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Relative Pen Sizes.


jar

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Just for fun I thought I'd compare some pens by width, broken down into three somewhat reasonable categories, thin, medium and large. There are of course some pens that are even larger, like the venerable MB 149, Pelikan 1000 and the Omas Magnums and Dupont Xtra Large, but I'll save that for another day.

 

So here we go.

Thin Pens.



 

 

http://www.fototime.com/EFA963E7BC69D30/standard.jpg

 

 

From left to right: Parker 75; Waterman Prelude; Montblanc 144; ST Dupont Classique; ST Dupont Gatsby and a Parker 95.

 

Medium Pens.

 

http://www.fototime.com/839975C37FA14F6/standard.jpg

 

 

From left to right: Omas Ogiva; Pelikan 400; Waterman 100 Gentleman; a rather special Parker 51; ST Dupont Olympio Medium size; Conway Stewart 58; Sheaffer Targa and another mid sized Olympio.

 

Large Pens.

 

http://www.fototime.com/8F069116D7BDBE8/standard.jpg

 

 

From left to right: Sheaffer PFM; a Large Size Olympio; Waterman LeMan Opera; Olympio; modern Sheaffer Balance; Pelikan 800; Parker Duofold Centennial; Conway Stewart Duro; Montblanc 146 and an Omas 360.

Edited by jar

 

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Is the 360 a "mezzo"? I would have expected a taller and wider pen for a full size 360 (but possibly I am confused by the shadow...).

 

Which cap has that beautiful P51 DJ?

 

Nice comparison.

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Wow! And I thought that the 75 came "only" in the form of chiselled silver.

 

Mike

Life is too short to drink bad wine (Goethe)

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Very useful. Thanks much for posting your photos and categories. The 51 does look lovely.

May you have pens you enjoy, with plenty of paper and ink. :)

Please use only my FPN name "Gran" in your posts. Thanks very much!

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Really appreciate your posting these photos. It helps a lot!

...writing only requires focus, and something to write on. —John August

...and a pen that's comfortable in the hand.—moi

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Is the 360 a "mezzo"? I would have expected a taller and wider pen for a full size 360 (but possibly I am confused by the shadow...).

 

Which cap has that beautiful P51 DJ?

 

Nice comparison.

 

It's the full sized 360 but not the Magna. I also have a Mezzo and it would have fit in well in the mid range. Unfortunately my sister borrowed the Mezzo to photograph it about three months ago, so it may have found a new home.

 

The 51 has the Sterling cap and aluminum jewels and plunger.

 

edited to add requisite spallin arrers.

Edited by jar

 

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Wow! And I thought that the 75 came "only" in the form of chiselled silver.

 

Mike

 

The 75 came in a wide variety of finishes from a mat black through a broad range of lacquer finishes to gold and silver plate to sterling and gold ones.

 

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Thanks for the pics. I just wish all husky pens weren't so long. I like short and fat.

 

I'm short and fat! Will that do?

 

I had one of the Tombow Zoom fps. It was definitely a little tea pot.

 

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I'm short and fat! Will that do?

Sorry, I'm already madly in love with a tall and skinny. :D

 

I had one of the Tombow Zoom fps. It was definitely a little tea pot.

Thanks for the teapot reference. It has been MANY years since I have thought about that one.

Soli Deo Gloria

 

Shameless plug - Some of my amateur photography.

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Interesting pics. I like the "husky" ones.

 

 

Usually I do as well, but the ST Dupont Gatsby model really surprise me. Even though they are among the thinnest of the pens they are also among the most comfortable pens I've ever found to write with for extended periods. The Gatsby is a fairly heavy pen and the cap actually fits 'into' the body instead of over the body when capping or posting. You write holding the body of the pen. The balance is perfect and the tactile feel of the pens gives great control with both the metal bodies and the lacquer.

 

I can't say the same of the Classiques. They are beautiful and okay when not posted, barely long enough, but capped the edge of the cap cuts into the webbing of my hand and it is REALLY thin. Of all my pens the Classiques are the ones I always use unposted and it is not comfortable over extended periods.

 

I'll try to get some pictures of the Gatsby showing how the cap is made and how they fit together.

 

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Excellent post. Like others, I find it interesting to see pens I have alongside other pens I've only read about. Sometimes the size comparison is surprising.

 

In the picture of Medium Sizes, I think the third from the left (in Bordeaux laque) is a Gentleman, Waterman's flagship pen before the Le Man 100 was introduced.

 

Thanks for the pictures and post.

 

 

Joe

Edited by CRB
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Excellent post. Like others, I find it interesting to see pens I have alongside other pens I've only read about. Sometimes the size comparison is surprising.

 

In the picture of Medium Sizes, I think the third from the left (in Bordeaux laque) is a Gentleman, Waterman's flagship pen before the Le Man 100 was introduced.

 

Thanks for the pictures and post.

 

 

Joe

 

Yup, it is. Blame that on fumble fingers.

 

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More on the St Dupont Gatsby. As I mention above it is a thin pen but unlike many such pens you hold the barrel itself instead of a smaller section.

 

Here it is closed.

 

http://www.fototime.com/4181A84271931F5/standard.jpg

 

and open

 

http://www.fototime.com/BD07FAE5B6F2A1C/standard.jpg

 

and partially posted (notice the cap is going into the barrel.

 

http://www.fototime.com/1BB66C9A5C14A19/standard.jpg

 

Now fully posted.

 

http://www.fototime.com/BD5284A756E798A/standard.jpg

 

Continued in next post ...

Edited by jar

 

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There is a gap between the body of the pen and the internal hidden section at each end and the cap slides into that gap.

 

http://www.fototime.com/888287CED657D46/standard.jpg

 

http://www.fototime.com/FE8C12E3178D421/standard.jpg

 

It is a simple and elegant solution for a slim pen that feels thicker in hand.

 

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The 51 has the Sterling cap and aluminum jewels and plunger.

 

Uh, so that makes it a first year 51? Congrats!

<font face="Verdana"><b><font color="#2f4f4f">d</font></b><font color="#4b0082">iplo</font></font><br /><br /><a href='http://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php?showuser=6228' class='bbc_url' title=''><font face="Trebuchet MS"><br /><font size="4"><b><font color="#8b0000"><font color="#696969">Go</font> <font color="#006400">To</font> <font color="#a0522d">My</font> <font color="#4b0082">FPN</font> Profile!</font></b></font></font><br /></a>

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The 51 has the Sterling cap and aluminum jewels and plunger.

 

Uh, so that makes it a first year 51? Congrats!

 

It has a small dent in the cap and the body is worn to where the imprint is no longer visible, but it still writes like a dream. I found it in a junk shop in South Carolina and the guy was a tough negotiator. IIRC I ended up paying like $10.00 for it and then had to get the diaphragm replaced.

 

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A couple people mentioned that it would help if they could see the different pens side by side to get a better idea of the variation, so here is another picture with some of the pens from above side by side for reference.

 

http://www.fototime.com/096C4CB91612E4B/standard.jpg

Again, from left to right: ST Dupont Gatsby, Medium Olympio, Large Olympio; Sheaffer Touchdown, Targa, OS Balance; Parker 75, 51, modern Duofold Centennial; Waterman Prelude, Gentleman, Leman.

 

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Thank you, jar. This thread is very helpfu.

 

Your categories are indeed reasonable. My preferences are unreasonable. What you call "medium" pens are small in my hand. The "large" ones are medium and useful. My "large" pens are the Pel M-1000, MB 149, Delta Dolce Vita O/S, etc. Those you lable "small" are toothpicks for me. - All in good humor, of course. My arthritic middle aged hands are more comfortable these days with mega pens. (Eye wink. I really miss the emoticons!)

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