Bexley Deluxe II

[Johnson]

Bexley Deluxe II - Antique Cream

 

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First Impressions

 

The first time I saw this pen a few months back I was not drawn to it. It seemed a bit plain, a little to "vintage" looking for me, and at the time I considered myself more of a modern guy. By which I mean a modern fountain pen guy, but I am also a fine modern gentleman! But that is beside the point. I am here to tell you about my pen.

 

So anywho, the hours turn to days, the days turn to weeks, and the weeks turn to months, and over that time I grew used to seeing Dennis @ Parkville Pen's ad for the four Deluxe II models showing up on the FPN Marketplace and the Green Board. I'd see it pop up, and click on it, and look at the pictures of the pens, and say, "Ah yes, its those spendy Bexleys that Dennis has been advertising! While Dennis is certainly a fine pen seller who I am in no way affiliated with aside from being a happy customer, I am definitely not interested in those Deluxe II models! So expensive, and so vintage looking! Nope, not my style!"

 

But then, not to long ago, the ad stopped showing up as frequently. No big deal, right? Since I'm not interested in the pens anyway, this shouldn't matter to me. Then why did I find myself searching back posts at the Marketplace looking for pictures of the pens? Answer me that question, if I am so uninterested in the pens, mister or missus fountain pen review reader! So I would find the ad, pull it up, and look at the pens, particularly the Antique Cream model. It just looked so nice for some reason all of the sudden. Absence makes the heart grow fonder, mayhaps? Really actually absence made the heart crave like a crazy man! I suddenly wanted that pen so badly! :blink:

 

http://img72.imageshack.us/img72/4003/bexleydeluxeantiquecreavh6.jpg

 

Anywho, I was a day late asking Dennis for one of those sweet looking Bexley 2007 Owner's Club pens in mahogany (still looking for one, BTW. let me know if you have a line on one!), but I still had an itch that needed scratching, an itch for a limited edition Bexley. So after doing a bit of tire kicking with Dennis via e-mail, and after digging up those old FS ads a dozen or more times, and getting Dennis to take a picture of the Deluxe II next to an Americana so I could get a size estimate, I pulled the trigger and ordered the pen!

 

The pen was shipped out quickly and arrived in a scant day or three. The pen comes in a normal Bexley presentation box.

 

Appearance & Finish 5 out of 5

 

Cream colored cast acrylic.

 

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Solid 10K gold clip and wide cap band.

 

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Dark wood grain ebonite end caps.

 

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It is simply the most uniquely distinguished pen in my humble collection. IIRC, these pens are handmade at Bexley, so everything is just perfect, just where it needs to be on the pen.

 

Design/Size/Weight 4 out of 5

 

As I said previously, the majority of the pen is a lovely, smooth, and soft looking cream-colored cast acrylic. The solid gold trim is subtle in its color, but lets you know exactly what it is, with a bold 10K imprint both on the clip and the back of the cap band. What really does it for me with this model above all the others is that only the Antique Cream color uses the wood grain ebonite end caps. This to me is the icing on the cake that rockets this pen into must-owndom. The section is black. I think having a wood grain section would have been a good move, which is the only gripe I can think of with the pen design. Having said that, sometimes I waffle a bit, and think maybe black was the right move. The pen is slightly longer then an M800. The actual pen body, independent of the cap, appears to have a slightly smaller circumference then the M800. The pen has a fair bit of heft, but is still lighter then an M800. While most of the weight of the M800 is in the back of the pen due to the brass piston screw, most of the weight of the Deluxe II is in the cap, due to the gold. The pen is a perfect handful unposted, but can be posted as well, though this significantly changes the weight distribution of the pen. The cap does not push very far on the back of the pen, making the posted pen long and back heavy. I am fine writing with the pen either posted or unposted. the clip is firm enough to stay put in the front pocket, without being so tight I end up ripping my front pocket clean off when I reach for it.

 

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Nib Design & Performance 5 out of 5

 

I can't find any fault with the standard 18k Bock nibs. I've written with Bexley M and stub nibs. For the Deluxe II I went for the fine, and I am glad I did! Its a bit fat for a F, but that is find with me. I'm a M type of guy trying to find my feet in a fine sea, since I'm beginning to see the benefits of finer nibs for faster, smaller, and more accurate writing.

 

The F nib wrote like a total dream straight out of the box, with no preflush at all. I filled the pen with Aurora Black. It writes a perfect, consistent line with a very light touch, with just a bit of that lovely feedback I'm beginning to realize is characteristic of all Bock nibs. Did I mention I love Bock nibs? :clap1:

 

The Filling System 4 out of 5

 

http://img263.imageshack.us/img263/4889/bexleydeluxeantiquecreagx9.jpg

 

Cartridge/Converter. I really like c/c fillers. I love a good piston filler as much as the next guy, but I have no problem with a simple c/c filler. It works.

 

Cost/Value 3 out of 5

 

The MSRP of the Bexley Deluxe II is a whopping $520. I bought my pen from Dennis at Parkville Pen for a much saner, but still spendy $390 shipped. While it would be foolish to call this pen an amazing value :roflmho: , it is certainly worth every penny I spent on it.

 

Overall Opinion/Conclusion 4 out of 5

 

Its been a pretty wild journey with this guy, from having zero interest in it to absolutely having to have one, to holding it in my hand and realizing that all was right with the universe. I'm looking forward to spending lots more time with this pen, because even though it is the spendiest pen in my collection, I don't buy museum pieces! This may be art, but it is functional, and I'm putting this baby to work.

 

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Thank you for taking the time to read my first official FPN fountain pen review! I hope you enjoyed it.

Edited July 1, 2007 by Johnson

[PAKMAN]

Good review and a very nice looking pen! Congrats!

[gregamckinney]

Great review and great Grados too. Are the RS-1's as great as their reputation? I have a pair of SR-125s that I really enjoy for everyday listening, but have been considering an upgrade specifically for dedicated music listening time.

 

Best regards, greg

[jonro]

That was your first review? Hard to believe, because it was an excellent one. Thanks for reviewing an unusual Bexley, one that I haven't seen before.

[Sharkle]

Thank you for a wonderful and fun review, and charming as ever. I can see how this one would get under your skin (and into the wallet!). Over the past year I've found myself attracted to a few white/white-ish pens; with pics like yours, I'll probably be pushed over the edge any day now. 'Hope you feel a review coming on with your next pen! BTW, I can't get enough of that lovely little feedback myself, and isn't it the sweetest when it's perfect out of the box!

[dwmatteson]

Thanks for a great review, Johnson! A fun read about what looks to be a great pen. As you say, it definitely has a vintage look to it; my first thought was that is was designed to be reminiscent of the Parker Duofold. Again, nice review!

 

Don

[FrankB]

This is a good review. Thank you.

 

I was drawn to the Bexley Deluxe and Deluxe II pens by their vintage look. I have a couple of them in different colors, though I have yet to get a cream colored one. I find the feel of the pens every bit as comfortable as a vintage Big Red, with the same size and proportions. Like you, I am very happy with the nibs and their performance. Bexley has a way with pens, and this series is no exception. Mine are all keepers that I use frequently. I hope you continue to like yours.

Edited July 1, 2007 by FrankB

[handlebar]

Very nice looking pen!!! Bexley is looking better to me each day.

 

JD

[Johnson]

Great review and great Grados too. Are the RS-1's as great as their reputation? I have a pair of SR-125s that I really enjoy for everyday listening, but have been considering an upgrade specifically for dedicated music listening time.

 

Greg, the RS-1 definitely lives up to the hype, to my ears. I power them out of an old stock Melos SHA-Gold pre-amplifier, which has a headphone amp voiced and built specifically for the Joseph Grado HP-1000 series (see the metal cans in my avatar), so it also works extremely well with the RS-1. I have never heard the SR-125, but I did own and thoroughly enjoyed the SR-225. The RS-1 offers a wider soundstage, cleaner drum crack, overall more natural sounding instrumentation, and that magic RS-1 midrange which I have yet to find in another 'phone. The GS-1000, also pictured, is John Grado's latest offering, but I have mixed feelings about it.

 

That was your first review? Hard to believe, because it was an excellent one. Thanks for reviewing an unusual Bexley, one that I haven't seen before.

 

Thanks! I'm basically trying to imitate TNS's thorough and fun pen reviewing style. I found the whole experience a lot of fun and rewarding. It challenges me to put into words what I like about the pen.

 

[DRP]

Glad you enjoyed writing the review because I certainly enjoyed reading it.

 

Thorough but interesting! Well written conversational style.

 

Looking forward to more reviews.

[Anne-Sophie]

A very very nice review complete with pictures and everyday users comments.

 

 

Wonderful!

[Tricia]

Great review, thanks! I had no idea Bexley put out such a vintage-looking pen. All the beauty of old, with the dependabilty of the new. Very nice.

[Dennis B]

Excellent, well written review. One might note that the Antique Cream was part of the original Deluxe Collection, along with the Orange, and the first models were button fillers with 14K nibs. Also, the Deluxe and Deluxe II Collections are limited editions with no more than 250 of each color being made. The Orange and the Clear have both been sold out for quite some time, and the Cream, Mandarin and Jungle Green models are near joining the extinct list.

 

Again, thanks for a very well written review.

 

Dennis Bowden

Parkville Pen

[georges zaslavsky]

Avery beautiful pen and a very nice tribute to the duofold of the 20's