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Showing results for tags 'al-star'.
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Ever since I came back to the fountain pen world, I've been attached to the Lamy brand to the point of collecting more than 22 examples of Safaris and Al-Stars. Unfortunately, my experience with the Al-Stars has been very disappointing recently and so has been the poor quality of their customer service. The first issue I had was with a Bluegreen Al-star that had been inked for the first time with Emeraud de Chivor. While trying to swap the nib, the entire feeder came out causing a big mess over my work, a jammed feeder (while trying to push it back in a hurry, remember the pen was leaking) and a damaged nib. I promptly send pictures to Lamy Germany to tell them about this, they in turn, send my request to the local Lamy distributor which contacted me to sell me replacement parts. The way I see it, I didn't do anything odd or wrong with the pen so it was their responsibility to fix this under warranty (the pen was not even a year old) and yet, I discovered to my dismay that locally Lamy offers only 3 months of warranty! I was using tape to swap said nib, something I've done quite frequently with all my Lamy pens in our 3 year story. Never before with a feeder coming along with them. I thought I might have gotten a lemon, so I kept purchasing their pens. Then the other day, I noticed that my fingers where full of ink while using my Pearl Al-star (again, first inking). Turns out, the pen leaks all of the converter's ink into the cap even when the pen is left unused and in an upright position on my pen holder. I have cleaned the pen, reassembled everything back and used another ink to see if something changed, but no, still leaks ink like hell. Both the converter and the pen are brand new, so normal wear and tear need not apply. But what really made me steer away from Lamy, was Kaweco's outstanding customer support that dealt with me directly and until a happy outcome was reached. Customer support elsewhere might be better, but a Global brand is supposed to give the same brand experience everywhere, not only in selected areas, let alone same warranty terms.
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For some odd reason whenever I load the new version of J. Herbin's Blue Ocean ink (the one with gold flakes), on my Al-Star pen, it starts bleeding the ink by the nib like crazy! I've already changed the nib from a medium to a fine to limit flow, but it just doesn't seem to work. Every time I open the cap, the feed has small drops of ink on the feed opening and also on the tip of the feed. The nib meantime, almost always registers nib creep. This is truly odd since this ink is supposed to clog pens, not to incur overflow! As fas as I recall, this behaviour was not present on the previous ink that I was using with this pen (my very own brown mix). I'd always flush my pen whenever changing inks, so I really don't know what it's going on. Any ideas? Emerald de Chivor and Stormy grey work grey on my other Al-Star, Safari pens, thou.
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The 2014 BlueGreen Al-Star is now a full time color! (At least from Goulet Pens: http://www.gouletpens.com/lamy-al-star/c/154?sortBy=productName+asc&facetValueFilter=Tenant~Body_Color%3Ablue)
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LAMY Safari Dark Lilac When LAMY fans come into Pen Boutique it's not uncommon for them to ask, "Where's the purple at?" Now LAMY Safari collectors can rejoice-- THE DARK LILAC IS HERE! Well, it'll be here at the start of April and then into your mailbox shortly thereafter. This is the most anticipated color for the Safari line and we're expecting them to fly off our shelves. We are taking per-orders starting today! The LAMY Safari in Dark Lilac fountain pen will be offered in the standard LAMY nib options (XF, F, M, B, 1.1, 1.5, 1.9 and Lefty). We will also have the Dark Lilac rollerballs and ballpoints, all in the same Safari styling you know and love. More exciting news from LAMY: The Blue-green Al-Star is being re-released this mid-Spring. Available in fountain pen (for nib options see above), rollerball, and ballpoint. If you missed out on the first run, now is your chance! If you're interested in pre-ordering any of these pens please shoot us an email with your contact info, the pen(s) you would like, and amount. You can also give us a call at 800-263-2736. Lastly, if you're in the DC Metro Area, please stop in our store to talk pens! We have locations in Columbia and Montgomery, Maryland.
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- lamy
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Hardest To Find Limited-Edition Or Discontinued Safari/ Al-Star Pens?
gammada posted a topic in Lamy
While reviewing eBay and other classified sites looking for specific limited editions of Safari/ Al-Star pens, I've found that the 2004 Safari Orange Flame is well past the $200 mark as a NOS condition pen. What other Safari/ Al-star pens have reached such highs -aside from the Savanah and Terracota? Which do you think will follow suit?- 37 replies
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- collectibles
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Next year's Lamy product line-up sees the re-introduction of a couple of new-old favourites: Apple Green Safari (model 13) http://www.thewritingdesk.co.uk/lamy/safari_13_green.jpg Blue/Green Al-Star (model 32) http://www.thewritingdesk.co.uk/lamy/alstar_32_fp.jpg Both these pens were previously issued as annual colours: the Apple Green Safari in 2012 and the Al-Star Blue/Green in 2014. However, Lamy does sometimes re-issue annual colours as regular edition pens, most recently with the 2009 Pink Safari that came back in 2014 (with a revised cap). Happy writing, Martin
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We now have the new 2016 color Charged Green Fountain pens as well as the cartridge ink in stock: Lamy Charged Green AL-Star - https://www.penchalet.com/fine_pens/fountain_pens/lamy_al-star_fountain_pen.html Lamy Charged Green Cartridge Ink - https://www.penchalet.com/ink_refills/fountain_pen_ink/lamy_fountain_pen_ink_cartridge.html
- 2 replies
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- lamy.charged
- green
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Considering the ever expanding colors and editions of the Lamy Safari/ Al-Star lineup, I was wondering what colors are the most sought after here on FPN. Do you own that particular favorite or are you looking for it? In my personal case, it's got to be the Coffee Al-Star and the NK-edition Charcoal with red clip. What's yours?
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Does anyone here knows a good source for custom made nibs for Safari/ Vista/ Al-star pens? I've seen a couple of photos depicting what appear to be gold-plated nibs and some custom grinds but am not sure where to find them. Anyone can point me in the right direction?
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This post is going to be a tad confusing, but please bear with me. My Safari/ Vista/ Al-Star collection is far from complete and I still get excited whenever a new color comes out or a limited edition is released, and yet, after doing some experiments with the stub nibs and custom grinding one of them, I've come to the conclusion that I need something different. I mean, it's good to show at a meeting with a different pen each time, or to have some "rare" pens kept as NOS, but in the end I'm starting to miss the point of having pens that you will never use or will only use sporadically or that if changed, will give the exact same writing feel. Got many pens that have never been inked, even if my pen rotation includes up to 5 pens. So, what I really want to know if am missing something on Safari collecting or if it would be best for me to keep the pens I like the most and expand to other pen frontiers? Thank you for your replies.
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So I decided to climb further up the price notch in the Lamy brand and I decided to purchase an Al-Star from amazon.ca for 49, 95$ CDN which seems to be a regular rate for these pens in Canada. I am just concerned that it may be a fake as there is a lot of stories out there of fake Safaris and Al-Stars going around. My question is does anyone have any experience with fake Al-stars from amazon where amazon itself is the seller? Any input would be greatly appreciated.
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Hey all, has anyone ever heard of or seen a mini Lamy? Like a short version of a Safari or Al-Star? Has anyone ever wanted one? I think a pocket length Safari would be pretty sweet! Similar in size and use to a Kaweco. What do YOU think? Tim
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Hello Lamy fans, Just found a local source that has limited stock of Safari Apple Green ($70), Safari Neon Yellow ($60) and Al-Star black ($120). They had some Silvergreen and Pearl Al-Stars when I arrived there today, but I guy took them all just a minute after I came in. Arrrgggghhh!! Anyway, the store doesn't have an online venue but I offer myself to buy the pens for you and send them away in whatever mail carrier you prefer. BTW all pens are delivered in this gorgeous box, not the cardboard one, so its another plus!
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Just got home. Was playing at the park with girlfriend and her daughter. Took my Al-Star out and found that the threads were broken off, inside the barrel. Gonna get some glue to put it back together, but I don't think I'll feel safe carrying it around anymore. Looks like I'll need a new EDC! http://imgur.com/nCW7KjJ
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Hello from Germantown, MD! Back in the fall I decided I would try backing a company on Kickstarter for the first time and pledged $15 to Nock, a small company in GA who wanted to make great pen cases. In January the case arrived in the mail and it was amazing. I got the "Hightower" which held 3 pens on the left and a small 3x5 pad on the right. Then it hit me, I have no cool pens. One of my students (I'm a high school photography teacher) told me about a Lamy Safari so for $25 I took a chance. That was it. Once I got that pen I loved it so much I stayed up late reading forums and learning as much about fountain pens as I could. Then I got a Lamy Al-Star and realized how much better a F nib was than a scratchy EF. Then yesterday I found Bertrams Inkwell a local store near me and the guys were incredibly nice given I had a million questions as a nubie. I tried a Duke Carbon Fiber from them with a medium nib and really liked it - to my surprise, just $30 so I now have my 3 slots filled in my Nock! The guys helped me change my nibs to Mediums, got me two converters so I could start using ink bottles and I walked out with Mont Blac Toffee Brown and Private Reserve American Blue. So happy! But here is why I'm already addicted. I am a throwback. I like shaving with an old safety razor, I still shoot black and white film photography and develop my work in an actual darkroom. I like repairing things rather than throwing them out and buying new. I've always preferred the pen over the computer and yet I just discovered how fun "real" pens can be. Last week I took out my new Lamy, some old notebook paper and I wrote my 89 year old grandmother a really long letter in the best penmanship I could. It was a tribute to her really. A thank you. When she got it in the mail and read it she called me immediately and was so happy, so emotional. Nothing is more nostalgic to me than writing a personal note to someone. Nothing is more impersonal to me than "shooting someone an email." As a teacher I often receive emails from former students but one in particular is now a teacher herself up in Maine. She sends me a wonderful, handwritten card about four times a year and I'm so touched when I get "real" mail from her. So today I'm pulling out a hand painted, blank note card I bought to support a local artist and I'm going to sit down and write to her and tell her how proud I am of what she's accomplished. I'm excited about it. I know she will be happy and that's a great feeling. I may never be able to write a post for this great community explaining why I love my new expensive Mont Blanc because I will never be able to afford such pens but I do know that I will be here often, searching for other folks hoping to connect with other people who really love the kind act of writing to someone. To me it's an art form that has suffered at the hands of the internet/computer. That's why I love that FPN exists because it is the best example I've found on the internet where people might still feel like I do. Thanks for sticking through this really long hello! ) I hope to make a ton of connections!
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Hey guys, I find myself really liking German style and especially Lamy pens. Al-Star ruby, coffee, ocean, purple and graphite finishes are just wow!!! BUT I have two major problems. A ) I don't like Lamy nibs (I suppose this can be fixed by purchasing from a seller that provides nib tuning) B ) The Al-Star body is thicker than the Safari and the pen looks a bit bulky next to my VIsta. This is a problem with no remedy. So my question is: does anyone know of a pen with the same soft to the touch, matte aluminum funky/vibrant color finish as the Lamy Al-Star? Thx in advance!
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Hello FPN, I'm posting on here because I really have no idea where to start - some of you are SO knowledgeable I'm hoping you can help! Perhaps this post can also be a reference for other people like me who are just getting started. The Background: I'm currently completing an internship / studying abroad in the United Kingdom, and will most likely be in Germany next summer for another internship. Being here has provided me with access to materials related to FPs that I have never experienced before. With that being said I'm originally from the North-eastern part of the United States, which is where I'm attending University studying Financial Economics with the intention to study medicine for my post-graduate studies. I received my first FP as a gift from my German friends when I was no older than 12 - at that time my FP hardly received any use at all. I always knew that I had it, but never used it because I was afraid kids at school would steal it, and I would be ridiculed for being different (both of those being highly likely). Coupled with my inability to easily procure ink cartridges in the U.S. and my complete lack of knowledge about converters, I also didn't want to "waste" my meagre ink cartridge supply. Regarding penmanship, I think I'm the only one of my friends that learned to write in cursive before learning to print! The first school I attended didn't teach "print" until the fifth grade. Naturally, as that was the first way I learned to write, and I find it quicker, I have always tended to write in cursive. My cursive however is dreadful, and it's something I've wanted to improve. Fast forward a few years to my recent past: After spending time in Germany last summer, the introduction to converters and, resulting from long hours during the school year, the means to procure what I wish - I'm now on a mission to expand my palate and understanding of the FP world. What I have: Pens - currently all of the pens I have are LAMY, because frankly I think (in my obviously biased opinion) that they are decent pens and if they happened to get lost I would not be worse for the wear. I have a LAMY: Studio, Al-star F, Al-Star 1,5, Safari B, My least favorite pen is the studio, for some reason I've never really liked it besides the day I bought it, and my favorite pen which I use constantly is the Blue Al-Star with an F nib Penmanship - a 5 book set off of Amazon that is supposed to teach me Spenserian. Paper Goods: only moleskin and basic writing paper. Ink - LAMY Black well ink, Noodler's Bulletproof ink What I'm looking for: Someone to point me in the right direction (hence the title). I would really like to improve my handwriting, and learn new fonts. I've read enough posts to understand that this is not a timeless task, and is probably something I will spend the rest of my life learning - which I'm fine with. To me it is something that is invaluable, especially in this digital world. With that being said, where does one start? Is it better to try and attend a class (are there even such things??) to learn the basics? Are there exercises people do? I'm also looking for someone to point me in the right direction for pens - I love my LAMY Al-star, but I think I'm ready to branch away from LAMY (or get a new one...) and begin understanding more about fountain pens. Clearly there are many old pens, new pens, weird, old pen makers and everyone on this network seems to have a ridiculously passionate opinion about everything they prefer about their pens. Nibs. Flexible nibs? Are certain nibs for certain papers? inks? pens? Are there nib guidelines? Do certain fonts require certain nibs? Are there nib-makers in this world? I'm not even sure what to ask for here because the extent of my knowledge about nibs is that they write differently and I like my LAMY F better than my LAMY B - and my LAMY 1,5 writes "cool". Inks - clearly my parents failed to educate me because until I started reading posts on here I thought there were ballpoint inks, gel pen inks, and the ink I had in my cartridges. Whoops. Does ink matter? Are there preferred inks for different things? How does one know what ink they like? I've noticed that all papers are not created equally. I will also admit that I was somewhat shocked when I learned that Moleskin had a horrible reputation amongst FP users. I now understand why (many of the reasons people seem to dislike their product are reasons I too have encountered - and ignorantly dismissed) people have definite opinions, but I frankly had no exposure to various types of paper where I lived in the States. What paper does one use for different things? Is there a standard weight that below which I should not ever buy? What about daily diaries, in both the European and American sense of the word? I've read things about Clairefontane (spelling?), are they the gold standard? So, if people would be willing to comment and tell me/show me where to find what I'm after I would be much obliged. I know that I have much to learn but I haven't found a thread yet that seems to address my questions and I'm tired of looking around and only getting a titbit here and a tad there. One last thing - I love getting letters, and that is where most of my time writing is spent. I often joke with my friends and family that I'm unloved if I check my mailbox and I don't have letters or that I am loved by so-and-so if they have sent me a letter. I'm not sure if that will help people answer my questions in a way that is more directed to me, but it might provide a little insight into my young mind.
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- fountain pen
- lamy
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Hey, just wanted to let everyone know that we now have the new limited edition Lamy Al-Star Black in stock at Goulet Pens. Matte black with black clip.... gotta get a black nib to match. While I'm posting, I should probably mention that we've got a lot of other great new products and specials going on right now. Just a few highlights of some recent happenings: We received some Noodler's Ebonite Konrad Flex Pens. We still have good quantities of two colors available right now.We have the new Monteverde Intima fountain pen. Four bright, bold colors with the swappable Monteverde #6 nib.We developed our own line of pen tuning/smoothing tools (loupe, micro-mesh, mylar paper, and brass sheets). We also have our own Goulet Pen Flush!Tons of great deals are still available in our Goulet Outlét - check out the Closeouts and Sale Items pages to see what's happening.Feel free to contact us with any questions!