Stipula Pens....are they any good?? any Issues with them??

[CA_Cosmo_01]

I Was looking to buy one of these pens and I have heard they have some quality control issues with their nibs and even Pistons knobs... Is this true?? if anyone of you has a Stipula Pen, what do you think of it?? is it worth the buy?? I am debating between purchasing a Scribo or Stipula but I already have a few Scribo's. Any advice is welcomed!!! thanks 

 

Mark 

Edited January 29, 2022 by CA_Cosmo_01
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[Uncial]

Stipula make a lot of pens. Hard to give an answer without knowing what exactly you are looking at. I can tell you I own an Orient Express Stipula. It's a great pen. Owned a large acrylic model with white, black and gold through it - can't recall the model - it was good too, but I sold it on. 

 

I can tell you tgat the Scribo Feel is a very special pen that personally I would highly recommend. A few things to note are that it doesn't post, it's bigger than you might think, faceted barrels aren't for everyone, the step is not anywhere near as annoying as it might look and they have fantastic nibs.

[Doug C]

I have a number of them (including the Orient Express) and I love them but they ARE hit or miss.

As Uncial mentioned it would be helpful to know which models you're looking at.

[Paul-in-SF]

A lot of the complaints I have heard have to do with their titanium T-Flex nib. I had one that I couldn't get to write worth a damn so I sent it to a nibmeister and now it writes fine. The point for me is that I shouldn't have had to do that. But that's just my anecdote. 

[Uncial]

The T Flex nibs can be strange beasts - a little like Pelikan broads on the M1000. In the case of both nibs I wrote without any issues. Gave them to a friend to play with and they both skipped like crazy. I took them back and they were fine for me. It was peculiar to say the least, but not the first time its happened with either of those nibs mentioned. I'm afraid I have no sound explanation.

[Audrey T]

I recently bought the Stipula Ventidue (Copper Touch), and I found that it is almost impossible for me (or my husband) to turn the piston knob. I'm going to have to send it back. When I wrote to inquire about it, they said that there was nothing to be done about it except to maybe try a lubricated ink, which I did.* The knob loosens up a tiny bit over time, but I find it pretty unsatisfactory overall, regardless. And I can't have a pen that I have to get would-be-uninkstained bystanders to help me fill with ink.

*(The pen is not built to be taken apart, so you can't lubricate the knob.)

[CA_Cosmo_01]

The Stipula Model I was thinking of Purchasing is an Etruria Faceted model. It is a Piston Filler with a 14k nib or 18k nib, I think.  I wanted to buy it because it will be my "First" Stipula Fountain Pen. I like to own a "Variety" of different fountain pens Brand and Models. I like to try different ones out since there are soooo many fountain pens out there. As I mentioned to you guys before, I do own about 5 Scribo pens and absolutely love them!!... 2 - Piumas, 3 - Feel models. My last Scribo Feel Model however, did have the ring near the nib fall off so I had to Re-Glue it on my self and polish the excess glue off of the grip section. Kind of disappointed after spending $600 dollars on this pen. Other than this, the Scribos have been well worth the money. They are very large pens, secrete tons of ink, write smooth, you can take them apart...and have done so already and lastly...they are drop dead gorgeous!!!! But I want to keep exploring the waters and try other brands, i don't have a problem at all buying another Scribo, just curious about other brands. 

 

The Stipula Etruria Faceted models are something I have never had before, so just really curious as to how they write. I did hear issues with the piston knobs failing and not bing able to fill ink. Other issues I have heard is with their nibs, they skip, Dry, scratchy and just not checked properly upon leaving the factory or shipped to customers by retailers. Just wanted to know other insights before spending a significant amount of money on another Fountain pen. 

 

 

Edited January 30, 2022 by CA_Cosmo_01

[A Smug Dill]

Perhaps the money would be better spent this round on a Santini Italia pen, then, if you don't already have one. Piston-fillers, with faceted designs for some models if that's what you prefer, and gold nibs made in-house that can be tuned or customised by the manufacturer itself if you (order from Santini directly and) so request. Their customer service is stellar, and twice they've paid for return shipping, fixed the issue for me, then sent my pen back to me by UPS express service from Italy free of charge to me, without the question of whether the pen was still within the warranty period ever coming up. (The second issue was only discovered almost two years after I've had the pen.) Oh, and the nibs are tested before the pen is sent to the customer in the first place; the test sheet is included in the package, and photos of it can be sent to the customer ahead of dispatch of the pen, to ensure he/she is happy with it, if specific nib work or attention was requested while the order is being processed.

 

[CA_Cosmo_01]

5 hours ago, A Smug Dill said:

Perhaps the money would be better spent this round on a Santini Italia pen, then, if you don't already have one. Piston-fillers, with faceted designs for some models if that's what you prefer, and gold nibs made in-house that can be tuned or customised by the manufacturer itself if you (order from Santini directly and) so request. Their customer service is stellar, and twice they've paid for return shipping, fixed the issue for me, then sent my pen back to me by UPS express service from Italy free of charge to me, without the question of whether the pen was still within the warranty period ever coming up. (The second issue was only discovered almost two years after I've had the pen.) Oh, and the nibs are tested before the pen is sent to the customer in the first place; the test sheet is included in the package, and photos of it can be sent to the customer ahead of dispatch of the pen, to ensure he/she is happy with it, if specific nib work or attention was requested while the order is being processed.

 

 

 

Thanks for the info on Santini Pens, They look absolutely stunning!! Why have I not ever heard of them before??? I just looked at their website and very impressive models. Can you show us pics of the ones you have?? Does anyone else have any other Brands in mind??  

 

Mark R

Edited January 30, 2022 by CA_Cosmo_01

[A Smug Dill]

2 hours ago, CA_Cosmo_01 said:

Can you show us pics of the ones you have?

 

I only have one Santini Italia pen, and that's the Calypso Mother-of-Pearl:

https://www.santini-italia.com/calypso-mother-of-pearl.php

 

I don't talk about the pen much because I didn't choose well for myself, and the shape of the section as well as the position of the thread on it just doesn't agree with my grip. I picked the pen on account of it being different looking with the mother-of-pearl panels and ebonite cap and finials, and that it was offered at a discount at the time, so I thought it might be a good first try with the brand. I'd come close to pulling the trigger on a Nonagon so many times, but I'm not really that big on ebonite as a material (which, for the avoidance of doubt, I simply don't see as superior and deserving of a premium over, say, cellulose acetate, not that I despise ebonite) to use for a pen body all over, and I keep getting special offers on Aurora pens and such in a similar price range. Even though Aurora isn't a brand free of QC problems altogether — and, thankfully, I haven't had to test the customer service experience of dealing with its Italian head office myself, since the retailers I use have been really good about taking responsibility with sorting out product issues I reported — we have about 16 Aurora pens between my wife and I, and just one Santini Italia pen so far.

 

I just spent the afternoon cleaning out some of my unduly neglected Aurora pens. Among them is a Ottantotto Sigaro Blu which, according to my records, was last filled in August 2020 (and never emptied, flushed and dried in preparation of deep storage since). The ink reservoir was still half-full with Herbin Bleu des Profondeurs when I checked today, and the pen still wrote when uncapped, after hard-starting for the first two words. That's bloody impressive!

 

[como]

@CA_Cosmo_01 Stipula 14k Sti-flex nibs are quite nice. I find the 18k a bit on the stiff side. Their self-cleaning piston, meanwhile cleans very well, tends to be very stiff, and as you know, works the opposite of a normal piston. Clockwise turn expels ink and counter clockwise draws ink. With this piston, I suggest:

 

1. You turn the piston at least once in a while (when you don't use the pen) just to keep the piston not "stuck";

2. You leave the piston positioned in the middle of the barrel, so next time in case you forget which way to turn, you will never kill the piston by turning the wrong way and dislodging it.

 

I have not had any problems with their nibs or pistons, but I am always careful with pens, especially these which have a kind of a special mechanism. Stipula's faceted design is really beautiful.

 

Good luck whichever you end up getting, Stipula or not!

[Carrau]

I purchased my first (and only) Stipula pen 18 months ago, with a fine and extra stub nib.  Neither nib would write with any ink flow.  I contacted the vendor first, who in turn contacted Stipula, and I continue to be told (after several emails to the vendor and Stipula over 6 months) that replacement nibs were on the way. I gave up last Fall, and sent them to a nibmeister who was able to make the necessary adjustments, and they write satisfactorily now.  Between the  poor quality control, and poor customer service, that will be my last Stipula pen.  
On the other hand, I have nothing but praise for the quality of the Santini pens, of which I own several.  Their customer service is top notch up front and after the sale, and I can’t say enough about them as a company.  In addition, they have a selection of beautiful materials as you’ve seen.  Like with many Visconti pens, I would ask myself, why take the chance of disappointment?

[CA_Cosmo_01]

So far the issues with the Stipula pens are the same ones i have heard about in the past. To spend a good sum of money on a pen to only send it out to a nibmeister for proper tuning, is quite disappointing. Their fountain pens are not exactly cheap either, 600 ++ dollars for one of their limited edition models. The fact that they are limited is what draws me a lot to their pens, knowing that 18 pieces of a certain model where made makes them more desirable. The issue's however over shadow everything else but they are very lovely none the less. There is a large Stipula fan group out there, i have seen a few youtube videos of people going crazy over some of their Cellulose limited edition models.

 

Speaking of Pen Materials, which is more valuable on a fountain pen??? Ebonite, Cellulose, Cellulose Acetate or Resin??? I know a lot of Fountain enthusiast rave about Cellulose and Ebonite as a superior material for pens?? why is that??

 

The Santini pens.....wow!! i spent a good part of my morning looking at their product line..very nice pens indeed. Their ebonite pens are superb, quality pens without a doubt.  Thanks for sharing this pen brand, without a doubt I will be buying one of these in the next coming weeks. 

 

The aurora pens are very lovely also, i have one in a Fine Flex nib...the optima model. Limited to 330 pieces world wide in 5 different color combinations. The nib was a bit dry to write with at first, had to open up the tines on the nib and the ink-flow improved significantly. One of my favorite pens thus far, writes like a dream. 

Edited January 30, 2022 by CA_Cosmo_01

[A Smug Dill]

18 minutes ago, CA_Cosmo_01 said:

Speaking of Pen Materials, which is more valuable on a fountain pen?

 

Valuable in which sense?

 

A pen with a body cast from solid gold is going to be valuable as an object, even if it's just polished to a mirror finish and not otherwise decorated, if you just want to talk about material and not design and craftsmanship.

 

[Aether]

I'm sure @CA_Cosmo_01 is referring to materials that are desired by pen fans.  There was no need to pedantically pick apart their question.

 

@CA_Cosmo_01 I would imagine that there are aficionados of each type of material that you mention.  Perhaps a few more in one group than another but I doubt there's a significant leaning.  I've got a couple of ebonite pens, well made, but the material is just okay to me. Celluloid has some interesting colours but suffers from degeneration over time I've heard.  Personally if the pen feels okay in the hand I am not that interested in what it is made of.  YMMV of course

[A Smug Dill]

12 minutes ago, Aether said:

I would imagine that there are aficionados of each type of material that you mention.  Perhaps a few more in one group than another but I doubt there's a significant leaning.

 

Exactly why I was questioning it. If the idea is to find a material that is valuable, in that others — prospective buyers in the secondhand market — are going to be willing to pay good money to take it off one's hands, then it isn't primarily about any special performance characteristics or properties that a material will give the pen as a writing instrument.

 

If the question is about materials' properties, then it doesn't matter whether there are other fans, whether the material is dirt cheap to make, and whether the retail prices of pens with such bodies is high or low (compared with other materials, or with the cost of production).

[CA_Cosmo_01]

I do have a few Ebonite pens and absolutely love them. I heard Ebonite in terms of longevity is a better material for a fountain pen. Its corrosion resistant, fountain pen inks in general are very acidic and over time they can corrode the internals of a fountain pen. An ebonite pen is great if you are especially going to Eye dropper fill it. Ebonite has been my go to material for a while now, Ebonite body, Ebonite Feed ( Very nice inflow ) with a friction fit Nib. Cellulose from what i have heard, is hard to manufacture it. Takes a long time to make it and is flammable and hazardous to people that make it. Their is less of it, so there for more valuable. Despite this, in terms of "Longevity" Cellulose, Cellulose Acetate and Resin....don't hold up nearly as well as Ebonite. Correct me if i am Wong guys!!

[Uncial]

16 minutes ago, CA_Cosmo_01 said:

in terms of "Longevity" Cellulose, Cellulose Acetate and Resin....don't hold up nearly as well as Ebonite. Correct me if i am Wong guys!!

Seems a bold claim to me.

[sansenri]

Stipula has changed with time, but they have always been a rather small company that is not easy to compare with big brands.

Most of their pens are beautiful though, and it's up to you whether you can forgive them for being less "perfect" overall than some other brands, if you cannot, then leave their pens alone.

If I had to buy a pen for reliability I'd probably get a Pelikan (I do already own a number), for beauty though some Stipula pens are hard to beat.

As I mentioned however Stipula has changed over time, they have had a period of financial trouble, then after a change of ownership they have started revamping their models. I have a preference for their previously  produced models, while in my opinion their latest offer has slightly lost some of it's appeal, at least to me.

Regarding the nibs and pistons, although I own probably more than 40 Stipula pens, I have never found a defective piston or nib, certainly their pistons are stiff, not free flowing as a Pelikan (if that is what you want, get a Pelikan...), but as I said that was before the changes, I have no experience on their current nibs (originally nibs were made by Bock for them).

 

If the Etruria is what you are after I would suggest you check this thread

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/345203-stipula-etruria-photo-thread/

(a number of my Etrurias are on show too...)

 

The faceted Etruria was originally designed by Stipula exclusively for Chatterley Luxuries, with a series of celluloid pens.

More recently Stipula has launched a few faceted Etrurias in resin that look nice, but seem to cost too much for a resin pen.

 

Still some of the earlier Stipula are fascinating pens

a few of my non-Etruria Stipulas:

 

Stipula Saturno Crescent filler in ebonite

 

 

Stipula Florentia Scriptorium in ebonite

 

Stipula Duetto Cognac

 

Stipula 22s

 

Stipula Novecento rosso foco

 

Stipula green ebonite

 

Stipula Vespri Siciliani black ebonite & rose gold

 

[Arkanabar]

I bought a couple of Stipula Splash pens with flex nibs, half off for clearance ($40 instead of $80 each).  This is a decision I've come to regret.

 

First, they are very similar, visually, to the Dollar 717i demonstrator, a pen made by Dollar Industries in Pakistan for the domestic market.  I can't say if the differences are greater than those between the Jinhao 992 and the Monteverde Monza (which is almost no difference at all).  Had I compared them to pictures of the 717i I've seen online, I likely would have balked, even though the 717i has a blind cap over the piston knob, and the Splash's piston knob is external..

 

Second, they don't write.  When the nibs are seated well on the plastic feeds, there is a VERY sizeable gap between them.  When I pull them out far enough that they'll actually touch the feed, the ink just drips out of the point.

 

If ever I buy another Stipula, it will be in person, and I'll get to test write with it before I do so.  Given the stunning beauty of some of the ebonites in Sansenri's post above, I just might be tempted to do so.

 

I like ebonite pens.  Ebonite provides a sensation of traction that celluloid (i.e. cellulose acetate) and acrylic lack.  I pay a little extra for ebonite, because I understand that it's harder to work with than other materials.  But I don't imagine for a moment that ebonite means anything to anyone else.  And, because they often provide equal performance at far better value, I usually buy cheap pens, that are more trouble to sell than they are worth.