Question about fountain pens

[andy b.]

I just bought five bulows

Oh boy. You'll have 20 fountain pens laying around before you know it. They are cool little tools!

Andy B.

 

[Historyteach24]

Well, I bought the five Bulows because there was a package deal for them on xfountainpens.com. They had fantastic ratings on all sites I searched so I thought I would jump on it

 

[blazerbud]

When I was talking about Scientific note taking, I meant in a Lab notebook, for R&D. The only thing that should be used there is a plain cheap Bic stick pen.

 

[hatguy1]

Aw, come on in hatguy! Give in and jump in!!!

OK, mates. I stopped into the local office supplies chain store and bought an "entry-level" fountain pen. Popped in the ink cartridge that came with it and it began writing just fine. (Tonight's journal entry was written with it.) Thankfully, it wasn't as messy as I had feared, but.... I took about an hour break and then it took quite a bit of effort to get the nib primed again to resume writing. THEN several times during the several paragraphs I wrote post-break, the nib ran dry turning the 2nd half of my entry into a far sloppier-looking entry than was the 1st. Hmmm... Is this typical? Does this improve with more usage?

 

[scrawlysteve]

For you FP officianados... I saw this one on the Art of Manliness website. Doesn't look like anyone has mentioned this one yet.

http://www.thinkgeek.com/product/f4a3/?cpg=cj&ref=&CJURL=&CJID=2617611

The reason this isn't ever mentioned --IMO--is that it is a pen of extraordinary ugliness. For not a huge amount more than the price of this thing you can buy (on ebay) a classic pen which is a thing of beauty with an elegant shape, great balance, gold nib, etc .... If you are totally new to fountain pens get to a good store where they will let you dip different styles of nib and write a line or two. You will find which kind of nib you prefer (from fine to broad, stiff to flexible, stub, italic, oblique, etc ). Buy from them if you can afford to (they will not be cheap)... or search on the 'bay for a specialist pen seller offering instruments by one of the makers mentioned earlier in this thread. You won't ever regret having a fine pen. And throw that Icona away.....

 

[hatguy1]

We'll see. I wrote out a greeting card first thing this morning with the Icona and it worked just fine. Again, this is all an experimental "dip of the toe" into this fountain pen stuff. I may get into it deeper and maybe not. If so, I'll move up from the Icona. If not, I'm not out that much. And, as HistoryTeach24 points out, there aren't that many stores like you mention. So, this is a good experimental beginning for me.

 

[andy b.]

I don't know about the Icona, but a lot of office supply places in the U.S. used to carry Parker Vector fountain pens. I have one that has to be at least 20 years old and it still works fine (though I rarely use it as I have other pens I prefer more). I only mention it in case someone wanted to purchase a fountain pen locally instead of online.

 

[Shangas]

What the hell is a "tactical" fountain pen? Unless it fires jets of napalm when you work the filling mechanism, it ain't tactical.

 

[Historyteach24]

Hatguy, I am proud of you going out and buying a pen! I would not throw it away as someone noted just because they do not like the brand. It is all trial and error and it can be scary to buy vintage on ebay because people like you and myself may not be very good at repairing a vintage pen if it has a slight problem. The way I am approaching this is by buying some pens and finding the nibs that I like etc. Then I will know exactly what I am looking for on ebay. Just jumping right in with little knowledge would be like paying 300 dollars on ebay for a modern whippet.

 

[scrawlysteve]

Hatguy, I am proud of you going out and buying a pen! I would not throw it away as someone noted just because they do not like the brand. It is all trial and error and it can be scary to buy vintage on ebay because people like you and myself may not be very good at repairing a vintage pen if it has a slight problem. The way I am approaching this is by buying some pens and finding the nibs that I like etc. Then I will know exactly what I am looking for on ebay. Just jumping right in with little knowledge would be like paying 300 dollars on ebay for a modern whippet.

Well, If you read my post again you may see that I suggested the trial and error approach of buying various cheap pens to check the nibs can be avoided by going to a decent pen shop.... and that the problems of buying on ebay can be reduced by finding a reputable specialist seller.... furthermore just knowing which nib style you prefer will not help you "know exactly what you're looking for" on ebay...much more to it than that.
Buy cheap, buy twice ---as they say. @ Hatguy-- look at Fountain Pen Network -you will get lots of info on there from experts and enthusiasts
which will prove a far better guide than the words of someone who has only just begun with the entry level models of these instruments.
PS --on FPN there is a review of the Yafa Blister Pack pen which is probably your Icona--some helpful suggestions re. ink flow on there.

 

[Historyteach24]

Scrawlysteve I must simply say you are being arrogant and quite insulting

 

[Historyteach24]

Not everybody has 100 plus dollars to spend on a pen. It I'd rudeness and people like you that stop people from asking questions and learning

 

[scrawlysteve]

Scrawlysteve I must simply say you are being arrogant and quite insulting

Why, and I thought I was quite restrained...just trying to save hatguy from the "advice" of someone who opened this thread admitting he knows nothing at all about fountain pens and now feels he can guide him in this matter...and who also states he is "proud of him" for buying one ! What presumption.
If you care to look back to posts 25 and 26 you will see that you thanked me for an answer to one of your queries.
Still if you wish to feel insulted...please be my guest.

 

[Picard1138]

Scrawlysteve,

There are plenty of inexpensive fountain pens that write very well. I mentioned the Bulow models, I've never handled the Icona. The Lamy Safari is a great example of an inexpensive, "ugly" pen that writes very well, and is used by professionals all over the world. There are inexpensive classics too, but they are a gamble if you don't restore pens. I will post some restored antiques up here for sale for those that are interested, all are excellent writers and are under $100.

-Max

 

[scrawlysteve]

Yes --exactly..... I didn't say inexpensive pens are worthless (...some are fine -the Plumix for example and I don't know the Bulow but you obv. think they are OK-- though you say you may have to swap the nib and the converter )merely that I think that restored antiques which will give real aesthetic pleasure as well as writing efficiently for under $100 are a great deal....and well worth the additional expense. It is a thing you will keep for ever.You can buy a new Kia Picanto or an older BMW for the same money--but one will give you much more driving pleasure than the other. Do post your pens--I imagine there's more than one Lounger would like to see them.

 

[Historyteach24]

I was proud of hatguy because earlier in the thread he said he would never buy one. I was just giving encouragement, something that is foreign to you.

 

[scrawlysteve]

I was proud of hatguy because earlier in the thread he said he would never buy one. I was just giving encouragement, something that is foreign to you.

You really are very tiresome.

 

[Historyteach24]

Lets just agree we tire each other out and move on shall we?

 

[Picard1138]

A few restored Sheaffer pens for sale:
Writing samples with pen right after restoration (full clean, new ink sac fitted, all surfaces shined and polished), then pens were emptied, cleaned, and dried again.

"Marine Green striated" 1936 Sheaffer Balance 500 in excellent writing shape with #5 Feather Touch two toned gold nib. New sac and full clean. It does have some brassing on the ring, lever, and clip. $55 plus shipping


"Gold/Brown striated" 1941 Sheaffer Balance 350, also in excellent writing shape with #33 14k gold nib. Full restoration (writing sample photo is before polish, second photo is after completion). $70 plus shipping.


-Max

 

[Historyteach24]

How do you fill these vintage pens?