Another Cheap (but good) Pen - Fuliwen

November 17, 2008

You can also see this review (w/ pictures) at my blog: http://fountainofpens.blogspot.com/. BTW, If anyone's interested, I'd love to get some other contributors to 'Fountain of Pens'. Please let me know!

Next under the looking glass is a beautiful little gem I recently purchased on eBay. Ok, I have to admit, I spend WAY too much time perusing the fountain pen auctions on eBay. I could have a deadline for a pro forma on a $100m project due in an hour, and there I'll be at my desk - clicking merrily away. For some reason, it's even worse when I have no money to be perusing the fountain pen auctions on eBay. But over the last couple of weeks, I'd seen an auction for a no-name 'presentation' pen. Normally, I immediately cull those auctions out. Don't look at 'em. But the picture on this one....it drew me in. Played with my psyche. The picture wasn't even all that clear, but was, never-the-less...enticing. It was orange and looked like cracked ice. In fact, the effect looked quite similar to one of the Levenger True Writers I have (that one, a deep blue). Anyway, knowing that it couldn't possibly look as good for real as it did in the picture, AND knowing that it was going to be a cheap, piece of (Potty Mouth) writer, well below 'Bic' pen quality, I broke down and bid on the auction. What did I have to loose? The opening bid was $5 and there was 2 minutes left to go. Placing my bid for $5.25, I was rewarded with a message congratulating me for winning the auction, just under two minutes later. I'd just wasted about $11 dollars (auction price plus shipping) on a pen that I was sure I'd be dissapointed with. And so I waited (the pen would take a while to ship as it was in Great Britan), cursing my addiction all the while.

About a week later, the package arrived in my mail box. Looking to anyone else like a crack addict, sweating and with shaking hands I tore the package open. Obviously, I needed to ink it, but upon my initial first inspection, I was struck with - this is NOT a crappy pen. The fit and finish were good. Very good. So good, in fact that I could find nothing wrong with the naked eye. It's a 'snap cap', and does so with just the right amount of effort. The cap posts nicely, with no 'wobble'. Now for the ink test. Long story short, it writes as well as it looks. A nice wet medium line. This is a cartridge or converter filler, but comes only with a cartridge. Black ink, unknown manufacturer, but uses an international style cartridge. One drawback (there had to be at least one, didn't there?) - It's tough to get the ink flow started once it's been capped and sitting for more than a couple of hours. Once started though, it doesn't skip or dry out. The nib is very smooth and a pleasure to write with.

After some research, I found that the pen is of Chinese origin (big surprise given the price), a Fuliwen. The eBay seller I bought this from is PDL Trading. I had a very positive transaction with this seller.

Well I guess it's time to sign off; The Godfather is coming on TNT.

Cheers!

Will Isaac

November 17, 2008

that's a very good looking pen! i hadn't seen a fulliwen looking like that. i only own one i just got recently and it's nice looking too and writes well. i don't have that problem with slow starting tho'... it could be the ink...???

anyways, enjoy your pen!

PS here's a pic of mine:

http://www.goldquills.com/prodimages/b170/B185-1.jpg

November 17, 2008

that's a very good looking pen! i hadn't seen a fulliwen looking like that. i only own one i just got recently and it's nice looking too and writes well. i don't have that problem with slow starting tho'... it could be the ink...???

anyways, enjoy your pen!

PS here's a pic of mine:
http://www.goldquills.com/prodimages/b170/B185-1.jpg

The pen texture is very similar to this pen to commemorate the Cube at the Beijing Olmpics!

http://www.chinapenking.com/1cube.htm

November 17, 2008

i have that one too, Arthur. i like the fulliwen a lot more.

November 17, 2008

If only it did not have a metallic grip....looks a charming pen. Thanks for the review. Nice blog you've got there..

November 17, 2008

ondina, the fulliwen in the OP doesn't appear to have a metallic section.

November 17, 2008

Hi,

Thanks for the review. I have some other Fuliwens and they are all very good quality for the price.

So, I jumped into ebay, using your link of PDL trading and just made a bid on this orange beauty. Seems I am the first bidder with only 55 minutes to go, so I have a good chance to 'win'.

I'll keep you informed when 'I Has It'....

Have fun with your pen!

Lexaf

February 12, 2009

I found these guys on ebay, but now only use their website (much cheaper): http://www.goldquills.com/

They ship from MN, so it's pretty fast.

Anyways, I got this pen for $10:

http://www.goldquills.com/prodimages/b170/B186-1.jpg http://www.goldquills.com/prodimages/b170/B186-2.jpg

To me, Aesthetics are as important as how the pen writes, and I was disheartened for a while, because I have not liked the current generation of fountain pens out there from Cross. They are bulbous and even if they're made of gold and encrusted with diamonds, they do not please me aesthetically, and the prices aren't right for daily writers.

I bought 1 fuliwen pen from NewForMen on ebay, and it looks very pretty, but it was a bust. The nib is Medium, but the flow of ink sucks. I couldn't figure out if it was the ink or the nib.

About the same time, I bought that stylish Fuliwen pen in the picture above in Fine nib - It writes very well and wet, yet fine. The pen feels solid and weighty. A pleasure to write with, so Fuliwen pens are hit and miss. I may order another one, as they're cheaper than a bottle of ink.

I don't trust the converter that it comes with, but that doesn't matter to me as I have a lot of ink cartridges, and use a blunt syringe to refill ink into them. I bought some Noodler's Polar Black ink from a seller on ebay, who is currently selling them for 12.50 per 3oz bottle - FREE shipping.

Edited February 12, 2009 by dadoody