What Pens Do You Want?

[inkstainedruth]

Yeah, when that first came out as an M805 I was just drooling over the Stresemann.  And then when they came out with them as an M405 a few years later, it was the ONE time in my life I had a major discretionary shopping budget. 

Although the binde was a little darker in color than I had expected from the promo photos....

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

 

ETA: @DilettanteG -- I just checked, and no, my M405 Stresemann does not have an ink window.  But it does have the translucent binde.

[DilettanteG]

4 minutes ago, inkstainedruth said:

Yeah, when that first came out as an M805 I was just drooling over the Stresemann.  And then when they came out with them as an M405 a few years later, it was the ONE time in my life I had a major discretionary shopping budget. 

Although the binde was a little darker in color than I had expected from the promo photos....

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

Does the M405 Stressman have an ink window? I'm nit picking for such a pretty pen.

[inkstainedruth]

Apparently our posts crossed.  No, it doesn't have an ink window.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[langere]

No, no Stresemanns have ink windows, as far as I know.  They are all modeled after the Souveräns.

 

Erick

[DilettanteG]

@inkstainedruth Thanks Ruth! I'm surprised how much I've come to enjoy the smaller M400 size, even though I only have one. Great little pens!

 

@langere The modern Souverans Special Editions have pretty much dropped the ink window, with the exception of the M101Ns. I think it started with the later editions M620s. Strangely, the Classic series M200s often seem to have them. Not sure what that's about. I'm also not sure about Pelikan's newer standard issue Souverans, as mine are all older.

 

 

 

[inkstainedruth]

I'm now going to have to look at ALL my flock to see which ones have ink windows and which ones don't.  The only one I know about for sure is the older model Pelikano I picked up for five bucks at a pen show a few years ago -- which broke right at the join between the ink window and the barrel   It was such a bummer, because it was a nice writer for being a "school pen".  

Honestly, I don't understand people sneering at low end pens as "school pens" -- my Safaris, my Parker Vectors, my Sheaffer school pens, and even the 1980s era P1 Twist that I got as swag at last fall's Pelikan Hub?  All are good writers (I wish I could find converters for the other 2 Sheaffer school pens -- I'll have to swap the converter between the three pens) and the ONLY ones I've had problems with was the Pelikano which broke, and having lost a few of the Vectors over the years (and the cap on the French Blue Safari I bought used on eBay, and the Sailor Lecoule someone gave away at last fall's Hub as well).  

Now, I probably wouldn't want to try writing the Great American Novel with a Vector because they're pretty skinny pens -- but otherwise?  They're little workhorses.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[Bo Bo Olson]

14 minutes ago, DilettanteG said:

Great little pens

Great Standard sized pens. It is not little, when posted like it should be.....

It has great balance, as does the 600..

..the larger ones lack balance of course....even unposted....IMO....but I grew up in the era of great balance.... '50-64-5 or so...was when the Bic came in and no one stole it, like all my fountain pens. After I learned the trick of keeping the cap in my mouth. 😎

Every year my fountain pen and Jotter were stolen...too poor to have my name engraved on them.

 

The very well advertised PFM, I never saw in real life back in the day of the rich had a color t=TV,, and it went over like a lead balloon  sales wise until in the next generation.

[DilettanteG]

@inkstainedruth I have a soft spot for school pens as my first fountain pen was a Sheaffer Nononsense Calligraphy back in the 1980s. Not a huge fan of converter pens these days, just personal preference, but I bought a couple inexpensive used TWSBI piston fillers recently and they are great little writers! Pelikans are still my favorite, but I do worry they're pricing themselves out of the market. Their recent bankruptcy  despite making such an excellent product really fueled my recent buying bonanza. My FOMO is strong with this brand. It's probably because I've collected so many of the Special Editions and as we've discussed with the M620s, the prices get into the nosebleed section much more quickly than I'd like. 

 

The M800 Brown Tortoise has been on my wishlist for a long time, but at $1K price point with tax and shipping, I just haven't been able to pull the trigger. A MB146 or 149 flex has been on my list for a long time too, but same problem. I just can't see myself getting $1K of enjoyment out of either, plus I'd get paranoid about damaging or losing it. That would take the fun out of it!

 

And I'm with that suggestion on the Pelikan forum, at this point I hope you AirTag your Cafe Creme!

[inkstainedruth]

Ironically, someone posting a link to a video of an old TV ad for PFMs ("Get your husband a PFM!   You know he wants one!") which showed the fill system led me down the Snorkel rabbit hole....  

This forum is SOOOO dangerous for my wallet.... 

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[DilettanteG]

4 minutes ago, inkstainedruth said:

Ironically, someone posting a link to a video of an old TV ad for PFMs ("Get your husband a PFM!   You know he wants one!") which showed the fill system led me down the Snorkel rabbit hole....  

This forum is SOOOO dangerous for my wallet.... 

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

Same. I was given some Christmas money, which started my pen spending spree. In the three years that I took a break from FPN, I don't think I bought a single pen, though they still get used everyday. I write a lot by hand.

[Bo Bo Olson]

3 hours ago, DilettanteG said:

Their recent bankruptcy

Was it a bankruptcy or a sell off...Pelikan went bankrupt twice before the Malaysian billionaire bought it up a generation ago. ...MB once about the same time as the first Pelikan bankruptcy.... Which is why MB got rid of affordable pens and chased the guys with gelt, and little red tabs on their suit. 

[langere]

I also have a soft spot for school pens.  When in grade school in Germany, they made us use Geha school pens.  I still remember how, after we used up a cartridge, cut it in half and used themn as tokens for board games we invented.  Also, one of my brothers, if I remember correctly, saved up the little glass or plastic balls of the cartridges and kept a jar with them on his desk.

 

It was only in 1998 when I got back into fountain pens, with a Levenger's [Sheaffers] Blue Sea pen.

 

Since then, my tastes have changed a bit, but my Levenger's pen got me going and now makes me want other pens...

 

Erick

[jchch1950]

School pens qualification is given to instruments that were more easily substituted when you are learning to write or prone to accidents that are part of a young age. But some of them are now dearly acquired by  adults or professionals who want a sturdy and attractive pen like the Lamy Safari or the lower price Pelikans or Parkers.

[Inkyways]

"WATERMAN 7'  pen with a purple nib.

Actually I bought a pen in great condition which need CLC. It was sent to me by the seller by. USP postal. I paid ( My bidding win price ) was a about £280. and it was a bargain. but the Rubbish USP postal service in UK messed it up. I never received a notice and it went back to USA. I lost money on this deal and missed the best opportunity. SO I NEVER EVER BUY ANYTHING FROM USA unless I get them by a simple postal Shipping or negotiable way of shipping. 

I am constantly waiting to get a waterman " Purple nib" or a any pen NO5 or 7 with this particular nib.  Once I get this pen All my other pens buying will stop.

[inkstainedruth]

On 3/8/2024 at 12:09 AM, jchch1950 said:

School pens qualification is given to instruments that were more easily substituted when you are learning to write or prone to accidents that are part of a young age. But some of them are now dearly acquired by  adults or professionals who want a sturdy and attractive pen like the Lamy Safari or the lower price Pelikans or Parkers.

Absolutely this.  "School pens" are, IME, designed to be simple to use & maintain, and they Just Work....

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth