Whats Our Favourite German Brand?

[praxim]

Nearly a year has passed so why not change my mind a little more? I am promoting Soennecken in the ranking. They produced the best vintage German pen I own and other brilliant ones. Pelikan might still very narrowly win on consistency among those I have.

 

My previous post sounds unduly negative on my vintage Montblancs, now that I re-read it, although I still prefer my ~1990 146 and 149 over earlier models. Geha have lovely nibs but otherwise have seemed less robust than their peers, from those I have managed to snaffle.

 

Perhaps another perspective, which vintage brand would I sell off to concentrate on the others?

 

Crickets may chirp.

[Brianm_14]

[quote name="stephanos"

 

Modern:

 

Pelikan > Lamy > (Graf von)Faber Castell > Montblanc > Diplomat > Cleo Skribent > Kaweco > Herlitz > Online

 

No, no, no! Sorry, but I must strongly disagree with your ordering here. Yes, by all means, Pelikan is in first place. But Cleo Skribent simply must be accorded a second or third place, I cannot imagine it ever being rank below Diplomat, and it is equal to or the superior of the much-praise Lamy 2K. The question which remains is, does Cleo Skribent trump both Montblanc (yes, IMO for value) and then does it equal or better Graf von Faber Castell (clearly a yes, IMO).

 

Ranking Online last is unfair. It is much cheap than tne one you list before it,mand dolar for dollar, provides greater value than all but the first four pens you list. Online leads in it's own class, and is outstanding. You would not down grade the best auto under $60,000 for being at tne bottom of autos costs grwater than $130,000, would you? But that is what you have done, to Online.

[Brianm_14]

I want to speak up for ONLINE.

 

To the extent I noticed the brand at all I associated it with inexpensive school pens (and that is where the next generation of writers will come from so i'll hear nothing against them btw. Great that kids still carry fountain pens in Germany).

 

Then I saw that Julie Turrie was using an ONLINE pen in one of her relaxing calligraphy videos on YT. Since there was a returned-sale ONLINE vision.nature maroon on ebay for under €20, I bought it. After a bit of working-in I am immensely enjoying writing with it.

 

The nib has a peasant amount of feedback, writes well and is not in the least scratchy. Inversely to Lamy, ONLINE's nib sizes are overestimated (or maybe Asian sizes). The M nib is fine or EF by my standards. Screw in nib units in a range EF to 1.8mm are available for a mere €5.99 (yes the feed & nib is 5.99, I'm looking at you Pelikan).

 

The pen has a vaguely Faber Castell look: chrome/wood. The balance is good, posted and un-posted. It takes std cartridges and fitted my Pelikan converter. The cap seal is perfect. It doesn't dry-out. The clip is excellent. Comes in a nice box. What's not to like?

 

Sure, the materials are not the very, very finest and so I guess it won't last 50 years but then, neither will I.

 

Anyone who has a fixed view of the brand and refuses to look at it's upscale offerings as an alternative to EDC Faber, Pelikan and Lamy may be missing out on some fun Füller and pleasant writing experiences.

Aiden Mark

Great words!

I, too, feel that Online pens are performers which punch out of and above their weight class. I no longer steer newcomers to fountain pens to Lamy Safaris or Pliot Metros; instead, I set them up with an Online. Online pens are showing more and more style, innovation, careful design and craftsmanship. They are simply well -tought out, and executed. They are excellent choices for EDC for students, professors, nurses, doctors, businesspeople , anyone who needs a good pen at a very decent price.

 

Soon they will be the standard, the benchmark to match and beach. A fairly new, solid, and properly priced EDC fountain pen is here, and the bar has been moved up a couple of rungs. This is a long-overdue development for all fp users.

[smitbret]

All I can afford are Diplomats and Lamys and the Lamys just don't do it for me. So, Diplomat.

[MHBru]

Of my 12 pens.... 5 are Pelikan and 3 are Lamy.... I guess that counts as my ranking

[chravagni]

Pelikan as first choice. I've got many m2xx, the nib are mostly EF but they manage to differ among themselves. So, never boring. Also a m805 EF which I find very pleasant.

 

Then as second I say Schneider... I have some school pens which write perfectly and are my EDC when I travel. Two pen4me and a Schneider/Buffetti Handle. This is an underrated brand as well.

 

As third Lamy (Safari, as usual, and Logo).

 

But I recently fell in love with a Kaweco Supra B, which I haven't bought yet, just tried. But it's huge nib feels fantastic and may well become my fourth favorite.

[mikerph]

Ballpoints-LAMY, then Pelikan, then Diplomat, then Montblanc; fountain pen-Pelikan, then Graf Von Faber. Castell,then Montblanc; rollerball-Montblanc, then LAMY, then GvFC.

[txomsy]

Right now, I think I would rank Garant first (got 3 Alkor and 2 Nilor). But it is a vintage brand no longer made. Vintage too, is Reform (got several 1745, p120 and p125), cheap but great, yet no longer made either.

 

So, among contemporary (or still existing) brands, for me, Montblanc is likely first, I have a 342, a 149 and a bunch of Noblesse and Slimline pens. Next close goes Kaweco, with the Sport and Liliput, man do I like my copper Lilliput!

 

I do have others, but these are the ones I am enjoying the most.

[Mister K]

 My love for Soenneckens is vastly outstripped by my ability to find and afford them. One day I will complete my collection of lizard skin 222s but it might require a trip to Europe.  So I make due with a flock of Pelikans.

[PAKMAN]

Pelikans are my favorite.

[mtcn77]

My choice is Faber Castell, but if I were penning letters on hard paper, I think Kaweco would look prettier. I have issues controlling the flow on regular paper.

On 8/29/2019 at 2:00 AM, smitbret said:

All I can afford are Diplomats and Lamys and the Lamys just don't do it for me.

Lamy CP1 is within my budget and comes with its coveted 14k  nib. It is a risky proposition, but well worth the risk.

[ajoe]

LAMY.

[senzen]

Four years later... Added 9 Pelikans, a Geha Goldschwinge, an Artus, a Reform and a Kreuzer with piston problems; finally made the Ambition usable.

[txomsy]

Congratulations. That's a very nice collection.

[Ana_]

I own 1 montblanc that i'll likely sell when/if the economy picks up, 2 pelikans: 1 new 1 modern, and quite a few Soennecken's as well as Soennecken's "sub"-range, the Tower pens. I immediately fell in love with Soennecken the first time I wrote with it. The nibs are flexible in just the most perfect way, they glide across the page, and I just can't really take anything else too seriously. I know the tower range was sold as a sub-brand, but their nibs are IMO just as gorgeous to write with as the Soennecken... *happy sigh* love em love em love em

[OCArt]

Vintage Pelikans from the ‘50’s.

[lionelc]

osmia - they have the best german nibs for my hand.  

[langere]

I have more Pelikans than any other brand.  But I really am liking the Diplomat brand as well.  

 

I'd love to get a hold of a Soennecken and try out that pen...

 

Erick

[mke]

Waldmann Pens Private label as shown here: LINK.

Waldmann Pens Private label are either modified catalogue pens or custom orders.

 

Montblanc is also nice, Pelikan too, Otto Hutt is good, Graf-von-Faber-Castell too but Lamy is a huge fat "no thank you".

 

[ethernautrix]

Going by number, it seems that Kaweco has sneaked in and taken first place (German pens).

 

Also, most used of my German pens. Unexpected, especially as the two Kawecos inked and in use lately are both metal. Wonders...not ceasing....