I got this pen today

[Paul-in-SF]

Today I received in the mail a Marlen Basilea in a bright tomato-ey red with a black cap finial and black accents in the cap band, plus their usual silver clip. As I wrote to the seller, I can't resist Marlen's quirkiness, quality and imagination. And this one has a Masuyama-ground Fine Cursive Italic nib, one of my favorite grinds. 

 

I'm not usually one for matchy-matchy ink in a colorful pen, but I have put the last of a tiny bottle of J. Herbin Rouge Bourgogne in it. It is a little too pink to actually match, which is just right. 

[USG]

29 minutes ago, Paul-in-SF said:

Today I received in the mail a Marlen Basilea in a bright tomato-ey red with a black cap finial and black accents in the cap band, plus their usual silver clip. As I wrote to the seller, I can't resist Marlen's quirkiness, quality and imagination. And this one has a Masuyama-ground Fine Cursive Italic nib, one of my favorite grinds. 

 

I'm not usually one for matchy-matchy ink in a colorful pen, but I have put the last of a tiny bottle of J. Herbin Rouge Bourgogne in it. It is a little too pink to actually match, which is just right. 

 

Congratulations.  It sounds great. 😀👍

Was the Masuyama grind done on the original 18K Italian nib or is it another nib?

[USG]

3 hours ago, Penguincollector said:

My new to me Platinum pocket pen has just arrived.  I love these inlaid nibs.

 

Hey look what you have !!! 👍😀  Nice nib !!! ✒️ How does it write?❓

[DvdRiet]

4 hours ago, Paul-in-SF said:

Today I received in the mail a Marlen Basilea in a bright tomato-ey red with a black cap finial and black accents in the cap band, plus their usual silver clip. As I wrote to the seller, I can't resist Marlen's quirkiness, quality and imagination.

As one who recently acquired an older Vitis (but without the huge keyhole and key) as my first foray into Marlen pens, I can now completely relate to this. It is a wonderful pen! And now I am even tempted to go for something really quirky 😅

Congrats on a fun pen! Hope you enjoy it!

[Penguincollector]

11 hours ago, USG said:

 

Hey look what you have !!! 👍😀  Nice nib !!! ✒️ How does it write?❓

 
Thanks! I don’t know yet- I have too many inked right now (16). I’m going to guess that it’s really similar to the turquoise Platinum with the same inlaid nib but fine instead of extra fine. The seller described it as fine flexible but I think they mean feel and not tine spread. The turquoise is bouncy and smooth. 

[Paul-in-SF]

13 hours ago, USG said:

Was the Masuyama grind done on the original 18K Italian nib or is it another nib?

 

It was on the original nib. I guess this is pretty typical for Masuyama, the corners are a little crisper than in some other CI grinds I have had, so I have to slow down a little when I write with it. 

[USG]

7 hours ago, Penguincollector said:

 
Thanks! I don’t know yet- I have too many inked right now (16). I’m going to guess that it’s really similar to the turquoise Platinum with the same inlaid nib but fine instead of extra fine. The seller described it as fine flexible but I think they mean feel and not tine spread. The turquoise is bouncy and smooth. 

"I have too many inked right now"  haha, I know what you mean, I have almost everything inked...  sometimes the ones with poorly fitting caps dry out and have to be re-hydrated, I don't care, it's all good 😁👍

 

"The seller described it as fine flexible"  When I looked at it, it had a kind of vintage flexible look about it. 😁 

LOL maybe I'm seeing things. 🤷‍♂️

 

6 hours ago, Paul-in-SF said:

 

It was on the original nib. I guess this is pretty typical for Masuyama, the corners are a little crisper than in some other CI grinds I have had, so I have to slow down a little when I write with it. 

 

What was the original nib width?  I'm curious about the size of the sweet spot on CI nibs.  My only experience is with an Italic Aurora nib, not like yours though, because it has sharp edges and you have to be careful.

[Bo Bo Olson]

I use to normally have 17 inked, but managed to get it down to 8...supposed to be 7,,,,,that way I use up more ink....than having pens that have to be dipped into a wet sponge because they sat in three pen cups for so long.

[USG]

32 minutes ago, Bo Bo Olson said:

I use to normally have 17 inked, but managed to get it down to 8...supposed to be 7,,,,,that way I use up more ink....than having pens that have to be dipped into a wet sponge because they sat in three pen cups for so long.

 

"having pens that have to be dipped into a wet sponge"  Nice technique 👍, I keep a syringe nearby and dispense drops of water as necessary. 😁

[AmandaW]

Just arrived. Thankyou Postie.

 

A Sailor ProfitLight Shining Blue EF. Has sparklies...

 

[Paul-in-SF]

4 hours ago, USG said:

What was the original nib width?

 

It was a Fine, although it seems a bit wider than an Italian Fine. Maybe it's the line variation that fools my eye. 

[Bo Bo Olson]

Can use a shot glass, but living in Germany still have access to a rubber cup with a sponge in it; for lick them stamps. Self sticking stamps haven't hit here yet.

In the states one could look on Ebay or flea markets for postal sponge cups.

[Lithium466]

An ebay impulse purchase, my first vintage pen, a rather overpriced and dubious Parker VS:

 

 

probably assembled from various parts, as the nib doesn't fit the feed and so it barely writes. Sac in decent shape and that filling button is rather effective (picture me impressed).

 

The nib is nice, although its tines are not symmetrical and it looks a bit funky, so it'll go in another pen, maybe a Kaco Edge or something like that.

[Misfit]

I got the deep red Kaweco AL today. Hurray!

 

[USG]

On 8/10/2023 at 7:06 AM, Bo Bo Olson said:

Can use a shot glass, but living in Germany still have access to a rubber cup with a sponge in it; for lick them stamps. Self sticking stamps haven't hit here yet.

In the states one could look on Ebay or flea markets for postal sponge cups.

Haha, yes a shot glass.  I've used a shot glass with my dip pens.

[Misfit]

Another new pen arrived today. It’s the Fahrney’s/Retro 51 Cherry Blossom pen of 2023 featuring the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial.  I filled it with De Atramentis Franklin Roosevelt or tungsten purple.  The nib is a 1.1mm stub nib. 
 

[Bo Bo Olson]

That is quite an ornate pen. FDR was my mothers idol.

[Misfit]

8 hours ago, Bo Bo Olson said:

That is quite an ornate pen. FDR was my mothers idol.

My Mom used to tell me the story of her mother running out to tell her husband “the President is dead”.   My Mom was likely 9 years old, and that must have really impressed her mind, to remember that well into adulthood. 

[Arkanabar]

Many people know where they were and what they were doing when JFK was shot, and when the planes hit the Twin Towers on 9/11.  It's to be expected.  Your mother had reached the age of reason, so it's hardly surprising she remembers.

[A Smug Dill]

 

Wing Sung appears to have properly addressed the rusty cap finial screw problem with the 3008 model, in the units that are in current production, despite these days the model barely gets a mention (as new acquisitions) in online hobbyist forums any more, seemingly faded into the collective's distant memory as a has-been. Those pens are still very competitive as writing instruments in at the ~US$4 price point in today's market, in my opinion.