Any pen guys out there?

[Rigger]

Guys I bought my first antique pen about 25 years ago. I picked up a large collection of pens some time ago and thought I would share them with everyone. I like the mont blanc pens but the waterman pens feel great in the hand. I have some sterling parkers and I have used the fountain pen at work and it writes well,i go thru the ink pretty fast. my buddy wants to rid me of about 100 of my pens all in one swoop. I dont know if Im ready to do that.Anyone else appreciate fine writing pens?

 

[Andy Griffith]

This is about the only pen I've ever paid for...

 

[Texas Star]

Yes, I have a few sterling Parkers, one ball pen gold-plated. Also have a couple of Cross pens, fountain pens, I mean.

It is true that the ink has to be refilled often, and using the plastic cartridges is a lot less messy, if your pen accepts them.

When I use a Parker 75, it takes me back to the 1960's, when they were advertised in magazines like National Geographic...before it became a PC rag.

The fountain pen suggests a breeding and class too rare in today's world. It often also impresses people, and causes grocery clerks to ask what you have. Most have never seen a fountain pen.

If this "friend" wants 100 of your pens, he is using you to make a profit. But if you have to ask if you should sell the pens, maybe you should! But keep a few of the good, using ones.

One rub is that it's getting hard to get replacement nibs. I usually use a ballpoint now, but it's also one of several sterling Parkers. Finding ink can often be a problem, too.

T-Star

 

[Rigger]

I've ad lots of the braverman pen pistols over the years. Times are hard I know,and I never really justified having the things I like. I've got extra nibs and ink so I really don't have to go out and buy any. Most of my pens came from a well off man who was getting rid of his pens and watches. One of my 146 mont blancs doesn't write all that great and I'm afraid I'm gonna have to send it off. I like the mont blanc traveller 5200 pens,they are so simple and light weight. I believe I have 5 or 6 of the sterling parkers,they just feel good in the and. I've got some desk sets,I just not dare put those out at work. My biggest worry is setting them down and someone walking off with one!

 

[LennyLames]

I've been using Parker fountain pens for many years now. I don't consider myself to be a collector. I just like writing with fountain pens, medium nibs. I don't own any old or antique pens as I prefer the functional integrity of newer fountain pens. I've never deployed any of the reusable ink pumps that come with the pens; I just use disposable cartridges.

Some of the common comments I get when I whip my fountain pen out are "I don't know anyone else that uses fountain pens" or "I haven't seen a fountain pen in a long time."

One disadvantage of using fountain pens in public is when someone tries to borrow it. Few people know that a fountain pen nib conforms to the owner's writing style, and use by someone else, no matter how minimal, can affect the nib. But based on the reactions I get to my refusal to lend it, they think that I don't trust them with my pen (I don't, but that's just another reason). Some of the other situations involve attempts to borrow my pen to write on incompatible paper such as thermal paper used for credit card receipts, or multi-copy forms such as those customs forms used when flying from one international destination to another.

Nowadays, my pen usage is not as extensive as it used to be. I now generate far more text with a keyboard than with a pen simply because I type much faster than I can write. Even the most common use of my pen, writing checks, is far less frequent now due to digital payment methods, but signing my name with an expressive medium nib is the best part of writing a check. However, in situations where a keyboard is neither available nor convenient, I still find handwriting preferable over my digital devices such as smart phones.

 

[Dennis The B]

I've been collecting...

...since about 1997, and I've got about 150 of various makes.

My favorite is the first one I bought. It's a Parker Duofold, ca 1928. The nib is the best I've ever used. Right behind it is a Parker 51 "Flighter", made in 1951, with a broad Italic nib. I also have some modern Duofolds in Red Jasper, Blue Lapis, Pearl, Black, and "Orange". While they have great quality, they still don't write like the originals, even with 18k gold nibs.

I have some modern Mont Blancs, several Auroras, Pelikans, and Bexleys. I own several Parker Vacumatics, in Duofold and 51. They're great writers, but don't have the springiness of the older Duofolds. I also like Moores, and I have several Gold Medal and Gold Bond, and Diamond Medal pens, which are pretty generic, but excellent-writing pens.

Sheaffers are also a part of my collection, and my taste runs to the PFMIII's, and the older senior-size Balance pens. Of these, I really like a carmine red Balance. It's a superb pen, but it seems that the Balances from the later 1930's have stiffer nibs than the older ones.

My taste in ink runs to Aurora and Pelikan. I never really cared for Parker inks. Waterman is a close third.

There is absolutely nothing like a fountain pen from the 1920's and '30's.

Here are a couple of my favorites - Top is a Sheaffer Senior Balance, rare carmine red. Bottom is a Wahl Eversharp Deco.

 

[Rigger]

I really like the parker 51s, mine write great! I too have a pelikan or 2. I collect watches as well. When I wear a sub or an omega and have a fancy pen some people get the wrong impression. People think because you have items like that,that you must be some rich guy. I tell people all the time that hard work can get you far. No I didn't give tons of money for what I have,but that's none of their concern. I really enjoy writing with a nice pen. Its nice to know your not alone!

 

[RonJ]

i'm not a collector but I like to use a nice pen when conducting business or other public use. I prefer not to use a fountail pen. We keep Parker Jotters for household use. I otherwise use a Parker Sonnet in black lacquer with gold trim. Classy without being super expensive.

 

[TACC1]

Fascinatine Hobby

I'm not a collector, but do like a good writing instrument. Tried
everything I could until I tried a Sheaffer Prelude ballpoint.
The size and weight allow me a solid control when writing.
That makes me writing half-way legible. I've got maybe half-a-dozen
floating around here, in case I lose one. The right pen is a pleasure
to use. TACC1

 

[Rigger]

Man those are good looking pens! - once asked a doctor many years ago if I could use his pen,and his exact words to me was"Never lend anyone your wife or your pen,it will make you write funny".On the pen pistol,there was an engraver in Dallas that told me if I took my pen pistol to him at the start of the show he would engrave it and have it done by te end of the day. He quoted me $100,I should have done it! I

 

[chief38]

I've got a few Parker Duofold pen sets that include a Fountain Pen, Ball Point Pen, Roller Ball and Mechanical Pencil. I also have a few other brands of Fountain Pens, but I have always liked the Parkers best.

Recently, I have been experimenting with different ink colors and brands. I find the Aurora, Diamine, & Noodler's inks to be very good. Waterman's Florida Blue is always a standard as well.

Check out the website I have listed below. It is VERY informative if you are into Pens!

Glenns Pens - about pens, inks, stores, companies and owning a pen


Chief38

 

[JM4151]

Staples has the ink!