I am really totally done with expensive fountain pens

[Rudolf]

I will never buy expensive fountain pens anymore. Every single expensive fountain pen that I bought in the last 25 years had problems with inkflow, scratchyness, offline tines, offline cut nib, etc., etc.

I absolutely can not understand why the companies don't care about their QC (and their customers?). 

I bought a cheap Pilot Metropolitan (€18,50) and that pen writes perfect out of the box. An expensive fountain has to be a totally perfect writing instrument out of the box!! No further questions about it!!

[A Smug Dill]

On 1/5/2016 at 12:26 AM, Rudolf said:

Why should I buy an expensive pen? They are all with defectives too.

 

I know that this all sounds very ironic and negative, but I'm done with it.

 

[Rudolf]

Absolutely!

[Karmachanic]

Happy to forward a Pilot Metropolitan for each expensive pen you send my way.

[austollie]

7 hours ago, Rudolf said:

I will never buy expensive fountain pens anymore.

 

I primarily collect student and office cartridge fillers.  I have lots of low-cost Pelikanos from the 1970s and 1980s and these, almost without exception, write well out of the box (and there's lots of NOS around).  I find it hard to understand that with modern technology, the QC has not improved.  For some manufacturers, it only got worse.

 

7 hours ago, Rudolf said:

Every single expensive fountain pen that I bought in the last 25 years had problems with inkflow, scratchyness, offline tines, offline cut nib, etc.

 

I guess it depends on what you call expensive.  I have zero complaints with my Lamy 2000, which is an expensive pen by my standards.  I really can't find any fault with it.  Any good pen shop would see to it that any issues that you're experiencing with an expensive pen will be resolved.  

 

All of that said, I think that expensive pens write no better than many of my low cost student pens, e.g. the Parker 25 that I bought in the lat 1980s when I was at Uni.  It's just that more expensive pens, such as my Lamy 2000, look and feel better.

 

The one feature that some (but not all) expensive pens have is a more flexible nib than what you'd see in a cheaper office pen with a steel nib.   But so what?  If you don't press down hard on the page when you write (and I don't) then a flex nib really doesn't add anything to the writing experience.

 

 

[inkstainedruth]

I have a few moderately expensive pens, Rudolf (mostly Pelikan M400s/M405s, followed by some Sailor and Pilot pens).  But truthfully, a lot of expensive pens tend to be too large and heavy (I have small hands), or are too "bling-y" for my taste.  I buy a lot of vintage and semi vintage pens, and would put even the worst of my Parker 51s up against any really expensive pen.  They work extremely well, the most I ever paid for any of them was $120 US (including the buyer's premium) at an auction at a pen show a few years ago -- and then I was bidding mostly on the OB nib.  My inexpensive pens get used much more often: Noodler's Flex Creapers and Konrads, Parker Vectors, Pilot Metropolitans, Lamy Safaris/al-Stars/LX (I count one of my al-Stars and the LX with the Safaris because I got them on clearance/closeout and actually paid LESS than I did for any of the Safaris).  I'd count the 1980s Pelikano I paid five bucks for at a pen show a couple of years ago but the barrel broke at the ink window.  I was so bummed because while the nib was a nail, it was an extremely SMOOTH nail.

I keep track of pen purchases and have spread sheet set up noting the price points (including stuff like converters or repairs).  And have WAY more pens in the up to $80 US range than the over $100 range.  So nothing wrong with inexpensive pens if they write well.  Because IMO, the writing experience is WAY more important in the long run than putting a bunch of pens in a display case to show off your wealth.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[txomsy]

I have few expensive pens, and those, are the cheapest.

 

For me expensive is something relating price to quality. I cannot say my Pelikan M200 is expensive, rather cheap indeed. Or my MB146. I can and do say some low-price Chinese pens have turned out more expensive than I expected in the end, though they were a few bucks.

 

If you find the best quality/price ratio for you is a Pilot Metropolitan, then by all means, do get it. Me, I regret I cannot afford a MB146 with the Calligraphy nib and when I might it will likely be unavailable, but for its price and what I hear and see, I would call that a bargain.

[maclink]

21 minutes ago, txomsy said:

For me expensive is something relating price to quality.

 

I like this, although you gotta admit that expense is more often related to absolute affordability.  Yes, the item may be great value but not many can afford it or would find it a more than trivial expenditure to get one. 

 

I like your take on the 146.  

[Karmachanic]

I have an MB146 EF. Doesn't float my boat; that makes expensive. Which shows that expensive, like most other things, is relative.

[txomsy]

Absolutey

[ENewton]

On 10/15/2021 at 8:15 AM, Rudolf said:

I will never buy expensive fountain pens anymore. Every single expensive fountain pen that I bought in the last 25 years had problems with inkflow, scratchyness, offline tines, offline cut nib, etc., etc.

I absolutely can not understand why the companies don't care about their QC (and their customers?). 

I bought a cheap Pilot Metropolitan (€18,50) and that pen writes perfect out of the box. An expensive fountain has to be a totally perfect writing instrument out of the box!! No further questions about it!!

 

Some of my favorite nibs happen to be on my more expensive pens (none of which is remotely as expensive as a Montblanc 146), but tastes and fortunes vary, to be sure.

 

Regardless of anyone else's experience, it is lovely that you have found a pen that writes perfectly for you.  

 

 

[CXC]

My last five pen purchases have been German beginner pens with <A> nibs.  Turns out nibs designed for easy writing by kids are also easy for 69-year-olds to write with.  I'll be buying my 7th next, which will complete my collection of currently in production <A> nib pens that I could find.  Together with my 8 Pilot Parallels, I will be all set.  For now.

If anybody knows of an <A> nib pen other than the seven below, that is currently available on the open market, I would appreciate hearing about it.  It needn't necessarily be a German company.

Faber-Castell Scribolino
Lamy ABC

Lamy Nexx

Pelikan Griffix

Pelikan Pelikano jr
Schneider Base Kid

Stabilo Easy Buddy

 

[OCArt]

In a sense you've already covered it in the list above with the ABC but Lamy's "A" nib also fits the Studio and Safari. I have a Studio with such a nib in my hands at the moment.

[awarrenj]

I have learned recently that if you have a pen that you really like but may be scratchy, etc., then take it/send it to a nibmeister for tuning. I recently had 3 pens, a Sailor 1911, Pelikan 1000, and a S T Dupont given to a nibmeister at the Chicago Show. All had more feedback than I preferred and asked him to make them "wet and smooth". He did and today I am totally happy with the results and the pens. Cost? $20 each. Granted the work was not the most demanding but for pens that have cost you a significant amount (and you really like them but for the scratchyness), I recommend a tuning . May cost more than $20 each but even 2x3x times that, it is worth it having already sunk some dough into the pens.

[david-p]

On 10/15/2021 at 5:15 PM, Rudolf said:

I will never buy expensive fountain pens anymore. Every single expensive fountain pen that I bought in the last 25 years had problems with inkflow, scratchyness, offline tines, offline cut nib, etc., etc.

I absolutely can not understand why the companies don't care about their QC (and their customers?). 

I bought a cheap Pilot Metropolitan (€18,50) and that pen writes perfect out of the box. An expensive fountain has to be a totally perfect writing instrument out of the box!! No further questions about it!!

Since you apparently recorded your decision here five years ago, why repeat it?

[Bo Bo Olson]

25 years with out a B&M...how sad.

 

Scratchy is often rough mail induced tine misalignment. Nothing else explains that, in no one gets them at a live B&M shop.

 

"""""""""had problems with inkflow, scratchyness, offline tines, offline cut nib, etc., etc. """""""""""

 

(((( forgot to mention holding a fountain pen vertical like a BP leads to scratchy also.)))

With 25 years of the same problem we have to leave all options opens.

 

What inks were used????

For a Pelikan a dry ink is recommended in the nibs are wet.............for Waterman a wet ink, in the nib was once narrow.

Japanese inks are wet in the nibs are narrower than marked. (If one started with western cursive nibs).......super narrow tends to be scratchier than a Broad nib.

 

IMO one really don't want to use Pelikan 4001 inks in a Japanese pen, or a Waterman either.

 

By now you should know which company makes what you want in inkflow...Wetter than Hell or Sahara. With the inks you prefer.

Had you read here; there are a few tweeks to give you wet or dry nibs..........Depending on what inks you prefer to use.

 

What inks do you use?????

 

I don't know with off line tines are? Tines cut to one edge instead of exactly in the middle? Then is should be sent back. ASAP!

Same with oblique that are cut crooked. Sent Back..........Sameo-sameo.

 

 

Were you wasting your money on oblique pens  that were not German semi-flex????

 

When you buy a pig in a poke....you should at least poke it so it goes oink instead meow.  And buying online is just that. And add rough mail to ensure your scratchy pleasure.

 

Forgot to ask what pens have you been buying for the last 25 years on line???

 

I must confess I buy old used and there for cheaper pens.........only bought one expensive pen....and that was on sale for 1/3 off. That was $$$$....works like a charm....did buy it in a B&M.

The other two 'expensive' pens were cheap because of the department store sold them cheaply even before putting them on sale.

I did think E99 was money, but knew it wasn't expensive....a Cross Townsend set and a Pelikan 605.

Tend to forget I've bought other new pens...4-5 Pelikan 200's with no problems at all. Time goes by...borders are lowered...why half of them were LE's and more expensive than my E-99 new pens...the other half were 10 E cheaper....and my after only a decade E-99 wasn't expensive any more.

 

I will admit 25 years ago, I thought a $5.00 ball point was pointless, in they were free if one knew where to look. What was expensive 25 years ago often ain't now.

The P-75 I paid $22 silver backed dollar for 50 years ago was then expensive....not now.

 

When I came back to fountain pens some 13 years ago...$50-70 was a  lot of money (lower middle class pen) and $100-125  (middle class pen) sure as hell was. and my god there were folks spending north of $200 on a pen not even a MB, and that was not the expensive ones.

 

Which pens did you buy and when? And for how much?

 

Oddly all my old used pens worked just fine.

Most came by mail....and it was only occasionally I had to adjust the tines....but it was expected. It came by mail. & I knew how to fix it.

 

 

 

[inkstainedruth]

1 hour ago, Bo Bo Olson said:

When you buy a pig in a poke....you should at least poke it so it goes oink instead meow. 

I am SOOO stealing this quote, Bo Bo!  

But I agree with you that what used to be considered "nosebleed" prices are less so now, roughly a decade in to the hobby (meaning, more than just using a single cheap FP for journaling and using BPs the rest of the time). 

I have one pen that cost over $300 US (and one that cost almost as much).  But plenty more that cost under $50.  And while there are a couple of what *I* consider "too expensive" -- in that they are in the category of "when I win the lottery" affordability, there are no doubt plenty of people who wouldn't blink twice at the prices.  And in some of those cases I think "oh, if only..." but in others I'm going "What a maroon!"

I was looking at the weekly estate sale listings online on Friday, and one place had this GORGEOUS hand tooled trunk (not sure if it was covered with leather or metal).  And part of me was going "Oh, that's so beautiful!" and the other part was going "And where in the house do you think it's gonna GO?  And who knows how much they'd be asking for it?"  And decided to sleep in yesterday morning instead of getting up at 5 AM to go stand in line in the cold and damp, because the practical (cheapskate) me won out, and I treated myself to the new White and Red  Safari and a bottle of ink and some samples instead, and probably paid a fraction of what the price of the trunk had been, and the pen and inks are way more practical and functional in the long run....

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[DvdRiet]

8 minutes ago, inkstainedruth said:

I am SOOO stealing this quote, Bo Bo

 

Me, too!! 😂