Thoughts and Opinions on Marlen Pens

[James P]

There have been a couple of sales advertised for the Marlen Basilea, which I thought was a very attractive pen. I've since visited the Marlen website and really like the FC-13, the FV-13 and the HTF-Geneve.

 

Of course, as we all know, good looks does not a great performer make. Just ask Tom Cruise (Sorry, couldn't resist). Does anyone have any experience with Marlen pens who can let me know about such things as performance, weight, balance, fit & finish, and any other thoughts that may be useful.

 

Much obliged!

[davidv7]

Hmmm, really cant help - but could You post their website I could not find it!

[James P]

Hmmm, really cant help - but could You post their website I could not find it!

 

Sure thing. It's www.marlenpens.com

Edited September 6, 2007 by James P

[Sazerac]

I have a Marlen Basilea and love it. It is excellent in all the areas you mention (performance, weight, balance --it is a slight bit top heavy -- fit & finish). Also, I can add that the service provided by Krone USA is excellent. I dropped the cap, cracking it. I sent it to them, and although they did not consider the cracking to be covered under the warranty, their fix was excellent, timely, and fairly priced. They were as good to deal with as Kenro and Chartpak. Granted my experience is with one pen, but I will buy more Marlens in the future. In my opinion, Marlens are handsome (sometimes daringly ugly) and well-made pens.

Edited September 6, 2007 by Sazerac

[jlepens]

I have a Basilea with a fine nib and just got a Journal with fine nib. Both are nice large pens that write great. I like the weight, you can write for miles with comfort.

 

Joi

[davidv7]

Thank YOU!

 

ouldn't find it via google.

[Bennington1967]

There have been a couple of sales advertised for the Marlen Basilea, which I thought was a very attractive pen. I've since visited the Marlen website and really like the FC-13, the FV-13 and the HTF-Geneve.

 

Of course, as we all know, good looks does not a great performer make. Just ask Tom Cruise (Sorry, couldn't resist). Does anyone have any experience with Marlen pens who can let me know about such things as performance, weight, balance, fit & finish, and any other thoughts that may be useful.

 

Much obliged!

 

 

Marlen make very good pens; the nibs are especially nice to write with. I just find the pens rather too short for my liking, and the designs too gaudy.

[Ghost Plane]

I have a Marlen Aderl. Some people hate the color, but I like the varying shades of browns, it's luscious and comfortable to write with, albeit light for the size. Love the nib. Based on that, I ordered a different Marlen, one of the Vitis series, when FPH had a sale on. Alas, tho' it was gorgeous [i tried the blue and pearl shade w/ vermeil], I found that my fingers invariably rested on the threads. Unfortunately for me, the way I hold pens waaaaaaay back on the body, makes a lot of the Marlens uncomfortable for me in the same way I ended up selling my Waterman Charleston because my hand landed on the band or the threads. If you can find one that fits your hand, GET IT. They're great writers when you find one that fits. Fond of the looks on the Geneve myself.

[Pengrump]

I have an older Marlen, a Pappus. The nib is exceptionally smooth, but a bit too free flowing for the feed. I had Richard B. work on it a few years ago, but it's still prone to skipping on initial strokes and/or excessive flow on later strokes. I've been given to understand that was typical for those pens, but that more recent Marlens are better in that respect. I hope so because their nibs are wonderful.

[playpen]

James, I have two Marlen Silhouettes one in burgundy and one in Navy and one Marlen dot com in a purple/pink/mother of pearl crushed ice pattern. These pens are so absolutely fantastic it is unbelievable. They are smooth and beautiful. They are well balanced and they are such a pleasure to own.

The customer service is A1! Dana Piet is the contact person and she is right on top of things when something happens. The Marlens and Krones are serviced by the same repair service and Dana takes care of both.

I bought the Krone Martinique and the "brother" to it in green and brown. The Martinique was a bit skippy so my better half brought it back to the store from which it was purchased and watched in horror as one of the owners took a razor to it and pronounced it "fixed". When I saw it, I nearly flipped because the razor had slipped and the nib was wrecked AND the pen still did not write properly. One call to Dana and the pen was back with her. A few weeks later, the pen was returned to me and was in perfect order. I don't know if the nib was new or just polished and I don't care. All I know is, when there is a problem, it is taken care of immediately.

I suppose if the technicians are on vacation, things can be slow but that is the case everywhere.

I do not buy the Krone pens that have hidden bits of strange things in them and are ten gazillion pazoozahs. The Krones and Marlens I buy are beautiful, inexpensive and wonderful!

[Cloud]

Hello,

 

I have a Basilea, I wrote a review a while back. It's still a daily user. I am selling it, because I am changing my collection to more vintage type pens.

 

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/in...21&hl=cloud

 

 

[tankahn]

 

 

Mine leaked. There is always ink at the rim (near the nib) when I uncapped the pen. And I washed the cap a dozen times already. Its a bother to wipe the ink off each time before use.

[lterry]

I have a Marlen Odyseus LE fountain pen in parchment. I had an issue with the piston and the company took ownership of the problem and committed to fix it. Other than that, I can say their nibs are great and the finish of the pens are excellent. They are now distributed by Luxury Brands- the distributors for Conway Stewart- who also stand behind the products they sell.

[sleek_lover]

Got a Marlen Chagall... Good pen. I should use it more. Gorgeous pen great writer.

[nigeldun]

Just to say -- I bought a red and black Basilea, and it is the prettiest pen I have ever had in my hands. I plan to sell it while it is still uninked, partially because -- to be honest -- I don't feel like I deserve it.