Jump to content

Hello From Adelaide, Australia.

banistersmind

By banistersmind
in Introductions

 Share

Recommended Posts

banistersmind Dipped Only

banistersmind

Posted
  • Author
Posted
34 minutes ago, A Smug Dill said:

 

I lived and worked in Adelaide, back when it still hosted the Grand Prix. When I was in uni, that meant having to contend with the road blocks and diversions at exam time, and having to circumvent those to get to the exam hall off-campus. Then, when I was working, when the Grand Prix was happening, driving into work which usually took less than ten minutes (because I lived less than 4km from the CBD) would take north of 45 minutes when the roads off the northeastern corner of the city were blocked off for the race. I was called in on Grand Prix Sunday one year as a work emergency, even after I've given the best technical advice I could for troubleshooting over the phone. It took me 50 minutes to get to work, by which time the staff has moved to Plan B (i.e. manual processing); and, when I got there, I discovered that my advice were not followed, and the problem could have been resolved just by properly confirming the status lights on the devices, and “power-cycling” the devices as I would have instructed.

 

Oh! What a holla-baloo! I did always enjoy the F1 race and I'm hoping we get the V8's back here in the near future. What I'd really love to see are the EV's - that would be really cool to see. 

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites
  • Replies 42
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

  • banistersmind

    17

  • A Smug Dill

    5

  • mhwombat

    3

  • PAKMAN

    2

Popular Days

Top Posters In This Topic

Popular Days

Posted Images

banistersmind Dipped Only

banistersmind

Posted
  • Author
Posted

So - I am a week into my journey with fountain pens and I am looking to invest in a quality instrument. I have set myself a budget of between $200 - $300 AUD and I am leaning towards a fine nib, metal barrel and something striking to look at. 

 

I would welcome recommendations from you all to aid me. Let's talk instruments. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites
mhwombat Rare

mhwombat

Posted
Posted

Welcome to FPN! I've been to OZ twice, and Adelaide is beautiful.

looking for a pen with maki-e dancing wombats

Link to comment
Share on other sites
banistersmind Dipped Only

banistersmind

Posted
  • Author
Posted
14 minutes ago, mhwombat said:

Welcome to FPN! I've been to OZ twice, and Adelaide is beautiful.

 

Appreciate that @mhwombat! Yeah, I have a great affection for Adelaide. I have to admit I wasn't born here. I hail from eastern Victoria but I've lived here since the late 90's and she's gotten under my skin. 

 

We have a lovely pen store in the CBD that walked me through a great introduction to fountain pens last week and I felt confident that I could begin my adventure off the back of their advice.

 

Where are you writing in from?

Link to comment
Share on other sites
banistersmind Dipped Only

banistersmind

Posted
  • Author
Posted
10 hours ago, PAKMAN said:

Hello and Welcome to FPN!! So glad to have you as a member!!

 

Thank you Sir! Can I ask where you're writing in from?!

Link to comment
Share on other sites
PAKMAN Ancient Artifact

PAKMAN

Posted
Posted

Arkansas USA

PAKMAN

minibanner.gif                                    

        My Favorite Pen Restorer                                            

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites
mhwombat Rare

mhwombat

Posted
Posted
2 hours ago, banistersmind said:

Where are you writing in from?

I'm in beautiful rural Donegal, in Ireland. I'm in a Gaeltacht (a region where there are a number of Irish language speakers.

 

By the way, my username "mhwombat" is short for Muddle-Headed Wombat, main character in the children's classic stories by Ruth Park. So you can tell that my visits to Oz made quite an impression on me!

looking for a pen with maki-e dancing wombats

Link to comment
Share on other sites
A Smug Dill Museum Piece

A Smug Dill

Posted
Posted
2 hours ago, banistersmind said:

I have set myself a budget of between $200 - $300 AUD and I am leaning towards a fine nib, metal barrel and something striking to look at. 

 

I would welcome recommendations from you all to aid me. Let's talk instruments. 

 

What are your expectations of that nib, in terms of material (steel? gold?), characteristics (stiff-as-a-nail? soft? ‘flexy’?), line width, etc.?

I endeavour to be frank and truthful in what I write, show or otherwise present, when I relate my first-hand experiences that are not independently verifiable; and link to third-party content where I can, when I make a claim or refute a statement of fact in a thread. If there is something you can verify for yourself, I entreat you to do so, and judge for yourself what is right, correct, and valid. I may be wrong, and my position or say-so is no more authoritative and carries no more weight than anyone else's here.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Mark from Yorkshire Collectors Item

Mark from Yorkshire

Posted
Posted

Hello and welcome from West Yorkshire United Kingdom 🇬🇧 

Mark from the Latin Marcus follower of mars, the god of war.

 

Yorkshire Born, Yorkshire Bred. 
 

my current favourite author is Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

largebronze-letter-exc.pngflying-letter-exc.png

Link to comment
Share on other sites
mhwombat Rare

mhwombat

Posted
Posted
2 hours ago, banistersmind said:

So - I am a week into my journey with fountain pens and I am looking to invest in a quality instrument. I have set myself a budget of between $200 - $300 AUD and I am leaning towards a fine nib, metal barrel and something striking to look at. 

 

I would welcome recommendations from you all to aid me. Let's talk instruments. 

 

Fountain pens tastes are very individual, and you probably don't know your own tastes yet. Maybe consider getting a couple less expensive pens first? There's a world of things to explore: different filling systems, different types of nibs, different body shape and material.

looking for a pen with maki-e dancing wombats

Link to comment
Share on other sites
banistersmind Dipped Only

banistersmind

Posted
  • Author
Posted
13 hours ago, A Smug Dill said:

 

What are your expectations of that nib, in terms of material (steel? gold?), characteristics (stiff-as-a-nail? soft? ‘flexy’?), line width, etc.?

 

I don't really know to be honest. Although I have been told that gold is the best material for a nib because it kinda 'molds' to my writing style over time.

 

I am a Nurse and I have a reputation for a lovely style of writing. It is not pure cursive but it is close. So I want something that I can scribe with under pressure, while maintaining my style and legibility. 

 

I am also a writer and I take a lot of notes, so it has to be something of a work horse as well. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites
banistersmind Dipped Only

banistersmind

Posted
  • Author
Posted
11 hours ago, Mark from Yorkshire said:

Hello and welcome from West Yorkshire United Kingdom 🇬🇧 

 

Hello Mark from West Yorkshire!!

Link to comment
Share on other sites
banistersmind Dipped Only

banistersmind

Posted
  • Author
Posted
10 hours ago, mhwombat said:

 

Fountain pens tastes are very individual, and you probably don't know your own tastes yet. Maybe consider getting a couple less expensive pens first? There's a world of things to explore: different filling systems, different types of nibs, different body shape and material.

 

Good advice @mhwombat I will take my time with this. Already, I'm mentally scrutinising what I like, what I don't with my current cheapy and postulating on what I would like. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites
banistersmind Dipped Only

banistersmind

Posted
  • Author
Posted
12 hours ago, Wahl said:

:W2FPN:

 

G'day Wahl! Wahl is a great brand of Barber's instruments!

Link to comment
Share on other sites
A Smug Dill Museum Piece

A Smug Dill

Posted
Posted
2 hours ago, banistersmind said:

Although I have been told that gold is the best material for a nib because it kinda 'molds' to my writing style over time.

 

Hmmm, I don't believe that actually happens, not any more than steel nibs anyway. The tipping material is usually what gets ‘polished’ a particular way by virtue of the the user's handwriting style and technique, due friction from putting kilometres of ink tracks down on paper over a very long period of use; and the (typically iridium) tipping material on gold nibs is likely to be the same as, or at least very similar to, what is on steel nibs.

 

If your handwriting style actually causes a gold nib's tines to permanently change shape, that would not be a good thing.

 

2 hours ago, banistersmind said:

So I want something that I can scribe with under pressure, while maintaining my style and legibility. 

 

I am also a writer and I take a lot of notes, so it has to be something of a work horse as well. 

19 hours ago, banistersmind said:

I have set myself a budget of between $200 - $300 AUD and I am leaning towards a fine nib, metal barrel and something striking to look at. 

 

Well, then, I'd suggest a Diplomat Aero (or Elox, if you prefer) with a steel nib. Personally I think the Diplomat Excellence A2 is an even better pen, but I'll admit the Aero looks more striking (and I'm repeatedly tempted to get a second one, had I not been spending my funds for such acquisition on getting one Excellence A2 after another instead).

 

A Pelikan M215, with a suitably tipped EF or F nib, might also be a good fit. (There is some inconsistency and question with regard to how recently produced Pelikan nibs are tipped.)


You could try a Platinum PB-2500, which I know can be had for about US$88 (shipped to Australia) at worst. There are a number of things about it that I personally think are shortcomings; but in practice it is a good writing instrument if one intends to use it often and not ‘baby’ it, and the gold nib (which is leveraged from the Vicoh product line) on it is a little bouncy and quite lovely.

 

large.384413868_Pensrecommendedto@banistersmind.jpg.08c029893932c71a89ced9bd505d8d1a.jpg

 

large.1045672121_Writingsampleswithpensrecommendedto@banistersmind.jpg.ac4b0ab085eb51496423c54cb6d13a40.jpg

 

I endeavour to be frank and truthful in what I write, show or otherwise present, when I relate my first-hand experiences that are not independently verifiable; and link to third-party content where I can, when I make a claim or refute a statement of fact in a thread. If there is something you can verify for yourself, I entreat you to do so, and judge for yourself what is right, correct, and valid. I may be wrong, and my position or say-so is no more authoritative and carries no more weight than anyone else's here.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
dipper Vintage

dipper

Posted
Posted (edited)
On 5/20/2022 at 4:11 PM, banistersmind said:

I have no idea if it is a good pen or not but I guess it is a starting place nonetheless.

 

Welcome @banistersmind from the woodlands of Norfolk UK.

 

The video review below shows another (fairly similar) pen from the same "Online" brand as your be-safe pen. The reviewer compares that pen favourably to the well respected Lamy Safari pen. Also the video gives some info on the "Online" company, their cartridges, and compatibility with standard "international" cartridges and "converters" for using bottled ink.

 

Choosing a "better" pen?

I suggest you try just one more low-price pen first. Look for something with a few differences.... A different nib width, different body length, different weight, different materials used, etc.

After using both pens you will be much better tuned-in to what you like and don't like.

You may even find that you really like the cheaper pens! Some are excellent writers.

 

See this forum topic...

 

Edited by dipper
Link added
Link to comment
Share on other sites
Misfit Museum Piece

Misfit

Posted
Posted

Welcome from the American Midwest, suburban Kansas City, Missouri.

spacer.png

Link to comment
Share on other sites
amberleadavis Pen Dust

amberleadavis

Posted
Posted

Welcome. I enjoy the Online Pen company.

 

large.InkySeas.jpg.9e55d2f1eb4ae5d24f29c5b9459aa60d.jpg

Fountain pens are my preferred COLOR DELIVERY SYSTEM (in part because crayons melt in Las Vegas).

Create a Ghostly Avatar and I'll send you a letter. Check out some Ink comparisons: The Great PPS Comparison 

Don't know where to start?  Look at the Inky Topics O'day.  Then, see inks sorted by color: Blue Purple Brown Red Green Dark Green Orange Black Pinks Yellows Blue-Blacks Grey/Gray UVInks Turquoise/Teal MURKY

 

 

 

 

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share
Go to topic listing

  • Most Contributions

    1. amberleadavis
      amberleadavis
      43972
    2. PAKMAN
      PAKMAN
      35610
    3. inkstainedruth
      inkstainedruth
      31492
    4. Ghost Plane
      Ghost Plane
      28220
    5. Bo Bo Olson
      Bo Bo Olson
      27747

  • Upcoming Events

  • Blog Comments

    • Misfit
      On my second trip to Japan in seven months, while the going is good

      By Misfit · Posted

      Oh to have that translucent pink Prera! @migo984 has the Oeste series named after birds. There is a pink one, so I’m assuming Este is the same pen as Oeste.    Excellent haul. I have some Uniball One P pens. Do you like to use them? I like them enough, but don’t use them too much yet.    Do you or your wife use Travelers Notebooks? Seeing you were at Kyoto, I thought of them as there is a store there. 
    • A Smug Dill
      On my second trip to Japan in seven months, while the going is good

      By A Smug Dill · Posted

      It's not nearly so thick that I feel it comprises my fine-grained control, the way I feel about the Cross Peerless 125 or some of the high-end TACCIA Urushi pens with cigar-shaped bodies and 18K gold nibs. Why would you expect me or anyone else to make explicit mention of it, if it isn't a travesty or such a disappointment that an owner of the pen would want to bring it to the attention of his/her peers so that they could “learn from his/her mistake” without paying the price?
    • szlovak
      On my second trip to Japan in seven months, while the going is good

      By szlovak · Posted

      Why nobody says that the section of Tuzu besides triangular shape is quite thick. Honestly it’s the thickest one among my many pens, other thick I own is Noodler’s Ahab. Because of that fat section I feel more control and my handwriting has improved. I can’t say it’s comfortable or uncomfortable, but needs a moment to accommodate. It’s funny because my school years are long over. Besides this pen had horrible F nib. Tines were perfectly aligned but it was so scratchy on left stroke that collecte
    • stylographile
      Bits and bobs to bring with me to in-person meets

      By stylographile · Posted

      Awesome! I'm in the process of preparing my bag for our pen meet this weekend and I literally have none of the items you mention!! I'll see if I can find one or two!
    • inkstainedruth
      My notes and advice on fountain pen cleaning

      By inkstainedruth · Posted

      @asota -- Yeah, I think I have a few rolls in my fridge that are probably 20-30 years old at this point (don't remember now if they are B&W or color film) and don't even really know where to get the film processed, once the drive through kiosks went away....  I just did a quick Google search and (in theory) there was a place the next town over from me -- but got a 404 error message when I tried to click on the link....  Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth 

  • Chatbox

    You don't have permission to chat.
    Load More

  • Files






×
×
  • Create New...