Edison Collier 1St Expensive Pen (To Me)

[KKay]

Well I already bought a Pilot Prera with a F nib not long ago. Right after I got it, I already wanted another pen. So the Edison Collier came in the mail today. This is my first expensive pen. I thought it was beautiful. It is my understanding it has a #6 nib. I got a F nib for it too. I initially wanted to see what a medium was like. I am so glad I didn't buy a medium nib now. I knew the Collier would not have as fine of a line, as the Prera, because the Japanese fine, and other fines are not the same. So I opened up the package today, and there is a lovely Antique Marble pen. I looked it all over. I thought the acrylic colors were gorgeous. I love the shape of the clip. However the clip had a small gash, on the left side, which was disappointing. I decided to try the most expensive ink I have. It was the Irshizuku Fuyu-syogun. (aka Old Man Winter) The nib did not have a hiccup. It flowed wonderfully. It was what I would call smooth. But since this is my second pen, I am not experienced to know how smooth. It was enjoyable though. The ink from my writing was much wider, not just a little wider than the Pilot Prera F nib. It looks like the writing from a medium nib to me, verging on a possible broad. Maybe this pen flows so well I need a less wet ink? I have bought 3 bottles on ink thus far. I have the Diamine Kelly Green, and J. Herbin Bleu pervenche. (plus the already mentioned Fuyu-syogun) The Diamine Kelly Green does not seem to flow as well as the Blue Namiki cartridge I had. But I love the color of the Kelly Green. The only one I have not tried yet, is the J. Herbin Bleu pervenche. Does anyone have any thoughts on this? I'd rather have great flow, than skipping. But my e's are sometimes hard to read because the ink is so plentiful. I wrote on printer paper initially. Then I wrote on a Moleskine notebook. Next I have a Rhodia dot pad, but I have not tried it there yet. (I also have a dot pad from Field Notes) Maybe a better paper would make the ink strokes less wide. I used the same paper, and compared it to the samples from the Prera though. It is a night and day difference in width.

Edited October 11, 2015 by KKay

[Bookman]

I have an Edison Collier as well. And if my Persimmon Swirl had arrived with a gash in the clip, I would've been on the phone with the Goulets arranging a swap. If you bought your pen, not from an authorized dealer or from Edison directly, but from a private party (who might or might not have been the original buyer), you're on your own of course. But if you bought it from the Goulets, Anderson Pens, or from Edison directly, their representatives will work with you on this, believe me. A brand-new fresh-out-of-the-box Edison pen should not have a gash marring the clip.

 

As to the nib issue, Edison uses JoWo nibs. And my experience with JoWo F nibs is that they are slightly more M-like than I prefer in an F, and the EFs are slightly more F-like than I prefer in an EF. Whatever you decide to do with your gashed clip, when the dust has settled you should probably have an EF nib for your Edison. I recommend you do what I did, and that's keep the F as a second, change-of-pace nib, and order an EF. The EF might be more to your liking now, but you'll find yourself using that F nib too.

 

Good luck with everything.

 

Edit: Oh, and by the way. I recommend Waterman Serenity Blue for testing new pens. It has a Goldilocks flow, neither too wet nor too dry. And a good test paper is 24lb HP Laserjet. Moleskine has a spotty reputation at best for FP-friendliness. I'm not sure using it either as new-ink or as new-pen-out-of-the-box test paper will yield useful results. Rhodia dot paper is excellent. But I would add 24lb HP Laserjet paper to your collection.

Edited October 11, 2015 by Bookman

[Water Ouzel]

The more I use my Blue Steel Collier, the better I like it.

 

Mine came with an EF nib, which I like very much, and I later added a Richard Binder .6mm Italifine nib. Which nib has remained on the pen ever since.

 

If I save up my allowance for a very long time...

[KKay]

Bookman, thank you so much for the comments. The gash is small, and it is on the left side. If you look full front on, at the pen, you don't see it. I did order it from Goulet Pen, and this was my first order from them. From the photos, I thought the clip was just regular metal of some sort. But if you look close at the clip, it looks like some sort of finish is on it. What it is, I have no idea. I did email them today, and let them know. I was going to see what they say. I don't want to have to pay for shipping back to them though. I do not know if the clip can be replaced, or if it would require a new cap, or a total pen replacement. This could have easily been overlooked, as I said, since from the front, you don't see it. I will have to think about this, and see what they say. I know one thing, the next time I buy a pen, I am going to request it be looked over carefully. I don't expect to buy another pen for quite some time. This was a major purchase for me. I believe when I can, I will get an EF nib, as you mentioned. That is a good idea. My Pilot Prera ink stroke is a F, and I am happy with it. But I wanted something a little more wide, for this pen. Well I got that, no problem...lol. There are no pen stores near me, so I wasn't sure on which nibs would be best for me. Since I read your comments, I know now that this is most likely normal for a fine nib, and I will require an EF nib. I will keep the F nib for a backup. I will just get a steel nib from them in the future. Right now I have overdone it just to get what I did.

 

Water Ouzel, those blue pens were lovely too. I liked it and the Persimmon Swirl. The Persimmon Swirl was my second choice, the blue my third choice. All were beautiful though.

Edited October 11, 2015 by KKay

[TSherbs]

You should not have to pay return postage for a marred pen that was sold to you as "new." I hope that the vendor will cover ALL the shipping costs.

 

Especially for a pen >$100

[bgray]

Sorry to hear this about your clip! Perhaps damaged in transit? We definitely check those things thoroughly before they go out. If you want the clip replaced, reach out. We'll cover shipping both ways with no hassle. And while we have the pen to replace the clip, we can certainly tune/test your nib. Email brian@edisonpen.com if you are interested.

Edited October 11, 2015 by bgray

[KKay]

Thank you Brian! No way this pen was damaged in transit. The Goulet Pen folks did an outstanding job wrapping up my order. It is just something overlooked. As I said from the front you cannot see it. I will contact you via email. Thank you so much! This certainly put a smile on my face. (especially by adding the part about the nib!)

[KKay]

The pen made it to Brian's town yesterday. So it won't be much longer to wait. I look forward to telling you about it, when it does make it back to me. That might be another week or so. I miss the little beauty. The Pilot Prera has been doing all my writing work, since I shipped the Collier off. I will update the thread when I get it back, and give it a test run.

 

Here is a picture of the little beauty!

http://i373.photobucket.com/albums/oo175/Kelkay59/EDC/IMG_6101_zps1gxilodc.jpg

Edited October 30, 2015 by KKay

[linearM]

Regarding the line you are getting from the nib. It might be the paper. Just today I was writing with a fine nib on some stationery and it looked like an M nib that I was using. When I went to some Tomoe River paper all of a sudden I had a nice fine nib and it also showed some flex, same pen different paper. So, you might make certain you have some fountain pen friendly paper.

 

I have a Collier with a cursive italic nib, great pen... smooth nib. Enjoy when you get it back.

[KKay]

Thank you linearM for your thoughts. I used my Pilot Prera F nib to compare, on all my various paper. The Collier did have a hiccup on the Rhodia paper, as I mentioned on another thread. Someone with experience figured my tines were probably a little too close together. I don't have Tomoe River paper, but will try more various paper, when I can afford it. Right now I just have a Moleskine, 2 different types of Field Notes, and a Rhodia pad. I practice writing on my printer paper. I am so looking forward to seeing how the pen writes when it makes it way back to me. I have tried all 3 bottles of ink that I bought earlier in the month. I think the Collier is just an outstanding looking pen. When I first saw them I just drooled all over those photos. The Pilot Prera writes rather well, but it is just not in the same class as the Collier. I have looked at many different brands over the past couple of months. I have looked at every pen Edison makes. I am not sure what my next pen might be. Partly it will probably be determined on how the Edison writes when I get it back. I am waiting patiently for it. My son has been home for several days, so I have been able to keep my mind off of it, somewhat...lol. I wish there was a pen shop around here, with quality paper, sadly there is not. I have been practicing my writing, so the return of the pen will be even more enjoyable. The J. Herbin ink I bought has the best flow, and is beautiful. The Diamine Kelly Green is beautiful, but it is a little dry in my Pilot Prera for some reason. It was good in the Collier pen though. The Fuyu-syogun was pretty good as far as color. But I didn't enjoy that color as much. It wrote perfectly fine though. I still have a lot to learn. Thanks again.

Edited October 31, 2015 by KKay

[KKay]

Well folks, I told you I would be back with an update. I must say I am extremely pleased now. Brian Gray did an outstanding job on making me very happy. He replaced the clip, and the looks dept is now out of this world cool.

Next, on to the nib. Well I tried the nib on printer paper first. It did very well. Now for the challenge, the Rhodia test. I had the smallest Rhodia dot grid. It wrote smoothly with no problem whatsoever this time on my Rhodia pad. In fact, it wrote like a dream. Let me just say I am thrilled. It looks gorgeous, writes great, and I am very pleased. Brian really took care of me on this, and I am very relieved, and excited about this. I loaded the pen up with some of that lovely Diamine "Kelly Green", and I look forward to writing with it this evening. I think in the future, I will get an EF nib, and a spare converter. The fine nib does show off the ink a little better, than a Japanese F nib. I may prefer the F nib. There is only one way to find out though. I will compare the two, when I can spring for another nib.

The Prera will probably be the go to pen for the Field Notes dot grid notebook. I think the Collier will get the majority of other writing jobs. It wrote very well on the Field Notes graph paper notebook I have. But I am still yearning for something more fountain pen friendly. I am sure the good people here will have me steered in the right direction with that. Thank you for the thoughts, and suggestions. Thank you Brian for making this an incredible experience after all! I am tickled pink over this. I'm afraid the fountain pen obsession has gotten a hold of me now.

[Orpilorp]

KKay wrote, "... I'm afraid the fountain pen obsession has gotten a hold of me now."

 

Congratulations. You are now one of us.

[ThyPenMaker]

I sure love a happy ending, and Edison scores two points. Where's my Excel chart on this?

[KKay]

Thanks Orpilorp. I believe I'm in here with a bunch of ultra enablers...lol. But oh it is sweet. I am still on cloud nine right now.

 

 

Inkfillet, love the name by the way. I love happy endings too. Yes, they did get two more bonus points, no doubt about it. Excel chart?

I think you lost me. I do have my pen listed in my Fountain Pen Inventory list. I also made a document, in case there was a problem.

I don't have Excel though. I use Open Office. I only have two pens. But it is better to start now, than wait. I have two pens, and three

different ink colors. I started with my first pen in September. I got the Collier in October.

[ThyPenMaker]

Ha!

 

Thanks Orpilorp. I believe I'm in here with a bunch of ultra enablers...lol. But oh it is sweet. I am still on cloud nine right now.

 

 

Inkfillet, love the name by the way. I love happy endings too. Yes, they did get two more bonus points, no doubt about it. Excel chart?

I think you lost me. I do have my pen listed in my Fountain Pen Inventory list. I also made a document, in case there was a problem.

I don't have Excel though. I use Open Office. I only have two pens. But it is better to start now, than wait. I have two pens, and three

different ink colors. I started with my first pen in September. I got the Collier in October.

Ha! I think I actually made it a full year with Open Office, all my hair had been pulled out by the roots, I still couldn't change the default font from sheet to sheet so I broke down and spent hard earned money to rid myself of that despicable pest, the Open Office. I'm not ashamed Officer, I deleted it, I did it and I'd do it again.

I'm lucky, whenever I'd like a new pen, I go to the shop and make one. Nib selection is the only problem I have with that.

Gorgeous dog, BTW.

[KKay]

I used to use Excel. I could get it to do just about anything I wanted. Open Office Calc program is harder for me, but it's free. I usually only use the text document program, and it works great. You make your own pens? Now that must be nice!

 

Thanks. My dog is such a sweetie. I love her very much. Since my kids are grown and gone now, she is sort of like my kid. Her mom was a GSD, and her dad was an Aussie. She is very smart, funny, playful, protective etc... she is very active and can be hyper, if she didn't get enough exercise for the day. She just turned a year old. I am hoping she will wind down some...lol. She was black and cream as a pup. But she is slowly becoming a sable I think. Most people think she is a husky. I have seen her parents, so I know that she isn't. Regardless she is a great dog, and I am lucky to have her. You couldn't ask for a better companion.

Edited November 10, 2015 by KKay