What Are The Common Brands' "entry-Level" Pens? Their "signature" Models?

[astronautcowboy]

I am new to using fountain pens, having just picked up a Cross Bailey in a gift set at Staples last week. Like most newcomers, I have already fallen down the rabbit hole and am eager to try out more pens and brands. From listening to Goulet Pens videos and doing some brief research of my own, I have learned a lot about a few good entry-level pens that are designed for beginners, or at least those not ready to make triple digit investments.

 

I think picking up these kind of pens would be a nice way to start a collection and try out different brands, nibs, and so on. Can you please advise which pens and brands are missing from my list, or if my list is inaccurate?

 

Cross - Bailey, Aventura, Stratford (the office supplies store pens)

Parker - Urban (I found a gift set in OfficeMax, so it seems like the equivalent of the Crosses)

Pilot - Metropolitan

Lamy - Safari

 

As you can see my knowledge is still pretty limited! In the future I think I'd like to start my advanced fountain penned collection by going after each brands signature model, so I guess my second request is to tell me the pen - of any price - that comes to mind when you think of each popular pen maker.

 

Thank you!

Edited November 26, 2014 by astronautcowboy

[freewheelingvagabond]

Lamy Safari.

[J85909266]

Noodlers - Ahab

TWSBI - 580

Platinum - 3776

Sailor - 1911

Pelikan - M 200

Montblanc - Meisterstuck

[astronautcowboy]

Lamy Safari.

You caught me! My iPad is still quite temperamental when it comes to autocorrecting.

Noodlers - Ahab

TWSBI - 580

Platinum - 3776

Sailor - 1911

Pelikan - M 200

Montblanc - Meisterstuck

Would these qualify as signature or entry-level pens? (For the brands, of course; I know that Mont Blanc is a luxury brand so for them, entry level is Christmas bonus and then some-level.)

Edited November 26, 2014 by astronautcowboy

[J85909266]

I went more with signature than entry level. The two are not synonymous.

[Sridhar]

1. Sailor, Platinum and Pilot have plenty of entry options starting at $9 to $50 depending on your preferences. Given that Japanese make excellent niibs I would rate them highly.(Engeika.com - no affiliation).

 

2. If you would like to experiment with filling systems, Noodlers Konrad and Ahab at $20 is your go to pen for entry.

 

3. If you have a penchant for ebonite and rippled bodies with huge ink capacities of an eyedropper, try Indian pens at Aspens.in (again no affiliation, yada yada)

[Wheatflower]

As noted, Lamy's entry level pen is the Safari. It has two closely allied variants: the Vista, which is made of clear plastic (aka a demonstrator); and the Al-Star, which has a colored aluminum body.

 

Lamy's signature pen is the Lamy 2000. I have one and I love it immoderately.

[astronautcowboy]

I went more with signature than entry level. The two are not synonymous.

Thanks. I know the two terms are not interchangeable - I was hoping to make a list of each. Thank you for contributing!

[pendexter]

I am new to using fountain pens, having just picked up a Cross Bailey in a gift set at Staples last week.

 

There's absolutely nothing wrong with purchasing a fountain pen from Staples... but... I would recommend that you do your shopping elsewhere. I've never seen a Staples, Office Max, etc. carry Lamy's, TWSBI's, etc. that many on the FPN would consider excellent starter pens. And it's not like you'd be paying for excellent service or advice... And they need to mark up the costs to account for the fact that they are a brick and mortar. Plus it's a big box national chain, as opposed to your local pen shop or community oriented online store.

 

I'd say that your best bet would be to walk into a fountain pen store in your area and talk to the guy behind the counter. If the service is any good, he'll have a few recommendations for you, and will let you write with the pens. (You really should try them out before you buy). The prices are often going to be full retail, but the benefits you gain are worth it in my opinion.

 

The other option is to go to an online retailer, such as nibs.com or gouletpens.com. Goulet has an excellent web presence, and there are many informative videos to help you understand the pens better. Nibs.com is run by John Mottishaw and he tests and adjusts every pen before it leaves his shop. (pens that don't write right are a problem that plague pens of all price points). Engeika.com is another excellent web store for Japanese fountain pens. You won't be able to see the lowest prices until you sign up (free) and the prices run lower than goulet and nibs.com, which are already 20% off of "retail" prices.

 

And another option I recommend is to look through the FPN classifieds. The people that buy/sell are the same people that frequent the boards, so transactions go smoothly, much more so than eBay, etc.

 

Oh, and finally: Safari, TWSBI 580, or a Pilot Custom 74 from Engeika.com (No affiliation to any of the companies, etc..) and welcome to the board.

[astronautcowboy]

Thank you for the advice! I bought the pen from Staples because we no longer have any fountain pen shops on Long Island and I probably won't be making a trip into NYC anytime soon. I didn't really know any better at the time either, and $20 for a $50 set seemed like a great deal!

 

I have been watching Goulet Pens videos nonstop. Do they do anything for Black Friday or Cyber Monday? I don't mind spending a little extra to buy from them, but I am on a pretty tight budget (graduate student, father of one/soon to be two) so I'd like to hold out for at least a free shipping promotion.

 

Do any online retailers participate, for that matter? There are too many pens that I want to try!

[cadfael_tex]

+1 on buying from Gouket, nibs.com, etc for the knowledge of fountain pens. Look at the Platinum Cool/Balance as good entry level pens. For more, I think the Pelikan M200/205 are great pens to see what a fountain pen can do in a workhorse manner - plus you can get very good steel nibs in different sizes/grinds to try out very Inexpensively.

[Ambrose Bierce]

I'll be the first to suggest the Kaweco Classic Sport. It is made to be a smaller portable pen that is postable to then be a normal sized pen. Comes in lots of colors and his a pretty strong following. If you like the demonstrator thing they also have the Kaweco Ice Sport. Do a little research and see what you think of it.

Here is a picture of a few of the models, but definitely not all

[Icywolfe]

Pilot's Entry: MR/Metro/Cocoon or the 78g or the VP

Pilot Flagship: Custom 845

 

Platinum Entry(?): Preppy or PTL5000

Platinum Flagship(?): #3376 or President

 

Sailor Entry: 1911

Sailor Flagship(?): King of Pen

[ac12]

Reflecting a budget, here are my choices for affordable new/current pens (most under $50 and the rest under $100)

• Lamy, cartridge: Safari, Vista, joy, cp1, logo, studio (the studio is a rather heavy pen)
• Parker, cartidge: IM
• Pelikan, piston: M150, M200 (these are in the $80-100 range, street price)
• Pilot, cartridge: Metropolitan, 78G
• TWSBI, piston and vac fill (these are in the $50-80 range)

Now let's make this more interesting by adding used/old pens that are also good and affordable

• Esterbrook, ink sac: J series
• Eversharp, ink sac: Skyline
• Parker; cartridge: 45, 88, 180, Classic / aerometric: 21 super, 51
• Sheaffer; cartridge: school pen, no nonsense, imperial, targa / ink sac: Snorkel, Imperial, Targa

There are a lot more, but this is what I can think of off the top of my head.

 

Note1 - A restored vintage/old/used pen can be every bit as good or in some cases better than a "new" pen. The build quality of some of the old pens are better than many of some of todays pens. Several of the pens that I use are "vintage" and older than me.

Note2 - The price range for old pens varies tremendously up into the $ hundreds, based on many reasons. But you can find decent example of most of the ones listed above for less than $50, and all can be found for less than $100. You just have to shop carefully.

Note3 - You need to be VERY careful with the fill mechanism for these old pens. Some like the sac pens, will need to be resaced, as the ink sac could be over 60 years old and if not disintergrated, may fail next week. Personally, I replace ALL ink sacs, so I know the sacs are good for another 15 years. For just a couple/few pens, I would send the pens to a pro to get the resacing done. The cost and effort to learn to resac just a couple pens is not worth it.

Note4 - You can buy restored pens, which you can use immediately w/o the hassle of getting the pen resaced. This would be my choice for a person in your position.

 

Vendor recommendation for old pens (there are others, I just don't know them):

• Peyton Street Pens (restored pens)

[amk]

German entry level pens (might have to be bought from EU, not sure if they're available in USA) - Pelikan Pelikano and Faber Castell School Pen are fun and cheap introduction fountain pens. (I prefer the last version of the Pelikano though.) Also Pelikan Twist. These are school/teenage funky pens that I quite like. Or Faber Castell Basic/Loom for a more 'normal' entry level pen. Lamy Safari already mentioned zillions of times, of course :-)

 

+1 for Ambrose Bierce's suggestion of the Kaweco Sport.

 

All the Japanese pens have superb intro ranges.

 

'Signature' pens? Lamy 2000. Parker Duofold (though modern is not as good as vintage). Waterman Carene I think, though others might give a different answer. Sailor King of Pen. Pilot Capless.

 

I think not everyone will agree on 'signature' pens. Even with Lamy where practically everyone will say 'Lamy 2000' you might say the Lamy Persona is the real design classic, though it's considerably more expensive and also made in lower numbers (and I think now discontinued?)

 

However... in the US I would say the best pen makers around right now are not Parker and Sheaffer, but Edison and Bexley. Do take a look. Some of their pens are very wantable!

[Postscript]

Thank you for the advice! I bought the pen from Staples because we no longer have any fountain pen shops on Long Island and I probably won't be making a trip into NYC anytime soon. I didn't really know any better at the time either, and $20 for a $50 set seemed like a great deal!

 

I have been watching Goulet Pens videos nonstop. Do they do anything for Black Friday or Cyber Monday? I don't mind spending a little extra to buy from them, but I am on a pretty tight budget (graduate student, father of one/soon to be two) so I'd like to hold out for at least a free shipping promotion.

 

Do any online retailers participate, for that matter? There are too many pens that I want to try!

When you do go into the City go to the Fountain Pen Hospital. They are very knowledgeable and will be a great resource for you.

 

Post Script

[astronautcowboy]

Absolutely! I am looking forward to the trip. Unfortunately NYC tends to be Kobe of those "so close, never visit" places, and the one fountain pen seller out here stopped selling them.