What Was Your Last Impulsive Pen Acquisition?

[inkstainedruth]

When I bought the M405 Stresemann and M405 Blue Black, I got them on eBay from Rolf Thiel.  And back then I actually SAVED money because he didn't have to charge me VAT and I didn't have to pay the US distributor markup, and back then eBay was not collecting sales taxes.  But it was also the one time in my life that I had a discretionary budget to buy whatever I wanted without discussing the price of things with my husband.  

Of course, an hour after I hit the "buy" button on those two pens, I got the "Did you you know that a charge of $XX was sent from your account to a vendor in Europe?" phone call from PayPal....   And after assuring them that it WAS in fact a legit charge, I got off the phone, looked at my husband, and said, "OMG -- I really DID just pay that much money for ONLY TWO PENS!!!!!"

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[chromantic]

8 hours ago, carola said:

 

That one is going to be available in March, correct? I will probably have to take a look at it...

 

Yes, order showing as pre-order with estimated delivery of 5-30 days. Stilo e Stele has it for ~10EU more and Cult doesn't have it listed yet. Novelli's price is 119EU/$125 for the FP, 102EU/$107 for the BP.

[Gloucesterman]

1 hour ago, inkstainedruth said:

When I bought the M405 Stresemann and M405 Blue Black, I got them on eBay from Rolf Thiel.  And back then I actually SAVED money because he didn't have to charge me VAT and I didn't have to pay the US distributor markup, and back then eBay was not collecting sales taxes.  But it was also the one time in my life that I had a discretionary budget to buy whatever I wanted without discussing the price of things with my husband.  

Of course, an hour after I hit the "buy" button on those two pens, I got the "Did you you know that a charge of $XX was sent from your account to a vendor in Europe?" phone call from PayPal....   And after assuring them that it WAS in fact a legit charge, I got off the phone, looked at my husband, and said, "OMG -- I really DID just pay that much money for ONLY TWO PENS!!!!!"

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

Yes, I remember that story from one of your earlier postings.

AND, I can relate to your OMG experience. I spent a LOT of money at a live auction last December. However, my rational was that one of the pens was a 1980's MB 149 and the other was a Michel Perchin FP... a pen, jewelry and a "pocketable" piece of art.

No regrets.

[RedPie]

12 hours ago, chromantic said:

 

Yes, order showing as pre-order with estimated delivery of 5-30 days. Stilo e Stele has it for ~10EU more and Cult doesn't have it listed yet. Novelli's price is 119EU/$125 for the FP, 102EU/$107 for the BP.

I think the price is not bad at all for a pen that looks that good! 

[Pen Ffynnon]

On 2/26/2025 at 1:28 PM, Gloucesterman said:

Me three.

Although, I have to say that the thought of paying $150-$200 for an Pelikan M200 somehow seems way out of balance.

Also, keep in mind that by then it may be even higher in the U.S. because of gov't add-ons.

I do *not* need another flock member. (bangs head on doorframe) DO (second bang) NOT!

 

(starts saving)

[Gloucesterman]

8 hours ago, Pen Ffynnon said:

I do *not* need another flock member. (bangs head on doorframe) DO (second bang) NOT!

 

(starts saving)

😁😁

[boilermaker1975]

On 1/19/2025 at 1:04 AM, ParramattaPaul said:

Now I have to wait until October.   I just pre-ordered this, a collaboration of Onoto and FPUK:

FPUK X Onoto Scholar Ceramic - Racing Green - Luxury, Handcrafted, British Fountain Pens | Onoto  (USD price)

 

@ParramattaPaul I am thinking about ordering this pen also. Do you know what they mean by select your pen roll color? Is this for ink cartridges?

[carola]

4 minutes ago, boilermaker1975 said:

 

@ParramattaPaul I am thinking about ordering this pen also. Do you know what they mean by select your pen roll color? Is this for ink cartridges?

 

Do they offer some kind of fabric sleeve with it? I would think it's that.

[Pen Ffynnon]

6 minutes ago, boilermaker1975 said:

 

@ParramattaPaul I am thinking about ordering this pen also. Do you know what they mean by select your pen roll color? Is this for ink cartridges?

This is only a guess because the description of the pen itself says nothing, but their site has leather pen rolls and the color selection ("rust red", for example) matches the color options you're given for that item. Perhaps they include one with the purchase? (Also the Dark Cherry pen is very attractive.)

[ParramattaPaul]

1 hour ago, boilermaker1975 said:

 

@ParramattaPaul I am thinking about ordering this pen also. Do you know what they mean by select your pen roll color? Is this for ink cartridges?

The pen roll is a (? genuine ?) leather case for the pen.  It has a small 'pouch' for a pen and a 'flap' that fully encloses the pen by rolling it round the 'pouch' part and then secured with a snap.

 

It's an arrangement that works really well. I actually prefer it to the pen cases Conway Stewart offers.

 

Have a look at Onoto's website. I think you will find the pen roll amongst accessories. 

[ParramattaPaul]

1 hour ago, carola said:

 

Do they offer some kind of fabric sleeve with it? I would think it's that.

Yes, I've received fabric pen sleeves with every previous pen purchased from Onoto.

[ParramattaPaul]

6 hours ago, ParramattaPaul said:

The pen roll is a leather case for the pen.  It has a small 'pouch' for a pen and a 'flap' that fully encloses the pen by rolling it round the 'pouch' part and then secured with a snap.

 

It's an arrangement that works really well. I actually prefer it to the pen cases Conway Stewart offers.

 

Have a look at Onoto's website. I think you will find the pen roll amongst accessories. 

Link for the pen roll:  Leather Pen Roll - Luxury, Handcrafted, British Fountain Pens | Onoto

Photo:   

[Pen Ffynnon]

Now waiting on a Diplomat Viper (SBRE Brown's video (shout out to Mercian for posting the link in another thread that I watched while researching it) kind of decided me) in brown and the Schon DSGN should be here Monday, if USPS tracking is to be believed.

 

What is it with tracking, be it USPS, UPS, DHL, FedEx, whoever, anyway? My inks from Goldspot were delayed by a day last week because, according to the tracking, "no delivery location available". While the box wouldn't go in the slot on our security mailbox, admittedly, tons of other delivery people have managed to drive down our oh-so-scary driveway and chuck the package in the carport. We had 2 deliveries last year that couldn't be delivered "due to weather". Um, rain? In the Pacific Northwest? Like 295 days out of the year? smh And yes, I know--first world problems for sure.

[lamarax]

On 2/28/2025 at 11:47 PM, ParramattaPaul said:

Link for the pen roll:  Leather Pen Roll - Luxury, Handcrafted, British Fountain Pens | Onoto

 

Hahaha, nice try (I'm referring to Onoto, not you dear @ParramattaPaul), but no:

 

 

Cute retro looks, but this has to be the most expensive JoWo #6 holder in the history of JoWo nib holders (ok, apart from Montegrappa)
😛

 

No roll either, just the box (at least the official shop gives a choice). And the resin's not even "precious" 😄

[inkstainedruth]

Esterbrook SJ, mackerel blue, with what I THINK might be a 1555 Gregg nib, at an estate sale this morning, about an hour north and east of me (okay, not completely spur of the moment -- I did look at listings ahead of time -- but was actually going to pass on it until one of the people working the sale knocked five bucks off the price and I remember the various spare nibs I have; including IIRC, a couple of 9XXX ones).  There's some sort of black coating on the nib and feed that did NOT come off with a damp paper towel, but the lever seemed to be working okay, and I have some spare nib units kicking around, in case the nib is just toast.  

Have a bad feeling that the coating on the nib and feed might be India ink or some sort of enamel. So I'll take it with me to B/W next weekend to get opinions on whether the nib unit is salvageable or not (I think I have a jar of Rapid-O-Eze somewhere in the house, but want to get professional opinions as to whether that's a good idea or not (some of the black seems to also be on the threading below the section as well).

OTOH, the pen only cost me $10, before any sort of repairs -- and I'll try to remember to toss one of the spare nib units in while packing for the show....

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[ParramattaPaul]

5 hours ago, lamarax said:

 

Hahaha, nice try (I'm referring to Onoto, not you dear @ParramattaPaul), but no:

 

 

Cute retro looks, but this has to be the most expensive JoWo #6 holder in the history of JoWo nib holders (ok, apart from Montegrappa)
😛

 

No roll either, just the box (at least the official shop gives a choice). And the resin's not even "precious" 😄

Ahem. I have that pen - black, chased, Magna Classic.  It is a great pen.  It was the first Onoto I purchased, and the impetus for my Onoto 'addiction'.  It is well worth the cost if one appreciates quality.  Yes, JoWo makes their nibs, and Onoto apparently 'tunes' them in house.  Each of the eight (not counting vintage) Onotos I own has smoother and better writing nibs than any of the equally or more expensive Conway Stewarts or the two Parker Duo-folds I own.

 

If I may ask, what issue, if any, do you have with JoWo nibs?

[Pen Ffynnon]

15 hours ago, inkstainedruth said:

Esterbrook SJ, mackerel blue, with what I THINK might be a 1555 Gregg nib, at an estate sale this morning, about an hour north and east of me (okay, not completely spur of the moment -- I did look at listings ahead of time -- but was actually going to pass on it until one of the people working the sale knocked five bucks off the price and I remember the various spare nibs I have; including IIRC, a couple of 9XXX ones).  There's some sort of black coating on the nib and feed that did NOT come off with a damp paper towel, but the lever seemed to be working okay, and I have some spare nib units kicking around, in case the nib is just toast.  

Have a bad feeling that the coating on the nib and feed might be India ink or some sort of enamel. So I'll take it with me to B/W next weekend to get opinions on whether the nib unit is salvageable or not (I think I have a jar of Rapid-O-Eze somewhere in the house, but want to get professional opinions as to whether that's a good idea or not (some of the black seems to also be on the threading below the section as well).

OTOH, the pen only cost me $10, before any sort of repairs -- and I'll try to remember to toss one of the spare nib units in while packing for the show....

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

I had to look the Estie up, but that is a lovely pen! Sending best wishes for a speedy recovery to it and hoping most heartily that it isn't India ink (shudder).

 

ETA: I just saw your picture in the other thread--absolutely lovely.

Edited March 2, 2025 by Pen Ffynnon
Additional comment

[lamarax]

14 hours ago, ParramattaPaul said:

If I may ask, what issue, if any, do you have with JoWo nibs?

 

None whatsoever. In fact, I consider them the most versatile nibs around, in that there's a whole "aftermarket culture" which has grown around them.

 

My issue stands purely with Onoto. I do love the way they interpret the legacy they've inherited bought, design-wise, but I think they're pricing themselves out of the market. No wonder their few distributors outside the UK, have apparently turned their backs on them.

 

I find Bespoke Pens (a.k.a Conway Stewart) to be much more sensible with their policies.

[CasmiUK]

Three pens from @Paul-in-SF. 

• Wahl-Eversharp Skyline
• Sheaffer 1000
• Wahl-Eversharp Victory (Lady's)

The two pens I purchased from him previously are among my favorite writers. I am looking forward inking up these three when then arrive.

[ParramattaPaul]

1 hour ago, lamarax said:

 

None whatsoever. In fact, I consider them the most versatile nibs around, in that there's a whole "aftermarket culture" which has grown around them.

 

My issue stands purely with Onoto. I do love the way they interpret the legacy they've inherited bought, design-wise, but I think they're pricing themselves out of the market. No wonder their few distributors outside the UK, have apparently turned their backs on them.

 

I find Bespoke Pens (a.k.a Conway Stewart) to be much more sensible with their policies.

Thanks first of all for answering my question.  My personal experience has been that JoWo nibs' quality and 'write-ability' is absolutely first rate.

 

I agree that Onoto prices for many of their pens border on the obscene, and deter many prospective buyers.  That said, their Scholar line is a bit more reasonably priced.  The Scholars I have write just as well and, I believe, are made to the same standards as the larger Magna, but without silver fittings.

 

Bespoke Pens (AKA Conway Stewart) are an equal favourite of mine.  I have several of their offerings to go with the vintage CS pens I've collected over the decades.  They too can be pricey.  The Belliver and the Duro are my two favourite of the current offerings.  Both are excellent writing pens.