Please tell us what pen has REALLY disapointed you.What pen you were waiting for and once you got it you felt like it was a waist of time and money.

I really dont have a pen I was very disapointed of.The closest pen I could say I wasnt happy with was my Pilot VP but thats just because we didnt get along so well and not because the pen was bad in any ways.It just didnt work between us.

Visconti Wall Street LE

Too big.
Filler was more complicated that the old Sheaffer that it was based on.
Didn't care for the nib.

Conklin Duragraph & Mark Twain Signature pen. Beautiful pens, but were very problematic with poor ink flow. I understand that Conklin has since corrected the issues, but I'm in no hurry to get another Conklin.

Iridium Point Germany :doh:

Back when I didn't know that IPG pens were actually cheapos made in China, I traded my Lamy Vista for it with a friend.

It was a big disappointment - wrote terribly

A Montegrappa Eleganza. Horrible quality and even worse service. Luckly I bought it from a great seller who offered me a refund without being asked.

The sad truth is the Parker 51. With all the hype, I was ready for a world beater. I've owned a number of them and currently own two, one of each filling variety. They've been professionally cleaned etc and the lot of them have been disappointing. They're cronic problem seems to be waiting for the least opportune moment to gush a bunch of ink on whatever I writing at the time.

I want to love the pen but I just can't. Beauty alone just doesn't do it for me.

PeteWK

Hi htimsffej

Oh you just broke my heart.The "Visconti Wall Street LE " is one of my favorite pens that I dream of buying.Why didnt you like the nib ?

Oh I guess you can add the Rotring 600.I didnt like the nib at all and thats why I sold it.

Its unfortunate - none of my parker 51s have dumped ink - all superb and flawless writers.

I recently ground a medium stub on a P51 DJ - my first attempt at grinding & smoothing and its one of the best writers I own - a smooth 3 to 1 variation and lots of personality.

For me, it has to be my Cross Century II Medalist -- never wrote well, a stingy dry line always on the edge of skipping or hesitant starting, and spidery-thin... granted it is a fine nib, but this is by far the finest line any of my pens have ever put down.

Part of the problem is that this was my first fountain pen of any real quality (read: cost), and disappointment in it deterred me from further ventures into fountain pens for some time. Finally I picked up a couple of other pens that actually wrote well, I realized how they were supposed to be, and the Century II is currently back in Cross' hands being worked on. Hopefully when I get it back I will no longer be disappointed.

The Waterman Edson. I know lots of people love these, but I hated mine - impossibly heavy and badly balanced for my writing style, with very poor ink flow. It was stolen in a robbery at my home, I collected a big "replacement value" insurance cheque and think that burglar did me a favour.

The other would be an MB I owned in the 80s when I was a wannabee yuppie - leaked ink everywhere. It was not a unique example - there were an awful lot of aspiring young professionals walking aqround with perpetual ink splodges on their shirt fronts in the office I worked in at that time.

That is not typical of a Parker "51" in good order, something is wrong with those pens as I have never had that from a "51" that is properly serviced and set up. I should get them looked at by another repairer for a second opinion or maybe something else.

I know this sounds like a winge defence of the "51", but just consider this point, would they have sold the millions they did if they were as bad as you experience? Therefore the conclusion is that there is something amiss with either your pens or the way you are filling them.

Just as a sanity check, you are holding the plunger down on the last stroke when you fill the Vac model, as you withdraw it from the ink? And you do let out a little ink from the Aero or hold it against the side of the ink bottle for a few seconds to let the excess ink in the collector run out? The collectors on "51" hold an ocean of ink, and you have to release a bit when you fill them or you will get a gusher.

Jim

I once ordered a Monteverde Jeweleria on the basis of its catalog appearance, and descriptions of "fine Italian resins". When I opened the box and saw what was basically a chromed pipe with some thin plastic sleeves, and generally cheesy construction, I sent it back uninked. My apologies to Monteverde aficionados, but the pen did not appear to be worth its modest price.
Gerry

Namiki VP; spat everywhere and the position of the clip was unhelpful. The Carbonesque finish was disappointing too considering what is now done with real carbon fibre.

OK, just about guaranteed to make a whole bunch of people angry, but here goes...

My two biggest disappointments are both Parkers: the 75 and the 51.

I bought a brand-new sterling 75 back in the 70s. It was my first upscale pen, after a few more-or-less entry-level Sheaffers. Why didn't I buy an equivalent Sheaffer instead? Don't know. My best guess: the great Parker print ads of the day - mostly in the New Yorker, I seem to recall - must have brainwashed me into believing that when one stepped up in class, one naturally bought a Parker.

Anyway, that 75 was never a satisfying writer. It wasn't defective; I just didn't connect with it. I must have spent days fiddling with that little plastic nib-adjustment wrench, figuring that there had to be some special writing angle that would turn the pen into the magnificent instrument I had expected. Never found it. A generic, personality-free writing experience. I've had other 75s since, and they've been just about the same.

And, sadly, that's been my impression of the 51 as well. I own several, from vac Demis to Flighters, and I find them rather...um...ballpointish. Competent, maybe even bulletproof writers, and brilliantly engineered. But when nib touches paper, there's no magic in the flow of ideas into words.

In fairness, I haven't had the opportunity to use any 75s or 51s fitted with "interesting" nibs. But comparing apples to apples - standard-issue firm fines and mediums - they just don't measure up to my Sheaffers, or my Watermans, or my Wahls.

Purely personal preference, of course, in the spirit of the question that started the thread.

Best,

Jon

I'm glad I could do that favour for you. I was worried you'd be angry

My biggest dissapointment has got to be the Rotring 600. Great writer, to be sure. and I'm pretty surethat if I went to war, this would be the pen to take. My problem lies in the details. With a hefty pen. the section is so small, I feel like I'm writing with a bic stik, which isn't very comfortable with my size hands. My biggest gripe though is how the cap posts. The gasket just doesn't seem big enough. and the cap swivels and wobbles, which completely messes with my handwriting. Unposted the pen is well balanced, but posted, with the wobble...unacceptable to me.

The first FP that I bought disappointed me very badly. It was a Rotring - I forget the model name, but it was the one that looks like the tiny telescopic ballpoint. (This was a normal size pen though.) It just wouldn't write, never started well at all. I eventually, in my embarrassment, threw it away.

Today, I would know what to do with it. Then, I had no clue, and almost decided not to buy anymore pens.

Almost. :doh:

Very interesting.

I see many of the pens I own mentioned and the experiences diverge sharply from my own - perhaps isolated instances?

I have a few Parker 51s. I agree that they aren't a particularly astounding pen to write with, but mine have been competent at least - except for a desk set that even after repeated ultrasonic cleaning insists on drying and clogging. Maybe it is the ink, but Quink is usually pretty good that way.

I really enjoy using my Namiki VP, which has never spat anything anywhere. I am coming to terms with an italic nib I got from RB - not yet sure that the angle one needs to hold it at isn't a conflict with the positioning of the clip on the pen - but I have never had anything but pleasure from the stock F nib.

I'd agree that the Edson isn't for everyone. It is on the large side, it is undeniably heavier than many, and the nib is as stiff as ...nope, can't say that in a family group. But it does suit me and I have one sitting on my desk as I type this.

And Parker 75s are a big collecting focus for me. The nibs may not be quite as exciting as some more exotic pens, but I have never had any complaint about them and there is a wide variety of different nibs to try if you hunt them down. The section positioning isn't of any concern to me as my normal finger position tends to be higher up the pen.

Different strokes, I guess.

Not at all, but it is a shame you didn't manage to include the malfunctioning VCR in your haul - could have got that replaced as well.

I recall the insurance company expressing polite surprise that the briefcase stolen from my house contained an Edson, a Pelikan, and an Omas - what kind of a weirdo carries 3 fountain pens around with him? This was pre-FPN - these days I could simply refer them to this site and make them realise that they actually got off quite lightly!

I perhaps should have clarified; the pen spat when the retraction mechanism was operated - perhaps it was collecting on the trap door.

The nib was indeed lovely.

My greatest disappointment has been Pelikan. I expected a lot from all the positive feedback that there has been about this brand, but all of the ones I tried (M800 and M1000) have been a let down. Scratchy nibs, especially the fine ones, has been the major problem; and the piston filling system has also been unreliable. I also dislike the dull, ultra-conservative styling of Pelikan pens. I fail to see why they are so popular. :doh:

I have two Visconti pens: an "Empire" and an "Aida". I have both in 18k fine nibs and rate both as excellent. The nibs are among the very best I've ever tried.

I think your opinion is in a minority.

Impossibly heavy??!! Badly balanced??!!

Try a Krone limited edition, or an Omas Imagination. That IS heavy!

My Edson in M nib is a perfectly reliable pen and great, smooth writer. I like the stiff nib.

I agree with you on this one. These VP pens are little more than junk - and the converter is an absolute joke!

It's a shame because Namiki makes some excellent high-end fountain pens. The VP is just a gimmick.

My Aurora Optima (green) medium point. It looks great but is (as best as I can describe it) a tight writer that needs constant prodding. Perhaps it was the ink, but I tried half-a-dozen or so with the same results.

Its funny how pens that some think is one of the best pen in their armada is acceped by others as a very bad pen.
Some think the Namiki VP is the best pen ever and other just didnt see whats so cool about them.So is the case with the Edson and the Parker 75.
It truly is different strokes for different falks.

Absolutely.

There are a couple of widely-loved pens that I just don't warm up to. Does that make everyone else an idiot? Does that make me an idiot for not getting it? I don't think it does.

Sheaffer Royal Selangor. It had the best, smoothest Sheaffer stub nib I've ever used. But the pewter pen was so heavy it felt like I was writing with a baseball bat. It's no surprise to me why they died in the marketplace.

On eBay they go for just a little more than a hundred bucks.

Amen to that!

Also, the Levenger TrueWriter. I exchanged that thing 3 or 4 times before finally giving up on it. I know others have had good experiences with the TrueWriter but it's just not for me.

A small Recife pen, also from Levenger, that was unusually fussy.

Think that's about it right now. The Conklin MTS and TrueWriter stick out in my mind because of the egregious way that they misbehaved [I don't think I used that word correctly. Oh well].

I feel like a lottery winner because all 4 True Writers I own write very well and are problem-free! Perhaps the QC/manufacturing process changed, because I have heard that the earlier ones had some problems (to say the least)....

Re: Conklin....My modern Glider had flow problems until I flossed between its nib tines and now it starts up without hesitation when left capped for a few days.

My biggest disappointment was my Parker Sonnet until I got its bland and balky M nib changed to a factory M italic. Now it's one of my favourite writers.

I guess the lesson to be learned (well for me, anyway) is that some nib/flow problems can be easily corrected, either at home or by the manufacturer (or a competant repair person).

My bad pen was certainly an isolated case.

Mine is a Monteverde Invicia black tie.

This is by far the worst pen I ever had. It skipped and didn't start and wasn't very smooth to start with. The nib section becomes a little loose after a while. It's a clip cap so it dries the nib. After this, I learned I coudl sent it to repair. Oh my! 2 months latter, I receive my pen with a smaller nib, the mechanism sticks out of the metal nib section, it still doesn't start and skips. Also the finish is plastic on metal. It's cheap and not good!

cheers

Claude

I fully agree. Worst part was I sent mine in to get fixed. They wanted to charge me for their flawed pen, almost the same as it cost. JUNK!

The pen that most disappoints me is winedoc's Danitrio "Rabbit in the Snow" urushi pen. I'm really disappointed that if I buy it, I'd become single again.

I have to agree with you here, german design appears to be too conservative and the Pelikans IMHO are a wee bit dull.....little change in 50 years.....like porsche and BMW......0% radical and rather dull.

Conklin Nozac - fine writer, but too large for my taste.

That about hits the nail smack on the head for me Maja

I don't have an expectation that every pen I get will write well straight off, mainly because I buy 99% secondhand, but even the new stuff can be patchy. I do plan on either adjusting the pen myself if it is within my capability or getting somebody to do it for me. After you get over the size/shape/weight issue, which usually can't be 'fixed', the other problems can be rectified by either a nib swap or a visit to a nibmeister.

I would not buy a new pen that did not offer a range of nibs and the abilty to swap out the nib in the first 30/90 days.

Jim

For me, my Parker Sonnet: the nib was wonderful. Fit and finish the same. The problem is that, like many here, pens rotate. It was truly a hard-starter after several days in the pen box & I wasn't keen on filling-in the cap vent holes (as other owners suggested). It went to a new home where, hopefully, it is a daily use pen.

another disappointed Parker/Sonnet fan:
My Sonnet (stainless steel nib F) only works from time to time - and only at it's own will - and all my old Vectors are now skipping or leaking so even though I like the look and feel, none of my Parkers writes readable these days. So maybe it's time to move on.. to other pens

kind regards
Henrik

By far way and above the worrst pen I have ever owned was the Yard O Led Viceroy Grand Victorian.

It looked wonderful and that was about it, oh and it had a nice box.

Within in the first 8 months I had 3 new nib units replaced, all free of charge under warranty, each of the nibs had a bloody awful habit of tearing all but the heavier types of paper, the cap needed a two handed pull to remove it which usually resulted in a blob of ink flying somewhere. The action of taking the cap off was resulting in quite deep scratching occuring to the end of the pen.. . . Otherwise it was fine and the Victorian style of finish did look great.. . . Its all a learning curve though

I have to join those who expresed surprize that pens they use and love are percived by others as bad experiences. Not all pens are perfect.

My own selections for bad pen expeiences: Wearever, the worst vintage pen I have experienced. Mine leaked all over the place. Rotring 600, I don't like the feel of metal sections and this one was all metal, on top of weighing in like a small elephant. Levenger True Writer - my first one (the original green pen) was pretty nice, but subsequent pens were awful. The QC is pathetic.

I am sorry to hear that Pelikan has gotten such negative reviews. I expressed this disappointment in another thread here as well. Something must really have changed in Pelikan manufacturing.

Namiki Vanishing Point. Got all 3 nib units and hated it. Still sits firmly in my drawer.

Interesting. I have this pen and I can confirm that the cap has to be pulled with force, but over time this loosens up. I find the nib smooth - one of the smoothest I own, and the pen does look like a 'million dollars'. I guess it all depends on your writing style.

The only good modern Parker is the Duofold - forget all the others.

I am a bit surprised to see few people that put the VP in there pick.
I thought I am the only one that didnt hit it with his VP.

If only Pilot would take it to get a bit tweeked this could be a truly amazing pen.

I bought a Parker Sonnet with 14K gold nib, and love it. It's smooth from the get go, always writes, has classic style, it's my best new pen. My best old pen is one of the "51's".

Well here goes, the inevitable is about to happen: MB 149. Just too big and ostentatious, bordering on crass. What's worse though is that this pen leaked from every conceivable place an FP could leak from and spent more time with the MB repair people than it did with me. MB never got it right, but one day it rolled off the kitchen counter and broke so badly that MB told me to write it off (pun intended); what a blessed relief. SWMBO has an MB 146, which has a raft of problems all its own. I have a Parker Duofold Centennial, which was vying with the MBs to occupy a place in my FP hall of shame, but it has more than redeemed itself. Out of the box it was difficult to get started and once started it skipped and the flow went from dry to wet to dry ad nauseam. In one last desperate attempt to save the day I sent it to Richard Binder and behold, a total transformation. It now sits at the top of my FP pecking-order although now it is being fiercely challenged by the "new kid", a Bexley Americana purchased from Richard last month.

No one's going to believe this. My Nakaya tamenuri cigar and piccolo. First had to be sent back because nib was not set correctly on feed for all of the sign offs that they include. The piccolo I asked for wet and smooth and it was dry and scratchy. I just gave up and didn't send it back for the $75 that UPS international charges for my free repair.

Bexley Prometheus - I really wanted this pen to be THE PEN. But, it was hard starting and skipped badly. It would write very wet on the down stroke and go dry on the up stroke. I sent it to Bexley and it came back writing the same way. I sent it to my repair specialist and it came back writing better but still not well. So it just sat in the display case. I finally sold it off and was happy to do so.