Introducing FPs

[chupie]

What would you recommend to someone who wants to buy an FP for the first time, who want to get a good "taste" for an FP but spend under $30.00?

[Apollo]

Lamy Safari. Another option (if you add another $5 retail to your $30) would be the Waterman Phileas.

[Bill D]

Sheaffer Javelin

 

Bill

[saintsimon]

Lamy Safari, Al-Star, Vista - just try out to get a good nib

[Goodwhiskers]

Ooh, so many choices under US$30 before sales tax and/or shipping here

(as of the end of this week, approximately Can$34, £17, €25, R$66, A$40, NZ$44, CHN Y242, KRW 29125, ¥3515. I love Macintosh OS 10 dashboard widgets, but outside the USA I don't know the retail price points and the taxes).

 

Medium points in most brands are the best for beginners. If they complain that the line is too wide, tell them most beginners find fine points too scratchy. If their skins are thick, or if they've already asked in so many words for help with their handwriting, tell them that a medium point has already improved your own handwriting.

 

I'd recommend any of these under $30 because they write smoothly, fill/refill easily and don't have demanding quirks or quality issues:

 

Any Lamy (Lamy ink cartridges are proprietary, so other brands of ink require a converter and must be bottled. There's one cartridge brand available in Germany that fits Lamys).

 

Pelikan Pelikano or Future.

 

Any Stypen.

 

Pilot Knight (Japanese medium; Pilot/Namiki cartridges are proprietary) on sale or Hero 100, if the person absolutely must have the equivalent of a fine point.

 

Any Sheaffer, with Sheaffer Skrip or another thin brand of ink (pen manufacturers' brands, Noodler's [except "Eel"], or J. Herbin; Sheaffer ink cartridges are proprietary).

 

Any Parker (any Quink ink except the included Washable Blue cartridges would be good. Parker ink cartridges are almost proprietary; Levenger long and Aurora cartridges fit. There are better washable blues if that is required. Any other brand of ink would be good, too, because Parkers [except for the Sonnet, thanks PaulK] aren't as dry-writing as Sheaffers. ).

 

Any Genius.

 

Rotring Core.

 

Have fun getting your friends and family into the habit !

Edited January 28, 2006 by Goodwhiskers

[emrecan]

Hi

The choice's are given by Steve is great!Enough said! Just make you sure which nib type like,dry or wet writer?If you want a dry one Lamy Safari is your best bet.Pelikano is same too.

For wet writer you can try Pelikan Future its great have smooth steel nib.

But LAMY have beter quality feel when you hold it.Pelikans material have cheap feel when you hold it,and you can post Future properly.But if you find a good deal dont miss it.

 

Take Care,

Emrecan

[amh210]

Try a Wality from India. Surpisingly good and you can have 2 for the $30.00. Bottle filler, no carts.

 

Looks classy, too!

 

Andy

[Gatorade]

I am partial to the Rotring Cores. I have 4. Super easy to use, common cartridges and comes with a converter. Also the nibs can take a lot of punishment if given. Lots of colors as well.

[zxc]

I'll ditto Wality but only if you like Fine nibs.

[chupie]

Thanks. I guess I recommended pretty well. I said Pelikano Jr., Lamy, Rotring and recommended some of the Asian ones with the stipulation they write finely. I also recommended the Pelikan Go! if they can get one . I'm thinking of getting a Pelikano Junior just to have one for those occassions like note taking at a horse seminars or something when if it got lost or something you are only out 10 bucks.

[Slush99]

Get a Core.

 

A Phileas is good. So is the Javelin.

[OldGriz]

Pensations has some brand new in the box never inked Sheaffer Imperial pens with fine or medium nibs for only $22.50. They are great C/C fillers and very comfortable to write with...

He has the pen only in a deep forest green.

He also has a FP/RB combo set in forest green or white for $31.00.

I have no attachment with Pensations other than being a happy customer..

You will have to purchase the convertor separately, however.

 

http://static.zoovy.com/img/seiky/W400-H192-Bffffff/sheaffer_imp_set_green.jpg http://static.zoovy.com/img/seiky/W400-H196-Bffffff/sheaffer_imp_set_white.jpg

Edited January 28, 2006 by OldGriz

[Goodwhiskers]

Hello Tom,

 

What's a "C/C filler"? Does it mean a pen that can write carbon copies and multi-part forms without damage to the nib? Or something else? This is of great interest to me. Thanks!

Edited January 28, 2006 by Goodwhiskers

[Dillo]

Hello Tom,

 

What's a "C/C filler"? Does it mean a pen that can write carbon copies and multi-part forms without damage to the nib? Or something else? This is of great interest to me. Thanks!

Hi,

 

It means, "Cartridge/Converter filler."

 

Dillon

[randyholhut]

Don't forget the Heros. At prices as low (at isellpens.com -- usual disclaimer applies) as $5 for a 329. $10 for a 616 and less than $30 for the 100, they're the best values in current production pens.

 

The Sheaffer Javelin ($5 at PenHero.com--usual disclaimer again applies) is the best NOS (new old stock) pen value out there.

 

The Rotring Core and the Pelikan GO! are both out of production, but worth seeking out as under $30 gems.

 

And, if you can find one under $30, the Waterman Phileas is a great starter pen.

[Dillo]

Hi,

 

The Rotring Core is still made for distribution in Europe. Should you want one, just buy one from Europe.

 

Dillon

[wimg]

Hi,

 

The Rotring Core is still made for distribution in Europe. Should you want one, just buy one from Europe.

 

Dillon

Hi Dillon,

 

Sorry to disappoint you, but no. It isn't produced anymore, not even here in Europe. It still is available, as NOS or just plain stock, yes.

 

I think I may be able to get 1 or 2 for local retail price - 40%, if anyone is interested, plus S&H of course (close-out sale). BTW, as a favour, I am NOT a pen retailer.

 

Warm regards, Wim

Edited January 29, 2006 by wimg

[Goodwhiskers]

Hello Tom,

 

What's a "C/C filler"? Does it mean a pen that can write carbon copies and multi-part forms without damage to the nib? Or something else?

Hi,

 

It means, "Cartridge/Converter filler."

 

Dillon

Thanks, Dillon . Wild goose chase prevented .

[maia]

Hi,

 

The Rotring Core is still made for distribution in Europe. Should you want one, just buy one from Europe.

 

Dillon

Hi Dillon,

 

Sorry to disappoint you, but no. It isn't produced anymore, not even here in Europe. It still is available, as NOS or just plain stock, yes.

 

I think I may be able to get 1 or 2 for local retail price - 40%, if anyone is interested, plus S&H of course (close-out sale). BTW, as a favour, I am NOT a pen retailer.

 

Warm regards, Wim

Are you sure Core pens aren't being made anymore? I highly doubt it. They're on Rotring's website and probably Sanford's. There's high availability of these here in Portugal, same with France afaik.

[Dillo]

Hi,

 

It is funny because my dealer in the UK was able to order a few a few weeks ago.

 

I don't really *like* to Core anyway...I can't use one.

 

Dillon