I like stiff nibs I'd prefer something that isn't C/C but that won't stop me if I really like the pen. As an aside, the Long Island Pen show is coming up in a few weeks, will price reductions be that big that I should wait or should I just get something now? The one I'm considering at the moment is the Edson. I would have gone with the Omas Society FP but I'm fickle to the point that if you make me do needless work (fax in oder, copy of ID, etc) I'll just move on . So, 400 bucks in your hand, which pen are you being pulled toward??

Maybe a really high-end Snorkel set (or a few?)? The Sheaffer's that I have have very very firm nibs, and the filling system is about as far from c/c as you can get.

I've heard bad things about Sheaffer's...I like how they look but I keep hearing that they leak

Stipula Etruria, Amber, Piston Filler, 0.9mm stub

Not the first to suggest that Will add it to the list...

How about the Waterman Edson ?

Yes yes, your review made me want it even more only problem is that like you I wish it wasn't C/C.

I know I'm a pain in the you know what but I just had to
You know we Israelis are pushy

Horrors! Who's spreading this slander?
Actually I don't have all that much experience with vintage Sheaffers, but if you get a properly restored snorkel it should be no more likely to leak than any other pen with a sac.

Well, I didn't hear this about the vintage Sheaffer's but rather the newer ones. I'm also not looking for vintage but more modern stuff appreciate the suggestion nonetheless.

Snorkels/TD's will leak but just like any other vintage pen they should be restored, if restored properly they are awesome pens.

Yard O Led Grand

Hey Yan -

It's time for you to fill the gaping brand hole in your growing collection. You have some of the finest pens from most of the premier houses, except...



Pelikan.

M800.

Classic Green Striated Barrel.

Custom Cursive Italic Nib from Nibmeister Binder. http://www.richardspens.com/ (no affiliation, your mileage may vary)




All for right at your $400 target. Piston filled. Big wet nib, And like many of your other pens - a classic.

Have fun Yan. Like you, I'm looking forward to our local pen show. It's time for my own personal contribution to the President's economic stimulus package.

Mont Blanc 149.

Genny

The Grand Victorian looks very nice, so what do you like about this brand and this particular pen? How is the nib? Would you be able to post a picture of a writing sample? If I order from Pam Braun, who undoubtedly has the best price for this pen, I won't get a chance to try the pen out so I don't know if I'll like it

Already got one

Ray,

Do you have a Pelikan within your collection? I've tried it out and it was a pretty good writer, from what I remember, Cursive Italic will be something interesting to try out...that's for sure I'll add that to the list as well!

The Pelikan is on my list too. I want Nibmeister Binder to watch my handwriting position and style before making the final nib choice - so the Pelikan is on my punch list for the Atlanta Pen Show in April.

I have three of his cursive italic nibs (0.9 mm, 0.7 mm, and 0.9 mm ItaliFine) in Vanishing Points - and they are my daily workhorses. I really like the line width variation the cursive italic grind lays down - much more interesting that any stock round nib I have. My cursive italic nibs (all three of them) have some tactile feedback to them though, some tooth. And I am suspicious that I may need a low degree oblique rotation to the standard cursive italic grind to draw the nib over the paper on it's sweet spot, and make the nib smoother in my hand. That's not an issue with most medium and broad round nibs - round nibs don't have edges - so I had never noticed it. But it looks like I rotate the nib about 10 degrees to the left. And with a little rotation out of line, the stub, italic, and cursive italic shapes would drag on the edges of the ovoid or rectangular nib. So I'm telling myself to be patient (yeah, right) until I can get myself and my handwriting position in front of a real expert.

Patience is a virtue, right?

I would love to meet Richard at the LI Pen Show and do the same, does he bring some pens with him to sell? I'm only worried that the line for him might be too long! And patience is indeed a virtue. But at the moment there is no pen really making me want to buy it so I think I can hold off until the pen show and experiment around with what I find.

He has a brief section on his website that explains how he operates at pen shows. He has daily signup sheets for appointments to see him for custom grinds on the spot. I got the feeling from reading the section that if you bought a pen from him (Pelikan, Namiki, Classic, etc) that he would custom grind the nib for new sales as well - outside of the signup line.

Interestingly, the signup sheet expires at the end of the day - and a new signup sheet is in effect for the second day of the show.

So for me it will be my mission to get up early enough both days to get my name on his signup sheet before the slots fill. I want my Blue Serpent and my Divina Proporzione turned into cursive italics. And then maybe that new Pelikan too.

Ray,

If you have the time do you think you could try to find that section? I'm searching his site and only see how to prepare for a pen show and what to expect at one . I'll keep looking though. As I don't need him to regrind anything at the moment, I hopefully won't need to get up early!

No worries Yan -

Click the WELCOME button on the Left banner of his website www.richardspens.com

Scroll down to COME SEE US AT A PEN SHOW

Click TABLE TALK

(PM sent with copies of his policies - I didn't want to pull an Obama and post Richard's material here)

Got it! Thanks for taking the time to do that.

Yan, I've attempted to scan a handwriting sample. Having software glitches, so I hope this turns out OK.

Edit: Even after uploading, the picture didn't. Drat!

That´s an easy question. Here´s my answer:

fountain pens
Lamy Studio s/s for everaday = 75 $
Lamy 2000 for special occasions = 160 $

plus matching ballpoints (come on, we all need one from time to time)
Lamy Studio = 55 $
Lamy 2000 = 75 $

Makes a total of 365 $ for 4 perfect writing instruments.

Sorry, I know they ought to be more expensive, considering the excellent quality and perfect design.

It depends, of course, on why you are buying the pen. If you will use it frequently -- as in almost everyday -- as a working tool, I would get a Parker Duofold or a Pelikan 400 or 600, depending on the size of your hand. If you are looking to buy one for other reasons (collecting, it looks cool etc), I would not know where to begin.

This is good advice.

But just get the fountain pen, they are available for well under $100.

Now you have $300 left over. . . gas for the X5.

I'm with Ghost Plane here, get a Yard 'o Led. They are among the best writers made and on top of that they are beautiful!

Am not trying to discredit your advice, but the quality issues concerning YoL are ubiquitous.
I would take a close look or use the fpn search. Nice design, but poor QC if you ask me...

Might be an option if I still had the X5 , which by the way got 9 mpg in the city and 12 on the highway 4.4 liter engine...vroom vroom. I had a Lamy Studio before, was not a fan though

Designwise Lamy and BMW are a perfect match - modern, robust, uncompromising, German design and engineering.

I go for the Yard O Led also. When they say sterling silver it is not a thin sheet of sterling foil over plastic, resin or brass. They are also great writers.

For $400 you can get a couple of nice Sheaffer Balance OS pens with stiff but glassy smooth nibs. Good luck!

When I was reading your post, I immediately thought "Edson!" - and then got to the end and that is what you mentioned. Go for it, you won't regret it!

Bil
(3 Edsons)

At the moment it's between the Edson and Pelikan 800...I think I"ll make my choice at the LI pen show, hopefully I have enough patience for that

Let us know what you choose.

I own both and to my eye the Edson is a much more impressive writing instrument, but YMMV.

Good to know I'll definitely try both out before I make a purchase and I might take Ray's advice and get the Pelikan from Richard Binder with a nice nib to go with it . I'll try to update this thread when I make my choice.

I think the M1000 would be better then the M800.

But will it be within my price range?

[/quote]
Yan you had an X5 and you didnt tell me ? Shame on you.I love this SUV.
I drive right now an MDX and love it but I would swap it with an X5 without thinking twice.

Oh and I tried a Lamy Studio last week and was very disapointed of how boring the nib was.


I believe Pam sells the M1000 for less then 400$.

I did not know you were a fan of BMW's . Yes the X5 was an excellent car which I loved but it guzzled too much gas for me and after 3 years I got an Acura RL. The MDX is what I originally wanted and when I couldn't have that I decided on the X5 (long story). Anyway, my next car might be a BMW again, either that or an Infiniti (at some point during the summer I'll decide ) I'm a HUGE fan of BMW's, they are lacking in the quality of the technology they've shoved into their cars but their handling, acceleration, breaks, handling is second to none in the cars that I've driven (under $100,000 only so far ).

If Pam sells it for less then I might be interested, I'll check out both at the Pen Show or if I decide to go to Altman Luggage if my patience doesn't hold

Indeed after Alfa Romeo BMW is my favorite car maker.In normal driving condition the M3 would be my dream car but since there is snow in Toronto I like to have an AWD so the X5 would be a nice compremise.

Oh sorry I forgot the 911 S4 is the ultimate car.Its sporty and with AWD system.The only problem is that it cost 100,000$

I was about to mention the m1000, too, but goodguy got to it first. It should be well within the price range, you can also get them from Melpens or Pengallery, both in Malaysia. Last I checked, the Melpens ebay store had them for about $350. And if you don't have this pen, it should be at the top of your list. It's a very long shot, but Swisher might possibly have some more OMAS Paragons for $400.25 shipped.




I was wondering about that company. It seems that with prices like that for c/c pens, the quality should be top notch. I guess I'll stick with the Japanese and German ones for build quality. Interesting idea with the Lamy's, although their QC has been slipping from what I hear with the 2000's. That being said, I've found mine to be a great pen.

Aurora 88

As I'm on my 9th Beemer I will recommend getting a pinstripe duofold on ebay.
Looks classy, writes well and comes in a magic presentation box.
And if you really want to use it then get an old 61 aerometric converter to go with it.

Spend $300 on your spouse and get a Duofold from eBay with the rest...

I agree with you about the M3, beautiful car, I got a ride in one a few years back. My cousin, who worked as a valet, got to drive a Bently, all the mercedes, BMW's, porsche's, etc. Even got a ride in a Lamborghini



Already have one




If I had a spouse I'd take that advice...alas the life of a lonely college grad student, a la me, isn't filled with such pleasures as spending wads of cash on my significant other.




If I can get a price from a reputable dealer then Altman will match it, and it'll be easier because I can test it out in the store before I buy it, so thanks for the suggestion!

Perhaps a vintage Duofold senior flat top in lapis lazulis or jade green? Or perhaps some rare vacumatic maxima?

Unfortunately, vintage stuff just doesn't do it for me

its not $400 but i received a Levenger Plumpster Fine last week, paid about $100 and it is gorgeous...great weight, lovely resin and very smoothj writing...in fact much better than some of my over $400 pens!!!