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Retro 51 Scriptmaster II - Ivory White


RwsRichard

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I saw this Scriptmaster II Ivory White fine point pen on Dalys Pen Shop in the discount section - see attached pics. Regular price $80; my cost $39.99 and less than $44.00 including shipping. So I had to get it. I ordered it on a Friday and I was writing with it the following Tuesday.

 

The packaging for the pen was really nice. Not sure if they package all their pens this way or not, as this is my first Retro, but I like it.

 

I was very impressed with the way that they packed the cartridges, too. Now I can get a leather case and include the ink cartridge-carrier in one of the pen slots. I wish every company would do something like this, I hate carrying loose ink cartridges around.

 

The pen is approx. 5-1/2" long with cap on it. It is nicely balanced with cap on or cap off while writing. The only problem I have with the cap is that you really have to press the cap on rather 'hard' to keep it from coming off while you write with it. This bothered me as I did not want to take a chance of marring/scratching the finish, so I leave the cap totally off the pen when writing, which for me, is no problem because I hold the cap in my right hand while writing with my left.

 

I am very pleased with the way it writes. I am a southpaw and I have a problem with some pens, no problems with this pen. This pen writes as well, if not better than my Waterman Charleston Ivory FP. I had no problem with it running or feathering.

 

I can hardly wait to use up the ink in the cartridge so I can see how it works with my new bottle of Noodler's Heart of Darkness ink.

 

I would recommend it to anyone, especially at the discount price.

 

post-16142-1209053816_thumb.jpg

 

post-16142-1209053825_thumb.jpg

 

 

RwsRichard

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Very beauiful pen for a great price.

Thank you for the review.

By the way what does the nib feels like ?

Did the pen came with a converter ?

Edited by goodguy

Respect to all

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Very beauiful pen for a great price.

Thank you for the review.

By the way what does the nib feels like ?

Did the pen came with a converter ?

 

I have a hard time explaining things, so if this does answer your questions let me know and I will give it another go.

 

The nib is a fine point nib and it feels nice and solid with 'just' a little flex, but writes really nice and smooth. I had to 'really' watch it close to notice the itty-bitty flex when I started writing. I noticed the same thing on my Waterman, too. Not sure, but I think it might be because it is a fine point nib?? I only use a fine point as the medium point seems too wide for me.

 

The pen came with a convertor. At first I was upset because I did not find it mixed in with the ink cartdriges. I found the convertor in the ink barrel. :embarrassed_smile: It is a plunger-type convertor. As you twist the end, a rubber plunger descends and then retracts as you fill the convertor with ink.

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  • 1 month later...

Well, I came up with a problem using this pen. It started skipping REALLY bad.

 

I used an ink cartrdige that came with the pen, before trying any other inks. There was no problem and when I ran out of ink, I cleaned the cartridge out and the pen, letting them dry overnight.

 

Then I used Noodler's HoD ink in the converter and it worked flawlessly. I only filled the converter about halfway for testng purposes. When I ran out of ink I then cleaned the pen, wrapped it in tissue paper and let it air dry overnight before filling again. This is something I always do between each filling. I know this is a hassle, to some, but it assures me that the pen is kept clean and it gives me a chance to make sure the outside of the pen is nice and clean.

 

This second time I filled the cartridge about half full of HoD ink. It worked great for a day or two, then the skipping started. I just figured it was me and kept using the pen, but the skipping got even worse. Then it got where I had shake the pen for about 3/4 minutes, with the nib down, just to get the ink to come out the nib so I could write, BUT it skipped really, really bad.

 

So I took and cleaned the pen out again and let it sit overnight to dry. Then I filled the converter about half full of Noodler's ink again. But the skipping problem still persisted. So once again I cleaned the pen and converter and let it sit overnight to dry. The next day I put in a brand new cartridge that came with the pen and tried that, thinking it was the Noodler's HoD ink. But the pen still skipped and no matter what I tried I could not keep it from skipping.

 

So once again, I cleaned it, let it dry overnight and then put it back in the box it came in and went back to my Waterman pen.

 

If someone can offer suggestions as to what I should do or what might be the problem, I would appreciate it.

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I would clean it with an ultrasonic cleaner if you have one. You could flush out with very soapy water. If you still have problem you can ask the seller for assistance with a nib. You can also contact me and purchase a spare nib and feed too as I have them in fine, medium and broad. These nibs just screw in and out similar to a Pelikan.

 

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screw out the nib and soak it, I have the same pen and that seems to work. Another thing it I found my Retro 51 gets pissy when you use really saturated inks in it.

I'd rather spend my money on pens instead of shoes and handbags.

 

>>> My Blog <<<

 

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I would clean it with an ultrasonic cleaner if you have one. You could flush out with very soapy water. If you still have problem you can ask the seller for assistance with a nib. You can also contact me and purchase a spare nib and feed too as I have them in fine, medium and broad. These nibs just screw in and out similar to a Pelikan.

 

 

Could you give me a price on a replacement nib and feed?

 

Do not have an ultrasonic cleaner, but will look into one.

 

 

Thanks.

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screw out the nib and soak it, I have the same pen and that seems to work. Another thing it I found my Retro 51 gets pissy when you use really saturated inks in it.

 

I am going to assume that Noodler's ink is a saturated ink? The reason I bought Noodler's is that I use it ALOT for writing checks and signing credit card receipts. After a little trouble I had last year with a credit card receipt, I now use ONLY my pens to sign for credit card receipts and not the ones that waitpersons give you.

 

I have never replaced a nib myself, so how do you unscrew the nib itself? I am afraid of bending, breaking or ruining it.

 

I really like the nib on this pen. I have always wanted a pen that gives you that 'scratchy' sound when you are writing. This one does and it really is Cool sounding, at least to me.

 

I am also going to get another nib/feed from isellpens.

 

 

Thanks

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screw out the nib and soak it, I have the same pen and that seems to work. Another thing it I found my Retro 51 gets pissy when you use really saturated inks in it.

 

I am going to assume that Noodler's ink is a saturated ink? The reason I bought Noodler's is that I use it ALOT for writing checks and signing credit card receipts. After a little trouble I had last year with a credit card receipt, I now use ONLY my pens to sign for credit card receipts and not the ones that waitpersons give you.

 

I have never replaced a nib myself, so how do you unscrew the nib itself? I am afraid of bending, breaking or ruining it.

 

I really like the nib on this pen. I have always wanted a pen that gives you that 'scratchy' sound when you are writing. This one does and it really is Cool sounding, at least to me.

 

I am also going to get another nib/feed from isellpens.

 

 

Thanks

Just drop me an email at: pen-king2@cox.net .

 

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screw out the nib and soak it, I have the same pen and that seems to work. Another thing it I found my Retro 51 gets pissy when you use really saturated inks in it.

 

I am going to assume that Noodler's ink is a saturated ink? The reason I bought Noodler's is that I use it ALOT for writing checks and signing credit card receipts. After a little trouble I had last year with a credit card receipt, I now use ONLY my pens to sign for credit card receipts and not the ones that waitpersons give you.

 

I have never replaced a nib myself, so how do you unscrew the nib itself? I am afraid of bending, breaking or ruining it.

 

I really like the nib on this pen. I have always wanted a pen that gives you that 'scratchy' sound when you are writing. This one does and it really is Cool sounding, at least to me.

 

I am also going to get another nib/feed from isellpens.

 

 

Thanks

 

Just grip it up at the top and twist it, it shouldn't take that much force to get it out. Nibs don't bend as easily as you would think, especially steal ones.

 

I'd rather spend my money on pens instead of shoes and handbags.

 

>>> My Blog <<<

 

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  • 5 months later...
Well, I came up with a problem using this pen. It started skipping REALLY bad.

 

I used an ink cartrdige that came with the pen, before trying any other inks. There was no problem and when I ran out of ink, I cleaned the cartridge out and the pen, letting them dry overnight.

 

Then I used Noodler's HoD ink in the converter and it worked flawlessly. I only filled the converter about halfway for testng purposes. When I ran out of ink I then cleaned the pen, wrapped it in tissue paper and let it air dry overnight before filling again. This is something I always do between each filling. I know this is a hassle, to some, but it assures me that the pen is kept clean and it gives me a chance to make sure the outside of the pen is nice and clean.

 

This second time I filled the cartridge about half full of HoD ink. It worked great for a day or two, then the skipping started. I just figured it was me and kept using the pen, but the skipping got even worse. Then it got where I had shake the pen for about 3/4 minutes, with the nib down, just to get the ink to come out the nib so I could write, BUT it skipped really, really bad.

 

So I took and cleaned the pen out again and let it sit overnight to dry. Then I filled the converter about half full of Noodler's ink again. But the skipping problem still persisted. So once again I cleaned the pen and converter and let it sit overnight to dry. The next day I put in a brand new cartridge that came with the pen and tried that, thinking it was the Noodler's HoD ink. But the pen still skipped and no matter what I tried I could not keep it from skipping.

 

So once again, I cleaned it, let it dry overnight and then put it back in the box it came in and went back to my Waterman pen.

 

If someone can offer suggestions as to what I should do or what might be the problem, I would appreciate it.

 

I have this very same pen with the very same problem! I have cleaned, and cleaned, and flushed and switched to goodness knows how many inks - still the skipping! Especially starting off.

 

I still haven't "resolved" the problem - but improved it some by taking a razor blade and ever so carefully wedged it between the slits in the nib and between the nib and feed......that seemed to widen it just a bit to increase the ink flow. Let me know if you have found any solutions!

 

Thanks!

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Thanks for the great review. I'd love to see this in person.

Fool: One who subverts convention or orthodoxy or varies from social conformity in order to reveal spiritual or moral truth.

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Have same pen with no skipping problem.

 

It does dry out over night and I have to wet the nib to get it started again.

Edited by RLTodd

YMMV

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  • 2 weeks later...

I have this same pen but have only used about a third of the first cartridge that came with it. I haven't noticed any skipping problems yet. Once this one runs out I will be looking for a deep red ink to use in it.

 

My notes on its feel: Definitely scratchy compared to my Faber Castell Ambition M and my other Retro 51, a Tornado F. The ink doesn't feel as wet as the Ambition either. The Ambition feels like it is floating on a puddle of ink where the Scriptmaster definitely feels like a paper clip on paper. I'm going to continue to use it and see if the feel changes at all and if it doesn't I may try to modify it to make it a bit smoother.

 

My Scriptmaster below, in green.

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t43/dannzeman/fountainpens.jpg

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My notes on its feel: Definitely scratchy compared to my Faber Castell Ambition M and my other Retro 51, a Tornado F. The ink doesn't feel as wet as the Ambition either. The Ambition feels like it is floating on a puddle of ink where the Scriptmaster definitely feels like a paper clip on paper. I'm going to continue to use it and see if the feel changes at all and if it doesn't I may try to modify it to make it a bit smoother.

Mine was definitely not like that. It had a very nice nib. I miss it, but I needed to downsize my collection.

deirdre.net

"Heck we fed a thousand dollar pen to a chicken because we could." -- FarmBoy, about Pen Posse

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I was looking at it under a magnifying glass at work and could see the tines weren't lined up properly so tried adjusting them and I think it helped a little bit because it definitely feels better now. Still not as smooth as the Ambition though, but I think that's a good thing. It seems like it has some traction where it can provide me some feedback instead of just slipping all over the place like its on ice. Know what I'm sayin'?

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Just wanted to give a little update...

I met with rroossinck last friday (he's freakin' cool! and very generous letting me write some very very nice/expensive pens) and he pretty fixed the scratchy feeling on my Scriptmaster. Its now smoother than my Tornado but not quite as much as my Ambition. I think it provides more feedback though, which I like.

 

I just went through my first cartridge this morning so I can't wait to get home and put the converter in and try the homebrew that rroossinck hooked my up with! I love this place, you guys rock!

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