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If that only generated two inks, then it seems the other thread under represented Noodler's. I'll start with some classics: Black Swan in Australian Roses Apache Sunset / Southwest Sunset Navajo Turquoise / Mesa Turquoise Air Corp Blue Black Golden Brown Kiowa Pecan / Pecan Revolution Blue There are many more that don't strike my brain at the moment, but Noodler's is indeed a great brand for shading (and one of your only options if, like me, you want shading plus water resistance). As for some mixes.... (Search the names here in the forum) Navajo Turquoise + 54th Mass + a touch of Black or Old Manhattan Blackest Black= "Black Swan in Icelandic Minty Bathwater" (a favorite recipe from the site) Private Reserve Plum + OMBB (or Black) = Old Private Blackest Plum (note: I am biased, because this is my mix)

I have Conid branded and stock Bock Ti nibs. Both are soft and wet. Your Conid pens will probably be more comfortable with Conid nibs.

not a boat

I think the nip is stuck too deep.

I searched inkswatch to see what came up as close in color to MB Emerald. There’s a few that are close, maybe De Atramentis Petrol. Here are the results of my query: MontBlanc Emerald alternatives

A M1000 is one of the very few models capable of making me wish another Pelikan. So it's tempting. But, they could have been a little more creative, couldn't they? And the new cap band looks so cheap. I'll have to think hard. If it is like the M800 Renaissance Brown, it is translucent and you can see the ink level with a light in the background.

This model was called the Gold Relief. Late '50s or early '60s? I have one. It's a fun little pen.

I've been using parker converters in my 105's since I got them. Never had any problems with the six or eight 105s in my collection. I do have a few spare sections, so if I break one I won't sob for too long.

It’s the newer version. I got offered one of the early “premiums” for $186 the other day but that sounds awfully high to me.

I haven’t used a Conid #6 gold nib but have used a #8. It’s been a while but I think the gold nib is firmer than my titanium Conid nibs (both #6 and #8). All my Conid nibs are very good overall, probably because the small volume allows better quality control.

I think there Renaissance finish is semi transparent.

Welcome! Hope to meet you in person. We just called for another pen posse this Sunday. And yes… SF Pen Show is coming soon. So excited!

A posse has been called. Let’s get together once more! If you were lucky enough to get a tax refund, please share any stationery items will be bought. 😃 Sunday, April 21 at 1:00pm Peter’s Cafe 10 El Camino Real, Millbrae, CA 94030

embracing the bloat

I believe year over year fountain pen global sales have grown every year for a decade or so now. The North American market has had shrinking years, but the world is not America. Drastic price increases are not a solution for most brands. Except for those with the strongest marketing, the business model of let's sell fewer but at a rip off margin doesn't work. Watches are not comparable to anything else, as many of the brands business models rely on being used for bribes in corrupt countries (Piaget sales basically track the extent of anti corruption enforcement in China). If you add it all up, I have cleared $10,000 in MB (wow, never thought of it that way) and they've pretty much lost me as a customer at this point with their current full ripoff approach.

Clairefontaine Neo Deco (actual A5 notebooks) 96 pages. I used to be able get them for about $8.50-$9.00 each. The last ones I bought were about $11.00 each.

Perhaps, let's see if the trend holds as gen Z and most of millenials don't know how. They are supposed to be the current buyers in support of these companies, but they're not since they don't know how. Younger ones won't be buying until much later. By then, a lot more companies will go out of business. Pelikan is likely to go under soon. They will need to raise prices drastically in order to compensate for the volume shortfall like Montblanc, Leica, Rolex etc...to stay in business. If, they can get people to pay. All these businesses of dying industries from the last century. Relics....

of exterior latex

Does anyone see an ink window?

Cursive is actually coming back into schools, just as an aside.

@BamaAl I read a review here that said writing with Diamine Ultra Green was like writing with liquid emeralds. Of course I bought a 30ml bottle.

wearing a coat

A simple google search shows that camera sales dropped by 87% since 2010 https://www.statista.com/chart/5782/digital-camera-shipments/ This is after digital/film cameras being eaten alive by phone cameras. If we are to go back further to before digital cameras, I bet it's even more drastic, falling by more than 95%... You can draw similar collapse of fountain pen sales over the past 100 years. It's still dropping. Kids don't even know how to read or write cursive as that has not been taught at schools for over 20 years. Most young people can barely write, they type. As the Marx quote goes, "who are you going to believe, me or your own eyes?"

I agree with Checklist. I bought an Esterbrook LJ ten years ago when I started with fountain pens. It needed a sac and there was a deep well of information and encouragement from many members here (Ron Z) included. I'm not particularly handy, but I got through it and resacced that pen. What a great feeling! I was writing with a pen I fixed. I learned how to do other pens and then sold the ones I did not want. That money bought, and still buys me the pens I like. Try it, I think you'll like it.