What pen(s) are you using today?

[irrigger]

Decided to change things up this week. I haven't inked my 51 in a very long time and decided it needed to be brought back into the rotation. The paper is a meeting book by Clairefontaine.

 

[mallymal1]

Parker 45 Special. Cult Pens Deep Dark Green.

 

[Bo Bo Olson]

I have a similar but with a rolled gold cap 45. Mine is made in England, and has a regular flex/Japanese soft nib....which was a big surprise to me. I found out that day that the English made Parkers having to compete with Swan, had softer nibs than in the states. I'd got a Jr. Duofold in semi-flex.

 

If your pen was made in the States, is your nib nail, which was common in Parker or semi-nail like the P-75.

 

IMO the large P-45 had good balance for a large pen. From the thinning barrel is my guess. Outside the second model P-45 and the thin Snorkel I find balance as I describe it, lacking in large pens..........but I came from the era of mostly standard or medium large pens......'50-60's.

 

I don't have the shorter stubbier first model P-45, so don't know if that was a medium-long pen like the P-51 or a large pen like the second model.

 

[mallymal1]

10 minutes ago, Bo Bo Olson said:

I have a similar but with a rolled gold cap 45. Mine is made in England, and has a regular flex/Japanese soft nib....which was a big surprise to me. I found out that day that the English made Parkers having to compete with Swan, had softer nibs than in the states. I'd got a Jr. Duofold in semi-flex.

 

If your pen was made in the States, is your nib nail, which was common in Parker or semi-nail like the P-75.

 

IMO the large P-45 had good balance for a large pen. From the thinning barrel is my guess. Outside the second model P-45 and the thin Snorkel I find balance as I describe it, lacking in large pens..........but I came from the era of mostly standard or medium large pens......'50-60's.

 

I don't have the shorter stubbier first model P-45, so don't know if that was a medium-long pen like the P-51 or a large pen like the second model.

 

 

This pen was "made in the UK" 1st quarter of 2007 (the 45 was discontinued in 2008). 

 

It's M nib is gold plated steel, and is a smooth nail, like most 45's. I'm not surprised that you were shocked at finding a soft one!  

 

Your 45 with a rolled gold cap (P45 Custom), should have a 14k gold nib, and that's probably why it has a softer feel.  The 45 Flighter DeLuxe ("made in England") I posted on 07.08.22 has such a nib, and definitely has some spring. 👍

 

 

 

 

 

[Bo Bo Olson]

3 hours ago, mallymal1 said:

a 14k gold nib, and that's probably why it has a softer feel.

I think it was just made in regular flex....Your steel nib may be semi-nail or nail. Parker had to make a 'softer'/ more flexible nib when they had their factory in GB than in the States, because the English Swan went from nail to sueprflex.

 

I've not found gold to be innately softer than steel. You have nail, which is nail in both steel and gold. I have a 18 K Lamy nail, that is as nailish as you wish, unless you are talking of the nail's nail, a 14 K Pelikan 400 D nib. For climbing the North Face of the Eiger or dismantling main line tanks.  ( I don't have the softer nail/semi-nail?  H nib.)

 

I have a feeling, can't prove in I tend to say away from nail and semi-nail, that someone started this myth of soft gold nails, by comparing a real steel nail to a gold semi-nail. Goes for any other flex rating, IMO.

 

I have German nibbed regular flex, semi-flex and maxi-flex in gold and steel and they appear to be even to me. My'82-96  400 & 200 Pelikans until 4-5 years ago, were even springy regular flex.

I have old Osmia in gold and steel, and now kick my self with a rented size 18 boot, for being a gold snob. Osmia's steel nibs are = to their great gold ones. I could have 4-5 more of those steel Osmia's had I not been a gold snob.

[mallymal1]

19 minutes ago, Bo Bo Olson said:

I think it was just made in regular flex....Your steel nib may be semi-nail or nail. Parker had to make a 'softer'/ more flexible nib when they had their factory in GB than in the States, because the English Swan went from nail to sueprflex.

 

I've not found gold to be innately softer than steel. You have nail, which is nail in both steel and gold. I have a 18 K Lamy nail, that is as nailish as you wish, unless you are talking of the nail's nail, a 14 K Pelikan 400 D nib. For climbing the North Face of the Eiger or dismantling main line tanks.  ( I don't have the softer nail/semi-nail?  H nib.)

 

I have a feeling, can't prove in I tend to say away from nail and semi-nail, that someone started this myth of soft gold nails, by comparing a real steel nail to a gold semi-nail. Goes for any other flex rating, IMO.

 

I have German nibbed regular flex, semi-flex and maxi-flex in gold and steel and they appear to be even to me. My'82-96  400 & 200 Pelikans until 4-5 years ago, were even springy regular flex.

I have old Osmia in gold and steel, and now kick my self with a rented size 18 boot, for being a gold snob. Osmia's steel nibs are = to their great gold ones. I could have 4-5 more of those steel Osmia's had I not been a gold snob.

 

It was just a maybe.

 

Climbing the North Face of the Eiger was a boyhood dream of mine.  

 

 

[Tashi_Tsering]

My favorite vintage pens: Waterman 52V, Waterman 52 1/2 V and Perry&Co “Vidura” 555

[mallymal1]

9 minutes ago, Tashi_Tsering said:

My favorite vintage pens: Waterman 52V, Waterman 52 1/2 V and Perry&Co “Vidura” 555

 

Wonderful.

[Tashi_Tsering]

5 minutes ago, mallymal1 said:

 

Wonderful.

 

Thanks!

[jandrew]

Another of my main rotation ... Ranga Bamboo with a bit of customization:

[Karmachanic]

Late 40s Soennecken 118 14k F semi-flex.  Perle Noir

 

[essayfaire]

1 hour ago, Tashi_Tsering said:

My favorite vintage pens: Waterman 52V, Waterman 52 1/2 V and Perry&Co “Vidura” 555

I love this arrangement!

[Ceilidh]

24 minutes ago, Karmachanic said:

Late 40s Soennecken 118 14k F semi-flex.  Perle Noir

 

 

 

[Bo Bo Olson]

Beautiful pens.....my  two '52's are a bit worn BCHR....two Wet noodles one a 6X the other a rare 7X.

[Tashi_Tsering]

2 minutes ago, Bo Bo Olson said:

Beautiful pens.....my  two '52's are a bit worn BCHR....two Wet noodles one a 6X the other a rare 7X.

Thanks!
 

My 52 1/2 V have stiff stub nib, 52V — flexy, but not wet noodle, I think semi-flex or so. Perry&Co have perfect nib, I think, one of the best in my collection — broad, slightly stub and full flex. 

[miwishi63]

A Majohn A1 - labelled Moonman and an kit pen from a dear friend. 

 

Mike

[Misfit]

I used a Franklin-Christoph model 31 Omnis in Italian Ice, filled with Kaweco Summer Purple.  The pen has a broad SIG nib (by Audrey). 

[mallymal1]

Parker 45 Flighter Special.  Parker blue cartridge. Made in UK 2004. Firm gold plate steel M nib.2004. 

[Kumachan]

Today I am trying out my latest vintage acquisition: The Conway Stewart 286 pen with a medium nib which I believe has been worked on, previously. This flexy nib is my introduction to the world of vintage line variation!  Please excuse my poor handwriting and shoddy iPhone pic.

[Number99]

On 8/12/2022 at 5:15 PM, mallymal1 said:

Parker 45 Special. Cult Pens Deep Dark Green.

 

I keep waiting for my local appearance of the 45 Special.

 

Here I go, Parker 45 Coronet Blue Version.

 Made in USA 14k nib.

 Of course it is a pen rescued from the wild.

 

 Sorry for the bad photos.

 Shooting is the result of trial and error without theory because it is difficult to get close to the actual color.

 Images on product pages often show bright blue, but this is the actual color.

 Ink is not included.

 It is a post that considers appreciation as use.

 

The 45 variant is a flighter, so I don't know how to take pictures.

 I'll make it my homework and post it someday.

 

 

 

Edited August 13, 2022 by Number99