Vintage Vs Modern

[sirgilbert357]

http://i.imgur.com/0Idn9fo.jpg

 

Gorgeous handwriting. Interesting how you do some of your T's with the horizontal line floating above the letter.

Edited January 24, 2019 by sirgilbert357

[sirgilbert357]

I know this will sound like heresy to some of you, but:

 

I see a pen as a tool first. I don't care if its vintage or modern, beautiful or ugly. It has to write, and it has to write WELL for me to be interested in owning it. I don't have any safe queens or "collectables" -- I use and carry every pen I own.

 

Secondly, it has to be low maintenance, reliable and hard wearing. Any pen that is so fragile that I have to change my usage habits to accommodate isn't going to get used. This is one reason I sold my vintage Parker Blue Azure Vac. It just felt like it was going to shatter at any moment. That and my research basically gave me the impression that the barrel transparency and stability of the celluloid was only going to go downhill as it aged. Why fall in love with something that's already dying, lol?

 

Anyway, these preferences lead me to my pens, be they vintage or modern. I don't really segregate them in my head when looking for a pen, I just decide if it lives up to my criteria. A lot of vintage pens just don't for one reason or another. Size is one of them -- I prefer M800 sized pens. Fragility is another. Preferences for materials and looks factor in too. I don't like sac pens and prefer piston fillers for instance. You get the idea...

 

And everyone keeps talking about vintage nibs being "better" than modern, but I almost never see anyone mentioning why. Aside from flex (I don't care about flex and I'd guess that most people can't write well enough to make good use of it anyway -- yes, that's a challenge, post your flex writing pics if you're offended, LOL), what does a vintage nib do for you that a modern one can't/doesn't? I'm happy to hear anyone's reasons for liking vintage nibs more, but some kind of objective descriptive qualities would be nice. None of the vintage nibs I've written with were all that great, so I'd like to know which ones to try. I played with flex nibs, but I didn't like having to push the pen down to get line variation. One of the things I like about fountain pens is they just write with no pressure, so why pick up a pen that requires pressure to get the flourish when there are stubs out there that give consistent line variation with no pressure?

[sansenri]

I went through a phase of buying vintage and there are moments when I confess I am still tempted by certain types and models. If I was to buy any again I would avoid ebay like the plague. There are so many bold claims made and I've made a lot of expensive mistakes. Friends who are into vintage have also made plenty of expensive mistakes (even recently) so I take comfort that I'm not being a fool asking the wrong questions or looking for the wrong things. While I love the look of so many vintage pens and the nibs can be a dream, they can be just so darned finicky. I just can't honestly be bothered with the mess and the hassle of repairs and tweaks. There are so many new pens out there with great nibs that I don't feel I have to chase the vintage side of things. I will say that the vintage pens that have never given me problems are MB, Pelikan and Esterbrook. What I am tempted by is putting old nibs into new customised housings that look vintage. That is a sore temptation for me at the moment. I keep reading about people doing it, but I've never done it and I'm tempted to get someone like Scriptorium to seal the deal for me........One of these days!

 

There are quite a lot of good reasons in what you say.

I do love some of my vintage pens, and also some vintage nibs.

Then again I also can count a number of expensive mistakes.

A good vintage, one you can feel no regret on, is sometimes much more expensive than a new pen, even upper range.

The verge between a lovingly used pen, and an abused pen is sometimes narrow, and unless you can really check the pen thoroughly before buying risks are rather high, and they increase as vintage pens become more rare.

[TheRealMikeDr]

I love the history and pedigree of many vintage pens - but for day to day use I reach for a modern pen 95% of the time.

[ralfstc]

I'm a both.

 

Sometimes I want to throw my M120 in a bag and go, other times it's an Onoto at my desk.

 

The only real pattern is that I'm a lot more cautious about taking my older pens out and about. It's not about value or performance, but about replaceability. I may never find another Canadian PFM in the wild, but I know where there's a shop full of M120s!

 

The points about the history of the pen are really important; vintage pens can be absolutely stunning, or a complete disaster. The difference is often hard to spot, especially in the cases where there are fragile materials (I'm looking at you, Onoto K-series).

 

R.

[mana]

...you can pry away my vintage Pelikans from my cold dead hands... That said, there are plenty of absolutely horrible or boring or otherwise unusable/undesirable vintage pens and some really awesome new ones too... So it all depends.

I have found what I like (mostly top of the line vintage workhorses in good to NOS condition) but am willing to mix things up a bit occasionally to keep life interesting (by for example buying a modern pen just because it strikes my fancy).

[senzen]

To me it's about inks, vintage inks seem really drab, with a few exceptions, while my 26 modern ones are spectacular; and then about whichever pen makes the ink shine, I'm just glad my oldest pen, a Parker 75, finally got along with Sailor Souten.

[praxim]

... be they vintage or modern. I don't really segregate them in my head when looking for a pen, I just decide if it lives up to my criteria. A lot of vintage pens just...

 

 

do.

 

I agree entirely with the quoted part. I have approximately 15% new pens, 20% this century pens, the rest from every decade in the last hundred years, weighted a bit to the 1920s-1950s.

 

Some have idiosyncrasies but all are useful. Flawlessness is not a requirement when you have several pens inked at a time.

[vicpen123]

This division is totally artificial. A pen should be a joy to hold, a pleasure to use and a delight to admire.

 

In my opinion, it should also speak to me about its design and how it contributed to the development of fountain pens.

 

The beauty of our interest is that both old and new, simple and complex, plain and decorative and revolutionary as well as evolutionary fountain pens can all have have the above features.

 

Love them all.

[Inky.Fingers]

Isn't it all about the vintage nib? A three thine music waterman nib is up for sale on ebay at a low price of $50usd..

 

 

 

okay how many have fallen for that!?

[inkstainedruth]

Hi HB,

 

I agree with the kid,... but notice how the mob gleefully throws her into the cactus patch for not picking a side?

 

 

 

- Anthony

 

 

EDITED typo.

 

Back on topic, now.

I prefer vintage pens. They often have better nibs, and they often have a history and a story behind them (even if I don't know what that story is). They often fit my hand better, being "smaller" than some modern pens. They have interesting fill systems, and are often made of prettier materials. A lot of modern acrylic pens seem very generic to me (e.g., is a pen an acrylic Noodler's Konrad, a Bexley, a Rosetta?) and the range of nib widths for many brands is curtailed (and I like variety -- if I'm taking extensive notes, I want an F or even an EF nail but if I'm drawing I might want a springy nib, and if I'm writing a card to someone I might want an italic or OB nib -- and unless I pay an arm and a leg, I might not have as many options.

That being said, my really expensive pens are all modern (mostly Pelikan M200s and M400s). And I love them too: they hold a lot of ink, and they mostly have great nibs, and they're also really attractive pens (plus, I really like piston fillers). And for quick notes I'm really starting to like my Pilot Decimo; and I'm also a total sucker for my Parker Vectors (although I would want a pen with a a thicker girth if I was going to be writing the Great American Novel).

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[ParkerDuofold]

This division is totally artificial. A pen should be a joy to hold, a pleasure to use and a delight to admire...

 

Right... and I have pens... both old and new... that accomplish this.

 

 

...Love them all.

 

 

 

Be well all.

 

 

- Anthony

[Bo Bo Olson]

To me it's about inks, vintage inks seem really drab, with a few exceptions, while my 26 modern ones are spectacular; and then about whichever pen makes the ink shine, I'm just glad my oldest pen, a Parker 75, finally got along with Sailor Souten.

For vivid; monotone modern supersaturated is better. Could be you like a wet ink, like some to many Japanese ones.

I find mono-tone inks boring.

 

I like two toned shading inks, so have no problem with classic inks that to that trick. Many of them are dryer inks.....'wishy-washy' as some call them....'pastel' others call it.

Though don't see Pelikan 401 BB as either of that. Or even Lamy BB. Could name a slew of non-vivid shading inks.

Edited January 24, 2019 by Bo Bo Olson

[surprise123]

Isn't it all about the vintage nib? A three thine music waterman nib is up for sale on ebay at a low price of $50usd..

 

 

 

okay how many have fallen for that!?

I did. I really did frantically go on Ebay, searching for that music nib.

[surprise123]

Honestly, have both, shun neither. There are gems to be had on both sides.

[Inky.Fingers]

True that! Everyone have their moments. We all started out in the do not know, and now with more knowledge we take in the vintage and the relic antiques and enjoying them both.

 

When we do find a vintage keeper, they are a joy to use. And use we should often.

[vicpen123]

I use Parker Quink Black exclusively in all my pens so I am ignorant of all the various inks and colours.

 

My question is as follows: Can other implements such as brushes, nib pens, artists tools etc provide a vehicle for the display of decorative inks? Does it have to be a fountain pen only?

 

My view is that only a fountain pen can be used to write and make my writing more enjoyable and attractive. The ink used is only the means to an end - the end being using a fountain pen.

 

If displaying inks is paramount, then a brush is as useful as a pen. If writing is paramount, then only a fountain pen will do.

 

Don't burn me at the stake.

[surprise123]

I use Parker Quink Black exclusively in all my pens so I am ignorant of all the various inks and colours.

 

My question is as follows: Can other implements such as brushes, nib pens, artists tools etc provide a vehicle for the display of decorative inks? Does it have to be a fountain pen only?

 

My view is that only a fountain pen can be used to write and make my writing more enjoyable and attractive. The ink used is only the means to an end - the end being using a fountain pen.

 

If displaying inks is paramount, then a brush is as useful as a pen. If writing is paramount, then only a fountain pen will do.

 

Don't burn me at the stake.

See them all, try them all, love a few. Everyone has opinions, but nobody is going to burn you at the stake for stating your preferences.

[ParkerDuofold]

I use Parker Quink Black exclusively in all my pens so I am ignorant of all the various inks and colours.

 

My question is as follows: Can other implements such as brushes, nib pens, artists tools etc provide a vehicle for the display of decorative inks? Does it have to be a fountain pen only?

 

My view is that only a fountain pen can be used to write and make my writing more enjoyable and attractive. The ink used is only the means to an end - the end being using a fountain pen.

 

If displaying inks is paramount, then a brush is as useful as a pen. If writing is paramount, then only a fountain pen will do.

 

Don't burn me at the stake.

 

See them all, try them all, love a few.

Hi Vic, et al,

 

Try whatever piques your curiosity and feel free to discuss your findings here... those with an open mind will perhaps try out the mediums you mention that pique their curiosity... based on your findings... and they'll soon discover if it works for them, too. Sometimes it won't... they'll say, C'est la vie.

 

But there will always be a few that will try to burn you at the stake... be your own fire extinguisher... and screw them if they can't take a joke.

 

Never worry about the gremlins of small minds. Be well.

 

 

- Anthony

[Driften]

I use Parker Quink Black exclusively in all my pens so I am ignorant of all the various inks and colours.

 

My question is as follows: Can other implements such as brushes, nib pens, artists tools etc provide a vehicle for the display of decorative inks? Does it have to be a fountain pen only?

 

My view is that only a fountain pen can be used to write and make my writing more enjoyable and attractive. The ink used is only the means to an end - the end being using a fountain pen.

 

If displaying inks is paramount, then a brush is as useful as a pen. If writing is paramount, then only a fountain pen will do.

 

Don't burn me at the stake.

 

 

Use what ever ink you like. I don't think using non-black inks as saying it's the ink being paramount not the writing that was done with the ink. I really don't like using black or dark inks. For me dark colors are depressing and take the enjoyment out of my writing. The ink color is also part of using my pens as a tool for writing. In my journal I rotate my colors so that I can easily tell what I wrote each day. I also color code notes I am making....

 

In any case to each their own. It's nice you have an ink you are happy with.