Suggestions For A New, Typically 'english' Pen As A Present?

[PDW]

A friend has posed a problem to me. She has a friend in the US, who "is an anglophile -- loves anything from England -- has a collection of teapots!" My friend wants to take her a pen as a present, and has asked me to suggest "Any specifically English pen, we should take her -- doesn't have to be expensive -- what is the most common, or typically English make?"

 

I suggested an English Esterbrook, but the answer was "not from e-bay, thanks -- she could do that herself -- the whole point is, we bring it over for her from England!"

 

So, the pen has to be new, typically English and probably not in the Conway-Stewart price range. I've suggested a Worcester, but can anyone suggest other possibilities?

[migo984]

Parson's Essential from Mr Pen? Not made in England, I don't think, but exclusively available here. Excellent pens too for the money.

[Mike 59]

Hi, This small company makes pens in England, I have tried a fountain pen which belongs to a relative of mine, and it's a very well made pen, and the materials used can be chosen by the customer. The nib and feeder seemed to be 'IPG' (Iridium point Germany) and was a very smooth writer. http://www.wooduwritewith.co.uk/

[Inkysloth]

Not fountain pen, but dip pen nibs were traditionally made in Birmingham - around 3/4 of the world's dip nibs were made there in the 19th century, and it continued to be an important centre of nib manufacture up until the early 20th century.

 

Two companies still make their nibs in the UK - Leonardt and one whos name i forget (something really obvious like "The British pen Company")

 

Sadly, manufacturing in the UK is now the exception, so most "classic British pens" are vintage or very very expensive (Conway Stewart, Onoto)

[Bigeddie]

If you want to go vintage (although it would probably be from ebay) a British Parker Duofold. They tend to be priced quite reasonably (around £20-30) and survive quite well, available in a range of filling mechanisms.

 

Other suggestions, Conqueror paper and envelopes (now made in the UK and EU), Diamine ink, maybe Yard-O-Lead stuff, but that might get a bit pricey too.

[kazoolaw]

Go to writetime.com

 

There is an array of English pens, in England.

 

You can find Conway Stewart and Onoto pens, the first two quintessential English pens I think of. There are also other English brands.

 

Even if you don't purchase there it is a resource for other brands to search out.

 

gary

[richardandtracy]

A vintage Onoto is quintessentially English until 1941, when it became Scottish, after the factory had a close encounter with a bomb.

What is more, the pens are superb quality.

 

However, a new pen...

Modern Onotos are expensive.

Hmm

Worcester Pens are the only 'New' English pens I'd recommend, having wanted to buy them myself several times.

 

Regards,

 

Richard.

[bogiesan]

And what of Yard O Led?

See filofax.co.uk

 

Expensive. Solid silver, for the mast part. Way cool, very 19th Century. Ever so British.

Edited March 13, 2014 by bogiesan

[Lorna Reed]

+1 for the Italix Parson's Essential, or any of the Italix range. Great pens. Finished and supplied by Mr. Pen.co.uk.

I have three Parsons Essential and a Captains Commission, and recently gifted a Churchmans Prescriptor, which was

received with enthusiasm and delight.

[doggonecarl]

A friend has posed a problem to me. She has a friend in the US, who "is an anglophile -- loves anything from England

But does this friend love fountain pens? There are ballpoint options. Platignum comes to mind.

[RMN]

I too was thinking about Platignum, and afaik they still make fountainpens... but... the qualty reportedly is not very good. They were school-type pens. And, as so many products these days, they may be made in Asia and branded with a British name....

 

Otherwise it is vintage from the bay or a reputed seller online, or expensive CS/Onoto

 

 

D.ick

[richardandtracy]

The current Platignums are all made in China. I think the quality has improved since I was at school in the early 1970's. I can remember more than one lever filler Platignum whose barrel collapsed while the boy was writing, emptying a penful of ink over the schoolbooks & hand. It made me determined never to use one of them, and instead I had a Parker 17 Lady.

 

Regards,

 

Richard

[OakIris]

This topic is of interest to me, as well. I am lucky - I have some very old vintage wooden dip pens made in England, thanks to a generous FPN member who sent them to me from England; they were found in an attic when he helped a friend clear out his parents' house. I would love to have a fountain pen made in England, as well, though I would probably prefer a vintage pen.

 

I can't afford the current Onoto or Conway Stewart pens, but one of their vintage pens would be nice, if found at a decent price, as would a vintage Mabie Todd. Surprised no one has mentioned Mabie Todd as yet - the company did start in the USA but they started making their pens in Great Britain in the early 1900's. The USA company kind of went downhill, but the British company was successful for several decades more, until the ball point pen/Biro took over the world.

 

Go to writetime.com

 

There is an array of English pens, in England.

 

You can find Conway Stewart and Onoto pens, the first two quintessential English pens I think of. There are also other English brands.

 

Even if you don't purchase there it is a resource for other brands to search out.

 

gary

I tried to go to writetime.com - apparently the site no longer exists, the domain is for sale.

 

I look forward to hearing what English pen/s you decide to recommend to your friend, PDW.

 

Holly

Edited March 13, 2014 by OakIris

[RMN]

This topic is of interest to me, as well. I am lucky - I have some very old vintage wooden dip pens made in England, thanks to a generous FPN member who sent them to me from England; they were found in an attic when he helped a friend clear out his parents' house. I would love to have a fountain pen made in England, as well, though I would probably prefer a vintage pen.

 

I can't afford the current Onoto or Conway Stewart pens, but one of their vintage pens would be nice, if found at a decent price, as would a vintage Mabie Todd. Surprised no one has mentioned Mabie Todd as yet - the company did start in the USA but they started making their pens in Great Britain in the early 1900's. The USA company kind of went downhill, but the British company was successful for several decades more, until the ball point pen/Biro took over the world.

 

I tried to go to writetime.com - apparently the site no longer exists, the domain is for sale.

 

I look forward to hearing what English pen/s you decide to recommend to your friend, PDW.

 

Holly

try writetime.co.uk

 

 

D.ick

[Uncle Red]

Yard O'Led Retro or Astoria might work, high quality but less expensive than the all silver ones. Also try The Writing Desk

[RMN]

Yard O'Led Retro or Astoria might work, high quality but less expensive than the all silver ones. Also try The Writing Desk

I thought Astoria is German?

 

 

D.ick

[OakIris]

try writetime.co.uk

 

 

D.ick

DOH! That one works! What a great site! Thank you.

 

Holly

[Ernst Bitterman]

I'm going to weigh in for Italix, as well. The pens may be out-sourced, but the packaging is VERY like what one found around a UK-made pen as late as at least the 1960s.

[rwilsonedn]

I fear you have limited choices. If you interpret "specifically English" to mean made entirely in England to English designs and tastes, I think you would be reduced to Yard-o-Lead, Conway, or perhaps Onoto (though I don't know the sourcing on their parts). All are very expensive.

Plan B would be a vintage English pen restored by a reputable shop or craftsman. Yes, you could probably find one on eBay, but it wouldn't be easy and you couldn't be sure what you were getting. You should be able to find some excellent pens at very reasonable prices in this category, especially if you consider less-famous brands, which are very hard to find in the USA. (Who could resist a John Bull pen?)

Plan C would be (I'm with Ernst on this) one of the Italix pens from Mr. Pen. As I understand it, the parts are made in China to his designs, and he does the assembly and inspection in England. To my eye, the pens are English in spirit, if not entirely in fact.

ron

[Jackson]

I'm more on the Anglophobic side myself, but there's no denying the terribly English credentials of P. Ford, nor the quality and affordability of his Italix pens.