Adding To The Flock

[dascott]

 

A quick update from our friend, Tom Kellie, who is locked away in CoronaVirusLand:

 

 

Every day I think of FPN friends, especially in the Montblanc, Pelikan and Inks Forums.

The fountain pens on my writing desk are in daily use. I’m surprised to find that I like Herbin scented inks more with repeated use.

As shopping malls are closed here, the local suppliers of inks, paper and fountain pens are currently unavailable.

My supplies are more than adequate, therefore I’m able to enjoy both sketching and writing.

 

Thanks very much for the update - I think of Tom every time I visit FPN and he isn't here. Glad to hear he is bearing up and not running out of ink anytime soon!

[DilettanteG]

Poor guy! Why do awful things always seem to happen to the nicest people?

[DilettanteG]

Big pen, ink, and paper haul today all from the UK: My M600 Violet EF and matching ballpoint arrived. They're a great little writers and this EF nib even has a little bit of flex.

 

 

So, I'm done now. Probably.

[LyaT]

Big pen, ink, and paper haul today all from the UK: My M600 Violet EF and matching ballpoint arrived. They're a great little writers and this EF nib even has a little bit of flex.

 

 

So, I'm done now. Probably.

Well done. Congrats!

[LyaT]

 

A quick update from our friend, Tom Kellie, who is locked away in CoronaVirusLand:

 

Every day I think of FPN friends, especially in the Montblanc, Pelikan and Inks Forums.

The fountain pens on my writing desk are in daily use. Im surprised to find that I like Herbin scented inks more with repeated use.

As shopping malls are closed here, the local suppliers of inks, paper and fountain pens are currently unavailable.

My supplies are more than adequate, therefore Im able to enjoy both sketching and writing.

Does this mean Tom has limited internet access now? I hope he is staying strong and happy.

[alfredop]

My newest Pelikan is a M605 Stresseman which joined my flock a couple of days ago.

 

Alfredo

[N1003U]

Big pen, ink, and paper haul today all from the UK: My M600 Violet EF and matching ballpoint arrived. They're a great little writers and this EF nib even has a little bit of flex.

 

 

So, I'm done now. Probably.

 

Well done! The violet-whites are lovely pens, aren't they?

[DilettanteG]

 

Well done! The violet-whites are lovely pens, aren't they?

 

They're very pretty and I like the width of the K600 better than the k400. Most importantly to me, that EF nib is a delight, so wonderfully springy and responsive.

 

I'm now regretting ordering my M400 white tortoise with a broad. I bought it from Cult Pens back in July, so I don't think Chartpak will do a nib exchange at this point.

 

The Pelikans, Montblancs, and Pilot Parallels are the only pens I even reach for anymore. Maybe I should just sell the rest?

[A Smug Dill]

I'm now regretting ordering my M400 white tortoise with a broad. I bought it from Cult Pens back in July, so I don't think Chartpak will do a nib exchange at this point.

It's easy enough to buy a spare/replacement 14K gold EF nib for a Pelikan M400, and you don't even have to deal with Chartpak or its list of authorised dealers for that (unless you really want to do so); Cult Pens sells them.

 

The Pelikans, Montblancs, and Pilot Parallels are the only pens I even reach for anymore. Maybe I should just sell the rest?

I look at all the books on my bookcases, and struggle to think when the last time it was that I reached for any of them. Nevertheless, I don't feel that they're worth my time and effort selling; on the other hand, they still have some value to me as part of my personal library.

 

That's how I see most of my fountain pens and inks, even if I haven't used some of them in six months or so. They're part of my library, and ready for me if and when I want to test some aspect of how they perform, or just remind myself of how they write. Having unfettered and unlimited access to such a "resource" is why I spent money buying them in the first place; I don't think I ever kidded myself that I would enjoy every single pen or ink I bought. As long as they're not so bad as to be offensive to my sensibilities (and then, there's always the garbage bin), and they're not "worth" selling after factoring in "'free' postage" and PayPal fees, etc. they get to remain in the fleet.

Edited February 22, 2020 by A Smug Dill

[MalcLee]

Finally got my M815 after being held up with the US Border Force - and it appears that Customs had ripped opened the brown paper wrapper that Nibs.com had wrapped over the pen box and had ended up as an accompanying scrumple. Thanks, but no thanks Border Force. Anyway, at least the accompanying bottle of Sailor Manyo Yomogi ink and its box wasnt in tatters.

 

It looks like the man himself did the work on my nib. Legend is an understatement.

[LyaT]

@MalcLee, that is an awesome pen with a beautiful grind! Did you end up paying a big custom fee? I am hesitant to order from nibs to ship to Ireland.

[DilettanteG]

 

 

I look at all the books on my bookcases, and struggle to think when the last time it was that I reached for any of them. Nevertheless, I don't feel that they're worth my time and effort selling; on the other hand, they still have some value to me as part of my personal library.

 

That's how I see most of my fountain pens and inks, even if I haven't used some of them in six months or so. They're part of my library, and ready for me if and when I want to test some aspect of how they perform, or just remind myself of how they write. Having unfettered and unlimited access to such a "resource" is why I spent money buying them in the first place; I don't think I ever kidded myself that I would enjoy every single pen or ink I bought. As long as they're not so bad as to be offensive to my sensibilities (and then, there's always the garbage bin), and they're not "worth" selling after factoring in "'free' postage" and PayPal fees, etc. they get to remain in the fleet.

 

That's actually a really smart way to look at it.

[N1003U]

My newest Pelikan is a M605 Stresseman which joined my flock a couple of days ago.

 

Alfredo

Congratulations on a great pen!

 

The 605 Stresemann is high on my list for for 2020 (I still have not ordered yet due to other priorities that are limited production. I am quite happy Pelikan has decided to make the Stresemann color part of normal stock.)

 

Amongst Pelikans, the 6xx is probably my favorite chassis (for size and weight), and I like the way subtle black-gray finish of the Stresemann shimmers in the light.

Edited February 22, 2020 by N1003U

[N1003U]

Finally got my M815 after being held up with the US Border Force - and it appears that Customs had ripped opened the brown paper wrapper that Nibs.com had wrapped over the pen box and had ended up as an accompanying scrumple. Thanks, but no thanks Border Force. Anyway, at least the accompanying bottle of Sailor Manyo Yomogi ink and its box wasnt in tatters.

 

It looks like the man himself did the work on my nib. Legend is an understatement.

Interesting. I have never had an issue (other than occasional delays) with pens imported for me into the US.

 

Most items/packages under $800 in fair market value come duty free into the USA, and last I looked at the tariff schedules, fountain pens commanded a whopping 1.6% duty, or thereabouts.

[MalcLee]

>Interesting. I have never had an issue (other than occasional delays) with pens imported for me into the US.

 

Whats strange was that this package was sent to me OUTbound from the US. Whilst following its progress, it spent more than a week at ISC Los Angeles and then another week awaiting customs clearance. And yes, it was leaving the United States, not going in. From then on, after leaving LAX, it was real quick from there.

 

I noticed that the parcel was opened from the bottom of the box as it had been re-sealed with that lime green US Border Force masking tape, in addition to having ripped apart Nibs.com s gift wrapper - they should have just binned it rather than making a ball out of it. My hypotheses on the delay were - either the ink being a liquid item detected on X-ray or that the M815 with its metal stripes looked like a little rocket from General Dynamics ? Just guesses.

 

Ive had no problems with sending parcels to the US, just found it weird that an export could raise questions at the point of exit.

Edited February 23, 2020 by MalcLee

[alfredop]

My newest Pelikan is a M605 Stresseman which joined my flock a couple of days ago.

 

Alfredo

I have to add that I am particularly happy because this time the EF nib I received is a true EF.

 

Alfredo

[DilettanteG]

I love that new M600 EF white and violet so much I thought I'd buy an EF spare nib. Then, I thought, if I'm going to spend that much money I might as well buy myself a Turquoise and White before they're all gone, like the M805 Ocean Swirl. And then I thought again, and found an Ocean Swirl EF on Martini auctions. Then, of course, I found a deal on the matching ballpoint and the zip up Pelikan two pen leather case on Amazon Global UK and also threw in a bottle of Edelstein Star Ruby since I'm still bummed that I missed out on the Amethyst ink. Long story long, That's how ended up saving myself WAY over budget.

 

I also bought a M205 yellow demo for cheapish on eBay, which started this whole shopping spree. My backbone has been a wet noodle so far this year.

 

Pelikan has definitely corrupted me with their limited time offers. It's a cheap trick, but so effective. Right up there with sales of all kinds. I need to stay off shopping sites for awhile.

[A Smug Dill]

My backbone has been a wet noodle so far this year.

 

 

No, it's just springy.

[N1003U]

... Then, I thought, if I'm going to spend that much money I might as well buy myself a Turquoise and White before they're all gone,...

 

...Pelikan has definitely corrupted me with their limited time offers. It's a cheap trick, but so effective. Right up there with sales of all kinds. I need to stay off shopping sites for awhile...

 

Yes, a cheap, but effective trick. Especially for those compulsives among us.

If you haven't seen the M600 Turquoise-White in person, and you like blue, you are going to love it when you see it.

 

Now, if I can just find a pink at a reasonable price, my 6xx white set will be complete (for now).

[inkstainedruth]

Now, if I can just find a pink at a reasonable price, my 6xx white set will be complete (for now).

 

Yeah, good luck with that.... The ones I've seen on the Bay of Evil of the Pink and White have been at four figure price tags....

I'll admit that the Turquoise and White is really attractive, but after just having gotten the Violet and White, I'm feeling sort of poor....

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth