What FP do you hate most?

[lapis]

Honestly, I had this idea for a new post yesterday before reading this, but that "this" is something more like the opposite (Thanks, Guy!).

 

Everybody has their favourite or favourites, just like composers but one of the neatest polls I recall (about 100 years ago) was the asking "Which composer do you hate most?". Or "Do you like least?".

 

I think if I had 2-3-4 pens all from one brand (w or w/o them all being exemplified by one and same model) and they all skipped or were always really dry, or impossibly expensive, then they'd probably win as the best answer to the above question.

 

Got any ideas here?

 

I'm really excited (but no anxiety yet present).

 

Mike :hmm1:

PS: Okay, this is added as an edit but I didn't forget this... I only have 7-8 FPs (tomorrow it'll be 8-9! ) and I don't have any I already hate. I can only say that of my two Duofolds I like one better than the other, and my Crest is much better than my NN. Sorry for this blah blah

Edited June 19, 2008 by lapis

[kiavonne]

Parker Sonnet. Two, rotten writers. Scratchy, skipping, and there won't be a third attempt to justify the pen for me. Maybe someday I'll send them off for adjustment - when/if I decide it's worth the adjustment costs. Wouldn't matter how long they sat in a queue, as they've been sitting in storage for at least 4 or 5 months now.

 

Lamy. I'm so against trying a higher end model because the Studio and Safaris are scratchy and too stiff for me. No amount of brown bagging on these pens will ever get them working for me. I have an Al-Star that is half decent, but it isn't a consistent writer. I got rid of all the Safaris, the Studio is in storage, the Al-Star... just is. I haven't stored it yet, but I'm not using it, either.

[GeeTee]

I don't hate any brand, but like Kiavone, my parker sonnet was a big disappointment too.

[Ron Z]

The Parker Sonnet is one on my personal list of pens to never buy again.

 

But the pen for which I have an intense dislike is the Parker 21 because they break so easily. Wearevers come in as a close second.

Edited June 19, 2008 by Ron Z

[goodguy]

Honestly, I had this idea for a new post yesterday before reading this, but that "this" is something more like the opposite (Thanks, Guy!).

 

Everybody has their favourite or favourites, just like composers but one of the neatest polls I recall (about 100 years ago) was the asking "Which composer do you hate most?". Or "Do you like least?".

 

I think if I had 2-3-4 pens all from one brand (w or w/o them all being exemplified by one and same model) and they all skipped or were always really dry, or impossibly expensive, then they'd probably win as the best answer to the above question.

 

Got any ideas here?

 

I'm really excited (but no anxiety yet present).

 

Mike :hmm1:

I must tell you I never felt comfortable with the word hate.This is a very strong word and should be used when it really apropriate.

 

In any case to your question I dont have any pen brand I dislike but some brands I doubt I will ever buy like cheap pen makers simply because I like high quality pens.

Edited June 19, 2008 by goodguy

[goodguy]

I don't hate any brand, but like Kiavone, my parker sonnet was a big disappointment too.

I add my vote to being dissapointed from my Parker Sonnets.

I sent them to get fixed and then sold them.

[Con]

Well ... after having used a succession of No Nonsense through my youth, only

to have ink stained purses and pockets, and horrible writing experiences ... they

would go on my list of "Pens to never pick up again."

[Judybug]

Hmm. This is an interesting thread. I love my Parker Sonnet. The nib is just slightly springy - not a true flex, but enough to give a wee bit of line variation. It's Pelikans I'm not impressed with. However, I realize that my experience with Pelikans is not typical - a lot of people love them. And I won't denigrate an entire brand simply because I had one bad experience. BTW - Since I sent my Pelikan nib off for re-grinding, I'm very happy with it.

 

Judybug

[JayLo]

I can't say I hate any brand but I can comment on my biggest disappointments.

The new Conklin’s with steel nibs are superb while the gold nibs have been very disappointing. To the point where I won’t even consider one.

Also - Visconti has of late been a disappointment. The last 3 have gone straight to the company.

 

[Clydesdave]

Mont Blanc, I own a few and the oldest one writes the best.... so what?

 

You asked what fountain pen brand I hate the most. (I don't care for the word "hate" either.) Mont Blanc. They do not write all that well. My Vert skips every time on the first letter after opening. It's the only pen I have that does this, I consider it a design flaw. I consider a design flaw the fault of the brand. It's interesting that the oldest one writes the best, I believe, as the marketing scheme has proven out, Mont Blanc has sacrificed quality for profit. They cost a lot of money, for what I can not help but describe as a second rate pen, at best. That is a company descision to sell an inferior quality product for top dollar through marketing. I don't like that kind of company. They control everything about their pens, i.e. you cannot buy a nib from Mont Blanc. It isn't a quality issue, it's a money issue. I don't like a company that will not compete openly in the market.

 

I know, I've kicked a sacred cow here. I don't want to get into it with Mont Blanc affectionatos. There are good things about Mont Blanc too.... and I'll think of some...... eventually. It's my opinion, and I'm sticking to it. Maybe some day I'll post an article about being wrong...... Ha! I crack me up!

 

 

[JJBlanche]

Can't say I've had a bad experience with any of the pens I've used, but then, I've only used an assortment of Pelikans and Reforms, and a Parker or three. There was one Pelikan that I thought was a little "off," an M605 fine. Ultimately, it was just a little too dry. I flossed the nib and feed with the Tryphon kit. Like night and day. Great writer now.

Edited June 19, 2008 by JJBlanche

[richardandtracy]

Hate an FP? No. It's ball points I hate. Oh, and dreadful 1970's Osmeroid school fountain pens that splurged ink everywhere (not my problem as I had a Parker at the time).

 

Disappointed with.. Probably the P51. After all the hype I expected something really special. It was like my P61, but a bit heavier, bit less refined & with a worse nib. I now have three P51's, one is amazing - the one with a P61 nib in it. The other two are OK, the better one is on a par with my worst P61 in terms of the overall writing experience.

P51's have grown on me since I got my first one, but I still think Parker learnt some good lessons from the P51 & put what they learnt into the P61. Shame they put a lot of problems into it too at the same time.

 

Regards

 

Richard.

 

[lapis]

Boy, that's a load of good answers in such a short time.

 

As to the word "hatred", now that is, yes, a strong word and I agree. (I just get used to the theory/property of hatred as me being a scorpio, that is one of our foremost qualities or, if you prefer, non-qualities.) Of course, "dislikes" would probably be better a "better" word here.

 

Or just let me rephrase same. Just as there are the sites "If you could only have one pen" or "Desert island pen" then today just read here "What pen would you not take to the island?"

 

That's all :bonk:

Mike

 

[piembi]

Mont Blanc, I own a few and the oldest one writes the best.... so what?

 

You asked what fountain pen brand I hate the most. (I don't care for the word "hate" either.) Mont Blanc. They do not write all that well. My Vert skips every time on the first letter after opening. It's the only pen I have that does this, I consider it a design flaw. I consider a design flaw the fault of the brand. It's interesting that the oldest one writes the best, I believe, as the marketing scheme has proven out, Mont Blanc has sacrificed quality for profit. They cost a lot of money, for what I can not help but describe as a second rate pen, at best. That is a company descision to sell an inferior quality product for top dollar through marketing. I don't like that kind of company. They control everything about their pens, i.e. you cannot buy a nib from Mont Blanc. It isn't a quality issue, it's a money issue. I don't like a company that will not compete openly in the market.

 

I know, I've kicked a sacred cow here. I don't want to get into it with Mont Blanc affectionatos. There are good things about Mont Blanc too.... and I'll think of some...... eventually. It's my opinion, and I'm sticking to it. Maybe some day I'll post an article about being wrong...... Ha! I crack me up!

 

Well, Montblanc came into my mind, too.

 

First I have to say that I have a wonderful MB 14. Writes like a dream.

And a wonderful 252. Nearly as good as the 14. They are accompanied by two 342, both are great writers, too.

 

Those pens made me expect that the more modern MBs would write as beautifully as those vintage pens but they do NOT :bonk: :

 

I have a MB 22 with a fine nib I dislike extremely. And a MB 24 with a nib I don't like either. Pen has still a clogging problem after more than a week of ammonia flushing and soaking. Have to move on to ultrasonic cleaning ....

 

Worst of all is my MB 144. I really wanted to love this pen but I can't. It has an ink flow issue I cannot get rid of. The nib is smooth but stiff. Compared to the humble 342s this pen is an annoyance, a big disappointment.

 

I have other pens I am not happy with, that I will give away one day or another. But these are much cheaper pens. And my expectations had been much lower.

[ANM]

I won't buy any more Sheaffer touchdowns or vacuum fillers. They almost never work and I can't fix them myself. The three that I sent off and got repaired developed problems not long after they came back and again are not working. I don't especially like the overall appearance of any of them either. I don't like Sheaffer New Balance pens either because they need a lot of fiddling around with to get them to write without skipping. Two out of the three still won't start or will start skipping even now.

 

Basically I guess you could say I don't care much for any Sheaffer made after 1950.

Edited June 19, 2008 by ANM

[Wolf]

Not a matter of love or hate, but I hardly write with my Parker Duofold Centennial. I will probably never buy a Parker again.

 

 

[langere]

I don't particularly like the Crosses. I have a Townsend, but it's never worked well. And I had such hopes for it! No more Cross for me!

 

Also, there are some pens that I find just plain tacky, such as the Acmes. The Conway Stewarts, in general, don't rock my boat. The colors are all a bit off - not subtle at all. Only now are they coming up with some better models, but waaaaay beyond my price range. Scratch that brand off my list! Also, never want to a Montblanc - too cheap manufacturing with the new pens and very, very pretentious - I refuse to pay extra just for the supposed "prestige."

 

Got that off my chest!

 

Erick

[goodguy]

Mont Blanc, I own a few and the oldest one writes the best.... so what?

 

I know, I've kicked a sacred cow here. I don't want to get into it with Mont Blanc affectionatos. There are good things about Mont Blanc too.... and I'll think of some...... eventually. It's my opinion, and I'm sticking to it. Maybe some day I'll post an article about being wrong...... Ha! I crack me up!

Its obvious MB makes excellent pens and its obvious you are wrong but everybody has the right to be wrong.

 

[Ernst Bitterman]

I've an Apis from the 1980s which will not have its flow amended, produces a line only under pressure that a Bic would complain about, and doesn't accept any known cartridge without leaking inside its too-slim over-heavy brass body.

[scribbler77]

Mont Blanc, I own a few and the oldest one writes the best.... so what?

 

I know, I've kicked a sacred cow here. I don't want to get into it with Mont Blanc affectionatos. There are good things about Mont Blanc too.... and I'll think of some...... eventually. It's my opinion, and I'm sticking to it. Maybe some day I'll post an article about being wrong...... Ha! I crack me up!

Its obvious MB makes excellent pens and its obvious you are wrong but everybody has the right to be wrong.

 

I am one who has had more trouble with a MontBlanc than with any other pen, even much cheaper ones. That doesn't mean they don't make good pens sometimes, but my large Diplomat Meisterstueck had to go to the shop twice to fix leaks, and each time they lasted maybe 6-8 weeks. I finally gave up on it. The repair person at Fahrney's in Washington said that MB's were noted for this problem. But this was over 15 years ago. Maybe they are more consistent now, but since that experience, I normally buy other brands when I am spending the sort of money MB's cost.

Edited June 19, 2008 by scribbler77