Hi To All!

[Nihontochicken]

Hello to everyone already on board! I have recently become interested in old fountain pens via my other interests in calligraphy and Georgian silver. The first relation is obvious, but it was the second that really got me started. Since I have numerous old Georgian sterling and early American coin silver pieces (mostly flatware), I thought it appropriate thet I obtain the quintessential sterling fountain pen, a Parker 75 Cisele, which quest exposed me to other old time quality writing instruments and piqued my interest. I have already posted an inquiry on the Repair Q&A Forum regarding an old Parker Duofold I recently obtained, alas in rather poor mechanical condition. I would like to restore it to writing condition if at all economically feasible, though it may be too far gone. In the meantime, I have determined to purchase a Waterman Phileas in blue marble color for my daily writer. I understand that the Pelican M200 is a better writer for a bit more money, but I couldn't get past its looks. The Waterman is comparatively gorgeous (if a bit tarted up!). Again, hi to all, and thanks for providing help on this site.

Edited July 15, 2006 by Nihontochicken

[KCat]

Welcome to FPN.

 

I wouldn't say the Pelikan is a better writer. A lot these days depends on the individual pen. Either model can come to you with problems but for the most part, WM and Pelikan have kept quality fairly consistent (and good) in their "low-end" pens. Though I am an absolute nut about Pelikans, there are many other good pens out there and the WM is a great pen. My first "real" FP was a Phileas. It finally had a problem after 10 years of a lot of use and abuse. IMO, though, if you are not quite as careless as I was in my early Phileas days, it can last you a lifetime with minimal problems. Especially for that cost. I think they are equal in quality (M200 and Phileas) just different. What makes the Pel so popular is that you get an excellent piston-filler in a good price range.

 

anyway - you'll enjoy the Phileas. Some prefer the Pels because their nibs are usually a little "springy-er" than the Waterman nibs. But I find that too seems to vary with individual pens.

 

Enjoy FPN and let us know how the new purchase turns out!

 

Best, KCat

[southpaw]

Hello and welcome aboard!

 

Gotta ask, how'd you come up with your userID?

 

Sounds like you've got some good pens there. Enjoy and see you around.

[Ruaidhri]

Hi.

 

Welcome to Nuttersville

 

Have a look around for a reasonably priced Parker "51" if you want a real pen.

You're going to have to buy one sometime

[Nihontochicken]

Thank you all for your welcome.

 

From what I've gleaned from other sites, Kcat, the Pelican M200 is supposed to have a better nib than the Phileas, but, as I mentioned, I couldn't get over its plain Jane looks. As important as is strict function, I wanted a pen that makes me smile when I pull it out of my pocket, and the blue Phileas is surely a looker in my book.

 

Southpaw, I will have to postpone explaining my board pseudonym for now, it's a long story, and unrelated to pens, but rather to an earlier passion, Japanese swords ("nihonto"). Besides the pens I've already mentioned, I also have a sterling Parker Cisele ballpoint as well as a sterling Sheaffer Imperial ballpoint, the later model with the elongated diamond pattern (and despite the greater apparent popularity of the Parker, I think the Sheaffer is better looking, excepting the stubby clip). I hope to snag at a reasonable price (cheap!) a sterling Imperial fountain pen to match the ballpoint.

 

Ruaidhri, what is it that makes the Parker 51 special (is there an earlier post which I can read that explains this?)? For my taste, it sure isn't a looker, save perhaps the Flighter model. For pen pulchritude, I would be interested in a Parker Vacumatic. Is there any consensus as to which vintage pens are the best (or only dueling opinions?)? I understand that among modern pens, the Parker Duofold, Omas Paragon and Pelikan M800 grab a lot of votes among upper end (but not off the chart) pens. What about the older pens, and how do they compare with the better modern ones?

Edited July 16, 2006 by Nihontochicken

[rosey]

Welcome aboard!

 

I will second Ruaidhri's comment about the Parker 51.

You may not like the looks of it but when you write with one you will be hooked!

I'm a relative newbie to fp's and I already own 5 Parker 51's! All from ebay!

 

Try one, you'll like it!

[Gerry]

Gaaak - a 51?

 

You're on the right track with the Vacumatic NC. Particularly if it has a nice flex nib. The 51's all seem to be equipped with nails suitable for 4-10 carbon copies...

 

Welcome to the FPN. I'm sure you'll find the right advice here - after all, there's someone with just about any opinion you'd like to hear here. The only *consistent* advice you'll get is that you need more pens... Usually that's not hard to take...

 

Looking forward to your posts...

 

Gerry

[aunt rebecca]

hi

 

welcome to the board!!

 

now the parker 51 is considered a great pen by many

but to me, it is boring.

 

i like sheaffers with triumph nibs and interesting filling systems.

 

i really like the parker vacumatics.

 

it's all a matter of taste--the primary goal is ENJOYMENT!!!

 

:meow: :bunny1: :roflmho: :ltcapd:

 

:ph34r: :)9

 

:ltcapd: :ltcapd: :ltcapd: :ltcapd:

[Nihontochicken]

Southpaw, while looking for another file, I came across a .doc explaining the origin of my nickname, written long ago for a sword forum in response to an inquiry similar to yours, and so have copied it below. May be a waste of bandwidth for most, and so I apologize to them in advance. Note that Nihon = Japanese and To = Sword, So Nihonto = Japanese sword. It is one of the few, perhaps the only, weapon type that is inherently an art form due to its basic construction, not because of embellishments. Perhaps damascus swords might be in the same ballpark, but aren't close IMO.

 

By the way, since I'm here, I have a couple of questions as follow:

 

1. Does any manufacturer make iridium (or similar) tipped gold or other high end calligraphy nibs (chisel end, not the bent tip Sailor type)? If so, what is the maker and model?

 

2. The Chinese Hero Parker 51 clones are very cheap. Are they worth trying out, and is there economic heartburn about feeding the cheap Chinese labor market and Sino-US balance of payment deficit?

 

Okay, about my pseudonym ...

.............................................................

 

What Is Nihonto Chicken?

 

Ah, well, yes, a newbie question on one of the more important but less obvious aspects of nihonto, kinda like recognizing shintetsu. Here for all posterity, I will relate the tale of the hatching of the great Nihonto Chicken. You may print this once, frame it and hang it on the wall; no other reproductions allowed! Hahahaha!

 

Way back when I was a nihonto newbie myself, I started a thread on the old Robert (not "Bob"!!!) Cole nihonto board as follows. Considering that good nihonto are an art form, as such they should be viewed and appreciated by the maximum number of people who might have, or possibly develop, an interest in them. What use is the Mona Lisa locked away where no one can see her? Consider two equivalent nihonto, one kept in a safe, only viewed now and then by its owner, and handed off to another owner who does the same, such that over a thousand years, it has been seen by only a handful of people. Alternatively, say the other nihonto is owned by those who wish to share its beauty with others, such that over a few hundred years, it has been viewed and handled by perhaps thousands of people. Now, which sword has better served its function as an art object? Of course, there is the confounding factor that more exposure equates to more risk. Remember the whacko (literally) who took a sledge hammer to the marble Pieta? Handling a sword is inherently risky, so the more appreciated sword may have a shorter lifespan, or at least a shorter span in prime condition. So there is the consideration of exposure versus conservation. But I would still argue that appreciation trumps maintenance, and it is the prime function of an art object to be viewed and enjoyed, hopefully by a reasonable maximum number of interested people.

 

So armed with this enlightened view of nihonto, I mentioned these considerations to the Cole board, and suggested that, in particular, those with high end swords should consider taking them out of the safe and sharing them more often with other devotees. The response was not quite what I expected. On the whole, instead of kudos for my enlightened view, I was attacked as a sword socialist. How dare I suggest what owners should do with their property? My position was heartily challenged, my motives and integrity questioned, and I was called a various number of uncomplimentary names. I remember one upset individual who, after equating me with a rodent, asked whether I was “chicken” to answer his considerations, concluding with, “Yeah, that’s it! Are you a chicken, or are you a rat?” And so I attended my first sword show shortly thereafter, proudly wearing my name badge modified to read "Nihonto Commie Chicken Rat Sword Grabber". Over time, this mouthful has been contracted to simply "Nihonto Chicken". So now you know. Use this knowledge wisely, little grasshopper.

 

NC ;o)

Edited July 17, 2006 by Nihontochicken

[meanwhile]

We're letting poultry in here now?

 

Hero 329 Parker 51 clones are VERY cheap - 3 for $15. They can good for the price, although you'll probably have to smooth the nibs. (Search for "the brown paper bag trick".)

 

Hero 100s vary pen to pen, like almost any brand and model, but have a superb reputation. They come in very fine nibs only. Otoh, a user grade P51 isn't much more money.

 

I prefer the Phileas nib to that that of the steel nibbed Pelikan 200s. But it's a "buy an F to get an M" pen. And give up if you want F or XF - in that case buy a Hero or an Esterbrook.

 

Re. vintage, besides the Estie (which is cheap, has interchangeable nibs that might even fit the bill for caligrpahy pen, and writes amazingly well) I'd recommend a lever - not vac! - fill Balance. Well, it worked for me.

 

Of modern pens, the Danitrio Raw Densho is probably the cheapest pen to have an "off the chart" reputation - that's why I just ordered mine! - and it costs less than a decent sized Pelikan. Sailor 1911s have an excellent reputation for nib quality also: Omas pens have a reputation for being toothy.

Edited July 17, 2006 by meanwhile

[RonB]

Ruaidhri, what is it that makes the Parker 51 special (is there an earlier post which I can read that explains this?)?  For my taste, it sure isn't a looker, save perhaps the Flighter model.  For pen pulchritude, I would be interested in a Parker Vacumatic.  Is there any consensus as to which vintage pens are the best (or only dueling opinions?)?  I understand that among modern pens, the Parker Duofold, Omas Paragon and Pelikan M800 grab a lot of votes among upper end (but not off the chart) pens.  What about the older pens, and how do they compare with the better modern ones?

Regarding your question about vintage pens, there are many dueling opinions, but here are some of the more popular vintage pens, at least based on the amount of discussion they get around here:

 

Parker "51"

Parker Vacumatic

Sheaffer Snorkel

Sheaffer Touchdown (Early and TM versions)

Sheaffer Balance

Vintage Waterman

Esterbrook

 

I'm sure I'll be called to task for leaving some off this list.

 

When I joined this forum, I spent an hour or so every evening reading all the old posts under the various forums (Sheaffer, Parker, etc.) I found it a great help in educating myself about fountain pens. You could also do a search for a particular pen (i.e. "Sheaffer Balance").

 

Tastes do vary greatly. I, for example, find the Parker "51" to be one of the most beautiful pens ever made. I also like the classic look of the black Pelikan M200. So it doesn't seem you and I will agree on esthetics!

 

Have fun, and I hope you enjoy yourself here.

 

Ron

Edited July 17, 2006 by RonB

[Nihontochicken]

Meanwhile, poultry, indeed! You know how to ruffle a guys feathers. Hahahaha! Did you just order a Densho as pictured on this site? See list on left, second from top:

 

http://www.danitrio.com/

 

1.2 to 2 kilobucks? Yowser! Certainly more serious than I am at this point! Must be a different pen if your purchase is less than a Pelican. Is it similar to the Trio Designs at the bottom of the list (Alphaplus $120-$190, others listed at top of new page)? Thanks for the tip on the other pens as well.

 

Thank you, RonB, for your top pen list. I have been reading the various forums as time permits. Besides the Parker 51, the Sheaffer Triumph nib pens look interesting and possibly more affordable than the sexy Parker Vacumatics!

[Judybug]

Welcome, Nihontochicken!

 

I got a good laugh from your explanation of your username! :ltcapd: The world is full of snobs! But, happily, it is full of lots of fountain pen nuts and you've found the place where they all hang out.

 

I'm a great fan of Waterman Phileas and the blue marble is my favorite. I don't care how many people say it's gaudy - I think it's a gorgeous pen! And a very smooth writer. I have one with a medium nib and one with a fine nib.

 

I also like my Monteverde Invincia almost as well as the Phileas, but I find the grip on the Phileas more comfortable than the Invincia.

 

Judybug

[Mannenhitsu]

Hajimema(ink)e Nihonto! Anata wa Nihonjin desuka? Welcome aboard to the FPN and I sure you will love it here. I too have several Waterman Phileas pens and I like them very much. I think they make great stocking stuffers during the Holiday season.

Edited July 19, 2006 by Mannenhitsu

[Nihontochicken]

Just as a follow up, since joining this group, I've bought a Parker Duofold, Waterman Phileas, Parker Vacumatic, Sheaffer Admiral Touchdown, Sheaffer Tuckaway, Esterbrook, and Hero 100/132/616. The vintage pens are mostly writers that need some help (one Sheaffer has a mismatched cap, the other is missing the cap), but they should give me some idea of what they are about and where my preferences lay. Still trying to bottom feed a real 51. Hopefully the better half doesn't notice the drain on the banking account! Help me, Mr. Wizard!!!

Edited July 23, 2006 by Nihontochicken

[mike1]

I'm new myself in the world of fountain pens and since finding this site I've learned quite a bit concerning pens. FPN is a very good place to ask questions. The members here are very helpful. I have more vintage pens than modern and I use the vintage pens more than the modern ones. You mentioned how you like the looks of the Waterman over the Pelikan, well I think that is a cultural thing. You know French v. German. Most of the German pens, in my opinion, have a more utilitarian look to them. They are all very similar looking. The French and Italians put more pizazz in their pens. Cultural differences? Maybe.

[Nihontochicken]

Hey, I suppose I should appreciate the German pens more, given three years of high school German class and one year of college (and still can hardly speak a word of it - wait, now, something is slowly coming back into memory, lessee if I can snag it, "Habe nun, ach, Philosophie, Juristerei und Medizin, und, leider auch, Theologie, durchhaus studiert, mit heisem bemuehn. Da steh Ich nun, Ich armor tor, und bin so klug als wie zufor. Heise Magister, heise Doktor gar, und ziehe schoen an die zehnten jahr, herauf, herab und quer und krum, meine Scheuler an der Nase herum. Und sehe, das wir nichts wissen koennen. Das will mir scheer das Hertz verbrennen." Okay, that's enough, my brain is hurting! Hahahahaha!!!). But the Waterman blue Phileas, as I've said before, though obviously cheaply tarted up with moderne froof technology, is still a rather pretty pen reasonably faithful to the thirties (?) style. I still haven't inked it, trying to decide, guess I'll likely go the cartridge versus the converter, because I don't think I'll really use it all that much. I have a few new replicas and old vintage pens coming "in the mail". Hoping to have a grand Gary Cooper style High Noon showdown (or, better yet, "The Quick and the Dead"?), and determine what best appeals to me in terms of sex (okay, already decided, Parker Vacumatic, can we go upstairs, now, Miss Kitty?), and utility (dunno yet, but Sheaffer Triumph nib Touchdowns show promise).