A bit of fun... 'You have 30 seconds to decide. You can only ever have one fountain pen. Which is it to be?'

[amberleadavis]

59 minutes ago, RayRay said:

Amber, that is a beautiful pen, and I love your handwriting.  Is that a stub/italic nib, and if so, how did you obtain it?  The retailers I am aware of only carry F/M/B sizes.

 

The pen is from West Germany, so it's more than a few years old. The nib I purchased separately. I have seen on eBay that you can get the m800 with an IB nib. This nib is a BB.

 

Thank you for the compliments.

[TheRedBeard]

1 hour ago, RayRay said:

 

I have two of the Parker Duofold International, both in black, one with gold trim and the other with platinum trim.  

Unbeatable classic  

[ethernautrix]

21 hours ago, 51ISH said:

Thanks for posting the picture!

 

My pleasure, @51ISH.

[TSherbs]

If this means for the rest of my living days I can only have this same one pen, then the Lamy Nexx (for its cushioned grip--the most comfortable pen for me to hold). Writing will likely hurt my hand more and more as I age. Facts is facts.

[51ISH]

4 hours ago, TSherbs said:

If this means for the rest of my living days I can only have this same one pen, then the Lamy Nexx (for its cushioned grip--the most comfortable pen for me to hold). Writing will likely hurt my hand more and more as I age. Facts is facts.

[Runnin_Ute]

Among my vintage pens- say pre 1960?

 

The Pelikan 140 hands down. A Parker 51 would be in the top 3,

 

Among all my pens? Probably still the 140, but it's nice to have options.....

[51ISH]

1 minute ago, Runnin_Ute said:

Among my vintage pens- say pre 1960?

 

The Pelikan 140 hands down. A Parker 51 would be in the top 3,

 

Among all my pens? Probably still the 140, but it's nice to have options.....

  There's been lots of love for Parker 51's and Pelikan's throughout this thread

[Pale.Ink.Tom]

On 3/19/2023 at 1:42 AM, ethernautrix said:

Super easy: Nakaya Piccolo Cigar, kuro-tamenuri (Pilot #15 PO nib), the first pen on the left (inked with Sailor Kiwaguro).

Thank you @ethernautrix I always enjoy seeing your pens especially your Nakaya Piccolo. I've made many visits to Nakaya site pages since you first showed it.

I remember how much you love it and your PO nib.

I have a feeling I would also!

 

P.I.Tom

[es9]

On 3/12/2023 at 6:10 PM, mizgeorge said:

Of my own pens? Pelikan 140 OM nib, light green stripe binde. It hasn't let me down since my grandfather gave it to me in about 1969, and I don't imagine it ever will. 

 

If I could choose anything, a turquoise Soennecken 111 (any size) with an OBB nib. In my dreams.....

This thread is awesome and sets out a really interesting exercise. I’d propose one amendment—instead of max one pen, make it up to three: one modern pen, one vintage pen, and one wildcard. Define these however you want. 
 

My picks—

 

Modern: Conid Regular, EF nib. It’s the only Conid I’ve used, and it’s one of three modern pens I own (the other being a TWSBI I use when traveling and a Lamy 2000 that doesn’t make my list). The Regular is the Conid I’ve been able to get my hands on since they shut down. It’s an incredible pen, and I’m sure I will like the Minimalistica and Kingsize even better. 

 

Vintage: Parker 51 Aero in midnight blue, F nib. It’s a very tight race between this and an Esterbrook J, both of which are the most reliable and utilitarian vintage pens I’ve ever used. The win goes to the 51 for a few reasons, but one is that I’m generally not a huge fan of lever-fillers. 
 

Wildcard: Sheaffer Snorkel Demo, M nib. I really like how Snorkels write, but they don’t beat a 51. The filling mechanism, however, is incredibly cool. 

[51ISH]

4 minutes ago, es9 said:

This thread is awesome and sets out a really interesting exercise. I’d propose one amendment—instead of max one pen, make it up to three: one modern pen, one vintage pen, and one wildcard. Define these however you want. 
 

My picks—

 

Modern: Conid Regular, EF nib. It’s the only Conid I’ve used, and it’s one of three modern pens I own (the other being a TWSBI I use when traveling and a Lamy 2000 that doesn’t make my list). The Regular is the Conid I’ve been able to get my hands on since they shut down. It’s an incredible pen, and I’m sure I will like the Minimalistica and Kingsize even better. 

 

Vintage: Parker 51 Aero in midnight blue, F nib. It’s a very tight race between this and an Esterbrook J, both of which are the most reliable and utilitarian vintage pens I’ve ever used. The win goes to the 51 for a few reasons, but one is that I’m generally not a huge fan of lever-fillers. 
 

Wildcard: Sheaffer Snorkel Demo. I really like how Snorkels write, but it doesn’t beat a 51. The filling mechanism, however, is incredibly cool. 

 

This thread is awesome and sets out a really interesting exercise.

 

Thank you for your kind words and your suggestions    To be honest I'm amazed the response that the thread has received. But I've been pretty 'firm' from the start...So, you can only take one... Which one is it to be? 🙂  (As a side note...it doesn't have to be a pen you own...so if you want to take some 'dream pen' you could never afford or justify buying...that's OK too...)

[51ISH]

Well, it looks like my thread has run it's course! I'd just like to thank everyone that joined in and contributed.  I never thought for a second when I started the thread in the early hours of a Tuesday morning,  while I was suffering from COVID on Annual Leave, that over 4K members would view the thread, and nearly 200 members would take the time to post a reply. Without 'counting' every reply, I think it's pretty clear the 'Winner' in terms of numbers that voted for this pen, by a country mile was the Parker 51.... Which at first really surprised me, and then didn't.  Maybe the 'Spitfire' of fountain pens? 

[TSherbs]

13 hours ago, 51ISH said:

... Maybe the 'Spitfire' of fountain pens? 

 

Fountain pens for sky-writing, huh?  😁

[ParramattaPaul]

3 hours ago, TSherbs said:

 

Fountain pens for sky-writing, huh?  😁

A certain well known pen maker does make Spitfire and (Hawker) Hurricane fountain pens. 

[TSherbs]

Yes

[51ISH]

2 hours ago, ParramattaPaul said:

A certain well known pen maker does make Spitfire and (Hawker) Hurricane fountain pens. 

 

A little out of my budget unfortunately. 😞

[ParramattaPaul]

42 minutes ago, 51ISH said:

 

A little out of my budget unfortunately. 😞

Mine as well -- hugely.