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I have these pens that I found in an old storage and would like to get some information on them i.e brand, model,price and production year..... if you could help I would very much appreciate it..Thank you in advance

HI! I've been a "lurker" on this sight for a while now and haven't really chosen to post anything, so this is my first time. Sorry if this is in the wrong place, still getting the hang of things. I'm a young fountain pen enthusiast who's been in the hobby for a while now. I've amassed a decent collection of pens, Lamy, Pilot, Conklin, Cross, etc. as well as an assortment of inks and notebooks. I also run a pen review blog in my spare time. Recently, I found out there is a pen show in my area, the Atlanta Pen Show, and am planning to attend. I was curious as to what the policy is for younger attendees, and if this is well looked upon in the fountain pen community. I am also curious if there is anything I should bring to the show, such as pens, a bag, or a notepad. I'd love to hear your feedback! Thanks, Ben ,

I found this Pen set today, I've had it since new which would've been April 1991. I got these for my 18th birthday (feeling old!). Would love to know more about them, The only thing I know is that the company stop trading around the year 2000. Should I keep it, use it, or sell it! Any help appreciated thank you

Hello all, The Pay-it-Forward project is official and now has a website! The web-address is https://StationeryPIF.com (yes, we also have http://StationaryPIF.com/ redirecting, incase someone mispells it) and all traffic from https://ThePenthusiast.com/pif should also go to this new webpage. We're just looking to get some opinions on it, in terms of thoughts and ideas for things that we should add/remove/change around. Thanks in advance, -- The Pay-it-Forward Crew

Hello everyone, I hope I'm doing this right. To get straight to the point, I have a Lady Sheaffer 642 and I would like a converter for it. I used to have one and it used a squeeze converter but as we all know, these are no longer being made and extremely hard to find. It's even harder when you live in the UK and the only things you can find are in the USA. So I'm here to ask if anyone knows any other converter I could possible use for this pen? Or even better, if there is anywhere in the UK/EU where I can buy a Sheaffer squeeze converter for the older pens. Thank you

I'm eyeing a Parker Vacumatic as a graduation present to myself. I plan to buy a restored one from ebay. Currently thinking about whether to get the golden brown or the emerald green version. Is the Vacumatic a pen that you guys carry around and use, or is it more of a museum piece for your display cabinet? How durable is it? And what should I do to take good care of a vacumatic, to keep it in a good condition? Is it okay to use Pelikan Edelstein inks with it? How about Rohrer & Klingner? How can I make sure the celluloid remains unstained? Thanks in advance for your answers!

Hi all. I've received great advice from everyone here before - super helpful and friendly site in general. So thanks for that, and I'm going to try to put together some reviews of something that may be helpful to others but in the meantime, I'm looking to get a new pen. Used mostly for drawing/sketching. I currently have: -Lamy Safari Al Star - M - really like it but don't love the grip when I flip the pen over, which I like to do to get line variation etc.. Lamy Joy 1.9 - love the balance unposted but same issue as safari grip. -Pilot Metropolitan- F - love it, love how smooth and thin the lines are - this is prompting me to get the platinum desk pen for like $15 - I think I'll like that and is pretty cheap - I'm going to put it in the same order as the yet unknown pen I'm asking advice about. -Hero 9018 Fude pen - super cool and love the thick lines - caused me to purchase the... -Sailor Fude de Mannen - green one - Really like it but it seems to have a smaller sweet spot than my Hero, which is very forgiving of the angle used. And both of them flipped upside down are nice and fine. Highly recommend a fude nib to anyone drawing who hasn't tried them. Cheap and awesome. TWSBI Diamond 580 AL - Broad Nib - My favorite pen to date. Just love how smooth the nib is, it puts down a lot of ink and the piston filler is awesome. I can't decide weather to get another thick, broad nib like my TWSBI so I can have two colours loaded at once. Or another medium or fine - But what I'm asking about more is which pen to put that nib in. I'm open to suggestions, but this is what I've been thinking : -Second 580 because I love the one I have. -TWSBI eco -because it's cheaper than the 580. Although in some images it seems to me, the broad nib is not as broad as the 580 but still could be ok for me I think. -A Pilot ? . I really like my pilot metropolitan because I was so surprised how smooth it was for how fine it is so I had thought of splurging a bit and for about $30 more than the TWSBI 580 I have seen a Pilot Custom 74 or Heritage 91 on amazon.ca from japanese vendors for $95-$110. This seems really tempting to me but the potential issue of dealing with random online vendors is a bit concerning and I'm spending a bunch of money - top of my pen budget - for a pen that I don't know if I'll really like. Any thoughts ? Are those gold nibed Pilots that much different and worth spending that much on ? I don't care about the weight, or the fact that it's gold, or prestige, or looks that much. Though I kinda want it to look cool I guess lol. - had considered a faber castell Loom but it seems nothing really special about it for the $. But a lot of people seem to recommend them so I dunno. I can't really try any of these pens out where I live without driving for hours so that's really the issue and why I'm asking. Thanks.

Hello everyone! First I am very impressed. I would never imagine an entire and large community would exist for fountain pen art so I am really excited! I already found help and learned a lot on the website but there is so many choice that i am confused so i allow myself to request your advice. I spent the day watching different video and review and I felt overwhelmed. That's why this title. I am ending a contract and my colleagues will offer me the traditional pen Caran d'Ache ivanhoe but I am sure I will not use it. instead of that it is a good opportunity for me to get a fountain pen with flexible nid but I do not know which one. I would like to do calligraphy and drawing with it only and not an everyday writing use. The budget is 200 - 300 Dollars. I already checked and saw the following brands: PILOT CUSTOM 912 14k falcon Noodler's Ahab Desiderata Flex Pen (no idea if i can find this in Switzerland) I also saw that it worth to check the vintage choices but since it is a gift and it has to be engraved it need to be new. I also know it is better to test before doing a choice but I do not have time. Finally I saw video like this or that made my mind blown. So I am lost :-) Thanks for your help. I am looking forward to learn more about FPN! Best Vanessa

Hey all, I'm still somewhat new to the world of fountain pens but I've been using them daily for the last year. First one was a Medium Lamy safari that I still use the most today and I love everything about it in terms of wetness and thickness. Also have a medium Pilot metropolitan that I think is a little thin in the thickness of line for my taste, and finally I got an Ensso Piuma as well recently in Aluminum and medium nib. Writes more similarly to the lamy with a little more tooth and less wetness which I don't mind either. Anyway I'm looking for one step up for a nice pen, preferably under or around $120. Gold nib would be nice but I'm just looking for something that is even more fun to write with. I think something a little more flexible in the nib to allow for variation in thickness would be cool but I'm not sure what that would be. I was looking at the Pelikan M200 and Platinum Century so far, uncertain if one of those would be good, wet, flexible pens or enjoyable anyway. Was leaning towards the platinum for being cheaper but came here for insight on these two or other suggestions entirely. Using various noodlers inks. Thanks

Hello, everyone! My name is Keith and, while I have been writing for many years, I have never given much thought to the quality of the pen, pencil, or paper that I've used. This has recently changed since I am preparing to begin working on copywork that I intend to pass down to my children as an heirloom; the Bible, both old and new testament, written in my hand (ESV translation). I just bought a ream of Crane's Crest 20lb. 100% cotton paper, but I am still trying figure out what pen to use. I have used (and am quite comfortable with) my Sakura Pigma Micron (005) pens for writing in my study Bible's. Unless I find something of better quality that does not have a tendency to bleed through the page, I plan on using these for my copy work. That being said, I have always been interested in fountain pens, but my experience with them has not been very good. Every one I have ever used has had a tendency to stop writing at the most inopportune times. I am also planning on either binding the finished product myself or having it professionally done, so I welcome advice in that area as well. Thank you all in advance for your time and thoughts!

Hello, I recently found this forum and posted for the first time asking about a pen I had that was very special to me, which, unfortunately, I lost mere weeks later, after having it in my pocket every day for over 20 years (still reeling). Anyway, this community has been very kind and insightful to me, and since I am the furthest thing from a pen expert here, I want to offer whatever expertise I can to support the community. I am a professional studio photographer, specializing in high-end watch photography, as well as jewelry, pens, and other pricey objects (I have also worked around the world on commercial and editorial sets with notable personalities, and just about every style of photography you can imagine). So, I intimately know the difficulties most people encounter when photographing their favorite items, whether for sale or personal gratification. I recently rebuilt the studio for my watch retailer client, and am shooing 20-30 watches per day, which all feature difficulties like domed crystals, mother of pearl, facets, angles, curves, different finishes, moving parts etc. - meaning nothing even the most complex pen can throw at me can trip me up. So, anyone here who has questions about photography, or other photography dilemmas, should please feel free to contact me directly or post your queries in this thread, and I'll gladly offer my expertise. I can virtually guarantee that my advice and techniques would improve your photography more than any expensive equipment purchase would (equipment is the trap many amateur photographers fall into). I can help perfect your technique, identify your problems, interpret your light, whatever you need. Next time you are photographing your pens and are struggling to capture the images you want, please just ask, If you'd like see a very small sampling of my work, you can visit my website at: http://www.jamesburger.com. I hope to be of help. Best, James

I just received a Parker soft grip that I ordered from eBay. I have found this pen to be a hard starter. It came with one parker cartridge. I am thinking of going to a converter on it, but I am unsure of putting more money in a pen that, to me, is very light and not a great writer. I want to try some Noodler's or J. Herbin ink, so I know a converter would allow that; but I am wondering if I would be better served with maybe a Lamy Safari or some such to launch my exploration in. I intend to grab a Platinum Preppy and convert it to an eyedropper pen, but I want to get something decent to write with on a daily basis. Any recommendations would be very welcome!!!!!! I have just moved over to fountain pens from ballpoints. I currently carry a Montblanc ballpoint in Bordeaux. I love the weight and feel of the Montblanc, and would like to find something of comparable heft to learn writing with fountain pens.

I have some questions that I'm hoping the assembled MB experts can answer. Posing them requires some background information, which I hope will be interesting by itself. Some time ago - about 18 months or so - I walked into a slightly run-down, old-fashioned store in an unnamed German town that sells some books and some stationery, mostly catering for the school market. I asked the owner if he had any fountain pens, and he showed me a small range, most of which was new old stock from the 1990s or earlier. He also had one Montblanc pen - a 144. The cap had a flat top and a wavy clip, and the end of the barrel was rounded. Although the styles don't really match, the cap is a perfect fit. The pen was fitted with a lovely (14K) 3B nib. The owner had no idea of the age, but it looked like it was quite a lot older than the other pens in the shop, and is probably from a personal collection. It was clearly used - the piston mechanism was entirely gummed up and the feed was flithy with dried ink. The owner let me dab some water on the nib and the dried ink allowed me to write a little, which produced a very nice line. Anyway, I asked if he was interested in selling it, at which point he got a crafty look on his face and he said he would send it away to Montblanc for them to repair, as they used to offer a lifelong guarantee. I wished him luck and said that I would pop in at some point to see how he was getting on. Between then and now, I've been back three times, at long intervals. The first two times, he was waiting for MB to get back to him. The last time I went, he had received the pen back from MB: they had apparently wanted nearly 500 Euro to work on the pen, without any guarantee of a successful repair, and he had, unsurprisingly, refused the offer. The owner wants to try to find someone else to work on the pen - the look on his face tells me that he thinks it's worth a great deal of money, perhaps more than anyone is prepared to pay him. I am not a major MB fan, and I'm a user not a collector. But I did really like the nib on that particular pen. So I'm going to return in the second half of 2017, as my travels allow. It may have been repaired by then, but it's just as likely that it will be in the same state as before. As far as I'm concerned, MB's price quote suggests a challenging repair - well beyond my own limited skills - and any repairs would be expensive, perhaps prohibitively so. The nib (and cap) may in the end be the only things salvageable. By now, I'm interested more in the saga than in acquiring the pen. So, here's where my questions come in. Given only the information availabe in this post, 1) Does my understanding of the pen seem sensible? 2) Would you make an offer on the pen in unrepaired state, taking a risk on being able to have it repaired? 3) How much would you be prepared to offer for the pen in unrepaired and repaired state? 4) If I were to buy it and could salvage only the nib, which other models would the nib fit in? I'm really looking to test my understanding, with a view to using any responses as 'ballparks' if I do manage to get back there next year some time. Thanks in advance!

Dear FPNers a large birthday is approaching and a nakaya is being sought..... this will be a sight unseen/never handled purchase so asking for some input. I write on a daily basis, usually bursts of 10-20 lines at a time, relatively swiftly, multiple times a day. I am planning to use the nakaya in this role. FWIW L handed, over hook mostly, but like most lefties anything can work on a given day. Been using FPs for more decades than i care to think about. Collection of pens slanted strongly toward euro/us 30s-60s, all used regularly. In the Japanese line I have only modern era pens: Pilot 923 FA (nice, but a bit tricky for an everyday writer), an older Namiki (model ? but looks similar to the 923 but in multicoloured ?celluloid M nib), and several platinum 3776s (EF, M, music) and some of the cheaper pens (lucina, sailor young prof, prera all in F).Of these faves would be chartres blue 3776 in Ef and the namiki. Given these preferences and a relatively (for nakaya) modest budget together with a desire for a clipped (writer) model I am leaning toward naka-ai but wonder about decapod and long writer. I am also leaning toward a SF nib: something with spring but not necessarily flex. I do not like posting. Your input would be most appreciated.

Hello everyone, Happy to have found such a great resource on one of my favorite objects, fountain pens. I have been writing with my Parker Duofold for almost 25 years daily and I could´t love any pen more. At least that´s what I thought. Recently I had been looking for a writer´s edition Montblanc pen but then suddenly they also had in the same store a Francoise I.... OMG what a pen, what a weight, style, detail. Everything. It just was no comparison at all with the William Faulkner next to it. With all due respect the Faulkner was and is also amazing but (mainly because of the weight) still I was kinda blown away by the Francoise I. BTW I have included the pictures of my beloved pens. Anyway in the store I wrote endlessly with not only my Parker (to compare) but also both Montblanc pens. The Faulkner was clearly smoother, wetter and the ink just came out much more abundant and easier. The pen floated on air. The Francoise was less wet, less ink came out this was a little bit of a concern to me. Compared with my good old Parker the Faulkner really was almost similar. BTW both had the F nib which was fine I think since the Parker also has a F nib and is ok for me so I was not inclined to switch to a M anyway. Anyhow, still a bit doubtful I was so blown away but the Francoise I that I kind off neglected a bit that the Faulkner was the better writer (no joke intended since Mr. Faulker was writer). So decided to buy it. Back home unfortunately the difference seemed even bigger this time between my Parker and the Montblanc. Now after three days, it gets a bit better but still I am hoping that the writing experience will become better or at least level the performance of my Duofold. I am a bit worried to say the least and not sure if it is normal. Mostly I write now on sheets from our printer since this paper tends to suit the pen the best for now (allows it to flow enough or maximum ink) my writer´s note bloc is impossible to write on still while my Parker has no trouble with that one at all. Maybe some one has an advice for me. Maybe I need to flush the pen or give it some time? Sounds strange but 25 years ago, I remember having the same problem when I just got the Duofold so maybe it´s me? I remember the first few weeks, even months the pen just seemed dry, stuttered in performance etc. Almost like what I am experiencing now. It is almost too weird to mention but this former experience just gives me some hope. Anyway maybe some one can reassure me or help me with some advice? Still very happy though and overall I have this feeling of being extremely spoiled and blessed with or without pen by the way. Thanks in advance to all of you.

Hello Everyone, I am fairly new to the site and thought I give posting another try. I have, what I believe to be, a Sheaffer Student Demonstrator cartridge fountain pen with a steel fine nib. The nib works as it should only; however, after prolonged use, the nib itself become too wet and begins to gradually expel ink. The nib then becomes saturated with ink. When I place the cap back onto the pen, it only makes the matter worse. Please note that I have clean the nib with simple cold distilled water. I removed the nib and feed for a thorough cleaning--since I purchased the pen used on eBay. I put it all back together twice, but the problem still persist. Is there anything I can do to fix this? Best Regards, K.

My father recently gifted me with an ancient Sheaffer Lifetime fountain pen. As you can see from the photos, the sack became brittle and burst. I would like to know whether it is worth trying to replace the sack and make the pen usable again, or whether I should put it back together and leave it in the past where it belongs. (With apologies for the huge image. I attempted to resize the image, but the forum broke my BBCode.) Detailed images: The three pieces in close to their correct color The sad pieces and sack remains Nib detail in grayscale Inside of body showing lever. Nib section held in hand showing where sack attached.

Greetings from Cleveland, OH! I'm new to the FPN. A friend of mine recently introduced me to the broader world of fountain pens. I have owned a Pilot Metropolitan for several years but I always used it on cheap paper so I wasn't terribly impressed until he explained that paper matters too. Most of my fountain pens are daily writers- I have the metropolitan, a Pilot Kakuno, a few preppies and a Jinhao X450. I have also explored the world of vintage fountain pens a bit. I restored/resacked two Esterbrook fountain pens and I purchased a Sheaffer Snorkel which I had professionally restored (much too complex for me). Does anyone have any recommendations for ergonomic fountain pens in the style of the Pilot Kakuno with the molded grip section? I've considered trying a Lamy but I've been trying to reign in my spending on new pens...if someone has a spare I would be interested in trading a Pilot Metropolitan in Medium (Black Body, I have two) plus some vintage Sheaffer student pens that are cartridge fillers.

Although I have tried numerous plastic propelling pencils over the last few years at various price-points (including some from good brands like Faber-Castell), I have been unable to find a decent, reliable pencil that I enjoy using. I hope you may be able to help me in my search. Having done some homework, I'm now looking to buy a pencil for all-round use, to live with my fountain pens in my pen-case and be available both at my desk and when I'm travelling. Specifically, I'm looking for a metal mechanical pencil for writing and occasionally sketching - don't foresee needing to use the pencil for precise drafting or technical drawing. The following three products seem to be my best options: * TWSBI mechanical pencil (0.5 or 0.7 lead) * Rotring 800 (0.5 or 0.7) * Rotring 600 Japan spec (0.3) I have no experience at all with Rotring, and I know (and like) TWSBI's fountain pens. The Rotring 800 costs nearly twice as much as the TWSBI. But I'm looking to get something that I'll use regularly for many years, so I know that if I were to choose the 800 and be happy with it, the extra price paid would seem insignificant compared with the greater ongoing utility it got from its use. But I don't want to pay more for features that won't appeal. All else being equal, I have a preference for a uniform colour, and black rather than silver (otherwise I might also consider the Pilot Automatic). A couple of further points. First, I can't stand pencils with a soft, cushioned writing experience; for me, the lead needs to hit the paper and stay where I want it, not partially disappear back into the pen at the slightest pressure. Second, though I can happily use pens in the Pelikan 200/400 size, my ideal FP size is something like the Pelikan M800 - a skinny little pencil will really not do it for me if I'm going to be sketching or writing more than a few words. I'm not sure of the best lead width for me. I've used 0.7 before, and although that's perfectly unobjectionable, I am wondering whether a thinner line might not suit me better. I'll probably end up going for a 0.5 line, but I've put the 0.3 Japanese spec model in because the idea of being able to write with a really thin line appeals (provided it is easily-visible on the page). I would be very grateful for help in deciding which to go for.

I've been reminded today why I avoid ebay. The gods of Olympus were not smiling on me as I made a hasty purchase from a seller with good feedback (bar one). It was a Montblanc (my Achilles heel); in this case a little 242. The pen was described as being in excellent condition, working and having no dents, dings, cracks or any other problems. Said pen arrived and to my great dismay does not draw ink, has loose cap rings (which I could live with) and a crack in the cap. None of these issues are mentioned in the ebay ad nor visible in the photographs. I sent an email to ask for either a significant partial refund or a refund and return. They replied first of all with an offer of a refund that was frankly insulting and an accusation that what I was saying about the pen was not true. I rejected the offer and asked for a refund of half of the cost (not necessarily expecting to get that!), explaining why I thought this was fair considering what work would need to be done to the pen. I then get a response asking me to send the pen after 11th March (he says he is heading off on holiday) and on receipt he will issue a refund. Everything about this seems like a bad move to me, so I'm hoping that I might get some much needed advice here as to how to proceed. For those of you who have been through this process before, can you give me some advice as to the best and correct way to proceed?

Long time reader, first time poster I'm seeking help with selecting a new journal. In spite of trying a number of different papers (Tomoe River, HP Premium Choice Laser, Rhodia, Fabriano, Muji), I still find myself using Moleskine Volant journals. The quality is all over the place, but when it's good I like the feedback and absorbency of the paper. I find that with papers like the Rhodia and HP the pen sort of glides over the surface without much feel or feedback. I'm not looking for a rough paper, but I don't like it when the paper is super smooth or feels coated. I'd stick with Moleskine, but I don't like the brand or company and also want something with more consistent quality. I'm hoping to find something available in A5 with less than 100 pages, but I'm also open to binding A4 loose leaf, having tried that with the HP paper. If it's important, I typically write with fine japanese nibs and Pilot Iroshizuku inks. Thanks in advance for all of your advice!

I've just won an eBay auction for a Montblanc Meisterstuck 12. The pen has a couple of cosmetic issues, which do not trouble me. What may be a problem (as a newbie, I do not know) is the seller's comment that "The piston mechanism however needs to be looked after. With some care it still works, but it tends to 'skip a beat' when filling." So are there replacement piston mechanisms? And if yes, should only a professional do the replacement/repair? By that I mean ship the pen to the USA Montblanc facility and pay the $80+ (?) to get the repair done? Thank you for any advice you can offer. http://www.ebay.com/itm/1960s-MONTBLANC-MEISTERSTUCK-12-FOUNTAIN-PEN-GREY-GT-18K-EXTRA-FINE-NIB-/141711283916

I reached a milestone in this new fountain pen adventure - I finished my first bottle of ink. Well, technically, perhaps not, as I did write with a fountain pen years ago, in high school, but I don't exactly remember finishing a bottle then, so let's say this one is my first. I cannot help but smile when I am browsing through ink discussions and pictures in this sub-forum. There's a mind-boggling variety of colors, properties, brands, and other factors to consider. I have so far used the Pelikan Brilliant Black 4001 ink, which I bought along with my pen, an Aurora with an extra-fine nib. I like the Pelikan ink a lot! I have not experienced feathering or bleed-through, my pen never skips or dries out, the ink looks great on the page. The Pelikan ink is very easy to flush out of the pen and it doesn't stain my ink view window. I write mostly on ordinary office paper, laser printer paper, and in my Moleskine journal. I am definitely buying another bottle of the stuff. However, I do want to try another ink, try something new. No doubt, my desire has been fuelled by all of y'all. No, I don't blame you for it, I thank you it. What ink should I try next? Ideally, I'd like to keep most of the properties of the 4001 in terms of behavior, but I am open to trying other colors. Thanks for your recommendations! Nick

Just some helpful advice on dealing with ink stains from a 1909 Household hints book I found.

Hi there, I would like to get some advice on a pen my Father has given me just before he passed away, as far as I know the pen and pencil has been in it's case for over 50 years and I 'm sure my father had just had it for show rather than use. A friend of mine said he thought it was a waterman? but my Mother seems to think he bought the pen in Italy or Germany. If i could get an Idea who made it and any info I would be very grateful. Plus an Idea of the value would also be a bonus as I may sell this Item? Thank you Martin.