Alright, so I have ALWAYS had a thing for nice pens, as long as I can remember. The first pen i can think of was this Bic "Cartographer" that i though was so cool. It was alright too.

Then fast forward today, i wasn't even sure exactly what a fountain pen was. I thought the fountain pen was something else, and that a fountain pen was the one you dipped in an inkwell.

But then a certain TV show got me interested...."what is that pen he's using?" it's a fairly new show, i bet some people could figure what i'm talking about, but i don't want people to think that's the only reason i have a couple fountain pens (and 1 more on the way. Like i said i've always liked nice pens (i bet most people here always had a thing for them since they were little).

So i looked it up read about it and KNEW i had to have one. So unique, better quality and control than ball point (i never really liked ball point, it was always either rollerball or felt tip or something, until now). I shopped around, went to three wal-marts (they happened to be all on my way home anyways) and finally one lady was like "oh, sure yeah they're in aisle ___ with the stationary" and i was clearly surprised and i think she saw it, i said "really?" and then she acted like i was crazy or retarded or something. Needless to say she was thinking ball-point/rollerball. UGH was all i could think of.

Then i called office mas asking SPECIFICALLY the disposable rollerball pens, and she put me on hold to go check and came back with "we havea 12 pack of calligraphy pens. So i just sort of...."yeah.....i'll have to seeee''' which, when i checked out office max they had nothing like a fountain pen. Sad, that an office store doesn't have fountain pens. I finally went to Hobby Lobby not expecting much and they had all sorts of great stuff. Including a Sheaffer Viewpoint and a Manuscript something-or-other, which are the two i ended up getting.

Yeah they're not the most expensive, and i have a Chinese no-name on the way for looks basically. And i'm hoping it'll write alright as a day-today pen.

The thing is, i wonder if i'm not really well suited for this forum cause i can't really afford a $50 pen. $30 is about my limit. The pens i've found have been plenty good enough for me, and someday i hope to own a bit of a classier pen, but for now Art-store pens and Chinese knock-offs will do fine for me. Maybe i can find something used, who knows.

So yeah, please don't flame me for not having the status quo when it comes to FP's. I think personally there is a huge mark-up on the mid-level, machined, NOT hand-made pens, but that's just my theory.

I'm falling asleep, i might post more later in this topic. Something i asked a couple times in my other thread i think:

are the "Varsity" pens any good? I wanna get a couple cause i've read they're pretty good and so damn inexpensive that even if they break, get lost, or whatever, they're...well....disposable.

Wow that was a long post. And i'm half asleep so i might not make sense. Thanks,

Indy.

Welcome to FPN, Indy!

Absolutely no reason not to join in because you don't have 'a $50 pen' - if you read around here you'll find lots of people who like inexpensive pens. I've got several myself that write quite well that I run $25 and under (actually, quite a few that were $15 and under!).

There are people will makes, models and price ranges of pens and it's a great place to find out more about what would suit you and where to find it.

Enjoy your time here - and jump right in!

Casmi

Welcome to FPN, Indy,

All fountain pens are created good.

They sell some nice ones - Monteverde - at Office Depot, where they also sell inks and ink cartridges.

There are some neat FPs at "Papyrus" store that you might find in a mall, their prices start from $29.95, and their FPs are really beautiful.

There is one very affordable and very friendly seller on internet- Isellpens.com - where you can find Chinese fountain pens starting from $3, and they are really good writers.

SwisherPens.com have Rotring Core in their clearance section for $9.99 - it's a very cool looking pen and an excellent writer.

Wish you to discover the new world of fine writing instruments.

Rita

There are lots of really nice fountain pens around for under your limit. Try a Waterman Phileas or look around for nice vintage pens. Many nice Sheaffers from the '30's, Wahl/Eversharp Skylines, and Parker Challengers are available onlne within your range. Just look carefully and ask detailed questions about condition.
Welcome to FPN.
Phil

Hey Welcome! I am fairly new to this forum too, but it won't take you long to learn A LOT from these nice folks. I know I have. I have several pens in my collection and most of them were under $50.00. I collect "on the cheap" and still enjoy the hobby! (Hey I have a daughter in college!) Hang out, join in the discussions, ask questions and enjoy!

Lashelle

Hi Indy,

Like Lashelle said, very soon you'll learn a lot of stuff. I joined this place about a year ago and I am thoroughly at home and learning heaps...and my pen-collection is now 9 items strong. I keep promising myself I'll stop but then something pretty HAS to show up on my screen with that 'come hither' look on it's nib...

One of the secrets is to find discontinued models on closeout until you get a sense of what you like. Probably half my pens were bought that way.

Yes, do not worry about the 'cheap'. You can plenty of good stuff for $30-50 in USA. In India some decent FPs and ink are really really cheap. There is a recent post on it somewhere. And some of the 'brands' are way too expensive. Hello and welcome.

Treat yourself to a Waterman Phileas, available at Office Depot. It writes like the really expensive pens and will give you years of service. They come in F, M and B nibs. If your local store isn't stocked, check the Office Depot website.

Monterverdes are OK as well, tho' I personally find their nibs a little scratchy compared to the smooth Phileas. Take your time and enjoy the fantastic ink colors.

Great introduction post that mate !

Welcome to the FPN and I sense your interest will be an asset to the club.

Dont get too bogged down with the massive values associated with some pens on here. That really is not what its all about and what you will find is people on here may well own $1000+ pens but everyone of them will gladly talk at length about any type and value of fountain pen.......ball pens and rolerballs well thats another subject

Welcome to FPN.

Indy, I agree with the posters' advice here. I started out looking for fountain pens when I tried replacing a fountain pen I found in my grandfather's desk when I was a teenager. I used it off and on for about 15 years until the sac just gave out. I didn't find a very, very close model until last year to replace my grandfather's pen. So you are on a great journey, and my recommendation is to swing by antique stores, flea markets, etc. Lately I have been using a black mid 50's Sheaffer Craftsman, with a solid 14K nib, and gold filled clip and band that I picked up reasonably (under 20 dollars) at an antique store a few weeks ago. The bigger surprise is that the sac was in excellent condition, and the nib is verryyy smooth. Happy Hunting.

Hi and welcome to the collecting bussines, I started with my old Parker 45 from school, carrying it around and using it everyday, and suddenly my Grandpa took a couple of pens and gave them to me as I was a Penfan as he told me, those where my first 51 and 61, suddenly 20 years after I´m here with 100 +- pens in my cabinet, and guess what never payed lots of cash for one, found lots on antique stores as a Montblanc Noblesse couple, FP and Roller that I payed AR$ 150 around 50 dollars both. You never know. Best regards and welcome.

Welcome to the FPN. Check out isellpens.com and hisnibs.com for lots of reasonably-priced FPs. (No affiliation.)

The Waterman Kultur is another alternative to the Phileas. Also the Pilot 78G. Both Pelikan and Lamy have some lower priced pens.

And when you learn how to clean a pen & change a bladder & adjust a nib you can pick up a FP from the flea market for $10 and have yourself a bona fide vintage pen!

Welcome to FPN. I have several inexpensive Chinese pens. Most of them are excellent writers. I have not used them all, yet. Of course, I have my favorites. I think my most expensive one was $15. Ghost Plane's advice about the Waterman Phileas is good advice. I have 4 of them. Two of them go to work with me frequently. They are excellent writers and cartridges for them are easy to find. You do not have to spend a fortune to enjoy having and writing with fountain pens.