Suggestions for first Italian fp

[southpaw]

A while back a certain madman mentioned that I needed an Italian fp, and I'm considering adding another fp. It must be on a budget. Less than $100 is mandatory, and closer to the $50 mark is much better. Suggestions?

 

(And no, wim, I don't care how good the deal is, I'm not getting a Stipula Etruria because it busts my budget wide open . . . that is, unless you know of one in the above range! )

[Titivillus]

A while back a certain madman mentioned that I needed an Italian fp, and I'm considering adding another fp.  It must be on a budget.  Less than $100 is mandatory, and closer to the $50 mark is much better.  Suggestions? 

 

(And no, wim, I don't care how good the deal is, I'm not getting a Stipula Etruria because it busts my budget wide open . . . that is, unless you know of one in the above range! )

GO look at pens.it I think Susanna [sic] had a bunch of pens right around that point as well as that square pen.

 

Kurt H

 

There are some nice low end Aurora pens that would hit your price point as well as Filcao too.

Edited June 3, 2005 by Tytyvyllus

[ElaineB]

What about the two that Kendall just reviewed: the Laban Mento and the Taccia Imperial Portuguese? The Laban is available from Isellpens.com and our own Keith with a Capital K is a Taccia Dealer, among others.

[tryphon]

Both the Laban and Taccia pens are made in Taiwan, in the same factory! MonteVerde pens also hail from Taiwan. Seems everyone in Taiwan wants an Italian name....

[ElaineB]

I had no idea! Sheesh! All the mainland Chinese companies like Duke want you to think they make German pens, and all the Taiwanese companies want you to think they're Italian!

 

So, is Filcao genuinely, genuinely Italian???

[wimg]

I had no idea! Sheesh! All the mainland Chinese companies like Duke want you to think they make German pens, and all the Taiwanese companies want you to think they're Italian!

 

So, is Filcao genuinely, genuinely Italian???

Hi Elaine,

 

The short and simple answer to your question is: YES.

 

I think Giovanni Abrate imports them personally himself.

 

HTH, warm regards, Wim

[Psyktek]

I gota Filcao a while back and I really like it. If you get it from Richard, he does his point magic on it first.

 

And Kurt is right, that site does have a few at under 100 euros.

[toothy]

Actually, I think Taccia is American. They design the pens which are made in Taiwan. One of the things I like about my latest pen (a Spalding) is that the company is up front about the origin of their parts and there is some evidence of quality control. Although I havn't tried a Filcao, I've heard they also have good QC.

 

But another similarly-priced "Italian" pen I looked at today had the feed assembly literally inserted crooked into the section :bonk:

[papyrus]

A while back a certain madman mentioned that I needed an Italian fp, and I'm considering adding another fp.  It must be on a budget.  Less than $100 is mandatory, and closer to the $50 mark is much better.  Suggestions? 

You could try one of those Stipula Verona Levenger fountains being auctioned off on Ebay. I remember reading some critical comments about them but also others who were happy with them, so maybe research a little first. They seem to fit the description of Italian FPs close to $50, even have 14k nibs, and may be worth the gamble. Be sure to use submit-best-offer to further knock down the price a little bit.

[toothy]

Actually I have a Verona but am thinking of selling it. It hasn't been a bad pen, it's a great everyday writer, but it doesn't have the finesse one would expect from an MSRP $150 model. It just gives a thick, very wet line typical of a good 50 dollar pen.

 

The finish is beautiful though, so I don't use it. It's sort of in that limbo between an everyday pen and a collection piece <_<

Edited June 4, 2005 by toothy

[Bryan]

The finish is beautiful though, so I don't use it. It's sort of in that limbo between an everyday pen and a collection piece <_<

Is there really a difference between a collection piece and an everyday user? I use every pen I own like it's a everyday writer. I just could let such beautiful pens go unused, to me, that would be a shame.

 

Bryan

[Dillo]

Hi,

 

Monteverdes use that Iridium Point nib, do they not?

 

Dillon

[toothy]

Is there really a difference between a collection piece and an everyday user? I use every pen I own like it's a everyday writer. I just could let such beautiful pens go unused, to me, that would be a shame.

 

Bryan

True, but I work in a (healthcare) environment which is hostile to fine writing instruments, so have very few opportunities to use a fine resin pen.

[Titivillus]

Is there really a difference between a collection piece and an everyday user?  I use every pen I own like it's a everyday writer.  I just could let such beautiful pens go unused, to me, that would be a shame. 

 

Bryan

True, but I work in a (healthcare) environment which is hostile to fine writing instruments, so have very few opportunities to use a fine resin pen.

I work around at least 3 serious organic solvents each day in quantities around 8,000 pounds each. One of which leached out the resin from a fiber filled pump head leaving the glass fibers unharmed. So the only pen I take to work is my Sailor ink pen ( sometimes my Lamy as well )

 

 

So I definitely have work user pens and then my pen collection which I use each and every one but usually only at home.

 

 

Kurt H

Edited June 4, 2005 by Tytyvyllus