Staedtler

[Apotheosis]

Staedtler's answer to beginners venturing into the world of Fountain Pens for the first time : Staedtler Learner's Fountain Pen.

It comes in 2 designs and is aimed at teaching school kids how to properly hold a fountain pen (pictures below are from Staedtler's website):

 

1. Red cap with yellow & black barrel (the one reviewed here)

http://i845.photobucket.com/albums/ab19/yuckkie/Steadtler%20Learners%20Fountain%20Pen/470R10000.jpg

 

2. Orange cap with plain green barrel

http://i845.photobucket.com/albums/ab19/yuckkie/Steadtler%20Learners%20Fountain%20Pen/470_R_50_21988.jpg

PACKAGING : 5 / 5

I bought it off the shelf packed in a tube with the pen, 2 blue ink cartridges, a sticker for the cap so you can write your name and stick it on the cap and a tiny piece of paper with the usual instructions.

http://i845.photobucket.com/albums/ab19/yuckkie/Steadtler%20Learners%20Fountain%20Pen/DSC03967.jpg

http://i845.photobucket.com/albums/ab19/yuckkie/Steadtler%20Learners%20Fountain%20Pen/DSC03972.jpg

FIRST IMPRESSIONS & APPEARANCES : 5 / 5

From end to end, this pen is built to last, and if you've ever seen how kids handle their crayons and colour pencils, you'd know exactly why it needs to be built that way.

 

SIZE / WEIGHT & COMFORT : 5 / 5

A nice sized school pen measuring in at approximately 12cm from nib to barrel end and about 13cm with the pen closed with the snap on cap. Sturdy, yet elegant looking - this makes for an overall nice combination. Extremely lightweight (feels like you're holding a stubby ballpoint pen) yet surprisingly well balanced. This will surely allow for hours and hours of fatigue free fun !

http://i845.photobucket.com/albums/ab19/yuckkie/Steadtler%20Learners%20Fountain%20Pen/DSC03993.jpg

 

Designed with a non-slip rubber gripping zone (grip zone differs for left handers and right handers) which allows the holder to learn the correct way of holding a fountain pen with the general 3 finger grip.

http://i845.photobucket.com/albums/ab19/yuckkie/Steadtler%20Learners%20Fountain%20Pen/DSC03989.jpg

http://i845.photobucket.com/albums/ab19/yuckkie/Steadtler%20Learners%20Fountain%20Pen/DSC03999.jpg

http://i845.photobucket.com/albums/ab19/yuckkie/Steadtler%20Learners%20Fountain%20Pen/DSC04001.jpg

 

NIB & PERFORMANCE : 5 / 5

The guys at Staedtler really outdid themselves when they came up with the "Pressure-stable" stainless steel nib (marked "A" - which writes like a western medium) with an Iridium ball tip which makes writing with this pen an absolute dream, beating may cheapies out there (similar to writing with a Lamy broad nib - only a tad finer). It does not have a sweet spot as every angle IS a sweet spot !

http://i845.photobucket.com/albums/ab19/yuckkie/Steadtler%20Learners%20Fountain%20Pen/DSC03980.jpg

http://i845.photobucket.com/albums/ab19/yuckkie/Steadtler%20Learners%20Fountain%20Pen/DSC03982.jpg

http://i845.photobucket.com/albums/ab19/yuckkie/Steadtler%20Learners%20Fountain%20Pen/DSC03991-1.jpg

http://i845.photobucket.com/albums/ab19/yuckkie/Steadtler%20Learners%20Fountain%20Pen/DSC03984.jpg

 

Glides surprisingly well on paper and lays down a wettish medium line (woops !! typo error on the name there)

http://i845.photobucket.com/albums/ab19/yuckkie/Steadtler%20Learners%20Fountain%20Pen/DSC03959.jpg

 

Turn the nib over and you can still write with a fine line (I dont think it was meant to do that though)

http://i845.photobucket.com/albums/ab19/yuckkie/Steadtler%20Learners%20Fountain%20Pen/DSC03957.jpg

 

I'm just so blown away with the quality of the nib and how consistent the lines are and it feels like I'm writing with an expensive pen !http://i845.photobucket.com/albums/ab19/yuckkie/Steadtler%20Learners%20Fountain%20Pen/DSC03961.jpg

FILLING SYSTEM : 5 / 5

Comes with 2 standard blue ink converters which makes refilling a hassle-free experience - there's even enough space to store away the spare cartridge to ensure you never run out of ink ! In my haste, I failed to test out a spare manuscript converter to see if it fits although judging from the similar shape and size, I'd imagine it would (remind me to try that when I'm finished with the current cartridge - but it doesn't really matter actually, i can simply use a syringe and put in the ink of my choosing later).

http://i845.photobucket.com/albums/ab19/yuckkie/Steadtler%20Learners%20Fountain%20Pen/DSC03994.jpg

The ink window allows you to see how much ink you have left in the catridge too ! Now, the best part : its a sealed window..we potentially have an eyedropper here folks !!

 

CONCLUSION :

This is a very very VERY affordable pen. Something even a school kid can afford with a few days worth of allowances saved up. I must confess, I was not expecting much from a 'learner's fountain pen' and for the price I paid. I sure am glad I was wrong.

 

A well thought out design for the daily use and abuse of the young ones, but they did leave out one minor detail - you can't post the cap. Now for a parent, that's gotta be bad news - a fountain pen with a misplaced cap equals ink stains all over the place ! Lets hope the sticker on the cap with the owner's name helps.

 

An excellent back to school gift for after the summer break.

Edited June 28, 2010 by Apotheosis

[hari317]

That's a very nice pen! Thanks for reviewing it. Ideal for jeans pocket carry too.

[akrishna59]

great pen, great pictures. any fountain pen, is a source of pride and joy.

 

krishna.

[Yuki Onitsura]

Looks like a great way to get the young 'uns hooked on fountain pens. It has an air of fun about it too. =)

 

Yuki

[Apotheosis]

Looks like a great way to get the young 'uns hooked on fountain pens. It has an air of fun about it too. =)

 

Yuki

 

I completely agree ! Thats why I've decided to eventually get one for my niece to play with and see if there is any interest !

[Yuki Onitsura]

Looks like a great way to get the young 'uns hooked on fountain pens. It has an air of fun about it too. =)

 

Yuki

 

I completely agree ! Thats why I've decided to eventually get one for my niece to play with and see if there is any interest !

 

I got my niece a pink Safari for Christmas. She loves it. There's hope yet for this generation!

 

Yuki

[Jimmy James]

This looks like a competitor to the Lamy ABC (I think that's the name) and the Pelikano Jr.

 

Where did this come from? I'm guessing the reviewer is in a non-US location?

[Apotheosis]

This looks like a competitor to the Lamy ABC (I think that's the name) and the Pelikano Jr.

 

Where did this come from? I'm guessing the reviewer is in a non-US location?

 

Hi JJ,

Right on both counts. I got it from a stationary shop nearby but also available for sale here.

rgds

leo

[saintsimon]

I guess the "A" on the nib means "Anfänger" = "beginner"

 

Another informed guess about the yellow and black striping: there's a popular german children's TV programme called "Tigerentenclub" (tiger-duck's club) with a yellow and black striped wooden toy duck as mascot. That toy duck was originally introduced in several illustrated children's books by the artist Janosch.

 

http://www.poster.net/janosch/janosch-tigerente-sofort-2401649.jpg

(pic by poster.de)

[Apotheosis]

Thank you for that additional information saintsimon ! That Tv programme sounds like a ton of fun too !

thanks again !

leo

[razr]

very cool, I'm a sucker for these "school" FPs

[myrrhman]

The cap reminds me rather unpleasantly of the rOtring Core, but I suppose it serves its function of being child/horseplay/nuclear holocaust-proof.

 

Thanks for the review! Seems like a solid little pen.

[vans4444]

Great review. I am always on the lookout for school pens for my daughter, and this one has joined the list

 

Thanks

[egretsrus]

Leo, I know I've posted this before, but your handwriting is beyond gorgeous! Even using a kid's pen, you turn out a manuscript worth studying. Wish you would post a daily sample...what an artist!

Lesley

[theblackpen]

Outstanding review. Thank you.

[Apotheosis]

I'm glad I could help out vans

 

Hi Les, long time no see and thank you for your kind words. It was good fun writing with this FP..!

 

Myrrhman - It is indeed a solid one. I have a feeling if I were to drop this from the 15th flr of my apartment - it'd still be working !!

(sorry - havent quite figured out the use of the multiquote function yet)

 

rgds

leo

[Lamylady]

I guess the "A" on the nib means "Anfänger" = "beginner"

 

Another informed guess about the yellow and black striping: there's a popular german children's TV programme called "Tigerentenclub" (tiger-duck's club) with a yellow and black striped wooden toy duck as mascot. That toy duck was originally introduced in several illustrated children's books by the artist Janosch.

 

http://www.poster.net/janosch/janosch-tigerente-sofort-2401649.jpg

(pic by poster.de)

 

I don't think it was the famous tiger duck which influenced the pen, but rather the pencil which has existed for decades.

 

Look here

[myrrhman]

Myrrhman - It is indeed a solid one. I have a feeling if I were to drop this from the 15th flr of my apartment - it'd still be working !!

(sorry - havent quite figured out the use of the multiquote function yet)

 

rgds

leo

 

Ha, you should try an experiment with that like the guy who did the Lamy 2000 torture test thread. On second thought, don't...it might land on someone and kill them.

[saintsimon]

I guess the "A" on the nib means "Anfänger" = "beginner"

 

Another informed guess about the yellow and black striping: there's a popular german children's TV programme called "Tigerentenclub" (tiger-duck's club) with a yellow and black striped wooden toy duck as mascot. That toy duck was originally introduced in several illustrated children's books by the artist Janosch.

 

http://www.poster.net/janosch/janosch-tigerente-sofort-2401649.jpg

(pic by poster.de)

 

I don't think it was the famous tiger duck which influenced the pen, but rather the pencil which has existed for decades.

 

Look here

Thanks for refreshing my memory. It has been such a long time since I owned or noticed one of those striped pencils as a kid that I forgot about them ...

http://www.staedtler.de/upload/152Norisergosoft_35.jpg

Edited July 2, 2010 by saintsimon

[trent]

I ordered one of these from England---it is a good daily-user pen, like most German school pens. I find it to be a bit short of barrel, however, making it slightly uncomfortable in my hand for extended periods of writing. This could have been solved by posting, but as on the Lamy learner's pen, the cap cannot be posted (I wonder why they designed it this way?). The black and yellow stripes are lovely.