Largest Fountain Pen

[LEGEND]

This is my first post here, so please be understanding if it is out of place.

 

Recently, I've gotten into fountain pens and am looking for one to buy. While searching some of them up, I found that "jumbo" sized fountain pens were gaining quite the popularity and this got me curious. While there are many "giant" fountain pens being produced today, which fountain pen was truly the largest ever produced? I don't mean "largest" in just nib size, but in terms of the actual pen including the barrel and all.

 

I already found some giant ones like Conway Stewart Great Exhibit and the Parker Ultra Giant, which is just a bit smaller than the Conway Stewart, but I am wondering if there is anything larger.

 

Any help would be appreciated, thanks!

Edited September 26, 2022 by LEGEND

[ruby.monkey]

Should be an interesting topic, given that fountain pens like this exist.

[SpecTP]

are you looking for novelty or practical?

 

I would consider the Namiki Emperor to be the limit of practicality for my hands (big)

[inkstainedruth]

@LEGENDThere's also the consideration of "large" vs. "heavy".  

My largest pen is a vintage Sheaffer Balance Oversize that had belonged to my husband's grandfather.  But it's a very lightweight pen, given its size.  I have small hands and do not have any problems using that pen, even when the cap is posted (that means putting the cap on the back of the barrel when writing with it, in case you're not familiar with the term).
OTOH, my HEAVIEST pen, a Monteverde Strata, is a lot smaller than the Balance Oversize, in both length and -- to some extent -- girth (it was a gift from a friend, and I contacted the place she got it from, Truphae, and they told me it is roughly 32 grams, capped).

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

 

[LEGEND]

@SpecTP I'm looking for a novelty - I'm not really planning to use the pen often for writing, but rather as a showcase piece.

[LEGEND]

 

4 minutes ago, inkstainedruth said:

@LEGENDThere's also the consideration of "large" vs. "heavy".  

My largest pen is a vintage Sheaffer Balance Oversize that had belonged to my husband's grandfather.  But it's a very lightweight pen, given its size.  I have small hands and do not have any problems using that pen, even when the cap is posted (that means putting the cap on the back of the barrel when writing with it, in case you're not familiar with the term).
OTOH, my HEAVIEST pen, a Monteverde Strata, is a lot smaller than the Balance Oversize, in both length and -- to some extent -- girth (it was a gift from a friend, and I contacted the place she got it from, Truphae, and they told me it is roughly 32 grams, capped).

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

 

Yeah, that's definitely true - in this case, I'm suppose I'm looking for a combination of both, although I am putting the focus on "large" pens

[Waltz For Zizi]

5 hours ago, ruby.monkey said:

Should be an interesting topic, given that fountain pens like this exist.

that's just silly. why would anyone want to use that?

[Waltz For Zizi]

22 minutes ago, inkstainedruth said:

@LEGENDThere's also the consideration of "large" vs. "heavy".  

My largest pen is a vintage Sheaffer Balance Oversize that had belonged to my husband's grandfather.  But it's a very lightweight pen, given its size.  I have small hands and do not have any problems using that pen, even when the cap is posted (that means putting the cap on the back of the barrel when writing with it, in case you're not familiar with the term).
OTOH, my HEAVIEST pen, a Monteverde Strata, is a lot smaller than the Balance Oversize, in both length and -- to some extent -- girth (it was a gift from a friend, and I contacted the place she got it from, Truphae, and they told me it is roughly 32 grams, capped).

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

 

32g capped...that's like a feather. i have a MB that's 42g uncapped, and I've seen another MB that's over 120g capped. 

[ruby.monkey]

4 minutes ago, Waltz For Zizi said:

that's just silly. why would anyone want to use that?

21 minutes ago, LEGEND said:

@SpecTP I'm looking for a novelty - I'm not really planning to use the pen often for writing, but rather as a showcase piece.

 

 

[Waltz For Zizi]

Here's the largest...20ft, 43 kg. Big enough?🤣

 

"

Measuring 20 feet in length, one foot in width and weighing 43 kg, the feat was achieved at Government High School at Naurangabad in Sirmaur district on Saturday. The previous world record is for having in place an 18 feet long ball pen.

The headmaster of the school, Sanjeev Atri, claimed that it was the world’s largest pen that would not only write, but also recite recorded lectures on behalf of any teacher when he or she was on leave. Equipped with teaching-learning technology, the pen will monitor the students during the day and guard the school by night.

Atri, who teaches science, prepared the design of the pen with the help of teachers and got it made within three months. Named Shakti, the pen cost the teachers Rs 45,000. Made out of iron and wood, all the teachers shared among themselves the cost incurred on having the special pen built. The sensors in the pen will allow it to handle all kinds of commands.

The school authorities said they had also informed the Limca Book of World Records about the pen and a team was expected to inspect the school to see the pen soon."

[Waltz For Zizi]

And a ballpoint to go with it

[Waltz For Zizi]

4 minutes ago, Waltz For Zizi said:

Here's the largest...20ft, 43 kg. Big enough?🤣

it can probably last you a lifetime on a single fill...

[LEGEND]

1 hour ago, Waltz For Zizi said:

Here's the largest...20ft, 43 kg. Big enough?🤣

 

"

Measuring 20 feet in length, one foot in width and weighing 43 kg, the feat was achieved at Government High School at Naurangabad in Sirmaur district on Saturday. The previous world record is for having in place an 18 feet long ball pen.

The headmaster of the school, Sanjeev Atri, claimed that it was the world’s largest pen that would not only write, but also recite recorded lectures on behalf of any teacher when he or she was on leave. Equipped with teaching-learning technology, the pen will monitor the students during the day and guard the school by night.

Atri, who teaches science, prepared the design of the pen with the help of teachers and got it made within three months. Named Shakti, the pen cost the teachers Rs 45,000. Made out of iron and wood, all the teachers shared among themselves the cost incurred on having the special pen built. The sensors in the pen will allow it to handle all kinds of commands.

The school authorities said they had also informed the Limca Book of World Records about the pen and a team was expected to inspect the school to see the pen soon."

I think we have a winner😅

This certainly wasn't what I had in mind😂

I was thinking more of something produced not for a world record but as a product, novelty as it may be...

Edited September 26, 2022 by LEGEND

[Waltz For Zizi]

Here's a more manageable one

[kestrel]

7 hours ago, Waltz For Zizi said:

that's just silly. why would anyone want to use that?

It holds an enormous amount of ink.  Refill once per year.

It's actually not that hard to use and it does draw attention to itself.

[Lamy4life]

Don't forget, the giant sailor shown at the SF pen show granted it isn't working. I am sure you could 3d print one tho. 

https://www.reddit.com/r/fountainpens/comments/pd3wn0/sf_pen_show_sailor_let_me_hold_their_giant_3d/

 There are also those odd ball point pens that are giant, made to look like a fountain pen I remember  seeing them at the peyton street pens pen posse. (thats alot of "P") 

To me thats worse than a decorative pen, its like biting into a raisin cookie thinking its a chocolate.

I really hate raisin cookies, also white macadamia cookies. 

 

[LEGEND]

22 hours ago, Waltz For Zizi said:

Here's a more manageable one

😅

[inkstainedruth]

On 9/26/2022 at 2:19 PM, Waltz For Zizi said:

32g capped...that's like a feather. i have a MB that's 42g uncapped, and I've seen another MB that's over 120g capped. 

So, you're saying Yet Another™ reason to save my money and NOT buy a MB.... 

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[essayfaire]

I know I saw a video in the last couple months by sbrebrown and he had bought himself a very oversized pen; it was about a cubit long.  It was an expensive pen.

 

I have looked but cannot locate a link for it now, but perhaps someone else will have better luck.

[WLSpec]

In terms of useable pens, montegrappa had one that was absolutely gigantic. It had leather on the outside or something. Nib was twice the size of an Emperor, if not more. Also Kubo was making some insanely huge nibs, like his #100 nib, at some point. They would be on pens that were proportionally large. 

 

This link shows the Kubo 100 next to a pelikan m800 and namiki no.50

https://www.facebook.com/501213223574050/posts/some-giants-from-japan-from-left-to-right-pelikan-m800-kubo-100-kubo-50new-style/711573799204657/