Help Me Find A New Fountain Pen (£100-150; $150-200)

[Zemeraldite]

Hi FPNers!

Birthday is coming up soon, so with luck I will be able to get a new fountain pen?

 

Currently I have the Sheaffer Prelude (~$50/£40 I think), and a range of entry level Parkers such as the 21 (I think), Vector, Urban, Jotter etc, Lami Safari x2, and a bunch of Chinese cheapies that I got from eBay.

 

Favourite has to be by far the Sheaffer - I love the massive piston filler (I'm very forgetful so the large capacity saved me multiple times ). I've been looking at the TWSBII demonstraters, but since I have more money to spend, is there something that's a bit better? I like the look of those but I have no idea which one is suitable? 540? 580? Mini?

 

Preferences are:

1. Comes in a F-M NIB, all the better if nibs are easily exchangeable (e.g. normally I'd like a F but when I want to use an EF/B for drawing I can swap it out relatively easily).

2. Takes a converter/capacity is relatively large/takes international or cheap cartilages (basically, I'm a bit of a broke uni student ...)

3. Slim-ish/stylish. I hate the look of the safari, and love slim pens, since my hands are relatively small, but I'm open to thick pens if they also look stylish e.g. Parker duofold

4. Under £150/$200, but preferred if it's closer to £100, if it's cheaper, then even better!

5. Open to any new/vintage pens, as long as it's relatively easily obtainable (I don't mind ordering from abroad with reasonable postage, or waiting on eBay until a good deal pops up)

6. At that kind of price I would prefer a gold nib

 

I've looked at:

Vintage Parker Duofold

Montblanc Meisterstruck/starwalker (good deals on eBay are ~£150)

Parker Sonnet new

Sheaffer Targa (14k Nib, gold plated version) - anyone have an idea of whether the plating would wear off? - I see a reasonable deal so I might go ahead and buy it as I have some money saved up anyway.

TWSBII assorted pens

 

Any other suggestions?

Thanks in advance guys

 

[senzen]

I would look at the Pelikan M205 range, and for something drop dead gorgeous the Faber Castell Ambition, particularly in pearwood. The Pelikan is comfortable, the Ambition might need some getting used to (no section).

[Arkanabar]

The Pelikan M200 was my first Pen of a Lifetime. It has about 9.5mm section diameter, and I got mine to remedy the limited ink capacity of my then-current favorite, the Waterman Phileas. It has a nicely springy (stainless steel) nib, and they're easily interchanged, though not especially affordable. Pelikan's customer service is outstanding. I've abused this pen near to death a number of times, and all I had to do was email the distributor that I was sending them the pen, mail it to them (at times in pieces), and wait, and they'd send it back fully repaired and functional. Ink capacity is about 1.3ml; a short international cartridge is allegedly around 0.9ml.

 

Another possibility would be a Platinum 3776. I don't have one (yet), but I'd like to. They get a lot of praise around here. Dunno about interchangeable nibs, but you might manage two of them within your budget. Platinum carts are relatively large, and can be refilled with disposable pipettes as well as syringes, and Platinums are both tremendously resistant to drying out and somewhat dry, extending write-out. The converters have a reputation for early failure, but apparently this can be remedied by lubing the piston with a touch of pure silicone grease (sold at dive shops and by some pen retailers, not hardware or plumbing shops).

 

My only Pilots are inexpensive c/c pens -- 78G, Prera, and Parallel. I have no experience of any of their higher line pens. But I think you'd benefit should their owners and adherents chime in with the virtues of the various models of piston and vac-filled Pilots.

 

For the combination of ink capacity and interchangeable nibs, it'll probably be hard to beat the TWSBI Vac Mini, the 700's smaller sister. Vac fillers are typically only exceeded in capacity by eyedroppers, and like the 700, the Mini has interchangeable nib units. Again, you might fit a couple of them into your budget. TWSBI's reputation for customer service matches my experience of Pelikan's.

[Bluey]

I think a Sailor zoom nib would be good because it allows you to change from an EF to BB without swapping nibs in and out. You can get them for around £80 or sometimes less. You alter the width of the nib by changing the angle that you write at.

It's slim, takes a converter and has a gold 21k or 14k nib.

 

TWSBI's reputation for customer service matches my experience of Pelikan's.

If their customer service is excellent, then that's a big red flag because they obviously get a lot of use.

Edited May 21, 2017 by Bluey

[Zemeraldite]

Thanks for the quick replies - I will look into these pens

I would look at the Pelikan M205 range

I actually really loved the style of these pens

 

The Pelikan M200 was my first Pen of a Lifetime.

 

For the combination of ink capacity and interchangeable nibs, it'll probably be hard to beat the TWSBI Vac Mini, the 700's smaller sister. Vac fillers are typically only exceeded in capacity by eyedroppers, and like the 700, the Mini has interchangeable nib units. Again, you might fit a couple of them into your budget. TWSBI's reputation for customer service matches my experience of Pelikan's.

Does Pelikan offer free repairs? How does this work

Also, is there a reason you suggested the mini rather than the 700? Is that just because I said I have smaller hands or are there other differences? [PEN NOOB ALERT AHHH hide everyone ]

 

I think a Sailor zoom nib would be good because it allows you to change from an EF to BB without swapping nibs in and out. You can get them for around £80 or sometimes less. You alter the width of the nib by changing the angle that you write at.

It's slim, takes a converter and has a gold 21k or 14k nib.

Sounded perfect until I read some reviews and watched some videos - seems like the zoom is predominately a broad nib, and CAN be used as M/F, however I'd like a predominantly non-scratchy (scratchy F side seemed to be a common complaint) F-M nib that I can sometimes dabble with B/italics should I have more money.

 

Seriously leaning towards a TWSBI Or a few vintages in different sized nibs...

[welch]

If you want an interchangeable nib, then you want:

 

- Esterbrook ("Buy one pen and three nibs! It's like buying three different pens!"). First, take a look at the variety of nibs. Anderson Pens sells Esterbrook nibs. Esterbrook pen bodies are all beautiful and sturdy even though Esties seem to have hit their peak between 1950 and 1955.

 

- Parker 45: Nibs and all other parts were interchangeable, although I have only seen fine, medium, broad, in gold and steel. See parkerpens.net / Parker Penography for details on the P-45. Made from 1960 - 2006, so there are many floating around.

 

- Parker 75: The high-quality pen of the interchangeable nib pens. Again, see Parker Penography for details and pictures. See Parker75.com for available nibs. A P-75 was about $125, give or take about $50, a few years ago. Replacement nibs sell for about $75. The number one P-75, by the way, has to be the Ciselle, a sterling silver in a checked pattern.

 

- Pelican 200: currently in production. The springy stainless steel nibs sell for $30 - $50 depending on what the seller thinks "the market will will bear". Dependable, simple design, piston filler.

[max dog]

I recommend the Pilot Custom 74 with soft fine-medium nib. Should be able to acquire one in your price range, especially if you buy from ebay sellers in Japan. (ie Cool-Japan, bought two pens from this ebay seller and got good service). Somewhat slimmish, uses converter (opt for the con 70), and available in a fine-medium nib. Opt for the soft nib.

[chromantic]

I was also going to recommend both the P45 and the Pelikan 2xx, the 45 because it's slim and sleek-looking with easily interchangeable nibs and can be had relatively cheaply, the Pelikan because of it's more classic/traditional styling, great quality/performance, interchangeable nibs and also affordable. EU sellers have the new M205 blue swirl for $100-120 USD.

 

Just wanted to add that I find the Pelikans much easier to clean; my experience with the 45s is that it takes forever to flush and when you think you've got it cleaned out you discover there's still more ink lurking in there somewhere. That's with plain water, though, maybe a little ammonia would help.

Edited May 22, 2017 by chromantic

[voltron]

Pelikan M200/205 with 14k nib aka M250, it can be had for around £140-160 from various retailers. The Writing Desk Ltd (thewritingdesk.co.uk) is offering it for £152 including the complimentary testing & tuning of the pen/nib whereas Niche Pens Ltd (pelikanpens.co.uk) is currently selling it for £145.

[Bookman]

• Interchangeable nibs: yes
• Comes in an F-M nib: yes (JoWo F writes halfway between an F and an M)
• Large capacity: yes (normal-size converter, but can be used as an eyedropper w/ 4.5 ml capacity)
• Fits smallish hand: yes (mine is mid-size, and despite the Collier's size it fits perfectly in my hand)
• Under $200: yes ($150)
• Gold nib: available, but not included in $150 price

 

 

Edison Collier Persimmon Swirl Acrylic​

 

Edited May 22, 2017 by Bookman

[majolo]

The Parker 180 is a quirky pen that could well be of interest: very slim body, squeeze converter, and a unique nib that is shaped to write with one line width normally and a different width upside down (roll the pen 180 degrees). I have one with a nib that writes either extra fine or medium, and it works as advertised. It was produced in the 1970s-1980s and should not be too hard to find one under your price range online, I think.

[Erik Dalton]

I would definitely look at the Pelikan M200's. They're a few out there on sale for $149.

Here's an Amethyst at Goldspot pens.

 

https://goldspot.com/collections/clearance/products/pelikan-tradition-series-205-amethyst-medium-point-fountain-pen

[Erik Dalton]

Here's one at la Couronne du compte for 105 euros

 

https://www.lacouronneducomte.nl/webstore/main/pelikan-classic-m200-black-fountain-p-6670.html

[inotrym]

Since Faber-Castell has already been mentioned, take a look at the E-motion, too.

 

Other than that and aside from all the other recommendations (Pilots, Sailors and Pelikans), I suggest that you take a look at Franklin-Christoph.

Well within your budget, nibs ground by the great Mike Masuyama, lifetime guarantee and free shipping.