Symphony experiences?

[DaveM]

I just got a Symphony off of ebay. It is a second generation model. (Slipper cap, plastic threads, and the wide gold band at the base of the cap) I figure it is either a 702 or 703. I probably paid a bit too much, but Cathie really wanted me to get it. It is a nice looking pen, and after a slight polish and spruce up, will be a stunner! I really like the balance and feel of the pen, and the nib is perfect. It is smooth, and fairly wet, but not too sloppy. It works well in the hands of a Lefty (Overwriter) and writes well with no pressure at all. It doesn't skip on the push strokes, and it leaves a nice line. The one thing I have noticed about this pen is that it is hard to get started. I have to wipe the nib with a piece of lint free cloth over the back of the nib. (Touch the breather hole with it) Then after a few gentle strokes, it starts writing. I hope this goes away after a couple of loads of ink are run through it. I figure there is still a little bit of clogging somewhere in the feed. Once it gets started, it writes without any problems. The cap seems to fit well, so I doubt that I am drying out badly. Is this pen susceptible to drying out quickly? It worked a lot better on the second load of ink that the first, and I flushed it out well, even though I used the same ink again. (Watermans blue black) I figure if I clean it out again, it should be perfect!

 

I know a few of you use these pens. Is there anything special I need to know? Any tips or quirks to look out for? This is my first Wahl-Eversharp, so please bear with me if I ask a stupid question or two. If I like this pen, will I also like the Skylines? They seem to be very similar mechanically. This could get expensive!

 

Thanks for your advice,

Dave

[RevAaron]

I've no experience with this model, so if it's a model-specific quirk I can't help you- someone else can. But your problem is common to fountain pens. I can't say without seeing the pen and taking it apart, but the most common causes of this, in my wee experience, is that either the tines are too far apart or the feed is not placed properly. You could fix this yourself, most likely- search around a bit to read about how to take out and put back in a friction fit nib.

 

- I there a cap between the tines at the tip of the nib?

- Do you have a photo of the underside of the nib?

 

I think the nibs are the same as those on the Skyline. I think the Symphony is a better looking pen, but to each their own. It won't write any different with the same nib, though... But if you got another Symphony or tried a Skyline, there's a good chance you'll end up with a different nib than you have on this one.

[antoniosz]

These pens are great writers. The problem could be either in the nib or the maybe some junk in the feed. If you are not familiar with such minor repairs, you should have someone else to look it for you. You should be able to find good to excellent samples of these pens from $30-$70

 

AZ

[DaveM]

Thanks everybody! The nib looks about right on a visual inspection. No gap. The tip looks okay too. No misalignments or flat spots, no "Baby's bottom". The feed is nicely centered. I finished off the second sac of ink, and flushed it several times with warm (Not hot) water. I refilled it again, and it is behaving better. I left it for several hours, and it only took a stroke or so to come to life. Next time I buy a pen, I will give it a super cleaning before I write with it! I paid the low end of your price range for this pen. I am very happy with it, and it has just been moved to my short list of favorite pens. I have "flossed" a couple of cheap nibs,and tweaked some feeds, but I want to make sure it is not a simple matter of cleaning before I start messing with this one. I am afraid that I may change it. The pen just wrote a ten page letter without a hiccup. The only problem is when I leave it for a while.

 

Thanks again,

Dave

[teej47]

I have one Symphony and four Skylines. They all are a joy to use - really wonderful writers. Aside from the barrel and cap they are the same pen, so if you like the Symphony there's no reason you shouldn't like the Skyline. These were made with a marvellous array of nibs; manifold to flexy, fat to fine, and everything in between. Each of mine has a different character than the others, and they all have character. The same can't be said of every pen of the same era (in my opinion, anyway). Another thing that makes these pens so great is accessability. They can be had for a lot less than a lot of other pens that aren't nearly as nice to use.

 

Plus they look cool.

 

Tim

[Have Fun]

 

I'm a bit bemused by the Symphony Design ~ at first sight it seems a progression / permutation of the Skyline but was designed by someone else ~ why?

 

The Skyline was an iconic design & a hard act to follow, whereas The Symphony appears as a lot calmer design (pared down version) & does not seem to have the same cache.

 

As for differences in costs ~ I’ve yet to see that on EBay ~ the Symphony is rarer & reaches fair prices ~ The Skyline is frequently on offer (masses in fact) prices vary considerably ~ I assume the same nibs are in both

 

As far as the pen “in the hand” goes I would guess they feel similar but that's just my take ~ Me the proud owner of only one Skyline Fountain Pen

 

[ihimlen]

I've had a Symphony for a while now and I just love this pen - it writes very well and I really like its streamlined look. I also have an Eversharp Skyline and essentially they are pretty much the same when it comes to the filling system (though the later Symphonies have a bit smaller nibs), the use of "magic feed" and their excellent 14k nibs. Both pens are great writers and their speedy design adds that cool factor many of the modern pens are missing so that writing with this pens is even more pleasant. Plus, these pens came up around the time of the first Batman comics ;-)

[lovemy51]

i have one with the smaller nib... not sure what generation (it does have the slipper cap). it's one of my best writers (if not the best). i did pay big money for it... $100 USD (it came in a box with pencil and it is in mint condition) from Ernesto Soler... but, i'm not sorry i got it!!!

 

here's a pic of it with my skyline (sorry about the poor photography skills): http://i338.photobucket.com/albums/n419/pe...pg?t=1229066437

Edited December 12, 2008 by lovemy51

[Eagle14]

I bought a fully restored 705 Symphony, and the nib is very smooth and the pen feels good in the hand. Of late, it's started leaking though, and the bloke I bought it from says it's probably because I put too much pressure on it while writing :hmm1:

[david i]

I bought a fully restored 705 Symphony, and the nib is very smooth and the pen feels good in the hand. Of late, it's started leaking though, and the bloke I bought it from says it's probably because I put too much pressure on it while writing :hmm1:

 

Hi,

I've handled 701, 703, 707 but have not yet seen a 705. What is the trim configuration please.

 

-d

[Eagle14]

Hi,

I've handled 701, 703, 707 but have not yet seen a 705. What is the trim configuration please.

 

-d

 

The cap's 1/10 14k GF. Here's a picture, with sticker

Edited December 13, 2008 by Eagle14

[Hugh200au]

Well Eagle this one looks like what I call a "Golden" Symphony, mine with a blue barrel and also came with a sticker that said medium flexible from memory but no model number. That's a nice looking pen, really like the green and rare if David isn't familiar with it !!!!Regards Hugh

[david i]

Hi,

I've handled 701, 703, 707 but have not yet seen a 705. What is the trim configuration please.

 

-d

 

The cap's 1/10 14k GF. Here's a picture, with sticker

 

Interesting... and a bit confusing.

 

I know that price (and nib size) does not necessarily ascend with model number (703 and 701 both have higher price point and larger nib than 707, which does have a teeny nib and all gold-tone (gf?) cap).

 

705 in your pic at first glance looks like the cheap 707- which has the gold tone cap too. Yet, the 705 appears to carry a higher price tag than 707 (higher than 701 and 703 too, which again both are pricier with white metal caps than the 707 with gold tone cap). And, the nib looks larger than 707's. I wonder if this is the same gold tone cap but with larger nib making the diff, or if the cap is higher grade. My recollection (pens not with me today) is that the goldtone cap of 707 is not marked 14k GF, so perhaps 705 does have better- if similar seeming-cap.

 

regards

 

david

 

http://removed.xyz/websitesalespics/pen2575sm.jpg

 

http://removed.xyz/websitesalespics/pen2370sm.jpg

http://removed.xyz/websitesalespics/pen2373sm.jpg

[Richard]

I'm a bit bemused by the Symphony Design ~ at first sight it seems a progression / permutation of the Skyline but was designed by someone else ~ why?

The original Symphony (designed by Raymond Loewy) is quite different to the Skyline (designed by Henry Dreyfuss).

 

http://www.richardspens.com/images/collection/zoomed/symphony_loewy.jpg

 

http://www.richardspens.com/images/collection/zoomed/skyline_vis.jpg

 

The problem was that Loewy's design, as sometimes happens, was too edgy for the times and probably didn't meet sales expectations. Eversharp backed away from it after only about a year, and the result was the somewhat pudgy, softened second-version Symphony.

 

http://www.richardspens.com/images/collection/zoomed/symphony.jpg

 

Another of Loewy's designs that proved too edgy was the Studebaker Avanti...

[Hugh200au]

Eagles pen is a second edition as is Davids 703, and I was under the opinion that the model he has (and I have) was the highest priced of the Sympony models, refered to as a Golden Sympony. That is the gold filled cap, 1/10 14ct , being more expensive than the others, which is logical. I know nothing about the third model and can only assume the 707 was "mutton dressed up as lamb" (an aussie saying meaning something cheap disguised as a more expensive item, I guess in pens the equivalent to a "51" and "51" special) model hence a higher model, cheap cap and down sized nib. Anyway, mine's a great writer!! Regards Hugh

[david i]

Eagles pen is a second edition as is Davids 703, and I was under the opinion that the model he has (and I have) was the highest priced of the Sympony models, refered to as a Golden Sympony. That is the gold filled cap, 1/10 14ct , being more expensive than the others, which is logical. I know nothing about the third model and can only assume the 707 was "mutton dressed up as lamb" (an aussie saying meaning something cheap disguised as a more expensive item, I guess in pens the equivalent to a "51" and "51" special) model hence a higher model, cheap cap and down sized nib. Anyway, mine's a great writer!! Regards Hugh

 

Well, this pen definitely is not the the highest priced (then or now) Symphony.

 

I've handled one SOLID gold (top and bottom) pen. Tragedy tragedy... I don't own it.

 

regards

 

david

Edited December 15, 2008 by david i

[Eagle14]

She, not he, Hugh

 

I once saw a Symphony (model number unknown) at a Hobbies Sale with a design on the cap - something like what you see on some Tuckaway GF caps. However the top of the cap was even i.e, not like the two sizes on two sides of the niche of the regular caps. But seeing the crazy $200 price for the unrestored pen, I didn't buy it :bonk: I used to think it was the most expensive Symphony.

[Hugh200au]

Eagles pen is a second edition as is Davids 703, and I was under the opinion that the model he has (and I have) was the highest priced of the Sympony models, refered to as a Golden Sympony. That is the gold filled cap, 1/10 14ct , being more expensive than the others, which is logical. I know nothing about the third model and can only assume the 707 was "mutton dressed up as lamb" (an aussie saying meaning something cheap disguised as a more expensive item, I guess in pens the equivalent to a "51" and "51" special) model hence a higher model, cheap cap and down sized nib. Anyway, mine's a great writer!! Regards Hugh

 

Well, this pen definitely is not the the highest priced (then or now) Symphony.

 

I've handled one SOLID gold (top and bottom) pen. Tragedy tragedy... I don't own it.

 

regards

 

david

 

Thanks David, there's nothing like being wrong :embarrassed_smile: ....I hadn't heard of a solid gold one, let me put it another way, one of the pricier of the readily available second gen. models...squirm, squirm...I guess there would have been a number of of other rare variations as well. Given that , as pointed out, the price tag is higher than the 701, 703 and 707 what I said is not too far off the mark !! And further, I now know one pen the Big I. doesn't own... ... and that's something!! Regards Hugh

[Hugh200au]

She, not he, Hugh

 

I once saw a Symphony (model number unknown) at a Hobbies Sale with a design on the cap - something like what you see on some Tuckaway GF caps. However the top of the cap was even i.e, not like the two sizes on two sides of the niche of the regular caps. But seeing the crazy $200 price for the unrestored pen, I didn't buy it :bonk: I used to think it was the most expensive Symphony.

 

My apologies, M/s Eagle for such a politically incorrect slip !!! When the slipper cap was discontinued, I seem to think that the name Sympony also discontinued for the 3rd. gen. So, as the manufacturer didn't refer to it as a Symphony, technically it wasn't !! From a practical point of view the're the same but when I think Symphony I think "slipper" cap pens, only a personal thing. Nor have I seen a patterned cap on any of the models, but they must exist and pricey too from your experience.

Regards

Hugh