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Dear All, We are planning to make Matte finish finish in all of our available colours for long time. But we made it in this month only. We know there are many fans for Matte/ Bakul finish including me . We are presenting these pictures to Matte finish lovers. The pens in the picture is Model 8B. We can make any models and colours in Matte finish. Please reach us at mpkandan@yahoo.co.in for any requirements Thanks for your support Regards, Kandan.M.P Ranga Pen Company

I am sure that many of you have already read this, but I just read this 2000 article on a tour of the Bock nib factory in Germany. I found it totally fascinating and thought I would share the link. https://www.nibs.com/blog/nibster-writes/nibs-germany

Hi Fellow FP Addicts Welcome to Mega Group-Buy 2 of Ranga Pens This is an effort for Ranga Handmade Pens with Bock Nibs. For those who missed out on earlier group buys this is the right opportunity to buy various models from the past Groupbuy with the Bock nibs.. This Group Buy is Valid till 28-Feb-18 In order to participate in the group buy just fill the Google Form (Link Below) and Reply in the thread with "Form Submitted or just repost the choices in thread LINK: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScF0Hcwm7A8idJoGCfrj3av-c_QIdg6PLI1dWx8NBhnfNtLFQ/viewform?c=0&w=1&usp=mail_form_link MODELS: Different Models are available for this Group-Buy. The option of various models are as follows: Model 3 ( Previous Group-Buy Link: https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/315721-closed-ranga-model-3-and-3c-group-buy-dec-2016/?hl=ranga) Model 4 ( Previous Group-Buy Link: https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/320907-closed-ranga-model-4-and-4c-group-buy-april-2017/?hl=ranga) Model 5 ( Previous Group-Buy Link: https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/318187-closed-ranga-model-5-varuna-gajendra-group-buy-2017/?hl=ranga) Model 3C ( Previous Group-Buy Link:https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/315721-closed-ranga-model-3-and-3c-group-buy-dec-2016/?hl=ranga) Model 4C ( Previous Group-Buy Link: https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/320907-closed-ranga-model-4-and-4c-group-buy-april-2017/?hl=ranga ) NIBS: We(Ranga Pens) are providing the Bock Nibs in CC Mechanism for this Group-Buy as Second time. So for this group buy only Bock nibs will be available and the option for the nibs are as follows: #6 Steel Nib – Gold Monotone Finish: EF, F, M, B, 1.1, 1.5 #6 Steel Nib – Chrome Monotone Finish: EF, F, M, B, 1.1, 1.5 #6 Steel Nib – Dual Tone Finish: EF, F, M, B #6 Gold 18K Nib – F, M,B (@ extra US$ 185) Without Nib But Pen threaded to take Bock Nib (@ less US$ 14) MATERIAL & COLORS: Like the previous Group-Buys, both ebonite and acrylic are available in this group-buy. The various finishes available are as follows: Regular Ebonite: RE Series (Polished or Matte Finish) Solid Black Brown Ripple Olive Ripple Green Ripple Mottled Brown Mottled Olive Brown (Available for Model 3 ,4 , 3C, 4C Alone) Special Ebonite: SE Series (Has Black Specks) (Polished or Matte Finish) Solid Forest Green (Available for Model 3 ,4 , 3C, 4C Alone) Forest Green – Black Ripple Forest Green – Honey Ripple (Available for Model 3 ,4 , 3C, 4C Alone) Forest Green – Khaki Ripple Forest Green – Mustard Yellow Ripple Forest Green – Teal Blue Ripple Teal Blue – Black Ripple Teal Blue – Khaki Ripple (Available for Model 5 Alone) Mustard Yellow – Black Ripple Khaki – Black Ripple (Available for Model 3 ,4 , 3C, 4C Alone) Solid Cherry Red (Not Available) Rose Red – Black Ripple Rose Red – Mauve Ripple (Available for Model 3 ,4 ,5, 3C, 4C Alone) Rose Red – Blue Ripple (Not Available) Rose Red – Forest Green Ripple Rose Red – Bottle Green Ripple (Available for Model 5 Alone) Rose Red – Mustard Yellow Ripple Brick Red – Khaki Ripple Brick Red – Black Ripple Teal Blue – Orange Ripple Solid Bluish Green (Available for Model 5 Alone) Solid Crimson Red (Available for Model 5 Alone) Solid Olive Green Premium Ebonite: PE Series (Polished or Matte Finish) Solid Blue Black Yellow Swirl (Not Available) Blue Pink Swirl Solid Pale Green White Blue Swirl (Not Available) Pale Pink Black Swirl (Not Available) Green Yellow Swirl (Available for Model 5 Alone) Solid Pink Blue Green Orange Swirl (Not Available) Solid Orange Clear Acrylic Demonstrator: Brushed Clear Acrylic – Complete Brushed Clear Acrylic with Polished finial PRICE:The cost of the pen is at par with the earlier Group-Buys. And payment is accepted only via Paypal. Our Paypal id is mpkandan@gmail.com The price is as follows: Model 3 Regular / Special Ebonite: US $55 Premium Ebonite: US $70 Acrylic Demonstrator: US $62 Model 4 Regular / Special Ebonite: US $60 Premium Ebonite: US $75 Acrylic Demonstrator: US $67 Model 5 Regular / Special Ebonite: US $65 Premium Ebonite: US $85 Acrylic Demonstrator: :US $70 Model 3C Regular / Special Ebonite: US $55 Premium Ebonite : US $70 Acrylic Demonstrator : US $62 Model 4C Regular / Special Ebonite: US $60 Premium Ebonite : US $75 Acrylic Demonstrator : US $67 Shipping:Shipping period will be 4 to 5 weeks after payment via Registered Shipping. For Shipping within India kindly PM me In order to participate in the group buy just fill the Google Form (Link Below) and Reply in the thread with "Form Submitted or just repost the choices in thread

I bought Pelikan 500 fountain pen with rolled gold cap and turn knob. It looks like every other Pelikan 500 pen but with one difference. As shown on photos in attachment, instead of Pelikan emblem on top of the cap, there is "NG" engraved. Does anyone know the reason for this? I know that some companies ordered pens with their logo on top of the cap (Bosch) , and I would like to know is it the same thing with this pen. Thank You for help

I just looked at nibs.com/ classic pens and found the tiny plastic steel nibbed Kaweco sport for about 180 USD! Whats that extra $150 for? Any Ideas?

Hello Everyone, So about 4 years ago, my father gave me a fountain pen that someone gave to him. It apparently was made in Italy, although the tip says "Iridium point germany" and the brand is osama. Doing some research, the company is based in Milano, Italy. The pen is in great shape but I have never been able to find any cartridges or accessories for it. I've gone to staples, office max and even had a friend in Italy ask around but with no luck. Does any one have an idea of where I can purchase some? I'd love to use this pen. Would greatly appreciate your help. Thank you, Alex

For long time I thought that left foot oblique nibs were mainly for left hand writers, which somehow makes sense but doesn't explain the great number of such points in Germany. Is it more to do with handwriting styles then?

Dear FPN'ers We are happy to share that we (Ranga Handmade Pens) have been Covered in India's Leading English Daily Times of India's Video News. Kindly watch this video http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/videos/news/meet-the-family-that-keeps-ink-pens-relevant/videoshow/59216083.cms https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xyHb9P7betM Regards, Kandan.M.P Ranga Pen Company

Hey there, I'm going to buy a Lamy 2000 most probably (https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/326594-decent-capacity-first-gold-nib-fountain-pen/page-2?do=findComment&comment=3906816) and I have some extra money remaining with me. So I was wondering which pen should I get, the Pelikan M215 lozenge or the Diplomat Excellence A (steel nib). Both of them are used pens and both are in Medium nib. I am getting M215 for $61 (INR.4000) and Diplomat for $38 (INR.2500). Which one of them would have a smoother writing experience for everyday use?

I saw Appelboom post about the pens in Instagram and my first thought was that they would be nice, cheap, simple knockaround pens. A better looking, sturdier Preppy. Something like a modern Morriset pen with added usability.* From the photo, it even looked like they were piston fillers with that ring at the rear of the barrel.** I followed the link and they cost $26. An older(?) version of them weighs more than an Al-Star so, no, they're not a German alternative to those Indian eyedroppers. Are they good? Has anyone tried them? Would I be better off getting a Prera, a Kaweco, a TWSBI, a Loom, or even a Nemosine? *What is interesting though is that the Super5 reviews I could find (of a similar looking pen but Appelboom calls the new one, well, "new") had a stub nib, which I imagine was carried over to the new colorways, and is now available in 0.5, 0.7, 1.0, and 1.5 stubs. **They're cartridge converters The photo below is from IG: appelboompennen and is the photo that first caught my eye.

Hello, I recently made a post earlier, but I think I might have put it in the wrong section. I have moved to Aachen, Germany and am dipping my feet into fountain pens. I have acquired a Fabri Castel writink with a B nib, and am in the process of looking for quality paper to use for it. Cost is negligible, I would rather gather my options now and narrow them later. I was advised that: Clairfontaine would be an excellent paper to choose from, but I was wondering if there were any others people had in mind? I'm thinking specifically German and European manufactures that are not easily obtained in the U.S. (as well as some options that might be). Thanks!

I bought this in a lot of three pens - a Reform and a Regie with a glass nib, but what's this? It's a deep Loden green and no markings I can see. It came with a gold Bock nib. Any ideas?

Hello, I recently made a post earlier, but I think I might have put it in the wrong section. I have moved to Aachen, Germany and am dipping my feet into fountain pens. I have acquired a Fabri Castel writink with a B nib, and am in the process of looking for quality paper to use for it. Cost is negligible, I would rather gather my options now and narrow them later. I was advised that: Clairfontaine would be an excellent paper to choose from, but I was wondering if there were any others people had in mind? I'm thinking specifically German and European manufactures that are not easily obtained in the U.S. (as well as some options that might be). Thanks!

I was given a Goldring fountain pen along a couple of years ago with a bunch of other FPs and didn't think too much about it. It looked like a cheap tacky pen that I usually toss to the bottom of a drawer. Anyway, I decided to go through the drawer and clean the pen - it had ink in the cap and all over the section etc. There are no markings on the pen itself. The cap is marked "Goldring" and "W. Germany". The nib is marked "Iridium Point". The pen appears to be a cartridge/converter style pen. It is quite weighty, feeling metal not plastic barrel and cap, but the section is plastic. The finial is a pointed style like a Parker. I noticed a line around the end of the barrel like a piston filler and twisted it with no luck. However, something made me pull on it and voila the end of the pen shot out and inside is what can only be termed a "secret compartment". You will see from the photo there are two raised pieces and an embossed style logo that looks like a fishtail. I can't quite see if it is a fish, whale or a mermaid So my questions are: Why does the pen open? What is the compartment for? Anyone know anything about the Goldring brand? (besides being German) https://c1.staticflickr.com/4/3779/33021607536_7e63581137_o.jpg

Hi All, Recently I purchased a NOS Pelikan cartridge pen made in "W. Germany" that had the original blue-black ink cartridge inside. Of course the cartridge didn't say anything other than "Pelikan" on it, so I'm assuming it was 4001 Blue-black. The color of the ink was much darker than the current manifestation of Pelikan 4001 Blue-black. It was so dark that you'd have to shine some light on the paper to discern the blue...I loved it! Does anyone have an idea what ink this was and if it's possible to get a hold of it today? I'm hoping I don't have to hunt for 1980s cartridges. I'm also wondering if the cartridge ink is darker than the bottled ink in general. Thanks for any help!

Hi everyone at the famous FPN, I am Schmoo and I am a US expat living in Berlin, Germany. I joined FPN quite some time ago but I'm mainly a lurker. And I may continue to be a lurker for the most part but I did want to say hello since I know many of you by username and by blog or business, and I didn't want to be (too) creepy. The Inkception: I got into fountain pens when a former coworker let me borrow her simple burgundy Kaweco Sport. That and her Rhodia notebook... uh oh. An obsession was born then and there. Right now my go-to pens are Lamys and Kawecos because I take so many notes (I'm back to being a student) and need daily drivers that I don't mind taking a beating, but my collection also includes Viscontis, Pelikans, Sailors, even a couple of fabulous vintage flex nibs. My penmanship still sucks. As a photographer and a former marketing writer for tech companies, I greatly needed the analog and creative release allowed by fountain pens and good paper. With photography you (usually) document reality, but urban sketching allows you to edit reality. It really does feel like using a different side of the brain. And as someone who spent 12-14 hours a day staring at a screen, just jotting notes in a notebook by hand was so refreshing. You can see my not-that-frequently-updated ink photo blog: http://shuttertoink.tumblr.com What else? I'm now a freelance photographer and language student in Germany. If anyone is ever traveling through Berlin, I'd love to grab coffee and talk pens, swap notes, or nerd out. Cheers and I look forward to future conversation with fellow obsessees, ~ Schmoo

Hi! I'm Erik. I'm a high school student from Italy who's doing an exchange year in Hannover, Germany. (yeah, Pelikan was here ) I've followed FPN and the fountain pen world for about a year and finally I've decided to join this amazing forum. I just started using dip pens, and I love sending letters to friends. I hope to learn a lot and have a great time here!

Schneider makes the Base and the Base Uni fountain pens. As far as I can tell owning only a Base and not a Base Uni, the difference is that the Base comes in mid-blue, ruby red, and purple, whereas the Base Uni comes in artic blue, white, and black. They only have M nibs (not counting an alleged M nib for lefties) and look identical. Does anybody know if the difference is more than only color options? http://www.schneiderpen.com/en_uk/products/fountain-pens

Last April taking advantage of a visit to Hannover Messe, I am an electrical engineer, I decided to finally get the Make a Wish Nib. Unfortunately it was sold out but coming from Mexico and having participated in the Pelikan Hubs in Mexico City they open a new slot. A two page form is sent in advance where you fill your writing style as well as your preferences. After a week, you receive the first pictures on how it performs and have an interchange of comments with Mr. Detlev Köhn from Engineering of Fine Writing Instruments. Finally you get to the factory and write with Mr. Köhn. Mine was absolutely perfect from the start but, as an anecdote, they have left handed customer that took 90 minutes. If you are in Hannover or Berlin please help yourself and book your slot. You will be surprise on how much you can enjoy the experience. http://www.pelikan.com/pulse/Pulsar/en_US_INTL.CMS.displayCMS.197758./make-a-wish-nib When I sent pictures to home they said that it was like a kid in Disneyland. Indeed I was. Here you can get the pictures and examples: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/wyxjke4alwfgjky/AADIFNZfaIBmmzfco63Dk0nna?dl=0 Enjoy Santiago

Review Redux Lamy 2000 Fountain Pen Review Paper: Rhodia No. 18 Lined Pad Specs: Time Owned: 3 Years (since 12/25/2012)Nib: 14k platinum-coated goldMaterial: Makrolon and brushed stainless steelFilling Mechanism: Piston with nearly invisible tail knobWeight: 25 gramsMeasurements: 5.5″ closed, 6.0″ postedInk Capactiy: ~2ml Intro/About: I've mentioned throughout the site that the Lamy 2000 is my favorite pen...and well, three years later it still is. The initial excitement over getting the pen has long since worn off. The purpose of these Review Reduxs is to show how a pen has held up over time, if I still enjoy it, how much use it gets, and if I've gotten my moneys worth. This is the first entry in an ongoing series, so check back regularly for more extended-use pen reviews! Appearance: The 2000 has held up quite well over the last three years. The brushed Makrolon body does a reasonably well job of keeping scratches at bay, but it does show some scuffs. The matte finish has smoothed out a bit, being polished by my hand after constant use. The finish is still very much matte, but if you look at a new pen and a used pen side-by-side, there's a noticeable difference. Lamy 2000 Fountain Pen Review Redux 2015-4The clip has held up well, still springy as the day I got it. I'm happy with how the 2000's appearance has aged. It shows some wear, but by no means looks thrashed. I haven't been overly gentle with the pen, so it's good to see that something used so regularly can continue to do so for several years. Performance: A common complaint about the Lamy 2000 is the nib. There's a very apparently sweet spot, which can be easily confused for a scratchy nib. At first, the flow was a bit weak and the sweet spot was very small. I had the pen worked on by Richard Binder at the Long Island Pen Show, the pen is PERFECT. There are plenty of folks out there who work on nibs, so if you're not happy with yours, it may be worth sending it out. The pen is easy to disassemble, making cleaning and maintenance easy. Every piece of the pen is either fitted with threads or friction-fit (feed/nib into the grip) and everything goes back into place easily. Lamy 2000 Fountain Pen Review Redux 2015-20I've greased the piston barrel with a q-tip a few times, and it's kept the knob turning smoothly with little to no effort. Worth noting, I've lost a piece of the pen during a cleaning in the past. There's a small washer that has the two "ears" that keep the cap on, this piece is small and light, so it's easily misplaced. A quick email to Lamy's repair center, and a new one was on the way for $5. The pen is easy to maintain, parts are easily obtainable, and there really hasn't been any consistent problems with it. The workhorse Lamy 2000 has really lived up to its nickname. Usage/Opinion: The Lamy 2000 was on of the first pen over $100 I've added to my collection. It was a huge step into the hobby, and it's never an easy purchase decision when making that jump. I was extremely excited when I got the pen, and I can honestly say that I still am. The understated and utilitarian design, solid performance, great reliability, and writing performance result in a daily-use pen that I'm still happy to pick up every time I to write. In the three years I've owned the pen, it's barely gone un-inked. I'm still as excited to use it as I was when I first got it, which I've found to be rare in my collection. The Lamy 2000 has been in production since the 1960's, and it's gone relatively unchanged. There must be quite a few people out there who feel the same way I do to warrant this, and that's a great sign. Pros: Still looks greatInk CapacityReliability Cons: Nib needed some workSome very small parts are easily lost Does It Hold Up? Absolutely. The Lamy 2000 is a great value for a solid, dependable workhorse fountain pen. It never gets pushed aside, and for me, it's almost always in use. Several years later, I'm still just as excited to write with it as when I opened up the package for the first time. I've since purchased an all original 1960's Lamy 2000 and a new Stainless Steel model as well. This particular 2000 was my first, and I doubt it will be my last! For more photos of the pen, check out this link!

Hi Friends, Are there any other similar looking pens that would belong to this group of pens below? I don't know which series these pens belong to in the first place. All three of them look identical in structure. It's just the intricate designs on the body and cap that differ. I know these three and I safe keep the Elysee Art Nouveau pen (3rd). Are there more to add to the list? Elysee Deco http://s30.postimg.org/g6kmu5h19/Deco.jpg Elysee Empire http://s4.postimg.org/6uis1mvy1/Empire.jpg http://s22.postimg.org/flnd7i0y5/Empire_2.jpg Elysee Art Nouveau http://s18.postimg.org/ji89yt0f9/Art_New.jpg People who know, know that these pictures do not justify the true beauty of these pens even 50%. It would be great if anyone could shed some light on these pens. Plus including information on where can I find the first two pens for a reasonable price if possible would be great as well. I know the company closed down in 2000. How unfortunate!!! Thanks & Cheers mates!!! Pete :")

Hello; I'm looking for help identifying a pen (or maybe pencil) that would have been available in Germany in 1922. To explain the setup: The other day I was watching Dr Mabuse, der Spieler, a 1922 silent film, when I noticed something very odd - in order to write down his address, a character pulls a pen out of his pocket and clicks it to start writing. Before putting it away he clicks it again, maybe pushing the point against the table. You can see the scene here. Based on the way he pushes the pen against the table before he puts it away, it looks like it's a mechanical pencil and he's pushing the lead back in, but right after the scene they show the note, which definitely looks like it was written by a fountain pen: http://i.imgur.com/l52Wyji.jpg Of course since it's a movie they probably don't show the actual note he wrote during the scene, but it also seems strange they'd use a different kind of writing tool altogether. Now I'm no expert on the history of pens and pencils, but I think some people here are, which is why I want to ask - what sort of pen or pencil could he be using? So far as I've been able to find out, 1. Clicky ballpoints weren't invented until ~1950, so that's out 2. Mechanical pencils had been around, but I haven't found a clicky model earlier than the 1936 Eversharp Repeater. I'm not sure how to tell from descriptions which pencils would include the ability to return the lead as he seems to do at the end of the video. 3. For retracting fountain pens, excluding safeties, the oldest models I can find would be the Pilot (1964), the Asterope (1934), the Meteore Pullman (1932), and the mysterious "Capless" Japanese fountain pens from the 1920s (see here). All except for possibly the "Capless" are too late, and it's not clear those have the right action anyway. 4. I've never handled a "safety" fountain pen, but it looks like most of them need their cap to be removed and then twisted to use, which doesn't line up with the video at all. Based on the above my best guess is it's some kind of mechanical pencil I haven't been able to find a record of, but I'm really not sure. If anyone has any information or theories they could provide, the assistance would be greatly appreciated.

Few days ago, I acquired an unknown vintage Pelikan fountain pen. Now I don't know much about it (I have had hard times identifying since it has only "PELIKAN" and "GERMANY" engraved on the cap), but I am sure it is not a part of the famous M series. Furthermore, I believe that is a vintage since I can not find it any new Pelikan catalog. The nib is silver in color, and it has engraved "585" and "14C" on it, but it misses the pelikan logo engraved on it (also, I am not sure if the nib is made of gold, or just gilded). It has a black body and a silver cap. The pelikan logo is engraved on the top of the cap. I believe it is never used. If it helps in identifying its age, with this fountain pen I acquired a ball pen as well (basically the same model) and the mine of the BP is a Pelikan 137 M. They came in a set, so I guess they should have been produced in the same period. Any feedback and information would be very much appreciated.

As a Pelikan enthusiast and collector, I always keep my eye on the used pen market looking for examples that would work towards my collecting goals. It drives me crazy to see almost every Pelikan listed as Rare, Very Rare, or even Ultra Rare despite being run of the mill common models but that is a different matter. What this gets at though is that sellers seem to be asking top dollar for pens that are in no way extraordinary. Recently, I have had several conversations with people and have seen several listings that got me to thinking and I wanted to solicit your advice. The issue is in regards to the cap band stamping of "W.-Germany" versus "Germany" and how that impacts the value of the pen. Many people have suggested to me recently that a pen stamped "W.-Germany" has a higher intrinsic value than one stamped "Germany" even though two pens may be identical otherwise. Personally, I have never put a premium on the "W.-Germany" stamped pens and treat them as I do the others. Now I'm not sure if I'm mistaken in my thought process or whether various sellers are simply looking to maximize their sale by exploiting any facet of the pen that they can thereby creating a false premium. Looking through my collection of 96 Pelikan fountain pens, 10 are marked "W.-Germany" and 86 are marked "Germany." My question then is; what is the concensus? Should more money be expected and paid just because the pen has the "W.-Germany" stamp or should its value be considered no different than the identical pen produced a year or two after reunification. I look forward to your input and discussion on this.

I am going on a trip to Germany for my spring break (this Saturday until next Sunday) and I want to get some fountain pen related paraphernalia while I am there. I already plan to be picking up a bottle or two of pelikan blue-black but I don't know what else to get. Are there any lamy nibs only available in Europe, and are there any other nifty inks that aren't available in the US? As a side note, I am on a college student budget and only want to spend about $50 on pen related items. Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated. Chris