Engraving A Pilot Vp?

[essayfaire]

I was wondering if anyone had a recommendation for a U.S. source of engraved Pilots, or if people got engraving done locally. I normally would buy from Goulet, but they don't offer engraving. I'm curious about other people's experiences. Thanks!

 

[goodpens]

  On 10/16/2018 at 9:37 PM, essayfaire said:

I was wondering if anyone had a recommendation for a U.S. source of engraved Pilots, or if people got engraving done locally. I normally would buy from Goulet, but they don't offer engraving. I'm curious about other people's experiences. Thanks!

 

I believe Fountain Pen Hospital in NYC still engraves. I had them do it for a purchase years ago. I do not know off-hand if they carry Pilot VPs, but they likely do.

[BaronWulfraed]

Just checked Fahrneys -- some of the Vanishing Points allow an option for engraving (the basic rhodium trim one -- the special finishes didn't seem to have engraving as an option)

[PAKMAN]

Vanness pens does a great job engraving! I would contact them.

[essayfaire]

Thanks everyone. So Pen Chalet seems to be both have F nibs in stock and be able to engrave the finish I want (carbonesque), which some others can't. I haven't called Fountain Pen Hospital yet. Anyone had experience with Pen Chalet's engraving? I only need three letters in block type.

[A Smug Dill]

Unfortunately, I think there are very few shops and/or technicians in either Australia or USA that can do the sort of engraving I would usually be interested in putting on pen barrels, and even fewer that are associated with retailers of 'fine' fountain pens, so every time I want to order a new pen already engraved with my custom 'message' on arrival, I have to buy from Japanese sellers on Rakuten.

 

Alas, I just had a look for you, and only two sellers on Rakuten are still offering the 'limited' carbonesque models of VP pens, and neither of them still:

• have nib sizes of EF or F in stock; or
• any pens in the white, red or green carbonesque designs; and
• allow you to request engraving on the carbonesque designs.

Edited October 18, 2018 by A Smug Dill

[essayfaire]

  On 10/18/2018 at 3:55 AM, A Smug Dill said:

 

Unfortunately, I think there are very few shops and/or technicians in either Australia or USA that can do the sort of engraving I would usually be interested in putting on pen barrels, and even fewer that are associated with retailers of 'fine' fountain pens, so every time I want to order a new pen already engraved with my custom 'message' on arrival, I have to buy from Japanese sellers on Rakuten.

 

Alas, I just had a look for you, and only two sellers on Rakuten are still offering the 'limited' carbonesque models of VP pens, and neither of them still:

• have nib sizes of EF or F in stock; or
• any pens in the white, red or green carbonesque designs; and
• allow you to request engraving on the carbonesque designs.

 

Thanks for checking for me; I'm looking for a blue carbonesque F and I'd actually be willing to even let the pen be engraved on the clip rather than the barrel. I'll give Pen Chalet and FPH a call.

[A Smug Dill]

  On 10/18/2018 at 7:01 PM, essayfaire said:

I'd actually be willing to even let the pen be engraved on the clip rather than the barrel. I'll give Pen Chalet and FPH a call.

Alternatively, perhaps you could just order the pen from whichever retailer you trust, and offers you the best service and/or best deal on the pen, try it and make sure it works alright, and then take it to a local engraving specialist?

 

I can understand you would want someone who understands the carbonesque finish on VP pens, and could guarantee not to chip it or otherwise ruin it in the process of engraving, if your mind is set on engraving the barrel. However, if you're willing to put the engraving just on the glossy metal clip, then any local engraver with the tools can do the job.

[Marioferu]

With all due respect.. Are you taking it with you to the heaven? I found this beautiful Parker 45 for less than $10 and I have to stand, I mean Who is Mayra Soto? 1970 she should be dead..

[A Smug Dill]

  On 10/19/2018 at 11:22 PM, Marioferu said:

With all due respect.. Are you taking it with you to the heaven? I found this beautiful Parker 45 for less than $10 and I have to stand, I mean Who is Mayra Soto? 1970 she should be dead..

What does all that even mean? At what exactly are you expressing dismay? The price of the O.P.'s choice of pen, or the fact that someone would want their names or initials engraved on a pen?

[Honeybadgers]

Personally, i see zero point to engraving a pen. it's pretentious in my eyes. It's not like having a name or initials alone will help return the pen if lost. Either everyone knows you as "that person that uses a fountain pen" or it's lost forever, not like you're one of ten people at the office with a fountain pen.

 

And you're killing the pen's resale value if you ever wanted to get rid of it.

 

Save the monograms for golf towels, personally.

[Honeybadgers]

  On 10/19/2018 at 11:43 PM, A Smug Dill said:

What does all that even mean? At what exactly are you expressing dismay? The price of the O.P.'s choice of pen, or the fact that someone would want their names or initials engraved on a pen?

 

Pretty obvious he/she just thinks that engraving a pen ruins it for the next person who may want to own it.

 

There was once a time for it. But that time is no longer. Personally (again) this is like picking up an incredibly rare classic car and then painting it candy peach and giving it spinners. With something so long-lived, unless you're some kind of celebrity, nobody wants to know who owned it before. we're the custodians of these objects. We purchase them, take care of them/use them, and pass them along to the next person. Especially if it's a valuable or collectible item, your kids or grandkids may want to sell them in the future, and lord knows an engraved sheaffer PFM is going to fetch 40% less than one that isn't, all other things equal.

 

But again, this is purely personal preference.

 

But if the OP really, really wants it done, I highly recommend avoiding the matte finish models. They're prone to chipping finish, and even laser engraving might hasten that process.

Edited October 20, 2018 by Honeybadgers

[A Smug Dill]

@Honeybadgers, I certainly do not share your sentiment. If I'm buying a pen with my money, then it's up to me to not particularly care about what will become of it when I no longer have a use for it – or when I'm no longer around to use it – and whether it will enhance or diminish the value of the item to whoever may end up with it. Preserving the value of an item I own is not high on my list of priorities, and preserving the value of the item so that someone else can better benefit from it is even lower on that scale.

 

I just ordered another pen – a Pilot Custom Maple – because of the 'free' engraving service included in the price. The custom engraving will suit my taste and 'sense of humour'. Who cares whether anyone else thinks it's tasteful and well considered, or just thoughtless vandalism on a work of art? Any patina that may develop on the wooden barrel would not make the pen more valuable in my eyes as its owner, but the adage I requested to have engraved on it will endear it to me.

Edited October 20, 2018 by A Smug Dill

[ISW_Kaputnik]

I can understand not wanting one's own pen engraved, and I can understand thinking that it hurts the look of somebody else's pen. But I can't understand actual hostility to the idea of somebody getting a pen personalized in this way. In any case, I'll be interested to read what the O.P. decides on and how it works out.

 

If, on some future pen purchase, the seller offered to engrave it with my name for no extra charge, I'd think about it. I'd probably decide against it, but I would consider it. Esthetics and the likelihood that the seller would do a good job would be the only considerations. I never buy a pen with the thought of reselling it some day.

[A Smug Dill]

  On 10/18/2018 at 7:01 PM, essayfaire said:

Thanks for checking for me;

No problem, although I really shouldn't have, because ... I just found a (proper) local retailer that has stock of the carbonesque design in white, red, blue and black, and is prepared to sell them at a significantly cheaper price than if I ordered directly from Japan on Rakuten Global Market.

 

I already have a black one with a F nib here (although my fiancée 'has' it now), but since I don't recall seeing too many offers of the red and the white ones in Australia, or on US- or UK-based online retailers' web sites, so now I'm damn tempted! Do we really need a twelfth Pilot Capless pen?

[Runnin_Ute]

I only have one or two pens that have been engraved prior to them coming to me. Would I ever do one of my own? Probably not, but never say never.

[essayfaire]

  On 10/20/2018 at 7:27 AM, A Smug Dill said:

@Honeybadgers, I certainly do not share your sentiment. If I'm buying a pen with my money, then it's up to me to not particularly care about what will become of it when I no longer have a use for it or when I'm no longer around to use it and whether it will enhance or diminish the value of the item to whoever may end up with it. Preserving the value of an item I own is not high on my list of priorities, and preserving the value of the item so that someone else can better benefit from it is even lower on that scale.

 

I just ordered another pen a Pilot Custom Maple because of the 'free' engraving service included in the price. The custom engraving will suit my taste and 'sense of humour'. Who cares whether anyone else thinks it's tasteful and well considered, or just thoughtless vandalism on a work of art? Any patina that may develop on the wooden barrel would not make the pen more valuable in my eyes as its owner, but the adage I requested to have engraved on it will endear it to me.

[essayfaire]

Didn't know my question would stir up such strong sentiment about the roll of engraving! It isn't as if the pen is Maki-E.

 

 

  On 10/18/2018 at 10:22 PM, A Smug Dill said:

Alternatively, perhaps you could just order the pen from whichever retailer you trust, and offers you the best service and/or best deal on the pen, try it and make sure it works alright, and then take it to a local engraving specialist?

I actually checked into that before posting my query here; unfortunately trophies and jewelry are the only things I could get engraved here

 

  On 10/20/2018 at 6:47 AM, Honeybadgers said:

Personally, i see zero point to engraving a pen. it's pretentious in my eyes. It's not like having a name or initials alone will help return the pen if lost. Either everyone knows you as "that person that uses a fountain pen" or it's lost forever, not like you're one of ten people at the office with a fountain pen.

 

And you're killing the pen's resale value if you ever wanted to get rid of it.

 

Save the monograms for golf towels, personally.

 

Not that it matters, but the engraving is commemorating an event. I'm already the person who uses fountain pens - I've actually given Pilot Varsity pens out to people who seemed curious about my pens.

  On 10/20/2018 at 7:27 AM, A Smug Dill said:

@Honeybadgers, I certainly do not share your sentiment. If I'm buying a pen with my money, then it's up to me to not particularly care about what will become of it when I no longer have a use for it – or when I'm no longer around to use it – and whether it will enhance or diminish the value of the item to whoever may end up with it. Preserving the value of an item I own is not high on my list of priorities, and preserving the value of the item so that someone else can better benefit from it is even lower on that scale.

 

I just ordered another pen – a Pilot Custom Maple – because of the 'free' engraving service included in the price. The custom engraving will suit my taste and 'sense of humour'. Who cares whether anyone else thinks it's tasteful and well considered, or just thoughtless vandalism on a work of art? Any patina that may develop on the wooden barrel would not make the pen more valuable in my eyes as its owner, but the adage I requested to have engraved on it will endear it to me.

Ditto. The engraving and pattern choice are very personal. It may never even leave my house, but will remind me of that of which I wish to be reminded, and in a way much more useful and beautiful than a commemorative plaque.

 

I am waiting for the engravers to weigh in; it is highly likely I will be engraving the clip and not the barrel. I want to enhance the pen, not damage it!

[A Smug Dill]

I think I've managed to convince myself not to get the white or the red (or any other/more) carbonesque barrel designs, after pulling out the black one my fiancée uses and writing a few lines with it, then comparing the experience with using my new VP pen with the resin-injected birch barrel. The carbonesque is nice, but for roughly the same effective price, I think I prefer the birch barrel – which would also be better/safer for engraving, I suppose.

 

Now the question is whether I'm going to also get the birch barrel in the other colour ('black', although it looks more like charcoal to me in product images I can find) as well!

[essayfaire]

  On 10/22/2018 at 3:49 AM, A Smug Dill said:

I think I've managed to convince myself not to get the white or the red (or any other/more) carbonesque barrel designs, after pulling out the black one my fiancée uses and writing a few lines with it, then comparing the experience with using my new VP pen with the resin-injected birch barrel. The carbonesque is nice, but for roughly the same effective price, I think I prefer the birch barrel – which would also be better/safer for engraving, I suppose.

 

Now the question is whether I'm going to also get the birch barrel in the other colour ('black', although it looks more like charcoal to me in product images I can find) as well!

I like the red carbonesque, but it doesn't suit my purposes. Not as found of the white. The original birch pen is lovely, but I've never been a fan of black wood if it isn't ebony. Imagine if there were a purple-heart model! I think if my pen were wood that I would want it to feel wholly like wood and not be resin injected, however. Tactile thing. À chacun son goût!