Lamy Joy 1.1mm

[dmgerman]

I was curious to see what a calligraphic pen would be like, and I decided to order a Lamy. I like Lamy pens, but for some reasons I never tried their fountain pens until recently. My main pens have been Rotring.

 

 

Most of you know that the best price/benefit ratio in fountain pens is achieved with the Safari line. The Joy is even better, because they are usually cheaper (I got mine for 13 British Pounds + 3 shipping to Canada). Some don't like the long pointy body, but I personally think it is a very elegant pen. I also like its colour: black with red accents, which matches my Thinkpad very well.

 

 

I had never written with a calligraphic, and I didn't know what to expect. I still don't know , but I am learning. First, it wasn't obvious to me what the benefit of the tip was. At the beginning the pen was scratchy, and it took me some time to get used to it. I also started writing bigger than I am used to it (I think it was psychological), but later I realized the pen had more impact with smaller type. Here are two examples (first is small type, second is big type):

 

 

Also, you need to learn to hold the pen, because it is more picky about the angle in which the ink will flow.

 

In conclusion, I think the benefit/price ratio is huge. The pen delivers reliable writing, but it takes some time to get used to it, and you will need to find to incorporate the nib's effect into your handwriting. The pen is very elegant without the cap, but its shape might not be for everybody. It is made of resin, which results in a relatively light pen.

 

In terms of disadvantages, I think the main one is that it is hard to carry on a pocket because it is too long, and its back is pointy, and this type of pen is not for people who like to write with small type.

 

Now I am very curious to see what impact a wider nib would have on my handwriting.

 

The pen in the photos is inked, and has dust from the tissue I was trying to use to clean its nib.

 

--dmg

Edited February 21, 2009 by dmgerman

[Edgar Allan Bo]

I love the LAMY 1.1 nibs, they are more stub than italic, but still great line variation on the 1.1

 

I have several on various LAMY pens, Safari, Linea / cp1... so if you want to use those nibs for your daily writing outside the house

you can put them on allmost every other LAMY FP, because the LAMY Joy barrel is too long to carry it around with you in a pocket...

[DovR]

Like you I love the Lamy's - have a number and if they do get lost, no sweat. For 20-25 bux you can get another.

 

Trouble is if you lose the persona (which I've done twice ;-(( or the studio palladium which i zealously guard.

 

I have to replenish a lami safari, great writer which somehow fell from my pocket.

 

Under your influence I am going to try a calligraphic this time.

 

 

[DrPJM1]

You can swap that nib into a Safari/AlStar.

[Pippin60]

You can swap that nib into a Safari/AlStar.

 

I have many Lamy pens 7, Safari's 5 Al-Stars, a Joy, with all 3 nibs, a 2000, and a Studio and I have to say that I am very happy with all of them. There is no brand to me that has more consistently smooth nibs. I use a 1.1mm in a Safari in my rotation as a daily writer. Their italic nibs write as if they were ground to cursive italics. I have many other higher priced pens but I have to say that a Lamy has never disappointed me.

[diplomat]

I agree with your review. I have a 1.1 fitted on an Al Star which is in my current rotation. Great nib: you can write at speed and enjoy a great line variation.

 

Which cap your Lamy is? The Aluminium or the new black/pink clip?

 

Cheers,

[Marvin McMurphy]

Last week I bought two Safari's (my first two, although I have an Al-Star for some time now) and bought the three stub nibs. I currently use the 1.5 and the 1.9 and really like the result, also with the 1.1 which I might actually start to use in my rotation for everyday writing, even though I usually prefer a fine nib.

 

I had been thinking about buying the Joy set, but fortunately I abandoned that thought, because I have Pelikan Script and don't like the longer body and having three feed when all you need to change is the nib also seemed futile. But to each their own.

[MYU]

Thanks for the review--the Joy is indeed a joy to use. Probably one of the better non-dip calligraphy pens out there, next to Rotring.

[Margana]

Thanks for posting your review. Aren't they just the best introduction to italic nibs! My Lamy Joy 1.1 is about eight years old and in all these years I have yet to find an ink that doesn't work beautifully though I must say pale colors looking especially nice from the wide nib.

[fstop22]

I think this is the best value italic nib and pen combination you can buy. The nib is very consistent and smooth with good ink floe. If you don't like to always have the long pointy bit, buy the recently released shiney black acrylic fountain pen and you can sawp tails depending on your whim. I did.

[Juan in Andalucia]

I have 3 AlStars inked. One has an EF nib and it's filled with Pelikan 4001 black; the others have 1,1 nibs and are inked with Waterman Havanna and Parker blueblack. Nice nibs.

 

Juan

 

http://colectivoimprovisa.blogspot.com/

 

[luukku]

The Lamy 1.1mm nib was in my WantBook for a couple of weeks. Today I got the nib from a local pen shop. I'm glad to see so many positive reviews for the 1.1mm. Now I can't wait to exchange it with the EF nib in my Al-Star.

[r1chard]

i also have a 1.1 nib to my al-star

 

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2460/3894535638_f8943c966c.jpg

 

now i'm thinking to put a 1.5 nib to my graphite, and a 1.9 nib to another lamy

[tawanda]

I've discovered an addiction for italic nibs recently, and now I often find myself reaching for one.

 

I bought a Lamy 1.1 nib last week from The Writing Desk, and exchanged it with the XF on my Studio. Simple to do and great fun to write with.

 

I also bought a 78g broad (italic nib) just for the nib, and stuck it in my Pilot Prera, which had an M nib. Perfect.

 

My italic nib collection is growing...

 

[Ondina]

Another Lamy italic nibs love here, great way ( along the Pilot stubs) to have italics on the cheap.

[Aysedasi]

Another 1.1 fan here - it's always been one of my favourite nibs

[nelsontrujillo]

I don't know for how long, but Pen City is showing the Safari LE with Calligraphy nibs (1.5):

 

PenCity

 

Just bought one because of this review. I mean, i was intended to buy a Joy because of the nib, then I saw the LEs with the same nib; and as the OP, I don't like the Joy pointy shape

 

[Anes]

Houston, we have a problem... Today bought one because of this review. I like it very much. I think I'll have 1.5 tomorrow :-)

[williamseymour123]

Houston, we have a problem... Today bought one because of this review. I like it very much. I think I'll have 1.5 tomorrow :-)

 

Same here, just got a 1.1mm nib to put on my Safari after seeing this and trying the 1.5mm nib on the Joy. I find the wider nib is nicer for more formal calligraphy, but not as suited for everyday writing.

[James125]

I love italics. I bought the Lamy Logo and got the 1.5. It was great, but just too thick for my everyday writing. I had to go and get a 1.1. It writes perfect for everyday use, but still looks amazing, and different. I may still go back for the 1.5 for when I sign letters or when I waste my ink bottles :roflmho: