Hello forum members and fellow pen pals!

I've always had an eye for the odd vintage pens, but recently added a few more and increased my interest.

A quick question to fire off for you experts.

Is there a definitive list of hooded nib pens? I've searched through some other posts. I prefer hooded nib as
you can happily use them in public and people wont think you're a snob! I'd probably be fine with my Parker 51
at work, but not one with an open nib, would get me into trouble!

Anybody have a full list of fully hidden nib pens? I'm hoping to get hold of some more from eBay.

Nice to meet you all.

Best wishes,

Oscar

Hello and welcome to FPN. If there is a definitive list of hooded nib pens then I've not noticed one posted on here, but you're bound to get lots of responses. At the cheaper end of the scale you've got the Hero pens - 329, 616 and 100 for hooded nibs. The latter is the best quality of those. Lamy 2000, lots of people certainly seem to like them. I held one at the Midlands Pen Show just because I hadn't seen one "in the flesh" before. Personally I didn't like the little ears that hold the cap in place.

Does it have to be hooded or just a pen that isn't obviously a fountain pen at first glance? If the latter could you get away with a VP?

Welcome to FPN, Oscar!
I don't know if there's any complete list, but a hooded nib pen I've been tempted to buy is by Aurora. I think it's an older version of the 88 but I'm not sure. There's definitely a review in the review section, which you could find if you checked the index.

Welcome to the FPN!!

My experience has been with the vintage Parkers, Hero and the LAMY 2000 (which I consider semi-hooded). There is also the Mont Blanc Generation, Cross Verve or maybe the Pilot VP. These are not vintage of course but the ones I know of. Good Luck.

I've only been here for about 2-3 months and a hooded nib for me would be like THE Parker 51. So check that out (to say the least)

Mike

Thanks guys. Have been tempted to get a Hero 100 as it's as close to a new 51 as there is. I can't afford a 51 that's in very good nick, only perhaps a more tatty example! A Parker 100 would be lovely, I've seen some from France on eBay at more reasonable prices. As you mention Carrie, ideally I prefer the hooded nib as it is just a bit plainer and not obviously a fountain pen, even when you are using it. I do also prefer how they write, it's nice to be able to just get the pen out and it'll write neatly every time. I wish they did more these days, although I realise that there is not physical need for the hood, with regard to modern inks being fine with an open nib. The search goes on!

Hi Oscar

Good to have you here - I have a Lamy 2000 which is semi-hooded and very nice. I also have some chinese pens with hooded and semi-hooded nibs - not quite the same as vintage quality but if you want a handful of cheap and cheerfuls to keep at hand inked in different colours... (thats what I do), I bought them on ebay, they were here in about 10 days.

Have fun looking anyway

Hey oz, take heart. I picked up a Parker 51 demi (slightly smaller size) off the marketplace for $40. It has a name engraved on the barrel, but its tiny, and not noticeable, along with a few tiny marks on the cap. But boy does it write like a dream.

So look around, and I'm sure you'll find one to your liking pretty quickly.

A lower priced alternate might either be a Hero (As previously mentioned) or perhaps a Parker 21 instead.