In praise of disposable fountain pens

[Sailor Kenshin]

Some people barely consider them fountain pens, but they are, and I love 'em.

 

They will never leak, never disappoint, and they are the ones I take on the road, or leave tucked in a purpose notebook (like wine country travels, red comp notebook, red fountain pen of course).

 

Years and years ago, I bought some Berol Fontaine disposables in any number of colors: pink, coral, brown, blue, all with inks to match the barrel color. This was a slim pen with a fine but flowing line.

 

Not a single leak, and they STILL write! I have no idea how they did it so well. I think they are at least ten, if not twenty, years old.

 

I also remember Marvy's Le Fountain Pen. I had them in black, green, and blue, again with inks to match the barrel color. These were heavier, thicker pens and I'm sorry I gave them away.

 

And of course, there's the hardy perennial Varsity---again in many festive colors, only ever ran out of ink on ONE, and alas I tossed it, not knowing at the time that they could be refilled. This is a thicker, wetter nib, but unlike the Fontaine and Le Fountain Pen, the Varsity (and its slimmer sister pen the VPen) has an ink window.

 

Now I have some Forays, thanks to a heads-up by a fellow FPN-er. A thicker pen, generous nib, clearish barrel so you can readily see the ink supply. They came in a pack of three: red, blue, black.

 

A lot of the time, they are my go-to pens when I don't want to have to wonder if a pen will start, or I don't want to fuss with a reluctant nib.

 

AND THEY ARE CHEAP! ^__^

 

(I don't really count my Pilot Petit 1 collection as disposables---they're cart pens)

 

I wonder if I'm leaving out any brands? Comments? Additions as far as brands?

 

 

[Yuki Onitsura]

I had a few Pilot Varsities at some stage (they're called V-Pens in Australia) but chucked them out. They were great pens. Unfortunately, I can't seem to find any places in Aus that stock them anymore =(

 

Yuki

[Sailor Kenshin]

If you have anything to trade I'd be happy to send you a couple. What colors do you favor?

[LapsangS]

Why buy disposables when you can buy very cheap ($1-2) refillables?

[bluenotegrl]

Yuki, search Refilling Pilot Varsity here. You can refill them...and you don't have to bin them.

 

cheers.

[ekc113]

I had a few Pilot Varsities at some stage (they're called V-Pens in Australia) but chucked them out. They were great pens. Unfortunately, I can't seem to find any places in Aus that stock them anymore =(

 

Yuki

Officeworks sells them (for $6 each - ouch) in blue, red and black.

[johnboz]

I have to say that the Varsity is an excellent pen. It might not be the fanciest pen in the world, but the fact that you can easily refill it makes it a steal. I've had some filled with ink for at least 2 months. They're only used occasionally as backup pens, but they always write instantly and have yet to dry out or even show signs of evaporation.

[Sailor Kenshin]

Why buy disposables when you can buy very cheap ($1-2) refillables?

 

 

Because they may leak and not prove as reliable as the disposables.

 

I don't know where you can buy refillables for that price anyway.

[rwilsonedn]

Why buy disposables when you can buy very cheap ($1-2) refillables?

 

 

Because they may leak and not prove as reliable as the disposables.

 

I don't know where you can buy refillables for that price anyway.

You can pick up a pretty nice plastic CC pen at Daiso in many US cities for $1.50. More to the point, at least one eBay seller is selling quite good DKW pens--well-made and really good writers--with an opening bid of $1 and free postage. So with a little luck you can get one for $2-3 in your mailbox.

ron

[Sailor Kenshin]

Why buy disposables when you can buy very cheap ($1-2) refillables?

 

 

Because they may leak and not prove as reliable as the disposables.

 

I don't know where you can buy refillables for that price anyway.

You can pick up a pretty nice plastic CC pen at Daiso in many US cities for $1.50. More to the point, at least one eBay seller is selling quite good DKW pens--well-made and really good writers--with an opening bid of $1 and free postage. So with a little luck you can get one for $2-3 in your mailbox.

ron

 

Daiso? Name sounds familiar, but I don't think there's one near me. Still, I'm always looking for good cheap cart pens as well.

 

As to disposable pens---does anyone recall other brands? Wish I still had those Marvys!

[Silvermink]

Daiso? Name sounds familiar, but I don't think there's one near me. Still, I'm always looking for good cheap cart pens as well.

 

Daiso is a 100-yen store - essentially a Japanese dollar store. There's one in this area in Richmond where I picked up a Sailor Ink Pen and a couple others for next to nothing.

[ZeissIkon]

Why buy disposables when you can buy very cheap ($1-2) refillables?

 

 

Because they may leak and not prove as reliable as the disposables.

 

I don't know where you can buy refillables for that price anyway.

 

Any day you like on eBay you can get two or three models of Chinese pen for under two dollars including shipping. Usually they'll be Hero 257 or Hero 70, or a ten-pack of Hero 616 or Hero 266 (price including shipping will run under $2 per pen). Some of these take carts, but most are permanently installed piston or aerometric fillers.

[Mrsal]

just because i saw this topic, i went to staples to get a pack of some of my favorite pens, the pilot varsities!

[Tsujigiri]

Daiso? Name sounds familiar, but I don't think there's one near me. Still, I'm always looking for good cheap cart pens as well.

 

Daiso is a 100-yen store - essentially a Japanese dollar store. There's one in this area in Richmond where I picked up a Sailor Ink Pen and a couple others for next to nothing.

 

 

Seriously? They have Daiso's here? That's awesome! I've never seen one in America, even though there are a lot of Japanese stores where I live.

 

I have to say, though, that one of the main attractions of fountain pens for me is their longevity. I feel more comfortable paying for something that will last than continuously paying for something in small increments, even if it's more expensive.

Edited July 21, 2009 by Tsujigiri

[MCR]

Seriously? They have Daiso's here?

 

Apparently only in San Francisco and Seattle:

http://www.daiso-sangyo.co.jp/english/storeinfo/usa.html

 

[rwilsonedn]

Seriously? They have Daiso's here? That's awesome! I've never seen one in America, even though there are a lot of Japanese stores where I live.

Yep, in Union City in the East SF Bay Area, too.

ron

[Sailor Kenshin]

Why buy disposables when you can buy very cheap ($1-2) refillables?

 

 

Because they may leak and not prove as reliable as the disposables.

 

I don't know where you can buy refillables for that price anyway.

 

Any day you like on eBay you can get two or three models of Chinese pen for under two dollars including shipping. Usually they'll be Hero 257 or Hero 70, or a ten-pack of Hero 616 or Hero 266 (price including shipping will run under $2 per pen). Some of these take carts, but most are permanently installed piston or aerometric fillers.

 

Dohh... I meant cart-fillers. I have all the Heros I need at the moment. Thanks.

 

[Yuki Onitsura]

Yuki, search Refilling Pilot Varsity here. You can refill them...and you don't have to bin them.

 

cheers.

 

Unfortunately, I had them before I stumbled upon this wonderful little nuthouse. I have a couple of more or less disposable chinese fountain pens now, so I guess I don't really need the V-pens. Though I can never seem to find them at Officeworks anyway.

 

Yuki

[rwilsonedn]

Unfortunately, I had them before I stumbled upon this wonderful little nuthouse. I have a couple of more or less disposable chinese fountain pens now, so I guess I don't really need the V-pens. Though I can never seem to find them at Officeworks anyway.

 

Yuki

Even if you have a full rotation of wonderful pens, you can't beat having a V-Pen or two for backup. They can sit in your briefcase or coat pocket ignored for months, and then start right up the instant you need them. I've been saved by a V a number of times when by main pen had less ink than I thought, or turned out to be having an off day.

(Don't get me started on the wonderful Parker 45 that writes beautifully in private, and always stops dead in front of an important interviewee.)

ron

[Possum Hill]

Yuki, search Refilling Pilot Varsity here. You can refill them...and you don't have to bin them.

 

cheers.

 

Unfortunately, I had them before I stumbled upon this wonderful little nuthouse. I have a couple of more or less disposable chinese fountain pens now, so I guess I don't really need the V-pens. Though I can never seem to find them at Officeworks anyway.

 

Yuki

Sir, I take exception to your characterization of FPN as a "little nuthouse". With over 20,000 members we are hardly "little".