fountain pens

[Edward]

Okay, I'm a ballpoint-user, for a practical reason: I'm left-handed and when I still used pens (like 20 years ago), the ink never dried quick enough and I would always smear what I had just written. Consequently, I switched to ballpens and it was much easier to write with them.
So here's my question: Is there a good, really quick-drying ink out there, preferably available in Germany/Europe?

I'm in a similar position - a lefty who doesn't write clawed-backwards, and so does pass my hand over what I've just written. I had smearing issues on occasion back in school. We were taught to write with pen and ink using cartridge pens at age nine. When I was eleven the school switch to a fibretip thing as being cheaper and perceived as cleaner than fountains. I used various rollerballs and ballpoints until fourteen, when I switched back to fountain by my own preference. I don't tend to find I have much trouble with modern inks. Waterman and Parker Quink, Diamine... no problem with any of those. The secret I find is also making sure the pen doesn't dump out too much ink at once.

 

[Shangas]

Quink, Quink, Quink, Quink, Quink.

It was designed to be quick-drying. And it's been doing that since the 1930s.

 

[John in Covina]

I have a standard Parker fountain pen, but would like to have to lovelier ladies fountain pen. Any advice on brands and models? I would say that my limit is about £75/$120. My ideal fountain pen would be ivory and black or just ivory, with a fine nib.

On another note, I would like some scented ink as well, any advice on ink or adding fragrance to ink?

As to the concept of Ladies Pen. These tend to be smaller versions of the regular pen.

Laban has two Mento and Meno I can't recall which is smaller.
You might look for a series 200 pelikan.


Best thing is go to a shop and handle some pens, see what fits your hand, see what their dimensions are, then look for similar sized pens.

 

[DeaconKC]

+1 to the Pelikan line of pens, they are fantastic. The 150 will be in your price range, but it is not the color you want.

 

[John in Covina]

One of the things i like to do is go on Ebay for some searches. A search i do now and then is "Pilot Fountain Pen" to check out all of the models that come up that haven't been sold regularly in the USA.

 

[Darhling]

Thanks to you both! The Pelikan looks really good in the black and gold nib! Might be swayed away from my ivory wish!

 

[John in Covina]

Thanks to you both! The Pelikan looks really good in the black and gold nib! Might be swayed away from my ivory wish!

A little bit more $ is the Waterman Charleston which comes in Black and also Ivory
http://www.goldspot.com/Waterman_pens/Charleston/77804.html

I have the Ivory it is a nice writer and when I got it one of the least expensive gold nib pens out there.

 

[DeaconKC]

That Charleston is a beautiful pen. The nice thing is that Waterman and Pelikan are both superb quality pens.

 

[stylesnob]

Found this Vintage Mont Blanc today on EBay. Love this piece but not the price! Anyone want to chip in? =) Sort of like a time-share agreement. haha
http://compare.ebay.com/like/370597287536?var=lv&ltyp=AllFixedPriceItemTypes&var=sbar&_lwgsi=y&cbt=y

 

[stylesnob]

A little bit more $ is the Waterman Charleston which comes in Black and also Ivory
http://www.goldspot.com/Waterman_pens/Charleston/77804.html

I have the Ivory it is a nice writer and when I got it one of the least expensive gold nib pens out there.

Really nice choice! Have you ordered from this site before?

 

[H.Herdick]

I have a standard Parker fountain pen, but would like to have to lovelier ladies fountain pen. Any advice on brands and models? I would say that my limit is about £75/$120. My ideal fountain pen would be ivory and black or just ivory, with a fine nib.

On another note, I would like some scented ink as well, any advice on ink or adding fragrance to ink?

And this one? http://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php?app=classifieds&do=view_item&item_id=9546

 

[Darhling]

H.Herdick, that is stunning!!

 

[John in Covina]

Really nice choice! Have you ordered from this site before?

No. I'll try to remember what online places I tend to frequent. can't think now.

 

[John in Covina]

Found this Vintage Mont Blanc today on EBay. Love this piece but not the price! Anyone want to chip in? =) Sort of like a time-share agreement. haha
http://compare.ebay.com/like/370597287536?var=lv<yp=AllFixedPriceItemTypes&var=sbar&_lwgsi=y&cbt=y

Yow! That's more than I would spend on a pen unless I was crazy rich.
Can't think of the brand but there is a maker that hand fashions the cap, body and clip out of jade, Laqst time i saw them they had one that was price at $10,000.00.

 

[J.W.]

I just won a bid on a Reform Nr. 1745 fountain pen on ebay. Should be here in a couple of days and I'm really looking forward to it. I haven't written with a real pen for ages! Now I only need to go out and buy some ink...

 

[tealseal]

Safari Ink

Hi all,
Looking for ink recommendations for a Lamy Safari fine and extra fine point pen. Preferably black, and preferably having some sort of water resistance. I've read a lot about Noodlers, but was wondering how it works in the nib(s) of the Safari.

 

[Shangas]

Noodler's Inks are a bit of a touch-and-go affair. Some work really well, some, you should avoid like the plague (most notably amongst this last, is Noodler's Baystate Blue. I've heard tell, it eats a pen like acid).

Most people would recommend Noodler's Bulletproof Black. It's designed to prevent cheque-fraud and it is the most water-resistant ink out there.

BUT, be warned. If you get it on your clothes, you will NEVER get it out. It's specifically designed to be UNremovable.

So perhaps wear black when you use it.

 

[jkingrph]

Noodler's Inks are a bit of a touch-and-go affair. Some work really well, some, you should avoid like the plague (most notably amongst this last, is Noodler's Baystate Blue. I've heard tell, it eats a pen like acid).

Most people would recommend Noodler's Bulletproof Black. It's designed to prevent cheque-fraud and it is the most water-resistant ink out there.

BUT, be warned. If you get it on your clothes, you will NEVER get it out. It's specifically designed to be UNremovable.

So perhaps wear black when you use it.

I have used Noodlers Baystate Blue in both new and vintage pens. It does tend to stain windows, like in my Montblanc 146 or many converters, but by using a weak ammonia solution it washes out readily. I have not had any problems with it damaging a pen.

 

[H.Herdick]

Look at this: http://www.conidpen.com/

I just ordered a Fountainbel bulk filler, designed by Francis Goossens from Belgium. It is such a beauty (the one in the middle, if you go to the Fountainbel collection) - till now, the make only 60 of it. Sadly, the others are not in production.

 

[John in Covina]

Hi all,
Looking for ink recommendations for a Lamy Safari fine and extra fine point pen. Preferably black, and preferably having some sort of water resistance. I've read a lot about Noodlers, but was wondering how it works in the nib(s) of the Safari.

My pen club did some tests of the bullet proof ink and it was very secure, so good for check writing.

If you are just looking for water resistance, it kind of depends on the circumstances. I used Levengers inks and found hey woul smudge after drying with the tinyest bit of moisture. Aurora Black from Italy was tested by one of the pen mags some year back and if allowed to dry did not wash away easily.