W.h. Smith (England) Fountain Pens

[Dip n Scratch]

Has any member taken the time to review the 'own brand' cartridge pen offerings from W.H. Smith Ltd the well - known stationary chain-store. Apart from the Parker range and Lamy pens they have their 'own brand' that are obviously made in China.

They all look to take a short International cartridge. But I wondered if any would take a converter.

Edited May 23, 2019 by Dip n Scratch

[Paul80]

Hi

 

I had one a few years ago, it was the all chrome one, if they still do it.

 

From memory it did take a standard converter

 

Paul

[Dip n Scratch]

The W.H.S. Brushed Stainless Steel pen is still current at £10.99 online price, but £1.00 less in-store.

I do not know who is the source of any of the pens.

I have loads of Jinhao International Converters hanging around.

I bagged one of the £4.00 cheapies & bunged a Herbin Violet Pensee cartridge in it.

I fancy the brushed stainless steel pen too. I figured they wouldn't be complete poop, if recent output from China is anything to go by.

[death89]

Looking at the £4.00 ones mentioned, they look exactly like the Tesco £2 ones I've been trying lately... Is the grip actually soft touch or just translucent plastic with a texture for where the fingers rest?

[1nkulus]

Never had a reason to, the Jinhao X750 in stainless steel can be had for less than half inc. delivery.

[Dip n Scratch]

1nkulus: I know what you mean. I'd stuff said Jinhao with something else because it is a #6 nib.

I don't know if any of the WH Smith fountain pens can be dismantled and re-assembled. Big point if you want to feed it iron-gall ink

I don't recognise the pens at all.

 

death89: The grip is moulded hard plastic in the £4 one and the line seems very broad or else my fist is too heavy for it. I never used the supplied cartridges that came with the £4 pen, rather a Herbin cartridge of Violet Pensee.

[Dip n Scratch]

Here. I think this is one of the W H Smith pens. There's a minor detail difference in the barrel, that's all.

I took an actual photograph of the pen, but you try photographing something really reflective.

The pen does not accept a Jinhao converter. The hole is a greater diameter. A syringe-style converter from a Kanwrite Desire 35 does fit. I found the thing in some junk. It had a dried out cartridge in it & I had to soak the pen to clear out the old ink. The nib has a LOT of feedback & it needed the micromesh. Inkulous is right about the Jinhao X450 being cheaper.

[Dip n Scratch]

That converter, while it fitted the nipple still leaked air around the sided between it & the inside of the section. Or the converter was junk.

I refilled the old cartridge with a syringe & blunt tip from some KWZ IG Blue #1.

The good news is that using the 'mesh on it transformed the nib & it was easier than sorting out the Wality nib on an Airmail 69 or 71.