I've been looking around and trying to decide on my first Italian FP. Obviously I know which ones appeal to me in terms of design, price etc, but it would be useful to get a sense of how reliable the various Italian brands and models are, especially since they do tend to have a reputation (justifiably or not) of having problems. I intend to use any pen I buy on a regular basis, so reliability is quite important to the decision.

So....without meaning to open up a can of worms or start arguments between other FPNers, would any of you have advice about which brands/models to avoid (reliability-wise)?

Thanks

You are asking for pens to avoid. I cannot off the top of my head think of any brand that is generally bad. Within some brands, there have been specific models that have been problematic, but it is hard to generalize. Why don't you choose a brand and model that you think you might like, then ask about that choice? The options are many, so just enjoy shopping.

I agree with Frank. Find what design and style you like and research it.Use the search device here on FPN and you will find a wealth of topics and posts.
Treasures abound here and the knowledge of FPN members is unparalleled!!

In the meantime,look here:

http://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/in...showtopic=50609

Have fun!

Jim

A brand/model to avoid? mmmm... Just pay attention on what you buy from ebay because even though there are not so many fakes as parker, also italian brands like Stipula have some fakes.
I use all pens of my collection so I can tell that for example Stipula La 91 is very beautiful but it is too heavy for an everyday use. It is better to use at home, standing on a table, and its design helps for it. But I don't have anything against Stipula pens and infact I have a lot of Stipula and I love them. I use as often as possibile the Stipula Vedo (click on the link below) because it has a soft nib in an economy pen. And the pen is nice.
Another brand I can suggest to pay attention to is Aurora with some slim old (not vintage) models. Infact you can find them all around italian shops and on ebay and they are not so good as the piston filler models or the Idea or Ipsilon or Talentum. I have a Magellano and I don't like the cartridge system because 9 out of ten times it leaks if you open the pen before the cartridge is empty.

Regards,

First let me preface this by saying that I absolutely love Italian fountain pens. If you took all of my non-Italians away it would barely faze me. Having said that, I must tell you that I do not keep high expectations of my Italian pens being perfect from the get go. I have a Visconti Divine Proportions on the way to me now. A rational person would expect a 1600-1700 pen to be beyond perfect, I don't.

The only Italian brand that I have had issues with is Ancora but there are plenty of folks out there that have had wonderful experience with them. Go for the pen that makes you smile and forget what we have to say.

I agree with the above and wish to add that if you can locate a good pen seller within 100 miles or so, a visit and a few trials will help you know more what to expect. I'm quickly becoming a Visconti junky, very nice all-around writing experiences.

Aurora nibs are often smooth but toothy. If you are looking for glass smooth nibs with no feedback from the paper, many Aurora nibs will not fit the bill. They make very nice pens but their nibs have a special character that you may or may not like. j

John is spot on here. All of the Aurora nibs that I have ever used, modern production that is, have the same tooth. Great pens but the nibs are not buttery smooth.

I recommend Stipulas. I haven't heard of many problems and the nibs are absolutely great. I have 5 Viscontis (which I love), but think the Stipulas have superior nibs. I'm afraid I don't know about the other brands, since I do not own them. My impression of the Montegrappas is that they are beautiful pens, but overpriced. The lower-end Auroras (i.E. the ones I can afford) are, IMO, a bit plain looking.

Everybody has their own opinions and these are mine! Hope this helps -

Erick

They may be plain, but from the reliability point of view, there are no concerns. They are though as school pens and they write like first rate Auroras.

Andrea

It's hard to point out any brands to avoid since I think all Italian pens are individuals - each have their own quirks, likes and dislikes. My suggestion, if you want reliability, is to buy a second hand one in good condition if you don't mind it. Someone else will have broken in the nib for you already (and most Italians pens do need a degree of wearing in) and the price will also be far more attractive.

Absolutely love how you've displayed your pen collection! Brilliant!

Thank you very much!

Bear in mind that Italian nibs can run a little wider than other brands, and some tend to be wetter than others. You might let people know what you write with now for comparison so you can be spared getting something too wide for your uses.

I am already a confirmed Visconti fanatic. Overall I have been very happy with my pens. Viscontis in general are going to be larger and heavier than other mainstream brands. Of the pens I own the Wall Street (LE), Opera (Master & Demo) and Aida are all large, heavy pens. The Opera Club is large but lighter. From Visconti I would avoid the Metropolis and the Divinas. The Metropolis is more complicated than it needs to be--unscrew the cap, screw the nib out, post the cap; the order is reversed to put the pen away. And the filling system has to be experienced to be believed. I call it the Torquemada touch down. The Divinas have a strange shape to them. They are exceedingly beautiful in each of their incarnations but take some getting used to when you hold them.