I see that Joon is still selling the Centenary Overlay. Can readers explain which pen I should buy - the Henry Simpole or the Centenary Overlay? What is the essential difference between them, other than the design and the fact that the Simpole has the screw-in converter? The Centenary seems to have more metal - is it the better deal?

Hello George,

Actually, there is a big difference between the Centenary and Henry Simpole overlay fountain pens. However, both of them are stunning pens to own and to use.

I have the Centenary in the Vermeil overlay and the Henry Simpole in the Sterling overlay. My person preference is typically gold/black rather than silver/black but I find that doesn't come into consideration for me with these pens. They're just flat out beautiful.

The Centenary is smaller than the Simpole by about 8mm and the Simpole may be about 2 mm larger in diameter. Neither on of these pens are made for posting - they're just too heavy and would be much too long if posted. But they are very comfortable in hand for writing.

I don't know what to say in response to your statement about more metal being on the Centenary than the Simpole except to point back to the size difference. The diameter difference, even though both pens are tapered, is pronounced.

All that being said, I don't know if I'd purchase a pen just because it has more of a certain type of metal on it than another. One never really breaks even reselling a pen. My personal choice was based on which pen I liked the looks of and which pen I thought that I would use the most. I choose the Centenary. Interestingly enough, I now reach for my Simpole more frequently. Oh, well. Life goes on.

Peace,

Phroneo

PS - I don't think that one can locate a Simpole; aren't they now sold out? If you have an opportunity to purchase a Centenary, go for it. I honestly think you'll be happy.

I believe the Simpole is still available from CS. I would go for one but the price puts me off somewhat; I will need to think carefully before making this commitment. I do like the fact that the Simpole is slightly bigger than the Centenary, and I also like the fact that the ink converter is screwed in, also unlike the Centenary.

I own a silver Centenary overlay and wrote this review half a year ago
http://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/in...showtopic=48455
However, I have not used the pen alsmost at all since that review, as it has been away getting its nib reground.

I have seen the new Simpole. For some reason, even though I am mad about overlay and the new pen is gorgeous, I find myself not lusting after it. I think the reason for that, is that the Centenary is such a prominent pen, that it has actually managed to be "the" modern overlay pen for me, so getting the new Simpole seems redundant. However, had I gotten the Simpole first, perhaps I would feel the same way about the Centenary. It is hard to say.

But here are some comments about comparing the two:

Speaking as someone who likes large pens, I must say that the size of the Centenary is definitely enough to please. So I would not choose the new Simpole overlay just because it is slightly bigger.

For me, the real issue is design. The Centenary overlay is unusual, in that the overlay is meaningful: The design incorporates the number '1905' and the letetrs 'CS', to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Conway Stewart. The new Simpole design is floral. The floral overlay may be more attractive than the Centenary, but it is not as meaningful. So it depends which you value more.

Also, the Centenary overlay was available at a phenomenal price last year. Otherwise it would have been unaffordable. The new Simpole is considerably more expensive from the same seller. Partly it is the falling dollar, but I think the price diffrence goes beyond that.

In the end, I think the decision is really an aesthetic and financial one, both of which are highly personal criteria. Both pens are gorgeous, so enjoy whichever you decide to get!

QM2

Hmmmm. I'm not sure what you mean when you say the overlay of the Centenary is 'meaningful' - it's a centenary commemorative pen, to be sure, but how can the overlay have 'meaning'? As for the expense, well the Simpole is certainly more expensive, but time has passed, has it not?

Around a year ago I had the chance to buy a Centenary in solid gold overlay, on eBay, for only $1,800. I missed the chance and I have been kicking myself at least once a day ever since. But what I am asking myself now is why should I pay the same price for a vermeil Simpole?

It is meaningful, in the sense that it literally expresses the commemoration factor. It is common to find an overlay with a floral/paisley design. It is not common to find an overlay design with a message embedded into the flourishes. That's all I meant really.

Particularly people who are fans of the CS brand per se, may consider the Centenary overlay extra special. I am not one of those people, and, speaking objectively I actually think that the new Simpole design is more attractive than the Centenary. However, for some entirely subjective, mysterious reason, I like the Centenary better nonetheless. Go figure!

As for price: Yes, time has passed, but as I said -- the difference surpasses what can be accounted by the falling dollar alone. Maybe this is due to the new pen being slightly larger, and the overlay being perhaps more ornate.

I think that with either pen, you simply cannot go wrong. Just go with your instinct, and buy the one that appeals to you the most.

Good advice. And I have now decided on the Simpole in vermeil.

Greetings,

I agree with QM2 about the inherit meaning of the Centenary overlay. That was the main reason I purchased the pen.

I have a rather large collection of vintage CS fountain pens and pencils and having a pen that commemorates the history of the company was important to me. Even though one cannot use a vermeil overlay pen without being noticed, what most folks fail to notice is the sublime manner in which Simpole was able to integrate the CS and the 1905 into the design - and, to my eyes at least, he was able to put two CS figures into the overlay design.

The next reason I purchased the pen was because I did not have an overlay pen in my collection at that time and I wanted one - but I didn't want a vintage overlay pen such as a Waterman or Wahl - I wanted a modern overlay fountain pen. I liked the Centenary so much that I decided to purchase the Simpole.

And finally, I purchased both of these pens so that I can use and enjoy them now but I also wanted to have two pens that I could pass on, one each, to my nephews. As I had stated previously, one always loses on resell of ones pens so that's never a good reason to purchase a writing instrument. But to know that one has a writing instrument that can be passed along and used and enjoyed for years into the future, well, that was something that caught my imagination.

So use and enjoy which ever pen you purchase, George, the Centenary or the Simpole. They are both beautiful writing instruments.

Peace,

Phroneo

I just ordered a vermeil Simpole from a well known seller based in the mid-West USA.