Article: The Perfect Pen

[catbert]

https://craftsmanship.net/the-perfect-pen/

 

Featuring Masuyama, Mottishaw, and more.

[Maurizio]

Great and very enjoyable article!

 

Thank you for posting it.

[Bo Bo Olson]

good article.........I prefer vintage nibs; and they don't have to be superflex; semi-flex works well for me too. German Oblique pens from '50-65-70 are stubs besides semi-flex, and IMO a better buy for line variation than any post '70 pen.

 

If one wants only 'butter smooth' new fatter nibbed pens is where to look.

[Precise]

An inflation calculator computes that 32 years ago, $120 was $275 in today's dollars. Around 1970 I had a hunger for a Montblanc 149 and found a new one discounted for $75. I considered it an irrational luxury, but although I wasn't rich, the purchase wasn't a hardship either. I still have that pen.

 

But I've learned now that from a functional viewpoint my steel-nibbed $90 Bexleys and my $120 Deltas are as good as it gets. I have too many gold-nibbed pens that cost me triple that amount, and I even enjoy them, but they don't function a bit better than the steel pens above.

 

Don't forget too, that John Mottishaw, who I greatly respect, has written that stiff nibs write smoother than flexible nibs. My own experience confirms that.

 

By the way, my $100 pens would have gone for about $44, 32 years ago.

 

Alan

Edited December 3, 2017 by Precise

[ParkerDuofold]

...Don't forget too, that John Mottishaw, who I greatly respect, has written that stiff nibs write smoother than flexible nibs. My own experience confirms that...

Yes, me too, Alan.

 

I use my pens for the "daily grind" of business; not for calligraphy or Spencerian script... so smoothness is a lot more important to me than flex.

 

I just wish I could catch some of the luck others seem to get with vintage pens... although I am quite pleased with the gold P45 Insignia I bought a while back... that is one great pen and my best vintage experience, (my Targa is pretty good, too ).

 

But overall, I find vintage pen's 70-90 year old materials a little too delicate for regular use in the offices of an industrial shipping/warehousing company in Jersey... so I prefer modern pens... I'm comfortable with them... but what do I know... I still listen to Rock.

 

That said, I enjoyed that article... I've thought about sending my Falcon to John Mottishaw for his special treatment.

 

 

- Anthony

 

 

EDITED to correct typos and add text.

Edited December 3, 2017 by ParkerDuofold

[pajaro]

I bought a Parker 51 in 1970, new, and a Montblanc 144 new in 1983. Still perfect, still serbing, and still my favorites.

 

I have had a number of Parker 45s. In spite of the praise heaped on them here, I have never found one to rise to the same level of writing quality.

 

If I were to buy another pen today, it would be a Pelikan. Pricey. A good experience, and the "nails" of gold nibs are a delight to write with. Unless you are one of those people who must have something flexible.

 

Pretty soon I will probably not be using these pens any more, and ebay will get them. Well, you can't live forever..

[corgicoupe]

Yes, me too, Alan.

I use my pens for the "daily grind" of business; not for calligraphy or Spencerian script... so smoothness is a lot more important to me than flex.

I just wish I could catch some of the luck others seem to get with vintage pens... although I am quite pleased with the gold P45 Insignia I bought a while back... that is one great pen and my best vintage experience, (my Targa is pretty good, too ).

But overall, I find vintage pen's 70-90 year old materials a little too delicate for regular use in the offices of an industrial shipping/warehousing company in Jersey... so I prefer modern pens... I'm comfortable with them... but what do I know... I still listen to Rock.

That said, I enjoyed that article... I've thought about sending my Falcon to John Mottishaw for his special treatment.

- Anthony

EDITED to correct typos and add text.

Anthony,

Try an Esterbrook J with a 9xxx nib from someone like Gary Weimer or Teri Morris. They're less thhan 70 years old but are durable and very usable in your Jersey environment.

[Tweel]

The article seems to have a lot of factual errors, but I'm glad the author conveys the positive attributes of fountain pens without apology.

[ParkerDuofold]

Anthony,

Try an Esterbrook J with a 9xxx nib from someone like Gary Weimer or Teri Morris. They're less thhan 70 years old but are durable and very usable in your Jersey environment.

Hi CC,

 

Yes, that's a thought... I had tried an Esterbrook and didn't like it because the section was loose inside the barrel and the #2000 something nib stayed dry no matter what I tried to do with it.

 

It was supposedly "restored," but not by either of the people you mention.

 

All that said, I think I'll give the Estie a second chance from one of the two dealers you mention. I got my 45 from Terri and it's my favorite vintage pen.

 

But it's (was) NOS and absolutely gorgeous... and I want to keep it that way... so I keep it at home.

 

Thanks, CC.

 

 

- Anthony

[Arkanabar]

Anthony, if you like your nibs stiff, go for one of Esterbrook's "Manifold" nibs; I have a 9460 Manifold Medium -- plenty stiff enough to fill out forms in triplicate.

[pajaro]

Hi CC,

 

Yes, that's a thought... I had tried an Esterbrook and didn't like it because the section was loose inside the barrel and the #2000 something nib stayed dry no matter what I tried to do with it.

 

It was supposedly "restored," but not by either of the people you mention.

 

All that said, I think I'll give the Estie a second chance from one of the two dealers you mention. I got my 45 from Terri and it's my favorite vintage pen.

 

But it's (was) NOS and absolutely gorgeous... and I want to keep it that way... so I keep it at home.

 

Thanks, CC.

 

 

- Anthony

 

Once upon a time there was an Estie Loaner Program. This was animated chiefly by Bruce from Ocala, Florida, but a number of us lent Esterbrooks with a variety of nibs. It still exists, but I forget to check up on it, what with basement floods, recarpeting adventures, and so on, but I could lend you one or more Esterbrooks, J, SJ, LJ, M2 or Safari Pump Filler, with a variety of nibs fine, extra fine, left oblique broad or fine stub, medium italic, and probably others. So, you can try out pens without buying them. . Some of the nibs I have are uncommon, like the italic 2312 and 9312.

 

My basic take on Esterbrook iis that they are an economy pen, but the variety of nibs makes them special. The large number of nib types extant makes Esterbrook a good make for learning about nib types. That is why I delved into them. I particularly like the italic nibs, and I actually use them sometimes.

Edited December 5, 2017 by pajaro

[corgicoupe]

Anthony,

If you accept Pajaro's offer, go with a 9xxx nib that has real tipping, and I suggest a J model unless you like a thin pen; then opt for an LJ. I really think you will like the experience.

[ParkerDuofold]

Anthony, if you like your nibs stiff, go for one of Esterbrook's "Manifold" nibs; I have a 9460 Manifold Medium -- plenty stiff enough to fill out forms in triplicate.

 

Once upon a time there was an Estie Loaner Program. This was animated chiefly by Bruce from Ocala, Florida, but a number of us lent Esterbrooks with a variety of nibs. It still exists, but I forget to check up on it, what with basement floods, recarpeting adventures, and so on, but I could lend you one or more Esterbrooks, J, SJ, LJ, M2 or Safari Pump Filler, with a variety of nibs fine, extra fine, left oblique broad or fine stub, medium italic, and probably others. So, you can try out pens without buying them. . Some of the nibs I have are uncommon, like the italic 2312 and 9312.

 

My basic take on Esterbrook iis that they are an economy pen, but the variety of nibs makes them special. The large number of nib types extant makes Esterbrook a good make for learning about nib types. That is why I delved into them. I particularly like the italic nibs, and I actually use them sometimes.

 

Anthony,

If you accept Pajaro's offer, go with a 9xxx nib that has real tipping, and I suggest a J model unless you like a thin pen; then opt for an LJ. I really think you will like the experience.

 

Hi all,

 

Wow. I wasn't expecting such a response to my brief comment to CC. I hope this print is large enough for Pajaro to read... I think I read somewhere where he has some vision problems. I should do this all the time for the sake of the visually impaired and the elderly, but using a smartphone most of the time with a limited screen... I have a tendency to forget.

 

Thank you, Pajaro. That is a very kind offer and I'll be sending you a PM later. It would be great if I could experiment a little beforehand with 2/3 different nibs before I take the plunge. Thanks again.

 

CorgiCoupe and Arkanabar... thank you much for the sage advice.

 

God bless, all.

 

 

-Anthony

[pajaro]

I can read the normal print here, but the macular degeneration, now stabilized, pushes words together, obscuring some letters. It is very strange. You can use the normal print on your phone.

[ParkerDuofold]

...You can use the normal print on your phone.

Hi Pajaro,

 

Oh, okay, that's great... that'll save me a couple of steps when I post here.

 

- A.C.

[Bo Bo Olson]

2xxx nibs are quite good....in he's only going to be using them a short time, not the 1 1/2 years of 8 hours a day to wear out a roll tipped 2xxx nib.

Esties are robust...for being a tad light for perfect balance but with nice balance....and have such wonderful colors with patterns. I once had 5 of the 8 grays. 2 of the 5 greens.