First fountain pen suggestions?

[sonia_simone]

Richard's site is selling a cute kids' pen called the Lamy abc. Has anyone tried 'em?

 

OK, my kid is one, so I don't need it immediately.

[offbase]

Call me a nutball, but I recently gave my 10-year-old daughter a near mint, 1935 Wahl Doric (the very small ones) lever filler, since she takes good care of her pens and has such tiny little hands. I'll never regret it, as she now wants to seriously collect (okay, I DO regret her mooching my pens, ink, inkwells, cases ...). My son, however, is another story, less responsible, and a lefty overwriter with a hook (argh), so he gets a Lamy Safari. I'd say go small in size, and otherwise as your budget and your child's level of responsibility allow.

[meanwhile]

Rotring Cores are tough, probably look much cooler to an 8 year old than saner pens, have a nib that impresses Richard Binder, are very, very cheap bought off ebay.

[Richard]

What's wrong with a pen designed specifically to be used by children as a first pen, i.e., the Lamy abc?

 

http://www.richardspens.com/images/sales/other/zoomed/abc.jpg

 

I have to admit here that I'm the only retailer I know in the U.S.A. who carries this pen.

[Dillo]

Hi,

 

I could probably fish out an ABC from Europe for you if you wish. I like writing with mine (Although I generally like smaller pens)

 

Dillon

[kissing]

Wow, those pens look very specialised indeed

 

Personally, if i had a child, i would start him/her off with a Parker Vector, because its the first fountain pen I used and its a reliable, durable pen for a student/child.

 

cheers

[Leigh R]

When I was a child, I was given a yellowed copy of a Speedball calligraphy brochure, together with an old A4 nib and a penholder. I practiced and practiced and became obsessed with pens of all kinds! I think your child might also enjoy playing with a (sturdy!) plastic penholder and Speedball nibs, on top of a fountain pen.

 

The Lamy ABC looks good for small hands to grip. Or what about a Rotring Core? It looks like a robot-transformed-into-fountain-pen.

 

[TMLee]

What's wrong with a pen designed specifically to be used by children as a first pen, i.e., the Lamy abc?

 

http://www.richardspens.com/images/sales/other/zoomed/abc.jpg

 

I have to admit here that I'm the only retailer I know in the U.S.A. who carries this pen.

Dear Richard ....

How does this pen refill ?

[Dawn]

Hi

 

I got my 8 year old daughter a Pelikan Pelikano Junior, its great because it has indents on the section so that her fingers are in the correct writing position. The abc sure is a cute pen, I havent seen those before.

 

Dawn

[Kalessin]

I like the Pelikano Juniors, Lamy ABC's, etc.

 

One problem is that there is often some assistive shaping of the section to put fingers into the right configuration for proper handwriting, and there usually either isn't any left-hand version made, or if it is made, the left-hand ones don't get imported to the USA...

[Dawn]

I got a left handed Pelikano Junior from the USA, I dont know about the ABC though.

 

Dawn

[Dillo]

Hi,

 

Here are my reccomendations:

 

Pelikan Pelikano Junior--c/c filled

Pelikan Pelikano--c/c filled

Pelikan GO--Piston filled

Pelikan Level L65--Level filler

Lamy ABC--c/c filled

Lamy Safari--c/c filled

Kaweco Sport--cartridge filled, I am working on a filler for it.

Parker Reflex--c/c filled

Parker Jotter--c/c filled

Parker Vector--c/c filled

Rotring Core--c/c filled

Rotring Primus--c/c filled

 

The first four have the same nibs. They write smoothly

The second two also have the same nibs. They are slightly drier, but also smooth

The next pen has a Schmidt nib and is very smooth

The next three have the same nibs. They write wet, there are a few bad ones in the bunch, but most are smooth

The last two have the same nibs, but they write the best IMO. Very very smooth and even flow.

 

The Kaweco Sport, Rotring Primus, and Rotring Core are the best writers here.

 

My favourite is the Lamy ABC, but I also recommend the Core and Primus over the others.

 

Dillon

[David Holmes]

I add my voice to those espousing the LAMY ABC. Hard to get, even here in Europe, but compared to even the Pelikano Jr. they are the quintessential "learning pen." The shape of the section and the "flats" truly enourage proper grip and writing angle. These are a world apart from the bulk of the pens we all use every day. If the issue is simply giving a child a fountain pen, that's one thing. But if the goal is learning to right, this is truly the way to go. I'm stocking up for the eight (!) grandkids! By the bye, these are cartridge/convertor pens.

 

David

Edited October 2, 2006 by David Holmes

[Lemur]

Hello!

 

My tip:

 

Lamy Safari (there are the Vista and Al-Star models which are very handsome)

Parker 45

Pelikan Pelikano

 

Both Lamy Safari and Parker 45 give you the possibility to easy change/replace the nib as the whole nibsection is threaded.

 

Good luck!

 

 

Regards

Ingmar

[KendallJ]

Kelly,

 

I recommend a Pelkano Jr. or Pelikan Future. Great nibs. Great colors.

 

In fact, i've got a Jr. that I'm not using, and if you PM me your address, I'll send it to you gratis.

I still have the pelikan Jr. if you're interested.

[treeverte]

Lamy Vista because you can see when you are going to run out of ink, and then your kid can customize it with stickers. Doesn't cost a fortune either. Stypen's are fun too. There are Chinese pens that you can buy that are inexpensive but very good quality that you wouldn't have to worry about loss, and they are good quality.