Waterman Phileas

[clairedelune]

Hi!

 

Though I love fountain pens, I really cannot afford expensive ones. In recent years I've used mostly the Waterman Phileas. I could be branded as an unfit mother since I've lost quite a number of those, only to replace them by another of the same breed--the FP Family Services have yet to get me.

 

I now have the blue marbled with a medium nib--yes I know it is quite thick. Ideally I want to have an additional one--with fine nib--which will be close to other pens medium nibs and use both as my writing or spirit move me.

 

What I am looking for is more along the skin-deep choice. Several years ago I had one of my first Phileas and it was blue, but solid blue, not marbled--perhaps closer to cobalt. I've search the web over (sounds like a C&W song) but I cannot find one. Any insights, as well as advice for places to get Phileas at low cost (not that they are expensive to start with). This way I'd even consider getting a green and a red one (marbled or not marbled) with matching ink, and one with fine nib. I saw a blue translucid one on a websites, but it's not the one I'm looking for.

 

re: sites. I know from others that eBay is a great place, but I have a "defective gene." I cannot bring myself to haggle, period.

 

Thank you!

 

 

Thanks for your insights

[sonia_simone]

I'm looking for a Phileas for my niece as well, and have wondered who has the best cheapo prices.

 

One thing you can do on ebay is just enter the maximum you want to pay and then forget about it. No haggling needed!

[aunt rebecca]

hi,

 

phileas' comes only with medium nibs. why not try a lamy safari, they come with all kinds of nibs including a left-handed one. they cost $20.00 + shipping. one of the places to buy them is pendemonium.com. i recommend them because i am a happy customer and they carry the most nibs.

 

 

:bunny1: :meow: :bunny1: :meow:

 

:)9 :)9

[KCat]

hi,

 

phileas' comes only with medium nibs.

?

 

uh... do you mean that even the fine writes medium?

 

'cause my nibs say "F" on them.

 

I have seen the occasional older Phileas in solid colors in a Houston pen shop. But not online. Try looking for "Kultur" as well. It is the same basic pen but does come in more colors and different materials.

[mikeyp]

i have a fine nibbed one so they do come in fine

 

officemax has gift sets for 40 with 5 carts, 1 convertr, and bottle

[Macuser]

iSellpens.com has the Waterman Phileas Kulturs for $15 in solid colors.

[ConnallMac]

The Phileas is available in F, M and B. I have seen them in all three widths, though the medium is by far the most common. The only solid color that the Phileas is available in is the black. However, the Waterman Kultur is available in solid colors; it's the European version of the Phileas. It's usually a bit less expensive than the Phileas, though I think the colors are little more dull on the Kultur. I have a fine nibbed Kultur and I believe it is also slightly lighter than the Phileas.

 

 

--J. Haney

[Vintage Pens Fan]

Hello,

 

There are several on line stores; I purchased from them & they have very good customer service.

 

http://www.isellpens.com/waterman.htm

 

 

https://secure17.nexternal.com/shared/Store...ount2=198859810

 

http://www.penwa.com/waterman/phileas.htm

 

Good luck

David

[p-zero]

Try swisherpens.com They have medium nib, marbled green Phileas fountain pens for around $22-$23.

[aunt rebecca]

hi,

 

sorry folks-- i really thought the phileas came only in medium. i still think a newbie should try a lamy safari!

 

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

Edited July 26, 2006 by aunt rebecca

[ConnallMac]

hi,

 

sorry folks-- i really thought the phileas came only in medium. i still think a newbie should try a lamy safari!

 

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

No worries! I can see why you would come to that conclusion, as I think nearly every one I have seen in a brick & mortar store was a medium. I would also agree that Lamy makes a great pen, especially at a beginner's price point range.

 

--J. Haney

[meanwhile]

The excellent Lewertowski sells Kultur (= Phileas but simpler modern trim) demonstrators with Buy It Now as well auction prices. The demonstrators come in clear, blue, orange, yellow, and violet. You can even a buy a 10 pack in the colour of your choice for about $60. (Ideal for pen losers!) I've had an M nib from him in the past, although this week the pens seem to be F - you could mail him about this.

 

A nice benefit of the Kultur demonstrators is they have lost a metal weight added to the solid colour pens. They write wonderfully, so I don't see what the weight was doing there to begin with... and this makes them ideal for very wonderful eye dropper conversions.

[RLTodd]

lamy safari, they come with all kinds of nibs including a left-handed one. they cost $20.00 + shipping.

But the converter is included in the Phileas price while the it is $5 additional with the Safari.

 

There is also the Pelikano, converter extra.

 

isellpens.com has a large selection of ChiCom pens in the $10 range, some of the Heros are very interesting.

 

Interesting things also show up at good prices on this boards Market place and the Pentrace.com "green board."

 

And, of course there is always the hobbiest route of searching flea markets and yard sales. That is finding those hidden treasures and resacking or otherwise repairing them yourself.

[KCat]

They write wonderfully, so I don't see what the weight was doing there to begin with... and this makes them ideal for very wonderful eye dropper conversions.

many people equate heft with quality. Add weight, charge more. People perceive lightweight plastic as "cheap". Also, balance is in the hand of the holder. Perhaps it was thought that the brass sleeve gave the Phileas better balance? But I'm betting on the first reason. Especially since most of the higher end WM pens are heavy (IMO).

[kissing]

In Australia, the Phileas are not considered 'cheap' pens. They sell for around $99 here :blink:

 

Buying them online for those cheap prices are EXCELLENT bargain

[ConnallMac]

A nice benefit of the Kultur demonstrators is they have lost a metal weight added to the solid colour pens. They write wonderfully, so I don't see what the weight was doing there to begin with... and this makes them ideal for very wonderful eye dropper conversions.

How would one go about converting a Phileas or Kultur into an eye dropper pen?

 

 

--J. Haney

Edited July 27, 2006 by ConnallMac

[kissing]

A nice benefit of the Kultur demonstrators is they have lost a metal weight added to the solid colour pens. They write wonderfully, so I don't see what the weight was doing there to begin with... and this makes them ideal for very wonderful eye dropper conversions.

How would one go about converting a Phileas or Kultur into an eye dropper pen?

 

 

--J. Haney

I read this from the fountain pens review section

 

Quote from Dillo

 

Just fill the barrel and put silicone grease on the threads of the section.

 

Eyedropper pens are cool~ (just becareful of the mess )

[ConnallMac]

Thanks Kissing!

 

 

--J. Haney

[meanwhile]

Repeated post - deleted!

Edited July 27, 2006 by meanwhile

[meanwhile]

Connal -

 

For the Kultur Demonstrator, as I understand it, to make an eye dropper pen:

 

- Ideally, coat the inside of the upper barrel with shellac (not essential, but reduces stains from inks like PR reds)

 

- Put some Plumbers tap around the barrel threads for a tighter fit, or add an o-ring and coat the threads with silicon lubicrant

 

- That's it!

 

I'm just waiting for my ebayed shellac and tape. For the non Demo, you'll need to remove that metal weight.

 

Kissing's method will work, but it may be be leak-prone (as cheap commercial eye droppers often are) and with a demo some inks may cause unsightly discolouring. And most importantly: you REALLY want to make sure that you have left nothing metallic in the section that is going to fill with ink!

Edited July 27, 2006 by meanwhile