In Praise of Small Pens

[Pen Ffynnon]

A few months ago, I was bending my poor husband's patient ear about how silly small pens were. "Look! Look how ridiculously small they are! They can't be comfortable to write with. How silly! I  would never buy such a thing!" And thus time passed, as I, in my happy smug-hood, bought no, zero, zilch, zip small pens. And now?

 

Well. Now, I humbly prostrate myself before those who walked the Path of the Small Pen before me and plead forgiveness for my ignorance.

 

So....have you any small pens?

[inkstainedruth]

I have a few.  Just flushed out a vintage lever filler Treasure pen (it's so short that I kept forgetting it was in the canister of inked up pens because it's so short, capped, that I couldn't see it (it's shorter than the canister is).  

I have a few Morrison ringtops that are a little longer (the two with the gold-filled filigree overlay are currently on lease to a movie company but I should be getting them back pretty soon), and one with a sterling filigree overlay and one that that has a engraved sterling overlay (don't remember if that fourth one is up and running).

I have a Mabie Todd Swan ringtop that I got for cheap in an antiques store in Erie, PA a few years ago -- I didn't realize what it was until I got home (I thought it was some no-name lever filler that I bought because it had a Parker Lucky Curve on it) and looked at the somewhat worn engraving on the end of the barrel.  

I haven't gotten the unknown brand mauve Vulcanite pen up and running yet, or some tiny pen that has the initials MR engraved in black on it (it's even smaller than the Treasure pen is).  Or, IIRC the Good Service mini-ring top lever filler (I think it was made for Sears & Roebuck originally).  And some Welsharp mini-pen (also a lever filler) and a Salz Brothers Peter Pan Deluxe mini-ring top and a "Shirley Temple" lever filler (apparently made by Wearever or by a sub company of theirs) that I picked up at an antiques mall because it was too cute.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[Sailor Kenshin]

I have the baby squid, a couple of Kaweco Sport, and some Chinese minis from JinHao and Wings'.  But I'm intrigued by the bulbous-cap ones next to the Kaweco red and turquoise.  What are they?

[lamarax]

The smol pen to rule them all:

 

...Pilot Elite 95s <M> 😃 

 

(sorry about the glare, it's... symbolic 😛)

[Pen Ffynnon]

30 minutes ago, Sailor Kenshin said:

I have the baby squid, a couple of Kaweco Sport, and some Chinese minis from JinHao and Wings'.  But I'm intrigued by the bulbous-cap ones next to the Kaweco red and turquoise.  What are they?

Second and fourth from the left are Benu Pixies. They're weirdly cute and weirdly comfy to write with.

[Pen Ffynnon]

4 minutes ago, lamarax said:

The smol pen to rule them all:

 

...Pilot Elite 95s <M> 😃

And that? Is lovely! Is that a burgundy color?

[Pen Ffynnon]

1 hour ago, inkstainedruth said:

I have a few.  Just flushed out a vintage lever filler Treasure pen (it's so short that I kept forgetting it was in the canister of inked up pens because it's so short, capped, that I couldn't see it (it's shorter than the canister is).  

I have a few Morrison ringtops that are a little longer (the two with the gold-filled filigree overlay are currently on lease to a movie company but I should be getting them back pretty soon), and one with a sterling filigree overlay and one that that has a engraved sterling overlay (don't remember if that fourth one is up and running).

I have a Mabie Todd Swan ringtop that I got for cheap in an antiques store in Erie, PA a few years ago -- I didn't realize what it was until I got home (I thought it was some no-name lever filler that I bought because it had a Parker Lucky Curve on it) and looked at the somewhat worn engraving on the end of the barrel.  

I haven't gotten the unknown brand mauve Vulcanite pen up and running yet, or some tiny pen that has the initials MR engraved in black on it (it's even smaller than the Treasure pen is).  Or, IIRC the Good Service mini-ring top lever filler (I think it was made for Sears & Roebuck originally).  And some Welsharp mini-pen (also a lever filler) and a Salz Brothers Peter Pan Deluxe mini-ring top and a "Shirley Temple" lever filler (apparently made by Wearever or by a sub company of theirs) that I picked up at an antiques mall because it was too cute.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

I'm jealous! And very hopeful of finding a ringtop somewhere in my travels. They are very cool--especially a Mabie Todd....congratulations!

[lamarax]

2 minutes ago, Pen Ffynnon said:

And that? Is lovely! Is that a burgundy color?

 

Yep. I rushed to get one when there were rumors of it being discontinued (...but it's still alive and kicking).

[Pen Ffynnon]

10 minutes ago, lamarax said:

 

Yep. I rushed to get one when there were rumors of it being discontinued (...but it's still alive and kicking).

Pilot does some of the prettiest reds and burgundies. Congratulations on a lovely pen!

[InkyProf]

Only a couple of Kaweco Sports, which, like you, I never thought would suit me, even though many of my full-sized pens would probably be considered small by contemporary oversized standards. But I've been admiring those Pilot Elite 95s's since a colleague of mine started bringing one to our weekly meetings this year... just waiting for the right one to come along!

[inkstainedruth]

@lamarax -- I keep looking at the Pilot Elites.  Considered getting one at the last pen show I was at, but more of my budget was going to getting other pens repaired.  Actually did pick it up to see how it felt in my hand and it was a nice size and weight....

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[Misfit]

I have the Wancai mini, too many Kaweco that I do not have an accurate count, two Pilot Pluminix, two Pilot Elite, a lot of Pilot Preras, and 6 or 7 TWSBI Diamond Mini pens. I almost forgot the Travelers Company brass pen in the limited edition Factory Green color. I have to post these to write comfortably. The Wancai and TWSBI pens post by screwing the cap on the end of the pen. The others are not threaded caps. 
 

I didn’t realize how small the Pluminix would be, and Pilot’s description of it as a Pixie to the Plumix is a good description.

[Pen Ffynnon]

12 minutes ago, Misfit said:

I have the Wancai mini, too many Kaweco that I do not have an accurate count, two Pilot Pluminix, two Pilot Elite, a lot of Pilot Preras, and 6 or 7 TWSBI Diamond Mini pens. I almost forgot the Travelers Company brass pen in the limited edition Factory Green color. I have to post these to write comfortably. The Wancai and TWSBI pens post by screwing the cap on the end of the pen. The others are not threaded caps. 
 

I didn’t realize how small the Pluminix would be, and Pilot’s description of it as a Pixie to the Plumix is a good description.

But it writes so well! Thank you again for the heads up on it. I was glad to get one (whatever the color) before they completely disappeared.

 

I also didn't know that some pens have the ability to screw on to post. That would be incredibly handy. I have some the "post", as in, if you hold it juuuuuust so, spit three times, say a prayer to the gods and/or goddesses of your choice it might stay on the flaming pen. Others, like the Kaweco and even the Benu Pixies that post very nicely and a very few that don't post at all.

[kestrel]

My smallest lever filler is a sterling silver overlay Ever-Rite ringtop just a bit over 2.75 inches long.  My smallest pen is a Pony dropper filler about 2.2 inches long.  

My 2.75 inch Grieshaber dropper filler is tiny compared to the better known Baby Grand that I occasionally slip into a vest pocket on the end of a watch chain.

Then there is the 3.25 inch Made by the makers of Eversharp bulb filler.  They are all restored and they all write but I wouldn't call them functional.

[Penguincollector]

  I collect Salz Peter Pans and novelty pens, have several small lever fillers and eye droppers, some small cartridge pens, Japanese short/longs, and a Pelikan M300. I have a picture of most of them in my gallery somewhere, I have to go looking for it, or retake it as I am sure more have joined the party since.

 

ETA: found the ring tops and tinys

 

 

 

[Penguincollector]

4 hours ago, Pen Ffynnon said:

I'm jealous! And very hopeful of finding a ringtop somewhere in my travels. They are very cool--especially a Mabie Todd....congratulations!

  Jessica Sall/Modern Analog Pens is a small ringtop specialist and will have several at the show.

[Misfit]

I totally forgot I also have a Kaweco Liliput. Talk about small pens. I can write a page a day A5 size, but more would likely be challenging with it. It’s another one that posts by screwing on the cap. I find those very clever. The Wancai Mini does that too. The TWSBI Vac Mini I suppose fits this thread. It also screws on to post the cap. 

[langere]

How about the Stipula Passoporto?  I have two -one, in Blue Azurite, that I bought from FPN in 2011.  Those are cute little pens, but their caps must be threaded on, just like the Kaweco Liliput.

 

Erick

[Misfit]

Oh! I have an idea. I can post a photo of one of each style. That way I don’t have to hunt them all. And it’s more likely I’d take said photo. 
 

 

from top left:

Opus 88 Mini in Celestial Zodiac

TWSBI Diamond Mini Mint Blue

Pilot Pluminix in red 

Kaweco Sport plastic

Monteverde MVP in Blue Squares

Hightide Attaché Navy blue

 

from top right:

Pilot Prera Iro-Ai in green

Pilot Elite in burgundy 

Travelers Company brass in Factory Green 

Kaweco x Goldspot AL in Mercury Orange 

Kaweco Liliput in fireblue

 Wancai Mini in Mint Swirl

[ruby.monkey]

For comparison, my largest and smallest pens. Wing Sung 930 on the left, but it's the Filcao Micro on the right that's of real interest.