Budget Piston-Filler

[Lulu05]

Hello!

 

I'm sorry to come in here knowing no one and immediately ask a question, but I'm stuck. I am very, very new to fountain pens. I have had one good one in my life, which was the TWSBI diamond 580. Unfortunately I am fairly sure it's been stolen by one of my more troubled students and I don't think I'll ever see it again. My TWSBI diamond wrote beautifully, but if I'm buying a new pen I'd like it to be exciting and new! But still as smooth as my twsbi. I'm on a budget of under £100, (probably closer to £50 unless something incredibly compelling comes up). I'm in the UK if that makes a difference. And I'd like a piston or vacuum filler rather than cartridge or converter. Does anyone have any recommendations? Am I asking too much for my budget? I really need some help; I'm so overwhelmed!

 

Thanks.

Edited January 21, 2017 by Lulu05

[LizB]

The only 2 I have that fit the bill are the TWSBI (580) and Noodler's Ahab. I like them both, but the Ahab is not one I use every day. The TWSBI is great value, if you ask me. Pelikan M200 is within your budget I think, I'd love to try one of them.

[Lulu05]

Interesting - thanks for the input. I was looking at a Waterman Hemisphere which on UK amazon seems to be a piston filling pen, but all other reviews of it seem to make it a cartridge/converter pen? Confusing! Oh I didn't look properly - it's a converter. I guess I'd have more choice if I opened myself up to that, huh? I guess I could...

Edited January 21, 2017 by Lulu05

[sandy101]

You can buy a Lamy 2000 from WH Smith's website for £100. They only offer the medium nib, but if you want a £100 piston filler, then that's one way to go. Alternatively take a look at the Writing Desk - you can get a Pelikan 200 for around £90.

[LizB]

Yes, I think that is a cartridge/converter filler.

[Randal6393]

Hi, Lulu05, and welcome to FPN,

 

Sorry to hear about your loss. Especially under such aggravating circumstances. Good pens are not so much hard to come by as something we get comfortable with. But, you will find other good pens and get just as comfortable with them. Be careful, though, we here at FPN tend to encourage newbies to try every pen that comes along.

 

TWSBIs are great pens, so are the Noodler Ahabs. The sparkle factor on a TWSBI 580 leads to envy. And Ahabs are finicky little pens, with a high tinker factor. Mine are fun but always require "just a little work to tune it up." I spend almost as much time adjusting the pen as writing with it. Something to consider.

 

Many FPNers swear by the high-end pens. I use less expensive pens that are rugged and durable. Understand your wish for a piston-filler but hope you try some of the cartridge-converter models as well. I find them to be more useful than my piston-fillers. In this line, Nemosine is pretty good and not too expensive. Good buys can be had on Sheaffer NoNonsense pens as well as Osmiroid and Platignum pens. These are older pens, can be bought used or as new-old stock. Dupont has a number of inexpensive pens as well.

 

Indian-made pens often are piston-fillers. Quality can be from good to excellent. Occasionally, abysmal. Some of the better Indian pens are made by Ranga pens, ASA pens, and Airmail/Wality. Cost is minimal, although some models are fairly expensive.

 

Best of luck,

[Randal6393]

@LizB, While many Lamys are C/C pens, the 2000 is a piston-filler. Also one of the most reliable and useful pens around. I have one that is over ten years old and still works perfectly. Just don't drop it -- that means a repair job for the nib.

 

Enjoy,

Randal

[Lulu05]

Thank you so much for the input! I'm also looking at some used vintage pens (Conway Stewart, Swan etc) that are lever fillers. I do not know what this means except that they look really fancy...

[Lulu05]

Well - so I bought a Conway Stewart 475 C 1938... It has been fully serviced and is in almost mint condition... I hope this wasn't a mistake!

[LizB]

@LizB, While many Lamys are C/C pens, the 2000 is a piston-filler. Also one of the most reliable and useful pens around. I have one that is over ten years old and still works perfectly. Just don't drop it -- that means a repair job for the nib.

 

Enjoy,

Randal

 

 

Apologies - a little confusion due to cross-posting, I was referring to the Waterman Lulu05 mentioned.

[Komboloi]

Well - so I bought a Conway Stewart 475 C 1938... It has been fully serviced and is in almost mint condition... I hope this wasn't a mistake!

 

It's not a mistake. I'm certain you'll love the pen. Once a purchase is made, the only mistake is in second guessing yourself, which takes all the fun out of it!

[rafapa]

Something really cheap is the Wing Sung 698.

[Lulu05]

Yay! Thanks all - I'm really excited about my purchase(s - I also bought new ink and paper.)

[ac12]

I prefer a cheaper pen if it is going into a high risk environment, like you describe.

Leave the Conway Stewart at home, where it will be safe.

 

TWSBI Eco. If you liked your 580, the Eco should feel good in your hand. In the US it is ~ $30 USD. Cheap enough to get two of them, I did. Nib size is European, or similar to the Lamy and Pelikan. I've had mine in constant use for a year and a half, long enough to decide that I wanted a 2nd one.

[Lulu05]

I prefer a cheaper pen if it is going into a high risk environment, like you describe.

Leave the Conway Stewart at home, where it will be safe.

 

TWSBI Eco. If you liked your 580, the Eco should feel good in your hand. In the US it is ~ $30 USD. Cheap enough to get two of them, I did. Nib size is European, or similar to the Lamy and Pelikan. I've had mine in constant use for a year and a half, long enough to decide that I wanted a 2nd one.

No fear! I'm not having this one nicked by the little monsters!

[CatHerder]

+1 for TWSBI Eco, I've got 2

[EricTheRed]

+2 for the TWSBi Eco. I also have two and they meet every criteria set out by the thread sponsor. Beautiful, reliable, and inexpensive piston fillers. You can't go wrong with this one...

[virgilio]

If you're willing to go vintage, you will occasionally find the Universal Scolastica on ebay. It's a piston filler and the nib lays down a nice smooth, wet line, provided you press lightly down on the nib a few times when you first ink it, to loosen it up. Price is generally no more than £20, sometimes a lot less.

 

Have you thought of going Chinese? Here is a 10-pack of genuine Hero 616s for only $17 on amazon.com, about £13. I am sure they will ship to the UK.

 

<A https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00ZROMOK8/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1485037708&sr=8-1&keywords=chengyida+hero+616>

[virgilio]

Genuine Hero 616s are a very close imitation of the Parker 51. They have hooded nibs and give generous ink flow, and are very smooth; the Chinese keep on improving them. On a budget they can't be beaten. They have an aerometric filler that discourages clogging, just like piston fillers.

[Bo Bo Olson]

Pelikan 200 has a very nice 'true' regular flex nib with a bit of spring to it, and a semi-vintage or vintage narrow, clean writing nib.

I very much like that nib.

There are many nice 200's....some of the rarer ones will cost more. They have limited editions that cost more....or regular that are the 90 or so.

 

I had lots of 400's so never chased 200's. Some pal living in England bought 200's nibs and some German's refuse to ship outside Germany...so I trans-mailed them.

Having the semi-vintage and vintage 400s, finally broke down and bought a 215...a heavier bodied 200 because of the nib.

Then I got a LE....Amethyst semi-demonstrator.

Sigh....then a rarer W.Germany one.

 

I do have a lot of Pelikans.....16 or 18....so I'm a bit prejudiced. I think the 200 is a good affordable pen with a good nib. One that is as good steel as gold plated and as good as semi-vintage gold nibs.

Better by far than the fat blobby semi-nail modern 400/600 nibs.