What Was Your Last Impulsive Pen Acquisition?

[ParramattaPaul]

12 hours ago, Black16 said:

Am aware, I do not consider Conway or other popular pens being famous for nothing. They earned it, obviously. But I myself started to prefer mostly less known brands. As example, one of my dream pens is Kingswood. That is Eversharp-made. Sub-brands and third-tier brands are the ones I'm after. 'Tis just how I feel about my collection. Yeah I have some of the most common collectables - Parker 45 or Lamy Safari as example. But after some time spent in this hobby I realised that beautiful less popular third-tier and sub-branded pens are the ones I genuinely want in my collection more than other options. Doesn't mean I will never buy others or I think bad about others, no way. But okay, some brands don't attract me by how their pens look in general, but this still doesn't mean I think they did not earn their fame.

My first pens were all Platignums purchased at the local newsagent for ~ 2/6 if that.  That was all I could afford on a pauper's budget when I was at school and for quite a long time afterwards.  Fountain pens at that time were tools and not a hobby.  Collecting pens only became a hobby after I retired the second time (and for good).  Even then, what I wanted was more Platignums, Mentmores, and Wyverns (and a few Pelikano 'school pens' because they wrote well for me)  - not exactly top-shelf, prestige pens.  My late wife whose family were (Ahem. well off. -- I definitely 'married up'.) had a Conway Stewart Duofold as her school pen in high school.  She dug it out one night - she hadn't used it in decades - about 10 years ago, and that prompted me to find a similar vintage CS pen for myself. 

 

That's when things got serious for me.  Pen lust!  New and old Conways to the left of me; new and old Onotos to the right of me!

[Misfit]

Congratulations to all on their pen purchases. It might not last, but there is some joy in getting that new pen. 

[Misfit]

This pen arrived on Friday. It’s the Kaweco x Hello Kitty Stardust pen with F nib. It comes with the keychain. 
 

[Gloucesterman]

Flea market finds:

Bought:

Sheaffer Snorkel, solid 14k F nib. Just dipped it and it needs a bit of smoothing. Will check on snorkel function later.

 

NOT BOUGHT:

2 Esterbrook SJs w/ 9128 nibs (one nib w/ stripped threads  on the nib and one I left for another person who was looking at it.)

Parker ring top... (I already have too many ring tops)

Parker Vac with a mangled nib. 

 

Also distributed 20 2 OZ. servings of chocolate mousse. to vendor/friends at the flea market.

[Penguincollector]

  

 

1 hour ago, Gloucesterman said:

Also distributed 20 2 OZ. servings of chocolate mousse. to vendor/friends at the flea market.

  This is (literally) the sweetest thing I’ve read today! Good on you, sir. 

[Gloucesterman]

1 hour ago, Penguincollector said:

  

 

  This is (literally) the sweetest thing I’ve read today! Good on you, sir. 

Danke!

It's more fun/satisfying for me to give it away than it is to eat it myself, seriously.

[Penguincollector]

20 minutes ago, Gloucesterman said:

Danke!

It's more fun/satisfying for me to give it away than it is to eat it myself, seriously.

  This is true for most sweet foods, I think (except ice cream -ALL MINE). I just want a taste, and the happiness it brings others is its own reward. 

[Misfit]

In my head I told myself if I saw a modern Esterbrook Estie Jurassic with 1.1mm stub nib, I’d buy it. It was a limited edition, and is getting harder to find. 
 

I found it, the last one with stub nib. Put it in my Jet Pens cart, took an item out. Thought about it. Started checking out. Thought about it. Selected payment method. Thought about it. Went through PayPal, and expected that to complete the process. One more chance to think about it. My finger hovered, then pressed complete purchase. 
 

I blame the Mother’s Mighty Dynamite Dinosaurs chocolate cookies. The actual cookies don’t have such a perfect look as the ones on the package. The icing or whatever it is hangs around the cookies.

 

Another justification: I minored in anthropology. 

[Misfit]

5 hours ago, Penguincollector said:

  This is true for most sweet foods, I think (except ice cream -ALL MINE). I just want a taste, and the happiness it brings others is its own reward. 

I’ll give you all the ice cream, if you give me all the chocolate. 

[boilermaker1975]

2 minutes ago, Misfit said:

I’ll give you all the ice cream, if you give me all the chocolate. 

 

Both chocolate and ice cream are my weaknesses. I just can't have that stuff in the house because my resistance is futile!

[Misfit]

I have to be in the mood for ice cream. But chocolate cake, chocolate chip cookies, I’d eat them right now. 

[Gloucesterman]

Just now, Misfit said:

I have to be in the mood for ice cream. But chocolate cake, chocolate chip cookies, I’d eat them right now. 

And chocolate mousse???

LOL

[Misfit]

10 minutes ago, Gloucesterman said:

And chocolate mousse???

LOL

Since I don’t make it, I left it out. But yes, I’d love a serving of yours. 

[Penguincollector]

I would mix them all into my ice cream. You have a deal 3 out of 4 weeks of the month, @Misfit. That one week I need both. 

[PenLovingE]

On 6/20/2025 at 8:02 PM, enuhski said:

Montblanc no. 1266 - not much information about it is available online. Any information about it would be much appreciated!

It is a piston filler from the 70s. It is basically a Montblanc 121 but with sterling silver outer parts. Pretty valuable and rare. Look up a 121 if you have questions about service. Search for soaking your pen in a warm baking soda and salt bath with a sheet of aluminum foil to bring up the tarnish on the body. Enjoy the pen!

[USG]

On 7/20/2025 at 8:16 PM, Penguincollector said:

I would mix them all into my ice cream. You have a deal 3 out of 4 weeks of the month, @Misfit. That one week I need both. 

 

Sounds delicious. 😀👍

[jmccarty3]

On 6/20/2025 at 8:02 PM, enuhski said:

Montblanc no. 1266 - not much information about it is available online. Any information about it would be much appreciated!

I have a 1266 with a magnificent oblique nib. As others have replied, it is a sterling silver piston filler. It's a very special pen if you can find one.

[dms525]

A Leonardo MZ Grande 2.0 in ebonite with a #6 steel stub nib.

 

 

 

David

[Gloucesterman]

7 hours ago, dms525 said:

A Leonardo MZ Grande 2.0 in ebonite with a #6 steel stub nib.

 

 

 

David

VERY NICE looking pen, David. And, of course, the "stub" nib. One of your trademarks!

[Bo Bo Olson]

I hadn't been able to load pictures into Imgur to get it here. Just got on Flickr, so can put in a few pictures...that's as close to now as I can get.

The Cracked Ice is a no-name Cologne, Germany maker, the next, sort of green gray is a Mercedes, that belonged to my B&M's grandfather. Don't know what the small black pen is anymore. The large worn metal one is a Diplomat. Then an Aurora Optus set and I was really shocked how much a Aurora BP costs...$$$  cubed!!, a couple Osmia's, one with a Morton Weak Kneed Wet Noodle nib. The gray one on the end is 925 Sterling Silver by A.W. Famber-Castell. Next to it is a 1994 Sonnett Firedance that works.

I got the lot at an afforable price...and knew some would have to go off to repair.

There was another pen, I had on my sigh list. It went first and would go much higher than I'd be willing to go. 

And it didn't sell. I got it for start bid, a 1927, Parker Sr. Doufold cracked ice, Weak Kneed Wet Noodle.  Two WNWN won at the same time. I now have 3. Weak Kneed Wet Noodle's name was named by the English nib grinder John Sorowka. If you have a wet noodle, imagine a nib that needs half or less than half the pressure to do your wet noodle's flex pressure.  It's off getting a new sac.