possession..........

[Chi Town]

Very pretty.

 

Regarding your last photo and the metal "plug" - if it screws down into the barrel, how do you reach the end of the cartridge to remove it?

 

And if the pen unscrews at the section/barrel to replace the cartridge, why the "plug?" Eyedropper with the double gaskets?

 

Excellent review by the way. Got a writing sample with that 1.3?

 

gary

HI GARY, yer talking two different issues, so I'll addresss them one at a time; Your 1st question with the metal Plug; This is where someone would insert up to an ounce of whiskey and seal it with that Plug! Question #2 - The cartridge goes in at the Section / Barrel.......At the other end is the Blind Cap and iunder that is the Metal Plug which I've explained...... :-) LASTLY, I do not have a writting sample as of yet, but I'll work on it for ya.........

[zaddick]

Great review of a fun pen. I like the large size and color mixture when I saw it in person last year.

 

Bryant always gives a very solid deal that is hard to beat without a lot of shopping. He is one of the few folks I am willing to buy a new pen from on a regular basis.

 

The nib should screw out but is not meant to be swapped like a Pelikan nib.

 

I am glad you got a good 1.3 stub out of the gate. All my 1.3 Pd nibs have needed adjustment.

 

Enjoy your new pen. Be sure to "ink" both ends!

[kazoolaw]

Your 1st question with the metal Plug; This is where someone would insert up to an ounce of whiskey and seal it with that Plug!

 

D-O-O-H!!

 

Can't believe I missed it.

Edited January 25, 2017 by gary

[Chi Town]

Great review of a fun pen. I like the large size and color mixture when I saw it in person last year.

 

Bryant always gives a very solid deal that is hard to beat without a lot of shopping. He is one of the few folks I am willing to buy a new pen from on a regular basis.

 

The nib should screw out but is not meant to be swapped like a Pelikan nib.

 

I am glad you got a good 1.3 stub out of the gate. All my 1.3 Pd nibs have needed adjustment.

 

Enjoy your new pen. Be sure to "ink" both ends!

Thanks for letting me know about the Nib and that it unscrews, I never knew that! I have bought from Bryant for years now and he always gives me good pricing! I feel that he's a GREAT GUY......

[JasonChao]

nice and beautiful pen.

[mdoering]

Gorgeous pen, a little kitschy but I love it. I'm looking for a set now myself.