Info on Diplomats?

[TEG]

I tend to have a soft spot for the Germans - Lamy, Pelikan, Rotring (until it was kidnapped and destroyed by Sanford). I see in PenWorld that Diplomats will soon be here. Does anyone have experience with this brand or recommendations?

[FrankB]

When I was a young soldier stationed in (West) Berlin, I discovered German fountain pens. Although Pelikan was the most popular pen I encountered, many of my German friends and neighbors used Diplomat pens. Diplomats were considered a very good buy for the price/quality ratio. I only bought some after I returned to the States. I could find Diplomats at some stores. Recently, Staples carried Diplomats for a while, and I bought a few more. I have gotten a couple more from either the Pentrace green board or FPN's Marketplace. In fact, I got one just this summer from the Marketplace.

 

I have found Diplomats to be very reliable pens. I do not recall a single problem with a Diplomat. Some of mine are laquer over metal caps and barrels, so they are middle weight for me. Most of mine have large Pel M-800 size nibs that I enjoy. I think every one of my Diplomats have M nibs, that write a true M line. Overall, I think my Diplomat pens are competative with any pen from a major pen maker. That is a personal opinion.

 

Diplomat is being distributed again in the U. S. I thought I had the URL bookmarked to give you, but I can not find it. Sorry. You should be able to Google it. The prices are higher than in the past, but they are still a good buy. If you find more information, please post it.

[Catsmelt]

The new Diplomat site is located here

 

These pens seem to be a re-emergence of the brand, although I'm not sure how much this relates to its history. As a case in point (and in fear of repeating myself from other threads) Diplomat doesn't know much about its history as I tried to find information on a limited edition pen they created through Tiffany & Co. Couldn't find a bit of info on it through Diplomat, even from their Germany offices. To be fair, Tiffany hadn't the faintest idea of what I was talking about either.

[Maja]

I believe the new website is: www.mydiplomatpen.com

 

I recall commenting in this old post about the modern Diplomat pens:

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/in...c=20219&hl=

 

Updates here: https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/in...c=21458&hl=

and https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/in...c=23179&hl=

 

Interesting to read some history about the older pens---thanks, FrankB!

[Maja]

Ha! Catsmelt beat me to it! :lol:

[tutelman]

There is a special place in my heart for Diplomat. My wife bought me a Diplomat Classic Collection rollerball as a gift when Staples was liquidating its stock. Since it was inexpensive and I liked it, I decided to get a duplicate - I was always losing pens. Wouldn't you know it, when I checked my local Staples, sitting in the drawer of pens to be liquidated was a Diplomat Classic Collection fountain pen. The store had no price on it so they let me have it for the rollerball clearance price - 80% off.

 

About one hundred and twenty fountain pens later, I love my Pelikans and Omases, Watermans, Sailors and Sheaffers, but it's nice to know my humble Dip - and five other Diplomats in various configurations - is always at the ready.

 

By the way, since I started collecting fountain pens, I have not lost a pen! :roflmho:

[TEG]

thanks for the history and helps, there's just something about that german design...

 

t

[EarlGrey]

There is a special place in my heart for Diplomat. My wife bought me a Diplomat Classic Collection rollerball as a gift when Staples was liquidating its stock. Since it was inexpensive and I liked it, I decided to get a duplicate - I was always losing pens. Wouldn't you know it, when I checked my local Staples, sitting in the drawer of pens to be liquidated was a Diplomat Classic Collection fountain pen. The store had no price on it so they let me have it for the rollerball clearance price - 80% off.

 

About one hundred and twenty fountain pens later, I love my Pelikans and Omases, Watermans, Sailors and Sheaffers, but it's nice to know my humble Dip - and five other Diplomats in various configurations - is always at the ready.

 

By the way, since I started collecting fountain pens, I have not lost a pen! :roflmho:

 

Does any one have a link or source for learning about older Diplomats? I have seen the new website and they are not the kind of pens I seek.

[dhewers]

I have two of these.

 

http://www.mydiplomatpen.com/images/products/90131913.gif

 

For me, they are like my Lamy Safari - very enjoyable pens that I don't mind carrying around everywhere. I have not had a problem with either one. My first one I bought at a pen store in Vancouver, British Columbia while on my honeymoon back in 1998. It is an orange translucent color. My second one I bought in 1999 at a Staples. It is solid black.

 

Like I said, both of them are enjoyable. I have one inked now with PR DC Supershow Green for writing in my home made planner. It fits in the ring.

Edited October 25, 2007 by dhewers

[kudzu]

In checking out the Diplomat pen website, I cannot find THIS German Diplomat pen. And the logo on my pen, which is 3 bars with the middle bar being longer, doesn't look anything like the German cross logo. Hmmm...is my cartridge pen NOT a real Diplomat? Or is there another German Diplomat pen company? Any information on my Diplomat below? TIA.

 

 

 

Edited October 25, 2007 by kudzu

[diplomat]

I saw no one linked the original diplomat web site yet, so I'll do it. Here it is, with some info on the company:

 

http://www.diplomat-pen.de/diplomat-en/unt...vanchor=2110002

 

Cleraly, due to my nick, I have a story over a Diplomat too, a story that is linked to my renewed interest in FP. I'll post it with some pics over the week end. Now, just for curiosity: are they accepting international cartdriges or do they have still the custom ones? Just asking since my diplo is vintage.

 

Cheers,

[RLTodd]

Is this a continuation of the historical Diplomat pen making company? Or is it a new contract shop that has acquired the name and trademark and is selling pens made ???? You know, like Conklin.

[fountainpenjunkie]

Kudzu,

How funny you have one of these pens. Like tutelman, I bought mine sometime around '95 when it was reduced to $40? as clearance at Staples. I bought many boxes of cartridges since that was the reason I was buying the pen in the first place; couldn't find cartridges to fit whatever pen I had. This pen got me started my quest online to find cartridges five years later. That turned into a search for vintage, found the PFM and here I am.

Edited January 17, 2008 by fountainpenjunkie

[FNas]

Is this a true genuine diplomat fountain pen? Does any one know? It is a set of a fountain pen with a 14 k gold nib and a mechanical pencil which has the word Diplomt engraved on it but the pen only has a number engraved which I guess is the serial number . It looks like a piston filler but I can’t open or get it to function to “drink” ink. Does a anyone how it works?