True Writer Pen Collection - So Far

[Carguy]

I have loved Levenger and have shopped there for years but lately between their sky high shipping and poor communication when an item cannot ship or is back ordered, I’m beginning to not like them much.

[SLinkster]

3 minutes ago, Carguy said:

I have loved Levenger and have shopped there for years but lately between their sky high shipping and poor communication when an item cannot ship or is back ordered, I’m beginning to not like them much.

Yeah, I ordered a replacement nib unit for a used TrueWriter, last year during holiday rush. It shipped in a very thinly padded mailer and arrived damaged. Customer service replaced it with apologies and the replacement shipped in exactly the same way. I was underwhelmed. Pretty sure they're using Amazon for fulfullment these days 😕

[Misfit]

When did their ink get so expensive?  I thought it used to be $12-15.  I was surprised when it was $25.20, though it’s been that price for awhile. 

[Misfit]

8 hours ago, SLinkster said:

I put in a real low-ball bid and apparently nobody else was interested (Misfit).

I suppose getting the Kyoto has made me content.  I still look at eBay for Levenger.  I was bidding on  a compact Circa cover and paper.  I thought I had more time to up my bid, but didn’t, and lost it. I wish I’d upped my bid when I had the chance. But I’d recently bought the Kyoto for too much money, so that’s why I wasn’t so keen to bid on the compact cover. 

[SLinkster]

7 hours ago, Misfit said:

When did their ink get so expensive?  I thought it used to be $12-15.  I was surprised when it was $25.20, though it’s been that price for awhile. 

I had the same reaction! 

[Carguy]

Not to dump on them but I have been seriously underwhelmed by their product quality lately given their higher than average prices. I think they have gone “corporate” and the founders aren’t as involved would be my guess. I still have 3 items from January orders that haven’t shipped and with no communication as to why.

[Misfit]

@Carguy did you try calling?

[Carguy]

I did, they said now that the items are backordered.

[Misfit]

@Carguy not the best news, but at least you got some information. Did they give you a timeframe?

[SLinkster]

Ok True Writer fans, what's my fix for leaky cartridges? Every TW I have in the stable leaks at the cartridge collar. It does not matter if it's the OEM cartridge, a cheap standard international cartridge, or a "branded" std. int'l like Kaweco or MB or MonteVerde. They all leak, in all TW I have. Hoping for some suggestions.

[donnweinberg]

18 hours ago, SLinkster said:

Ok True Writer fans, what's my fix for leaky cartridges? Every TW I have in the stable leaks at the cartridge collar. It does not matter if it's the OEM cartridge, a cheap standard international cartridge, or a "branded" std. int'l like Kaweco or MB or MonteVerde. They all leak, in all TW I have. Hoping for some suggestions.

 

Sorry to learn of this problem.  I typically use a converter in my TWs.  Even then, I've noticed that most of the time, the fit is wobbly.

[antares1966]

Sorry to hear that QC and customer service appear to be suffering at Levenger.  I bought my very first FP from them nearly two decades ago.  I also was rather shocked by what they are asking for ink these days.

[Misfit]

I got the nib and feed out of the housing of my True Writer Kyoto pen, and an unbranded Edison nib. I put the Edison nib with the True Writer feed, and got them securely in the housing. Now my Kyoto has a 1.1mm italic nib, and I am quite pleased as 1.1mm stub and italic nibs are my favorites. 

[donnweinberg]

8 hours ago, Misfit said:

I got the nib and feed out of the housing of my True Writer Kyoto pen, and an unbranded Edison nib. I put the Edison nib with the True Writer feed, and got them securely in the housing. Now my Kyoto has a 1.1mm italic nib, and I am quite pleased as 1.1mm stub and italic nibs are my favorites. 

 

Great to know, Misfit.  I've replaced the standard Levenger nibs with small Schmidt 14k gold nibs to good effect in some of these pens.

[lantanagal]

Just to add my two cents, I have also been badgering Levenger to put back their history page, to no avail.  They seem not to care about collectors and loyal fans...  I might try reaching out to their founder in the hope he has some influence or can share the files with us... 

[Misfit]

Please do reach out. I really want to see the images again. 

[donnweinberg]

I have tried also, as you can see from some of my comments earlier.  I received a message that they were working on restoring it as a blog of theirs, but nothing has come of it for several months since then.  

[inkstainedruth]

On 3/13/2024 at 9:55 AM, SLinkster said:

I accidentally won the auction for this blue Metalist. I put in a real low-ball bid and apparently nobody else was interested (Misfit). I think tax and shipping is more than my winning bid.

That's a pretty pen!  Nice haul!

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[Misfit]

I bid on and won by $1 another True Writer Kyoto, this time with a F nib. The seller called it Kyoto Fire. I’m not sure if that is a correct color name. The pen has a lighter cap, so I figured it was worth the risk of getting the same pen twice. 
 

Should we keep bugging Levenger to restore the History of the True Writer?  You’d think they would do that for their own flagship pen. 

[Misfit]

On 3/13/2024 at 8:55 AM, SLinkster said:

I put in a real low-ball bid and apparently nobody else was interested (Misfit). I think tax and shipping is more than my winning bid

Once I’m made of money, maybe I’ll want them all. eBay keeps sending double emails about True Writer fountain pens that are often rollerball or ballpoint. Fortunately I scrolled down on one and saw the Kyoto for sale. 
 

Maybe I’ll try your bidding method, and see if I can be as successful as you were.