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The Best Pen Brands


jkrewalk

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I have been collecting pens for many years (click here to see my collection) and can't help but notice that certain brands start reliably time after time regardless of the model purchased.

 

Now, when I talk about "starting" I mean ink begins to flow instantly as soon as the nib touches the paper without skipping. It just writes instantly like a ballpoint - but smoother of course. And the world's best pens will do this even after sitting in my case for 2 weeks or more!!!

 

In my opinion, examples of the world's finest starters are Bexley, Pelikan, Waterman, Sheaffer, Sailor and Mont Blanc. I own multiple examples of each of these brands and they never fail to start regardless of the model. Watermans are especially reliable - the ink virtually never runs dry even after as much as a month of sitting idle.

 

Nothing is more embarrassing (or worse for our "fountain Pen Image") than taking out a pen in a meeting and have it not write!!! I do not care how expensive the pen is or how great it looks - if it can't write as well as a 10 cent BIC that will start every time then it is worthless. After all - it is a pen - it's sole purpose in life is to write! Surely I am not asking too much?

 

I have read posts on here that suggest keeping a small jar of water at your desk or wet sponge to help "start" a pen. To me - that is unacceptable. In order to be a good pen it must write every time without any "help". If it dosen't, it should be returned for repair until it does.

 

Would love to hear other comments on this subject....

 

 

John

Krewalk.com

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Nothing is more embarrassing (or worse for our "fountain Pen Image") than taking out a pen in a meeting and have it not write!!! I do not care how expensive the pen is or how great it looks - if it can't write as well as a 10 cent BIC that will start every time then it is worthless. After all - it is a pen - it's sole purpose in life is to write! Surely I am not asking too much?

 

I hear you! Expect nothing less than absolute perfection! When you pay a premium for an item, it had better work flawlessly. I am proud to say that I have no major problems with my main everyday pen, though I think the nib needs a little work by MB to smoothen it out.

Montblanc 145, F nib
Faber Castell E-Motion in Pearwood, F nib
Montblanc 149, F nib
Visconti Divina Proporzione 1618, S nib
Montblanc Cool Blue Starwalker, EF nib
Montblanc Solitaire Silver Barley BP
Montblanc Rouge et Noir Coral, M nib

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For me it would have to be Pelikans! They work so well, I just can't stop buying them!

PAKMAN

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Thus far, Michel Perchin MP5.

“It is forbidden to kill; therefore all murderers are punished unless they kill in large numbers and to the sound of trumpets.” Voltaire

"'The French Soldier,' pronounced Rostopchin, 'has to be incited to battle by high-sounding phrases; the German must have it logically proved to him that it is more dangerous to run away than to advance; but the Russian soldier has to be held back, and urged to go slowly!'" War and Peace

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I would have to say that my Pelikan and my Lamys are my best writers. Unfortunately, I would have to say that it is my Mont Blanc that always has trouble getting started. A very annoying problem considering the cost.

"Instant gratification takes too long."-Carrie Fisher

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This is the one place where my Waterman Laureats fall down. I think the cap breathes too much. They always need "restarting" after more than a week of idleness. Some of my Parker 45s are also fussy. But most of my other pens do start right up.

<i>"Most people go through life using up half their energy trying to protect a dignity they never had."</i><br>-Marlowe, in <i>The Long Goodbye</i>

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John, you have a very nice collection of fountain pens.

 

purpledog

 

 

Thank you - I also forgot to include Lamy as one of the best writing pens there is. The Germans make wonderful pens - Lamy and Pelikan - two brands that are hard to beat!!!!

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I won't put up with slow starters either. Sometimes a certain kind of ink will make trouble. Levenger's Cardinal Red can make a couple of my pens hard to start after sitting nib-up for a couple of days. I just avoid using that ink in those pens.

 

Otherwise, if I can't solve the problem, the pen goes to the landfill. Future archaeologists can deal with it.

 

Paddler

 

Can a calculator understand a cash register?

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Pelikan and Sailor are the standards of consistent performance -- one from the West and one from the East. I have also had consistently good experiences with Aurora.

CharlieB

 

"The moment he opened the refrigerator, he saw it. Caponata! Fragrant, colorful, abundant, it filled an entire soup dish, enough for at least four people.... The notes of the triumphal march of Aida came spontaneously, naturally, to his lips." -- Andrea Camilleri, Excursion to Tindari, p. 212

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Here is a another vote for Pelikans - ANY Pelikan! Lamy is a close second, though.

Sofian

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

 

My favourite pens:

Pelikan M200 Demo / translucent red / medium nibstroke

Lamy 2000 / black / oblique medium nibstroke

Pilot Vanishing Point / yellow / medium nibstroke

 

"To be stupid, selfish and have good health are the the requirements for happiness, though if stupidity is lacking, all is lost"

-Gustav Flaubert-

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Pilot Varsity -- first time, every time.

 

Twotone

I've left them for months UPRIGHT and they still write perfectly. You can't get that for 100 times their price.

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Parker 51, unless I run Private Reserve in it

 

Is Parker 51 not compatible with PR inks? Just curious.

 

thanks,

purpledog

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Parker 51, unless I run Private Reserve in it

 

Is Parker 51 not compatible with PR inks? Just curious.

 

thanks,

purpledog

 

 

My P51 starts up every time with PR Sherwood Green - no complaints from me!

Nick

 

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I have been collecting pens for many years (click here to see my collection) and can't help but notice that certain brands start reliably time after time regardless of the model purchased.

 

Now, when I talk about "starting" I mean ink begins to flow instantly as soon as the nib touches the paper without skipping. It just writes instantly like a ballpoint - but smoother of course. And the world's best pens will do this even after sitting in my case for 2 weeks or more!!!

 

In my opinion, examples of the world's finest starters are Bexley, Pelikan, Waterman, Sheaffer, Sailor and Mont Blanc. I own multiple examples of each of these brands and they never fail to start regardless of the model. Watermans are especially reliable - the ink virtually never runs dry even after as much as a month of sitting idle.

 

Nothing is more embarrassing (or worse for our "fountain Pen Image") than taking out a pen in a meeting and have it not write!!! I do not care how expensive the pen is or how great it looks - if it can't write as well as a 10 cent BIC that will start every time then it is worthless. After all - it is a pen - it's sole purpose in life is to write! Surely I am not asking too much?

 

I have read posts on here that suggest keeping a small jar of water at your desk or wet sponge to help "start" a pen. To me - that is unacceptable. In order to be a good pen it must write every time without any "help". If it dosen't, it should be returned for repair until it does.

 

Would love to hear other comments on this subject....

 

 

John

Krewalk.com

Indeed reliability is a huge issue with FP's.

Having such a wonderful device that doesnt do what its supposed to do is fustrating.

Most of my pens write from the moment that I put them on the paper.My biggest surprise and joy was after leaving my MB Virginia Woolf inked but untouched for 3 weeks in the cabinet and then I put it on the paper.The pen worked as if I just wrote a whole page with it.

Respect to all

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