What are some good "entrance pens"?....like from Visconti, Omas, and Aurora. By entrance pen I mean inexpensive, good writer, and would give me a good idea of the rest of the pens made by that particular company. Like the M200 would be to the Pelikan line. What do you suggest?

Good question.

I can't really think of many "entry" level Italian pens that are in the same price range as the M200. Even the entry level Viscontis with steel nibs will run well over $100 (e.g. Visconti Van Gogh Midi).

You can occasionally find bargains here on the boards, and on eBay.

The Visconti Pericles is a great Italian "entry" pen, and recently could be found on eBay consistently for <$100, but NOS for these has pretty much run out, although I still see them once in a while.

The Stipula Vedo might be a good Italian starter, and can be found for < $100. Definitely worth looking around for.

http://www.pengallery.com/default.aspx?sec...product_id=3282
(No association or recommendation implied... this was just the first good link I found for this pen.)


Good luck with your quest! I'm really interested in seeing some other responses on this thread!

Aurora's Ipsilon?

Bill

I think that Savarez is right on the money (pun intended ). You can probably get Visconti Van Gogh Midis around $100 and they are just gorgeous pens - warm to the touch and great to look at. I also got a Visconti Classic for much less than $100 on Ebay, but that was sheer luck.

The Stipula Vedo is a great looking pen too. I have one, but it's still on board for use - haven't gotten to it yet. Just wrote with one in the store.

Also, the Aurora Ipsilon is the right price range, but haven't used it. I'm sure others can comment.

Good luck! Italian pens are very nice, though not always as dependable as the ultra-dependable Pelikans or Lamys. (You know the difference between Germans and Italians? )

Erick

Stipula Vedo has a street price of around $100, and it's most like the M200 (and prettier, imho).

Hi,

The Ipsilon is a good pen. I have one with a fine nib.

Dillon

They are lovely little pens, but I don't really consider them an M200 equivalent because they're not a piston filler.

I recently sold my two Ipsilons (I've had three), and now I have three Vedos.

The idea of the Visconti Van Gogh as a starter is delightful.Great price for a wonderful pen.
Omas produce expensive pens but an Ogiva or Bologna can be had used for a decent price,Heck,even a Milord or Paragon if you watch the sites close.

Jim

Be careful tho'. I started with a Pericles, graduated to a Van Gogh Maxi and 30 pens later...

I think this is a good question, too, and one I had not considered. I do not think there is such a thing as an entery level Italian pen. Pelikan's Souverain series is unique, I believe, in its having the M-150 and M-200 entery level pens. Although Aurora does have a wider range of pens that most Italian manufacturers, in my mind getting an Ipsilon to see how an Optima might feel is like getting a Parker Sonnet to see how a Duofold would feel. I do not think you can get there from here.

For Aurora pens, it might be helpful to consider that the same nib units are used in the Talentum, 88 and Optima series. So you can buy a Talentum and actually use the same nib as you would find in an Optima. For Visconti pens, the Van Gogh might be a good starter. I have not bought any Visconti pens since they started using metal sections.

I think Stipula has standardized their nibs within the past few years. If you get an I Castoni, I think you will be getting a nib similar to that used in the Etruria. Someone who knows for sure can correct me here. Delta nibs are pretty well standardized. Although the Delta "Vintage" is an affordable pen, it is really small. Otherwise, you might just look for the best buy and try it.

The only nib that would tell you how an Optima would feel at a lower price point would be a Talentum, but I don't consider that an entry level price point ($275 street price). It's possible the higher-grade Ipsilons, which do have 14k nibs, would offer the same, but I don't have experience with them.

Note that the M-150 and M-200 Pelikans also don't have the same nib as the more expensive line, but one can still get the more expensive nibs and use them.


No longer true, because the current I Castonis have the same steel nib on the Vedo. The older ones have gold nibs.

Deirdre wrote:

"No longer true, because the current I Castonis have the same steel nib on the Vedo. The older ones have gold nibs."

Buggers! That jes' ain't right.

I am going to add the Aurora Style to the suggestions, which I have used with great pleasure (a M nib that I fill with Bay State Blue without any problems). The resin ones with a steel nib can be found for around $50-$70.

I haven't used the Ipsilon, which usually runs a tad more expensive than the Style. However, I see that the resin ones are on clearance at WorldLux (no affiliation) for $55. Might be a good time to try one.

One more vote for the Stipula Vedo

UGH I just saw a beautiful Paragon on the marketplace with a John Mottishaw italic nib for 215.00

Of course I was too late in claiming it. I'm so angry!

My pentor, GP and I have this common bond. I too launched my now boiling Visconti obsession with a Pericle. It's a very wet M and I absolutely adore it.

Pam at Oscar Braun has an VG Evergreen Maxi for $175 and I'm returning soda cans and selling hubcaps to expedite the transaction! I'm pretty sure that one is a gold nib.

My first Italian was an Ipsilon F that I truly love, it's a nice writer and a good looking pen. I'd like to get an Optima one day as well.

Let us know what you decide.

Maxis are gold nibs. The others are steel.

The missus has a Midi with a gold nib.

I was thinking currently coming out, not previously manufactured. Sorry. Shoulda clarified that.

What's "missus"? I understand that it should be some seller or (e-Bay?) shop, but I would appreciate more clarification (details)

I would wholly recommend the Aurora Talentum with gold trim - it's a beautiful pen, doesn't dry up easily and has a fabulous nib, a little toothy but nothing too rigid. I started my interest in Italian pens with a 'new style' Stipula Ventiude 22 in Blueberry, which is mesmerizing to look at, but not as pleasurable to use. Whereas my Aurora has been a model pen, no leaking etc, even though I use it everyday, take it with me everywhere and have let it slide around in my bag quite a bit. Possibly my favourite pen (although my Pelikan M400 White Tortoise is up there with the Aurora). The Stipula Vedo does look nice though.

Emma

Perhaps he is referring to his wife?

Oh thank you, I didn't know this word.

It's ALWAYS appropriate to ask. Not everyone has English as their first, second, or even third language and it's a terribly irregular and idiomatic speech to inflict on the world.

Sorry mate. My missus is me wife and me better half. Should have been more clear and wrote 'the boss'.

Anyone still looking for entry level Italians, two Visconti VG Maixies just got posted in classifieds. Good price.... no affiliation... yada yada.

http://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/in...c=73090&hl=

I'd snap up the demonstrator if my pen drawer wasn't overflowing!

My likes your Canadian English (or it's Canglish?).
My think yours owe my explanation what "pentor" could be (yours look above please).

It's a play on the word "mentor" - a person mentoring another in the subject of pens. Not an official word, but something the poster invented.

Thank you, you're so kind.


I discovered the meaning of that 'play of word' before I made a post to the guy from Canada actually (search helps ), but having some special mood (it was 03:24 AM for me) I was just kind of making revenge: tough (slang) word for tough word… or just … . I don't remember well now.

Thanks again, I appreciate.

No problem. We're a pretty international bunch here, so it's not uncommon to see people adapt or modify English, much to the confusion of others. We've had conversations where people were translating from Arabic, Japanese, Chinese, French, Hebrew and Norwegian all in the same thread - it's amazing we ever communicate at all.

Just look at it as an extra service. Not only will you learn about fountain pens, but you'll learn obscure English idioms as an added bonus.