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Vintage Pen Must Haves?

mtbradley

By mtbradley
in Fountain & Dip Pens - First Stop

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mtbradley Mint

mtbradley

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Thanks all. Helpful!

Currently: Sailor Pro Gear Black/Rhodium M/F with Sailor Jentle Black; Sailor Pro Gear Yellow/Rhodium M/F with Diamine Sargasso Sea; Sailor Pro Gear Slim Sky Demonstrator/Rhodium M with Sailor Jentle Blue; Sailor Pro Gear Apres Ski M with Robert Oster Grey Seas; Sheaffer Touchdown Imperial VIII M with Diamine Asa Blue; Lamy AL-star Ocean Blue M with Private Reserve DC Supershow Blue; Lamy Safari Red F with Sheaffer Skrip Red for grading papers; Lamy Safari Neon Yellow F with Diamine Kelly Green; Esterbrook J Blue 9668 with Noodlers Ottoman Azure; Esterbrook J Red 9668 with Diamine Red Dragon; Esterbrook J Copper 2668 with Diamine Ancient Copper; Esterbrook J Gray 9668 with Robert Oster Stormy Seas; TWSBI Vac700R M with Robert Oster Grey Seas; Noodler's Ahab Clear Demonstrator M with Diamine Midnight; Kaweco Skyline Sport M with Diamine Grey; Faber-Castell Goldfaber 1221 HB and Tombow Mono HB

 

"Reading maketh a full man; conference a ready man; and writing an exact man." Francis Bacon, Of Studies

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sandy101 Collectors Item

sandy101

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This is a rabbit hole - here are some suggestions

 

Parker 45

Parker Slimford

Parker 51

Parker vacumatic duofold (predates 51)

Montblanc from the 50's (254 is a good start)]

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pajaro Museum Piece

pajaro

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Wahl Doric, I think that's what it is named. I think they are lovely.

 

All the usual suspects get named. Why not think outside the box, leave the herd behind?

 

NOS Sheaffer translucent cartridge pen from the 1950s and 1960s. Round end. Get a nice pristine sample. Find one of those Sheaffer button converters. They will fit.

 

Waterman Gentleman.

 

How about more ideas other than old Pelikans and Montblancs everyone mentions? Some leakers there.

"Don't hurry, don't worry. It's better to be late at the Golden Gate than to arrive in Hell on time."
--Sign in a bar and grill, Ormond Beach, Florida, 1960.

 

 

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truthpil Collectors Item

truthpil

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So it sounds like the goal is a list of vintage pens (for me, "vintage" means pens from before 1960 when manufacturers starting making their nibs more rounded and significantly less flexible to deal with the ballpoint takeover) that are "household names" or "who's who" among all fountain pen afficionados.

 

I'd agree with most of those already mentioned (in no particular order), but a few others as well:

 

- Parker 51

- Parker Duofold (especially the older ones like "Big Red")

- Parker Vacumatic

- Wahl Doric (possibly the little ring tops as well)

- Eversharp Skyline

- Waterman 52

- Waterman 100 Year Pen

- Esterbrook J/LJ/SJ

- Pelikan 140

- Pelikan 400 or 400NN

- Sheaffer Balance

- Sheaffer Snorkel

- Sheaffer Cartridge (aka "school") Pen

- Montblanc 149 with ebonite "ski slope" feed (perhaps 146 as well)

- Mabie Todd Swan

- Conklin Crescent Filler

- Aurora 88 (the original hooded nib version)

 

I'm afraid this is turning into a shopping list. :P

Edited by TruthPil

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pajaro Museum Piece

pajaro

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I have tried most of the pens on that list, and they are nice in a collection representative of vintage pens. The only ones I still use are the Parker 51s and the Esterbrooks. I had issues with the others. The Waterman Hundred Year Pen I have not had, and have a slight inclination to get one in a few years if I should live so long. The others would be spectacular in a pen tray under glass.

 

I think the definition of "vintage" for this purpose under discussion should be expanded to about 1970. Sixties pens are pretty vintage now. This would put some pens like some additional Watermans and Sheaffers in the running. The Sheaffer Dolphin is definitely vintage. The Parker 45 and 75 are definitely old hat as well. More pens I leave in the tray. If you like to collect pens, and being a collector is not a disgrace in spite of people using disparaging terms like "c-worder" to imply some sort of illegitimacy, pens in a tray or under glass that see no use are a real pleasure to have. No law of the Universe says you have to write or draw with every pen you own, and some you might not want to risk or incur the wear and tear or chemical degradation from ink on. So, these pens in the list of collectible vintage pens doesn't need to include only pens you like to use. If that were true I would have nothing more than Parker 51s and forgo the pleasure of a lot of nostalgia.

"Don't hurry, don't worry. It's better to be late at the Golden Gate than to arrive in Hell on time."
--Sign in a bar and grill, Ormond Beach, Florida, 1960.

 

 

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JayKay3000 Mint

JayKay3000

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I'm afraid this is turning into a shopping list. :P

 

I think so too. I looked up all the pens you posted! Now I have to clear my viewing history to hide the evidence :D

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truthpil Collectors Item

truthpil

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I think so too. I looked up all the pens you posted! Now I have to clear my viewing history to hide the evidence :D

Thankfully, with a lot of patience most of these can be had for under $100 each.

[Gosh, I remember when spending over $20 on a pen was a huge commitment for me; it's funny how the number for "affordable" creeps up like that.]

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CraigR Collectors Item

CraigR

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Well, the list has been pretty well covered in previous posts. My favorites over the years and ones that I still use regularly:

 

Esterbrook J & SJ

Parker Duofold, Vacumatic, 51, 45

Sheaffer's Snorkel, Balance, Craftsman

 

All still available, relatively inexpensive in user grades, and not overly difficult to replace/repair filling systems.

A consumer and purveyor of words.

 

Co-editor and writer for Faith On Every Corner Magazine

Magazine - http://www.faithoneverycorner.com/magazine.html

 

 

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truthpil Collectors Item

truthpil

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I think the definition of "vintage" for this purpose under discussion should be expanded to about 1970. Sixties pens are pretty vintage now. This would put some pens like some additional Watermans and Sheaffers in the running. The Sheaffer Dolphin is definitely vintage. The Parker 45 and 75 are definitely old hat as well.

 

That's fair, the Parker 45 and 75 really are classics worthy of any starter vintage pen collection and the massive amount of 45s still to be had for a low price make them quite desirable as a first gold-nibbed pen.

 

Well, the list has been pretty well covered in previous posts. My favorites over the years and ones that I still use regularly:

 

Esterbrook J & SJ

Parker Duofold, Vacumatic, 51, 45

Sheaffer's Snorkel, Balance, Craftsman

 

All still available, relatively inexpensive in user grades, and not overly difficult to replace/repair filling systems.

 

+1

Those are great classic representatives of the three brands.

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