What Is Your Favorite 'big Four' German Pen Maker?

[hendrixstrat]

I voted Pelikan because I love my M800. Granted I have not used a GvFC nor a Lamy, but I have used a MB 149 (my dad owns one) and it is a very nice pen as well. I suspect I would end up ranking them Pelikan, MB, GvFC, and then Lamy (ranking GvFC and Lamy purely on aesthetics as I have never used one).

[sargetalon]

Pelikan all the way for me. Beautiful, reliable, and relatively affordable.

[georges zaslavsky]

Hmmm...interesting.

 

I voted for Pelikan, as that is about 90% of my collection. They are exactly what I want and expect in a pen, especially a German pen: classic styling, ease of use, reliable, and a consistently excellent performance.

 

That said, I've never tried a MB, although I'm very curious to. I have a single FC (not GvFC) Basic in carbon fiber, and it is a fantastic pen. It's my go-to for permanent inks; great writer, super-smooth nib, but not so expensive I will want to shoot myself if it gets messed up

Lamy look great and I've heard wonderful things about them, but I prefer the vintage look in my pens.

 

I think we call all pretty much agree they all make fantastic pens. I'm new to the hobby, and have only been collecting a year or so. I am eager to branch out.

 

 

However, I am a long time German car lover, so here's my impressions so far:

 

Lamy = Volkswagen. Great for beginners, reliable, reasonably priced, and enough to get you interested.

 

GvFC=Audi. High performance, consistently reliable, but not as well known and the styling may not be for everyone.

 

MB= Maybach. Solid underpinnings, never disappointing in performance, but definitely aimed at the elite with money to burn.

 

Pelikan = Mercedes-Benz. The Best of all options. Rock solid performance, classic styling, many options for many tastes, and durable enough your grandchildren will likely still have it & love it.

 

 

(P.S. If anyone has a MB they'd like to loan me.... )

Good car comparison

[UncleNick]

This is a tough call!

 

My Lamy 2000 with a fantastic medium stubby nib switched from a Lamy 99 is my everyday pocket pen. Great line variation for a hooded nib.

 

One of my favorite nibs was a Montblanc 14 - beautifully smooth and wet (I stupidly sold it to finance a pen I turned out to loathe!). My 149, 147, 146 nibs are ok but when I get my act together they will be sold.

 

My Pelikan M800 is superbly reliable but the nib is firm and extremely boring. However, I have a MK20 which is a real pleasure to use - a little spring, great flow and a piston filler to boot.

 

Based upon today, this very minute - Lamy, Pelikan, Montblanc though it is very close. So many variations of pens and styles within a brand it is hard to do a single brand justice.

[Rose Nibs]

In an attempt to compare like with like I have considered my Lamy 2000, Pelikan M200, Montblanc Carrera and Faber Castell Emotion. All good pens, but the one I use most is the Pelikan

[jcable]

I have 3 Montblancs, they are okay but not great. The pen that started it for me was Pelikan 200/250/205/400/405... I have 16 now and they are probably my favorite. That being said I love my Lamy 2000 (I have 9 Lamys). I think the Lamy 2000 is the best deal out there and also probably the most understated pen of them all. I find the prices of Pelikans to be out of control. The 200 was great as a first nice pen to get people hooked when they could be had for $60 dollars... but the prices of the 200 and Lamy 2000 should not be equivalent now. Pelikan is my favorite but they have priced me out of the market..

[logantrky]

I voted. MB. Next would be Pelikan, then Lamy.

[larsbj]

Pelikan. Smooth, elegant and consistent writers. I currently have a 600 F (partial to the fpgeeks which convinced me to buy it. Haven't used it much, its a little too small for me), 640 Sahara M nib, 800 Fine, 805 Medium, 1000 Broad. Last three are always inked. Oh yes, and a vintage M400 OB.

 

I also have a MB146 and have used it quite a lot earlier, and while it is stylish and elegant it is also a litte boring (no offense). Lamy is ok, even though i like the nib on the Safari but hate the section. And a L2K which I'm a little disappointed over (an XF).

 

Never owned or tried a GvFC, but they look good.

[cadfael_tex]

Hmmm...interesting.

 

I voted for Pelikan, as that is about 90% of my collection. They are exactly what I want and expect in a pen, especially a German pen: classic styling, ease of use, reliable, and a consistently excellent performance.

 

That said, I've never tried a MB, although I'm very curious to. I have a single FC (not GvFC) Basic in carbon fiber, and it is a fantastic pen. It's my go-to for permanent inks; great writer, super-smooth nib, but not so expensive I will want to shoot myself if it gets messed up

Lamy look great and I've heard wonderful things about them, but I prefer the vintage look in my pens.

 

I think we call all pretty much agree they all make fantastic pens. I'm new to the hobby, and have only been collecting a year or so. I am eager to branch out.

 

 

However, I am a long time German car lover, so here's my impressions so far:

 

Lamy = Volkswagen. Great for beginners, reliable, reasonably priced, and enough to get you interested.

 

GvFC=Audi. High performance, consistently reliable, but not as well known and the styling may not be for everyone.

 

MB= Maybach. Solid underpinnings, never disappointing in performance, but definitely aimed at the elite with money to burn.

 

Pelikan = Mercedes-Benz. The Best of all options. Rock solid performance, classic styling, many options for many tastes, and durable enough your grandchildren will likely still have it & love it.

 

 

(P.S. If anyone has a MB they'd like to loan me.... )

Not sure about the Pelikan equals Mercedes comparison, my Pelikans have been good writers and not poorly engineered pieces of junk. (Still bitter about a new c class I bought that was a total lemon lol)

 

I only have experience with Lamy (2000 and Safaris) and Pelikan (M205, M215, 140). Haven't liked the feel of the Lamy nibs but the Pelikans have been my favorite writers.

[Offret]

I can't get over Pelikan's design, so they're my favorite. But I do appreciate the design of the other three.

x2.

 

Pelikan is the quintessential European fountain pen--for me at least.

[ReacherCreature]

I chose Pelikan. Comparable in name to Montblanc but cheaper; comparable in build quality to Lamy but Lamy is too mechanical; materials are not as nice as Graf von Faber-Castell but the Pelikan nib performs much better.

Thanks, couldn't say better.

[jthole]

I had more issues with Pelikans than with my Lamy and MB pens (I tried a GvFC a few times, but never bought one). Still, the birds are classic, so Pelikans is my #1 German brand.

 

Surprised that Rotting isn't mentioned more often.

[sandy101]

Forget Graf Von.

 

Faber Castell produce excellent fountain pens, with better nibs than most - and at lower prices. The Looms I've got have got the best nibs, than any pen I've come across under £40.

 

In addition, Diplomat produce unfussy, bomb proof pens that just work. Easy to maintain and again, with superb nibs.

[Drawing61]

My first German pen was a Pelikan M200 and I was hooked. Like many others I love Lamy design but have mixed feelings about their performance. Montblanc, well....$$$$$$$.

[Bklyn]

Lamy does not seem to even be in the same class as the other three. Perhaps I am missing something. Love Pel & MB.

[Bklyn]

Even though Montblanc has become the Louis Vuitton of pens, they are still my favorite German brand. I think Graf von Faber-Castell makes some of the best quality pens money can buy but I have not found one yet that was overly comfortable to use. I have sweaty hands (gross I know) so a metal grip (which Graf Vons have) is a black mark in my book.

I could NEVER use a metal grip. Just the THOUGHT gives me the creeps. (Sorry, it is THAT bad)

[Bisquitlips]

I really love my Pels and the Lamy Safari's I have are the best writers in their class. However I am quite the fan of MBs and have collected them since the early 1980s.

 

My latest acquisition: 1955 Green Striated Set MB 142.

 

 

[notsimar]

I prefer my 149 to the m1000 but there is something about the m1000 that I can't get over.

[erpe]

Interesting choice. MB and GFC are expensive and well known but certainly not big manufacturers. From the options I would pick Pelikan, no experience with GFC to be honest, only bad experiences with MB, Lamy is school/officepens, they work well but a bit boring in appearance. My choice for German pens would be KaWeCo. Can't go wrong with a Dia

[Lam1]

Lamy does not seem to even be in the same class as the other three. Perhaps I am missing something. Love Pel & MB.

I agree, I have the Lamy 2000 and I don't really see anything much interesting. Also, after one use the bottom of the inner cap had more rust than no name pens that I bought for 2 dollars and are probably more than 60 years old.

 

I don't have a MB, since I don't like cigar shaped pens. Eventually I will get a 146 and 149 just for completeness, but I'm in no hurry. The only WE that attracts me (and only mildly so) is the Daniel Defoe. Still, that is a matter of preference and I believe that they are nice pens.

 

GvFCs are gorgeous, but either too thin or too short. Still, my wife has an Intuition and I have an Elemento. The nibs are very good, but I still prefer the Pelikan nibs. Besides, the Elemento is out for repair since it came with a defective filling system (to get a C/C wrong is really an achievement ).

 

Thus, I vote Pelikans. They all feel right in my hands, from the M200 to the M1000, I love the design and the piston is great. In fact, every time I decide to buy a FP it is very hard to even think of anything else (just checked and in the last 10 months 28 birds flew into my house. So, I believe we might have a collective case of bird flu in my house ).