Hi all,
something I dont understand.
In my experience and belief a fountain pen nib (except a hard stainless steel point) moulds itself to the owner's handwriting. I use fp's at work and forever have to give lectures to my students when they dont have a pen and ask "can I borrow your pen, sir?", "that one right there - how can you say you dont have a pen to lend me?" etc. I go absolutely ballistic if I even suspect someone's used one of mine. In fact a colleague who has got especially heavy handed writing and almost goes through the paper did once, the nib was ruined and I had to throw the pen away!
In short unless you get a replacement nib why cough up for second hand pens with used nibs that you may not be able to write with?
Just a thought!
Armchop

Well, I don't suspect most people who use fountain pens on these forums are like your "colleague who has got especially heavy handed writing... the nib was ruined..."
I think most people who use these forums know how to properly use and care for a fountain pen.
Also, there is a lot of argument regarding if it really does matter if someone else borrows your pen briefly, you can read more about it here:
http://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/in...?showtopic=9524

My thinking is, if one really did need a replacement nib every time they bought a pen second hand, there would be very few repeat buyers and this forum would be a lot less active. The demand for second hand pens as shown by this forum, I believe, proves that most people are satisfied with the deals they conduct here and that most of us use our pens lightly enough that it is not a problem for the second owner.

Not to mention the fact that by buying second hand, you save a huge % of money compared to buying new pens.

Again, just a newbies thoughts.
-Ketan

I've recently bought a handfull of old Esterbrooks, and another handfull of older Sheaffers and every one writes good for me. Several write better than many of my newer pens.

I can see why some folks like to start fresh with new nibs but some of us can be pleased with the old ones.

So I'll just keep peaking in on the Marketplace.

I should ad that I usually have a conventional rollerball handy if sombody needs to barrow a pen.

many of my pens are second and even third hand... never had any issues with the nibs. the reason I buy used pens? Because they're often cheaper. Because I don't believe most of the claims that we alter the pens as we use them - certainly not in the short term. I'm at odds with "experts" but given my experiences, i see no evidence for this change at all. I've never even, to my awareness, noticed a difference in how I perceive a *new* pen from the first time I write with it, to the 50th time.

Perhaps I adapt quickly to how a pen feels and make minute adjustments of my own that compensate for any minor changes another user has wrought. But i'm highly skeptical of that. I'm just not that sensitive.

There is *one* exception in my experience. A vintage pen some 50 years old did have a slightly flattened spot on the left tine of the nib tipping. I'm guessing that it probably had one owner for a great length of time who happened to have the same grip and rotation I have ("average" grip and rotation for right-handers probably) and that sweet spot was perfect for me. But this was an inexpensive school pen (perhaps softer tipping than what is used today) that had been used for decades. I've never seen any such thing on any other used pen I own (some of the same age as that particular pen.)

since this ties in heavily to the thread that folks disagree with so much on - "don't ever loan your pen" and an earlier thread on the same topic, I'm sure this answer has the potential to go down that road yet again. But it's the only answer I have for you from a technical POV.

From an emotional POV, using a pen that has been in someone else's arsenal for many years carries with it a history that many find intriguing. For me, that's of minor consequence but many users/collectors put more stock in it. Check out Angelo's very thoughtful thread on this topic ... uh..somewhere. I'll have to do some searching to remember where it is.

found it: http://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/in...?showtopic=9189

and to reiterate - a used M200 that might have minor wear is perfectly acceptable to me for $10-20 cheaper than brand new as I am a user, not a "collector" who needs MIB-condition pens.

I've never noticed a difference between new and used pens, except for the price.

Unless your tastes run toward flexible nibs, where I could see that they might quickly conform to a user's particular style, I see no reason to worry.

The used pens in my collection have mostly come from dealers and/or folks who do pen restoration, so I know the nibs are adjusted and work properly. Haven't been disappointed yet.

Given the general overall high quality of pens from the golden age (roughly the early 1930s to the early 1960s), used pens are a bargain and perform better in many cases than the new ones out there. Case in point, a good user grade Parker "51" for $50-$80 versus a new Parker 100 for $150-$200.

If you want to write, and aren't concerned about mintiness, used pens are the way to go.

Buying first hand flex nibs means an arm and a leg. Buy second hand without much fear especially if you know the seller.

AZ

Apart from 1 "51", 1 61 and a Sonnet, apart from a few cheapies all of my pens are secondhand at least and maybe third, forth or more.

OK so some of the Fleabay finds have needed some work and the others have been bought from dealers who had already done that work for me, but in general they are all great pens and a great bargain to boot. I have had to replace one "51" nib through total damage, a couple of others have been changed by choice, but a bit of tweaking and tuning has been all that they have needed beyond that.

There is something to me about the quality of the vintage pens that the new pens just don't seem to have. In order to have a good supply of pens and ink for myself, I believe that I need to get more people using FPs. The cheap Heros and the Dux pens that Ray sells are just great for this. Even the pens for less than a Pound at the local supermarket will do to make the point.

I do agree that lending a pen with a customised flex nib that you lovingly cherish may not be the best idea. But consider this, in the UK at least there are a group of professionals who make their living by loaning out their pens. I am talking about the Registrars, who will often give you a fountain pen, filled no doubt with Diamine Registrars ink to sign the Register of Births, Deaths and Marriages.

So, do what I do, I carry a pen that people can try and it seems to come to no great harm. You just need to do a bit of gentle coaching.

Jim

edit for typo :doh:

Second hand is much cheaper and if you know the person who is selling the pen you are fairly safe.
Now I don't let anyone use my fountain pens just because I don't want them to be lost... if I were using a nice ballpoint pen I wouldn't loan it out... I have lost alot of cheap crappy pens to pen lifters.
My wife and kids know not to touch my pens, not for fear they would ruin them, but because I know they would wander away from my desk and I would have to hunt them down. I tell them it is because they will tweak the nib, but I just don't want my pens ending up in my kids room where their friends might absent mindly pick it up and walk off with it. Think they call that a pre-emptive strike on my part.

I confess to using the "Sorry, but you should never use another person's fountain pen because it will have adapted to the owner" as an excuse for never letting anyone use any of my fountain pens. It is a good excuse that is not taken as being rude whilst you fumble for a ballpoint for someone who didn't bring their own pen.

I have a ballpoint handy on the desk for borrowers. It was a freebie from a friend who works for the company. It says "Viagra" in big letters down the side. No one seems to want to take it away with them

I think it is more likely that the owner of a pen actually learns how to hold each new secondhand pen to get it to suit their style based on all the different dimensions involved in the grip, the nib and everything in between.

Chris

Chris [/QUOTE]


That is a great solution!

Ron

Maybe the vendors can lay into a stock of them and include one with every FP sold

Usually I have a loaner with me but I got caught short Friday and had to loan a pen for a signature. I only had an heirloom Parker "51" and a Pelikan M800 with me. After weighing hundreds of factors in about a half second, I handed over the "51" sans cap.

The moment of confusion as the macho guy tried unsuccessfully to write with it upside down was priceless. A simple "turn it over" suggestion was followed by one of the most satisfying streams of Waterman Blue-Black you've ever seen.

Bill

Hi all,
looks like I generated a lot of interest!
I'm glad that many fountain pen users seem to be like minded to me afterall!
I use a fountain pen for aesthetic reasons but allso as it allows me to write with a very light hand. I guess that all FP users will treat their pens well so the nibs will be good.
I still will never lend a pen to a "non-user" as they will not know how to treat them. Also I have had far too much expoerience of people who borrow stuff and never show respect for the fact it's someone elses propery!
On the other hand if I had a really good FP I would not want to let it go on to the market!

Armchop

Pens are like cars : one can be tempted to buy used to save money, or simply to get a model that is not in production anymore, a classic.