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What are classic pens?


Dillo

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Hi,

 

I will put forth my list here:

 

I am talking about pens like the following:

 

Sheaffer Snorkel

Parker "51"

Aurora 88 (88, 88P, 88K, 888P, and Duocart models)

 

Tell me what you think should be included in this list.

 

My favourite is the 88P, by the way, closely followed by my Duocart.

 

Dillon

Stolen: Aurora Optima Demonstrator Red ends Medium nib. Serial number 1216 and Aurora 98 Cartridge/Converter Black bark finish (Archivi Storici) with gold cap. Reward if found. Please contact me if you have seen these pens.

Please send vial orders and other messages to fpninkvials funny-round-mark-thing gmail strange-mark-thing com. My shop is open once again if you need help with your pen.

Will someone with the name of "Jay" who emailed me through the email system provide me an email address? There was no email address provided, so I can't write back.

Dillon

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When I think of 'classic' I think of a particular style: e.g., Pelikan, Waterman and Mont Blanc comes immediately to mind. I also (truly!) agree with Scheaffer too. I am likely confusing 'classic' with my personal opinion of what constitutes a classic look(?). The opposite of 'classic' would be some Krone models.

 

Paul

A dreamer is one who can only find his way by moonlight, and his punishment is that he sees the dawn before the rest of the world.

 

~ Oscar Wilde, 1888

 

http://img356.imageshack.us/img356/7260/postminipo0.pnghttp://img356.imageshack.us/img356/8703/letterminizk9.png

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Hi,

 

I was thinking of the must-have type classics. Popular pens, etc.

 

Dillon

Stolen: Aurora Optima Demonstrator Red ends Medium nib. Serial number 1216 and Aurora 98 Cartridge/Converter Black bark finish (Archivi Storici) with gold cap. Reward if found. Please contact me if you have seen these pens.

Please send vial orders and other messages to fpninkvials funny-round-mark-thing gmail strange-mark-thing com. My shop is open once again if you need help with your pen.

Will someone with the name of "Jay" who emailed me through the email system provide me an email address? There was no email address provided, so I can't write back.

Dillon

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I'm not sure what constitutes a classic pen.

 

Or, to put my question in a more provocative fashion, what constitutes a NON-classic?

 

Maybe pens can be considered classic in different ways or categories?

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I'm not sure what constitutes a classic pen.

So how about:

 

"simple, neat and elegant, an outstanding example of its type"

 

Which means, pauses to don tin hemet :D The Parker "51"

 

Maybe that Sheaffer snorkel thingy should come in here too :rolleyes: but if the other quality is:

 

"something, which will always last, irrespective of fashions and fads"

 

you could add in the Pelikans and maybe a few other piston fillers.

 

J

Obi Won WD40

Re vera, cara mea, mea nil refert!

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A Sheaffer's radite Flat-top, a Balance, a Waterman MHR, Parker Duofold and a "51", a Pelikan 100...all come to mind.

Pedro

 

Looking for interesting Sheaffer OS Balance pens

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I'm shocked that Jim would bring up the Parker "51" :lol:

 

But I agree with him. I also agree with those who mentioned the Sheaffer Snorkel and Balance. The Parker Vacs should also be on the list.

 

Ron

Ron

 

Favorite Pens: Parker "51"Lamy 2000; Bexley America the Beautiful; Pilot Custom 823, 912 and 74; Sheaffer Early Touchdown; Parker Vacumatic; Sheaffer Legacy

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The Antique Automibie Club of the United states has several 'Classes' or 'eras' of vehicles. There is a 'Brass Age', a 'Classic Age', a Gloden Age' and... there I loose most interest. The exception being the rare sports cars where folks were sticking atandard automotive engines in custom bodies and kicking the 'exotic' car makers collective tails.

 

I suggest there are parallels with fountain pens. It is unfair to compare an early Waterman with a '51' or a 'Snorkel'. Each is elegant in its' own right but should not be lumped into the same bunch.

 

To place them in the same group is similar to saying, "A woman I love". Well, we don't know if that is a Mother, a wife, a girlfriend, a sister, a mistress or the lady of the evening. Without clear rules and definations, confusion can be an unwanted intruder.

 

I am not the one to start the definations of the eras but i do suggest it would be a great idea.

 

Ron

"Adventure is just bad planning." -- Roald Amundsen

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Some other classics:

 

Eversharp Skyline

Eversharp Coronet (the ultimate deco pen)

Mont Blanc 14

Sheaffer PFM

Parker 61

 

I think there are at least two ways to consider a pen a "classic": either in terms of design (the Coronet or the 51 would fit this definition) or as a pen that somehow symbolizes its era or at least a niche in that era (the Esterbrook J would fit here, as would the Parker 45 in the 1960s, or the Parker Duofold in the late 1920s).

 

The problem with making this list is that it will be very long, with only pens that are derivative or that don't stand out in symbolic or design terms excluded. But it's still fun to consider the question!

 

best, Dan

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Classic pens - pens that typify fountain pens, a specific trait of pens or an era.

 

Pen Iconic: MB 149- love it, hate it. its fat profile screams bottled ink.

 

Pen Pistonian: Pelikan 100 - piston, classic green/black with small capped/big posted as a bonus.

 

Pen Deco: Eversharp Coronet.

 

Pen Industrial: tie- Eversharp Skyline and Parker 51. The Skyline with the design flash, the 51 with millions in sales.

 

Pen Simplistic: v1-Waterman 12. Cap, nib/section, and barrel. Built to write.

v2 - Waterman 52. See v1 with lever fill.

 

Pens in Parallel: Parker Duofold, Sheaffer Flat top. Big, black, mandarin, lapis, jade, radite, white dot, new book...

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Musn't leave out the Parker 45 and Lamy 2000 for their longevity. And, dare I suggest the Yard-O-Led Diplomat? OK, It's not a fountain pen but it's been in continuous production for a very very long time!

 

Martin

The Writing Desk

Fountain Pen Specialists since 2000

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