Fountain Pens for Young People

[james78064]

Perhaps this question has been asked a lot of times, but please humor it one more time.

What fountain pen (and manufacturer) would you recommend for a young person? I know that the question partly depends on the age of the youngster (such as a Pelikano Junior for an elementary or intermediate grade student), but would be interested in your experiences.

 

It's very possible for a young person to write with a pen that's made for an adult, but the "fun factor" is important if they are going to continue to use it.

 

James78064

[bdngrd]

Lamy safari or vista

Rotring core

Pelikano

I have not tried one, but the platinum preppy looks lie it would be a good choice.

[sheafferkid]

Well, being a Sheaffer kid (well, really a Sheaffer teen) I would recommend starting off a youngster with a Sheaffer cartridge school pen. They are vintage, but they are super easy to find and cartridges are still made. The nibs are nothing fancy, just plain stainless steel. I tend to use more complicated pens (Snorkels, Touchdowns, Vac-fils) but I would recommend just a simple cartridge pen to start with. Hope this helps!

 

Evan

[ilubiano]

I recommend the Pilot Varsity. They're what you would call 'disposable' fountain pens, although there are those out there that refill them with their own inks.

 

I've used one once, and it writes well for what it is.

 

As a step up from that, i'd definitely recommend a Lamy Safari, since you can get them in many different, interesting colors, and kids love colors.

[FrankB]

I am a solid Pelikano Junior fan. I have found them to be very good writing pens that are durable. I have even given Pel Jrs. to adults who have genuinely liked them.

[donwinn]

Pelikan Grand Prix. Appearance caters to the younger set, and the pen writes like a dream, with a medium steel nib, and a nice wet line. Not too expensive either. Uses cartridges, for ease of filling. Got mine on eBay from seller zerokoo0l_pens. (not affiliated)

 

Donnie

[DrPJM1]

Lamy Vista

[Taki]

My 6-year old likes Pelikano Jr. very much. The grip guides the right hold, too.

 

I don't recommend Pilot Varsity to very young kids (kindergarteners or younger). I don't think the nib material is particularly sturdy. My kid managed to bend the nibs of all three in a pack.

[Hélène]

as a student,

Pelikano or Pelikano Jr in the US

in Europe there is a much larger selection of pens in the $0-$25 price range

or Esterbrook J series if you want to go vintage

also there is nothing wrong with the Varsity (Vpen) if the student may not like fp

[Shangas]

Well, being a Sheaffer kid (well, really a Sheaffer teen) I would recommend starting off a youngster with a Sheaffer cartridge school pen. They are vintage, but they are super easy to find and cartridges are still made. The nibs are nothing fancy, just plain stainless steel. I tend to use more complicated pens (Snorkels, Touchdowns, Vac-fils) but I would recommend just a simple cartridge pen to start with. Hope this helps!

 

Evan

 

I agree with Evan. My first fountain pen was one JUST like what he described (A yellow Sheaffer school fountain pen). And they are wonderful things.

[jthole]

Perhaps this question has been asked a lot of times, but please humor it one more time.

What fountain pen (and manufacturer) would you recommend for a young person? I know that the question partly depends on the age of the youngster (such as a Pelikano Junior for an elementary or intermediate grade student), but would be interested in your experiences.

 

It's very possible for a young person to write with a pen that's made for an adult, but the "fun factor" is important if they are going to continue to use it.

 

James78064

 

Well, the standard primary school pen seems to be the Lamy ABC here (when I was in school, the Pelikano was still "the" school pen). However, they are especially designed for small hands, so they won't work as well for young adults.

 

Maybe the Lamy Safari? Or an Accent, since you can change the grips? Or maybe one of the translucent Pelikan M200's (if you can still find them, since Pelikan unfortunately stopped making them). Or maybe the new Lamy Smile?

 

My choice would be the Lamy Safari.

Edited January 23, 2008 by jthole

[Brian Bates]

Perhaps this question has been asked a lot of times, but please humor it one more time.

What fountain pen (and manufacturer) would you recommend for a young person? I know that the question partly depends on the age of the youngster (such as a Pelikano Junior for an elementary or intermediate grade student), but would be interested in your experiences.

 

It's very possible for a young person to write with a pen that's made for an adult, but the "fun factor" is important if they are going to continue to use it.

 

James78064

 

 

I would heartily recommend the Pilot V4 (Varsity) disposable fountain pen. It's reasonably smooth, very cheap and unfussy to use. The ink is also quite quick drying. Ideal for a schoolkid.

[Crobe]

I started my thirteen and my ten year old with Shaeffer school pens.

 

If I had not had the school pens, I would have started them with Lamy Safari.

 

Mike

Edited January 23, 2008 by TBPI

[Coche_y_bondhu]

Hello Pardner!

 

I would recommend a Waterman Kultur. They come in huge array of colors, the case and steel nib are very durable, are relatively inexpensive on ebay, and can be used posted (for children with larger hands) and unposted (for smaller hands).

 

Cheers,

 

Richard in Plano, Texas

[OldGriz]

My daughter is 9 and has been using a fountain pen for 4 yrs now....

Her first factory pen was a Pelikan GO, if you can find one grab it... they were IMO the pinnacle of German student pens...

If not the Pelikano is a fantastic pen...

[Kimo]

Pelikano is the best combination for quality, ease of use, durability, low cost, and styling.

 

A 'vintage' Sheaffer school pen would also be good and I still keep a couple around for my non-fountain pen using friends to try when they see me using one of my nice fountain pens and they ask if they can try.

[Tango Yankee]

I've never used one myself, but I've purchased two of the Waterman Phileas "starter kits" recently. One will be going to my godson for his sixteenth birthday, the other to his older brother when he graduates high school this year.

 

I chose the kits as people here have spoken well of the Phileas and the kits have a bit of everything--cartridges in different colors, a converter, a bottle of ink, blotter paper and a booklet on how to use a fountain pen. The last is important as I live in Ohio and the boys in Oregon--I won't be there to show them how to use and maintain them.

 

I did order a Phileas recently so I will know what I'm giving them. (Yeah, that's my reason and I'm sticking to it! :ltcapd: )

 

Regards,

Tom

[asamsky]

Why not try some of the inexpensive Hero pens? I've had the 329 and the accountant pen (the "237-1"). Neither one is expensive enough that it would be a total tragedy to lose it. They're both very tough, have rigid, hooded nibs, and a very easy to use faux-aerometric fill system. The nibs are very fine and don't seem to use ink too quickly, so I imagine they could get through an entire day of writing without a refill. Kids have to learn about filling systems some time - if you don't tell them, they'll be picking up all kinds of bad information about snorkels and touchdowns on the street corner.

[captnemo]

Old Sheaffer school pens are my main pens I use every day. With the nib properly adjusted they write like a dream and weigh very little. They are also smaller and easier for a child to use. My granddaughter loves hers (in her favorite color, bright orange) and she gets a kick out of using a pen thats considerably older than her mother. :roflmho:

[mr T.]

What fountain pen (and manufacturer) would you recommend for a young person? I know that the question partly depends on the age of the youngster (such as a Pelikano Junior for an elementary or intermediate grade student), but would be interested in your experiences.

 

The Pelikano, Pelikano Junior and Safari are ok pens but there are good alternatives like the Schneider Base, Base Kid+, the Bic For School , Xpen, Easy Click and the Lamy ABC. In my opinion the Schneider pens and the Xpen are the best alternatives.