Snob Appeal/anti-Snob Appeal Pens

[Fabienne]

I was reading with interest the attempts that others have made to classify the new top tier pens in the 21st Century. Someone said that there was a "snob appeal" to some lists, interesting subject. You could pull one of those pens out in the middle of a State Dinner and not be ashamed. I also opine that there is a "anti-snob appeal" too, pens which are real cheap but write real well. You could pull one out in the middle of an Occupy Movement and no one would criticize you for it. This is meant in fun, not to be taken too seriously, and it's just about perception: a perceived luxury pen might not write well whereas an "entry level" pen might be wonderful. I have not been doing this for hundreds of years, but here are my picks:

 

Major Snob Appeal:

• Mont Blanc
• Small new pen shops with emphasis on hand crafting: Bexley and Edison for instance
• Pelikan-They do produce a student pen but I think by far their emphasis is on the upper echelons
• Yard-o-Led

Major Anti-Snob Appeal:

• Noodlers pens
• Chinese pens like Jinhao and Hero (BUT they style themselves like the high priced pens)
• TWSBI-<$100 and writes like a dream. Out of reach of the impecunious but then again most things are.
• Any disposable fountain pen. People even get excited about refilling Varsity & Bic Pens.

Major Covering Every Escape Hatch:

 

• Pilot-From the Varsity to pens costing hundreds of dollars, these guys don't miss a trick
• Lamy-From their entry level Safari up to expen$ive ones

 

 

 

[stefanv]

I think Pelikan belongs in your last category too. They produce pens covering the entire range from $10- to $1000+.

[JLT]

I would add ST Dupont to the Major Snob Appeal list. Other than that, you have a fine list there!

[dickydotcom]

I think there are more categories.

I have not bought a large MB simply because I don't want others to think I have one for the snob value.

However, I do have a Pelikan, a Montegrappa, a Delta, a few Sheaffer and a Versace.

All of them probably go in the Major snob appeal but aren't instantly recognised by the general public as such.

Maybe they are understated major snobs.

Actually thinking about it the Versace is definitey a Major Snob Appeal.

http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h200/dickydotcom/versacenib.jpg

 

Dick D

[reval]

At least here in the Netherlands, Pelikan has absoletely no snob appeal, being known for their low-cost printer inks.

The fact that Pelikan makes luxury, very expensive fountain oens is a surprise to most.

 

 

 

[fabrimedeiros]

For non-FP users any FP is a snob tool, even a bling chinese pen, because they think it costs a fortune.

[jar]

I am amazed that any fountain pen could ever make it into the snob appeal category.

[Pen Nut]

For non-FP users any FP is a snob tool, even a bling chinese pen, because they think it costs a fortune

 

I am amazed that any fountain pen could ever make it into the snob appeal category.

 

 

I agree. What on earth is this about ?? We like pens. Some like flashy ones. If others do not. Tough.

Edited December 21, 2011 by Pen Nut

[ajoe]

Don't hate me for being handsome. Hate me for carrying a $35 fountain pen. BLING!

[rwilsonedn]

At least here in the Netherlands, Pelikan has absolutely no snob appeal, being known for their low-cost printer inks.

The fact that Pelikan makes luxury, very expensive fountain pens is a surprise to most.

I think this is a great point. There are at least two categories of snob appeal: appeal to the uninformed and appeal to insiders.

If I whip out a shiny MB 149 in a business meeting, the uninformed will be impressed. If I were to whip out a wonderful YoL, a giant Conway-Stewart, or a rare Montegrapa LE, the uninformed wouldn't know it from a Chinese $10 pen. Brand equity is everything.

At a pen-lovers' gathering, in contrast, if I were to make a big show of pulling out an MB, it had better have a really special nib, or people will think I'm an idiot. (They do anyway, but that's a different topic.) But if I pull out a rare LE, an historically important vintage pen, or even a just-barely available new Noodler's creation, it could draw a crowd. Different kinds of snob appeal in different groups. I'm speaking theoretically, of course, since I actually own none of the above. In order to whip any of them out, I would have had to pick someone else's pocket.

ron

[inkthefinks]

I think we also need a "Vintage Snob" category for pens like the P51, Snorkel, etc...

 

I am a definite vintage pen snob...

 

Edit: For "Vintage Anti-Snob" I'm voting for Esterbrook.

Edited December 21, 2011 by inkthefinks

[ajoe]

And let's not forget those ink snobs with their fancy foriegn ink.

[inkthefinks]

Also: the much debated "Filling-System Snob"....

 

I love this sort of pen sociology!

[ajoe]

Ya, and what about those snobs that have to have their pens worked on by a special nibmiester? I guess an off-the-shelf pen isn't good enough?

Edited December 21, 2011 by ajoe

[inkthefinks]

Fun fact that I just remembered: I actually first discovered FPN by typing "pen snob" in to Google... :roflmho:

[ajoe]

Fun fact that I just remembered: I actually first discovered FPN by typing "pen snob" in to Google... :roflmho:

 

I'm such a snob that I won't even use Google anymore. I use Bing 'cause it rhymes with Bling.

[jar]

Also: the much debated "Filling-System Snob"....

 

I love this sort of pen sociology!

 

Why one should concern oneself with filling systems is beyond my ken. Do they wish to put everyone out of work? Will they next fire the Valet and dress themselves, fire the Chauffeur and drive the motorcar themselves, fire the Butler and answer the door in person, fire the Footman and wait on their own table, fire the Secretary and fill their pens themselves?

[ajoe]

Also: the much debated "Filling-System Snob"....

 

I love this sort of pen sociology!

 

Why one should concern oneself with filling systems is beyond my ken. Do they wish to put everyone out of work? Will they next fire the Valet and dress themselves, fire the Chauffeur and drive the motorcar themselves, fire the Butler and answer the door in person, fire the Footman and wait on their own table, fire the Secretary and fill their pens themselves?

 

That reminds me of the cartridge snobs who won't use a pen that might get ink on their fingers. Jeesh!

[welch]

I find that a P51 with lustraloy cap passes beneath notice of non-FPers, and draws a nod from FP-users. Especially a black or teal 51 aero. Just not enough glitz to draw a second glance in typical business meetings. In fact, I wrote my name at OWS using a midnight blue 51 and nobody blinked. (The big test?)

[spinningtrees]

After reading this post, I realize I am indeed a fountain pen snob. I just don't know which kind yet. Or maybe all kinds?