Hooded Nib Recommendations?

[GastroNerd]

Hi,

 

I've searched the forums and tried to find a recommendation but I haven't found anything suitable.

 

I know that Parker make a lot of hooded nib pens that run with medium or broad nibs, but I don't want to be spending a lot of money.

 

I am looking for a pen that has a hooded nib, has a medium to double broad nib, is fairly heavy and big (although this isn't a deal breaker) and I don't mind how you fill it. I know there are Chinese hooded nibs around (jinhao 51A etc) but they are only stocked in fine usually.

 

I wondered if anybody has come across anything that meets these criteria? Preferably under the £40 price point. If not I guess I will have to save up for a Parker 51/61.

Edited January 27, 2019 by GastroNerd

[ParkerDuofold]

Hi,

 

I've searched the forums and tried to find a recommendation but I haven't found anything suitable.

 

I know that Parker make a lot of hooded nib pens that run with medium or broad nibs, but I don't want to be spending a lot of money.

 

I am looking for a pen that has a hooded nib, has a medium to double broad nib, is fairly heavy and big (although this isn't a deal breaker) and I don't mind how you fill it. I know there are Chinese hooded nibs around (jinhao 51A etc) but they are only stocked in fine usually.

 

I wondered if anybody has come across anything that meets these criteria? Preferably under the £40 price point. If not I guess I will have to save up for a Parker 51/61.

Hi GN,

 

Well, let's break this down...

 

The Parker 51, 61 and Lamy 2000 are excluded due to cost.

 

The Chinese pens, such as the Hero 616, etc., etc., are excluded because they're only available with very fine nib points.

 

The Kanwrite Relik, (Indian brand), is also excluded because it's only available as a fine.

 

These are the only hooded models I'm familiar with. So, you only have two options...

 

Save up for a 51... or buy an Esterbrook Phaeton for $55 with a medium nib... but you'll be getting the same pen as the $14 Kanwrite Relik.

 

I'd be patient and go with the former. Make due with what you're using now and go for a good performing, user grade 51 Aerometric when you've saved up $60-70.

 

 

Be well and enjoy life.

 

 

- Anthony

[ParkerDuofold]

Just to follow-up...

 

Can't believe I forgot these... ...

 

You can add the vintage Aurora 88 and Aurora Duo-Cart to the list of hooded pens... but decent specimens will be above your range, too.

 

- A.C.

[sandy101]

Actually it is possible to get a Parker 51 on e-bay in the UK for around £40-50. At pen shows they'll sell pristine, serviced ones for much much more, but on e-bay an "in the wild" one will go for around £50, but the condition is anyone's guess.

 

You may get a cheaper one The trick is to search for Parker Fountain pens - not Parker 51.

 

Sellers in the know will attach a premium to Parker 51s, but many folk put pens they happened to find in a drawer up for sale, not knowing what the make & model is.

 

Someone listed a Shaeffer no-nonsense & Parker pen on e-bay - the Shaeffer was chewed up, but the photo of the Parker pen revealed that 51 was written on the filling mechanism, so I put in a cheeky bid and won a Parker 51 for less than £10.

 

However, taking that route - there is no guarantee you will get a Parker 51 in great condition (the seller knows nothing about it) - and the Parker 17 has a similar profile - especially if the photos are not great. So you may end up with the wrong pen.

 

Would a Parker 45 count? It has a semi-hooded nib, and you'll pick one up for less than £20 quite easily. Some have 14K nibs, some have gold plated nibs and some have steel and not all sellers will know the difference (you need to know how to disassemble and reassemble (the hardest bit!) to check. Medium is easy to find, broad - possible but a bit harder - but the P45 nibs are 9nterchangable so you can buy a B nib unit and screw it into your pen.

[GastroNerd]

Thank you both for your suggestions. I think I am going to have to bite the bullet and save up for a 51. I will keep my eye out online.

 

I had a Parker 17 'lady' and it was a great pen, but just too small in my hands to be comfortable. The 45 looks nice but not what I'm looking for I don't think.

[ParkerDuofold]

Thank you both for your suggestions. I think I am going to have to bite the bullet and save up for a 51. I will keep my eye out online.

 

I had a Parker 17 'lady' and it was a great pen, but just too small in my hands to be comfortable. The 45 looks nice but not what I'm looking for I don't think.

Hi GN,

 

You're welcome.

 

I think you've chosen well.

 

You won't regret your decision... the 51 is a better pen than the 45 and it's on par with the L2K.

 

One thing I learned in this hobby early on... is never settle... you're gonna wind up getting what your heart really wants sooner or later... so go the truly cheap route... and get it straight away.

 

Be well.

 

 

- Anthony

 

 

EDITED for typo.

Edited January 27, 2019 by ParkerDuofold

[sansenri]

not easy to find a hooded nib with broad/stub nib.

Parker 51 is probably your best bet, but you will need to search around.

Aurora 88 (old style) which has also been mentioned is unlikely to be an option, I have very rarely see a broad or stub nib on it, and even medium are rare, most of them came out with a fine.

An Aurora Duocart new might be an option.

It's a remake by Aurora of a previous model (which was possibly the first, or at least one of the first, cartridge pen on the market) and it sells with a medium. Not difficult to find in Italy, a big supermarket chain offered it as a gift to its faithful clients, and there have been several classified ads in the past year. Some may still be on the bay, around 60 Euro, in mint conditions (it sells for 140 euro new).

Peyton street has some nice 51s, not cheap though.

[jchch1950]

A used Lamy 2000.Hooded nib, piston fill and good size. I know that the prize will be higher but it can be a long term investment.

[GastroNerd]

More good suggestions, thank you.

 

I actually already have a L2K in broad that was gifted to me and I like it a lot. That being said I prefer the aesthetics of the 51 (it's not that I don't like the Bauhaus inspired L2K) and the medium nib on the 51 is going to be more 'usable' in my everyday writing.

 

In any case, I could not 'sit still' so to speak and have ended up buying a medium 51 on eBay for ~£30. We shall see if the condition lives up to the pictures.

 

What a curse this hobby is sometimes!

[sansenri]

the 51 is usually a very reliable pen, low price can be due to aesthetic condition, and if that is the only issue it can be a good buy.

It can make a great work horse pen. I have some pens in such conditions, and that makes me a bit less prudent on the way I use them, which in the end means they get a lot of use!

Edited January 27, 2019 by sansenri

[Ciaran1602]

I was about to suggest a Parker 45 as I recently got what I believe to be a early '70s one with a modern parker pen pouch for £29.99 + a few squids for delivery. I've been thoroughly impressed with it for the cost although mine is a fine nib and not a medium it's a brilliant writer. It's a little on the light side though.

[sandy101]

I was about to suggest a Parker 45 as I recently got what I believe to be a early '70s one with a modern parker pen pouch for £29.99 + a few squids for delivery. I've been thoroughly impressed with it for the cost although mine is a fine nib and not a medium it's a brilliant writer. It's a little on the light side though.

 

I have a fine one, and a medium one. Both are pleasant writers. I prefer the fine - the medium is wetter - which means the line is thicker.

 

But the fact that both these pens that date from the 60's-70's write well after a little clean is a tribute to their robustness.

[SoulSamurai]

The Asa Sniper is a hooded nib pen made to order in acrylic or ebonite (or a mix of the two), that actually takes Jowo #5 nib units, available according to their site in F, M, B and I guess a 1.4mm stub (check the small print at the very bottom of the page). Obviously you can swap in your own nib if desired since it uses standard #5 nibs. Price is 55 USD on their site (so about 42 GBP according to Yahoo). Unfortunately they say you will need to wait around two months for the pen.

 

http://asapens.in/eshop/image/data/Sniper/HD-06.JPG

Edited January 27, 2019 by SoulSamurai

[GastroNerd]

 

I have a fine one, and a medium one. Both are pleasant writers. I prefer the fine - the medium is wetter - which means the line is thicker.

 

But the fact that both these pens that date from the 60's-70's write well after a little clean is a tribute to their robustness.

Definitely one to consider in the future. Generally I prefer a thicker, wetter line.

 

The ASA sniper looks like an interesting pen for sure. I think Stephen Brown did a review on YouTube, it's nice that it is customisable. If the 51 I have bought is no good I might get one of these instead. Not as keen on the design but looks functional

[sansenri]

you might also want to check this thread previously here on FPN on hooded nib pens

 

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/238615-hooded-nib-fountain-pen-list/

[GastroNerd]

you might also want to check this thread previously here on FPN on hooded nib pens

 

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/238615-hooded-nib-fountain-pen-list/

Thank you for making me aware of this thread, I certainly have a soft spot for hooded nibs. Very useful.

[WLSpec]

Lamy 2000 is your best bet, though over your price range. I'd take a look at Jinhao Shark Pens as well, which are inexpensive hooded nib pens that come with converters. I love my Sharks, so I recommend trying them.

 

edit: I believe that the sharks only come in ef and fine nibs, though.

Edited January 27, 2019 by WLSpec

[welch]

Save for a Parker 51, aerometric, English medium. The 51 was the best fountain pen ever made.

[PAKMAN]

The Parker 51 is a great choice but finding one in a broad nib is not too common. I've only had one, a desk pen version that I sold to someone just because he wanted the nib. The Lamy 2000 is a great pen too and can easily be found with broad nibs. New they are a bit out of your stated price range, so I would look for a used one. I bought mine used. Love the piston fill and good ink capacity.

[peterg]

Thank you both for your suggestions. I think I am going to have to bite the bullet and save up for a 51. I will keep my eye out online.

 

I had a Parker 17 'lady' and it was a great pen, but just too small in my hands to be comfortable. The 45 looks nice but not what I'm looking for I don't think.

There are lots of cheap standard size 17's around that would suit you