Fountain Pens in Singapore

[Shinchan]

6337 3045, called them this morning, 30% discount only for VPs, Fermo and Decimo at 20%

 

Hi how much does a VP typically cost here? Are the Black/Blue Carbonesque models priced similarly with the other colours?

Edited April 17, 2009 by I am not a number

[tt32003]

Hi how much does a VP typically cost here? Are the Black/Blue Carbonesque models priced similarly with the other colours?

 

Typical list price is S$268 even though list pricee on Pilot Sg website is only S$235.

Most places charge more for black/clure crbonesque around S$289

Edited April 17, 2009 by I am not a number

[Shinchan]

Typical list price is S$268 even though list pricee on Pilot Sg website is only S$235.

Most places charge more for black/clure crbonesque around S$289

 

I see, thanks. Prices are really steep then without the 30% discount. I had just placed an order for a Black Carbonesque version on Ebay for only 105 USD. Most online vendors are selling for 128 USD, with/without shipping.

Edited April 17, 2009 by I am not a number

[tt32003]

I see, thanks. Prices are really steep then without the 30% discount. I had just placed an order for a Black Carbonesque version on Ebay for only 105 USD. Most online vendors are selling for 128 USD, with/without shipping.

 

That's a good price

Edited April 17, 2009 by I am not a number

[tankahn]

There is no need to enclose all quotes.All you need to do is to carefully remove quote /quote tags not relevent your post. You can also pm direct and make the thread readable for all.

 

Hope a little bit of constructive advice is okay.

 

That's a good price

 

[moonriver17]

Hi Steven,

Welcome to the FPN!

 

I don't know about Singapore, but here in Australia they are available from most good newsagents, office supply stores and campus bookshops. Perhaps one of our Singaporean FPNers can comment?

 

If you can't find them there, you may have to resort to the Internet.

 

However, look around, because you may be able to find a Hero 329 (old style) pen for a similar price (about $5 AU). I think these are much nicer than the V-Pen, and much easier to re-fill.

 

I find the V-Pen ink flows too freely and feathers and bleeds through on most papers, especially the kind that impecunious students can afford to buy...

I own a Hero 329 but it's the skinny version. It writes very smooth and looks great! I see ads that claim the 329 is a replica of the Parker 51 and then I see ads that claim the same about the Hero 330 and the Hero 616, so I am confused as to what really copies the 51?? I think the thicker version of all of the above resemble the Parker 51. I do know that whatever they advertise, these pens still "ain't no 51"!

moonriver17

[firesong]

Hi all,

 

This would be only my 2nd post here, though I've been lurking for quite a while and started getting more pens since tt32003 and pingjun actively kick-started some kind of a pen club on another local discussion forums.

 

In any case, I currently own a few pens.

- Lamy Safari White (F)

- Lamy Vista (EF)

- Waterman Hemisphere

- Pilot ED

- Hero 336

 

I also ordered some spare Lamy EF nibs from TheWritingDesk, so I have 2 around in case I damage the nibs again.

 

My favourite writers of the lot? My Lamy Safari and Vista. No real surprises there, I suppose.

[siaoguitar]

My favourite writers of the lot? My Lamy Safari and Vista. No real surprises there, I suppose.

 

I am writing with the Lamy safari and Hero 336, and I must say the different hero 336 has different 'smoothness' on the nibs and the Lamy is indeed the smoothest of all my pens follow by the Pilot Superior. Amazing !!

Edited April 14, 2009 by siaoguitar

[holgalee]

Thanks I called them too and saved me a trip to Bras Basah.

Went to China Square flea market instead and blew my pen budget for a Lamy 2k on 2 NOS 140s.

 

Looks like you had a haul! Just curious, what is the NOS 140s?

[tt32003]

Thanks I called them too and saved me a trip to Bras Basah.

Went to China Square flea market instead and blew my pen budget for a Lamy 2k on 2 NOS 140s.

 

Looks like you had a haul! Just curious, what is the NOS 140s?

 

Vintage Pelikan 140.

NOS means new old stock.

I bought 2 last Sunday. One was NOS but the other one hard to say.

http://i475.photobucket.com/albums/rr116/tt32003/P1020387.jpg

 

The one on the right was bought prviously from the same seller at a much cheaper price due to some defects on the pen. Then last Sunday I saw that he has two good ones so I bought them as well

Edited April 15, 2009 by tt32003

[jiunhonglim]

Good Morning!,

 

I was just surfing around looking for a good FP to buy, and I stumbled upon models like the Pelikan M200 and the Waterman Phileas.

 

I am quite interested in them, but I can't get a good price range for them from online retailers. I was hoping somebody here has the price of this two pens, and I would need the extra fine tips. The experience I had with my waterman rollerball scared me as I cannot write properly, due to the tip being too wide.

 

Thank you!

[graceaj]

Good Morning!,

 

I was just surfing around looking for a good FP to buy, and I stumbled upon models like the Pelikan M200 and the Waterman Phileas.

 

I am quite interested in them, but I can't get a good price range for them from online retailers. I was hoping somebody here has the price of this two pens, and I would need the extra fine tips. The experience I had with my waterman rollerball scared me as I cannot write properly, due to the tip being too wide.

 

Thank you!

 

 

Extra fines are a little rare in Singapore, as most places only stock F & M. You could try one of the 'real' pen stores, Aesthetic Bay (Funan) or Fook Hing (Bras Basah). Alternatively, you could try a Pilot fine, which is a Western Extra Fine. Mustafa has $7 Pilot pens, and Kinokuniya has Pilot Preras.

Edited April 16, 2009 by graceaj

[jiunhonglim]

This is because I am a disaster when it comes to handwritting. With the bolder tips, my handwritting tends to get really messed up. I was thinking whether a Waterman Hemisphere would suffice, or should I take the plunge into the Pelikan m250 ?

 

Because I totally have no idea what to get as of now.

 

 

Edit: I found the Lamy 2000 going for 89 USD on pengallery. I wonder if its a good buy

 

 

Maybe someone can advice me between the Pelikan m215 Fine Nib and Lamy 2000 EF Nib.

I only know the difference is that the tips, one is stainless steel whereas the other gold

In terms of writing.

Edited April 16, 2009 by jiunhonglim

[holgalee]

Hi jiunhonlim. Yes, from the sounds of it you should use an F or EF nib, if you handwriting is small or isn't too fabulous to begin with, like mine!

 

There are a lot of great pens out there that will fit your budget and needs (e.g. extra fine nib). It'll be good to take your time to search the forum and also read the reviews, so that you know exactly what you want instead of just going by budget and size of nib. There are some who plunge into FPs onto to discover that somehow the first pen doesn't live up to their expectations, so I can't over-emphasise the need to do your own research first.

 

How well a pen writes depends on the nib, paper and ink. In addition, the design will also influence how 'comfortable' the pen feels, and this is very subjective. Some prefer light pens, some heavier; some skinny, some thicker; some plastic, some metal... So it's always tricky to recommend pens for newbies . I do think you can't go wrong with a relatively cheap pen with very fine nib (like XF or XXF) as your first pen, though some will find such nibs 'scratchy' compared to broader nibs, as there's a much smaller point of contact with paper.

[Readymade]

Welcome!

 

Because I totally have no idea what to get as of now.

 

Why not start with a cheaper pen? Cheap doesn't always mean inferior, and if you decide you don't want to invest too much in fountain pens you won't have too big a hole in your wallet.

 

I second graceaj's suggestion -- Pilot pens at Mustafa. Steel nibs but they are excellent for their price. Get an "F" (Japanese Fine = Western EF)

 

If you want to spend more you can pick up a Safari there. Haven't seen any EF nibs though.

 

Hero pens are the cheapest and I think their QC, construction and steel nibs reflect that. To me it's not good value-for-money but that's my personal opinion

 

Edit: I found the Lamy 2000 going for 89 USD on pengallery. I wonder if its a good buy

 

Yes -- if you're looking for a Lamy 2000. But iirc there might be issues with EF nibs for the Lamy 2000. Search on FPN first.

 

Maybe someone can advice me between the Pelikan m215 Fine Nib and Lamy 2000 EF Nib.

I only know the difference is that the tips, one is stainless steel whereas the other gold

 

Two main differences:

 

1) Fine is wider than EF, and Pelikan nibs generally are a bit wider than their stated size i.e. Pelikan Fine nibs are a little wider than Fine nibs from other manufacturers.

 

2) Steel nibs are generally (but not always) stiffer than gold nibs.

 

Gold nibs, especially 14K ones, tend to give a softer, springier writing experience than steel nibs.

 

I had a Lamy 2000 and have a Pelikan M205. The Pelikan steel nib is less springy than the Lamy 2000.

 

Some people like stiff nibs, others like springier ones with a little flex. It's up to you

[lucentstreak]

 

Sounds like we got a host of people coming in here for questions. I was just wondering if some of these might be better off having a meet up or something to show and tell?

[FP Writing]

This is because I am a disaster when it comes to handwritting. With the bolder tips, my handwritting tends to get really messed up. I was thinking whether a Waterman Hemisphere would suffice, or should I take the plunge into the Pelikan m250 ?

 

Because I totally have no idea what to get as of now.

 

 

Edit: I found the Lamy 2000 going for 89 USD on pengallery. I wonder if its a good buy

 

 

Maybe someone can advice me between the Pelikan m215 Fine Nib and Lamy 2000 EF Nib.

I only know the difference is that the tips, one is stainless steel whereas the other gold

In terms of writing.

----------------

Hello

if you are looking for very fine nibs, and do not wish to spend a bomb

i would recommend the Japan FP from the 70's.

Could range from Sailor, Pilot and platinum

They are generally less than US$100 for gold nibs.

Although most are "short models" they are very reliable writers.

PM me if you are interested

 

thanks

[tt32003]

 

Sounds like we got a host of people coming in here for questions. I was just wondering if some of these might be better off having a meet up or something to show and tell?

 

 

Good idea.

As Readymade suggested in another thread, maybe we can meet up once a month on a Sunday,like at China Square, so that after discussion can browse around the flea market to look for pens

Edited April 17, 2009 by tt32003

[tt32003]

This is because I am a disaster when it comes to handwritting. With the bolder tips, my handwritting tends to get really messed up. I was thinking whether a Waterman Hemisphere would suffice, or should I take the plunge into the Pelikan m250 ?

 

Because I totally have no idea what to get as of now.

 

 

Edit: I found the Lamy 2000 going for 89 USD on pengallery. I wonder if its a good buy

 

 

Maybe someone can advice me between the Pelikan m215 Fine Nib and Lamy 2000 EF Nib.

I only know the difference is that the tips, one is stainless steel whereas the other gold

In terms of writing.

 

 

I have both M215 and M250.

If you are looking for a very fine line, M215 F nib is better than the M250 F nib.

And the finishing of the M215 is definitely better than M250.

One thing to note is M215 is expensive in Sg but you can get it at much cheaper price in Malaysia.

 

As for Lamy 2000 do note that there is a new version with improved section.

I contacted Pengallery, they do have the new version but you must tell them you want the new version when you order. Their price at US$89 and Melpen at the same price is the cheapest around.

 

If you are looking for cheap good pen with fine nib, try to get the Sailor Ink Pen from Daiso for $2.

Very smooth fine nib, very good ink flow, always start without fail.

Howeve it sells out very fast everytime they restock it

[lucentstreak]

Good idea.

As Readymade suggested in another thread, maybe we can meet up once a month on a Sunday,like at China Square, so that after discussion and browse around the flea market to look for pens

 

 

And make friends with the Uncle who runs the store. Well, I'm not sure about once a month - since I'm not sure if there will be enough pens to go around or anyone who expands their collection at that rate but... sounds like a vote of interest. Should we start say, May 3, Sunday?