Pilot Varsity (Disposable) Fountain Pens

[HenryLouis]

These pens look interesting but alas, I don't know where to get them here in Canada. And getting one online is expensive with shipping. (one varsity is $8 shipped from jetpens), and that's using the cheapest shipping method

 

 

I found it in a bookstore (I don't recomand it for books) in Montreal, "Renaud-Bray".

 

I'll check that out if I go to montreal this summer.

 

I'll also check staples

[montblancdude]

These pens look interesting but alas, I don't know where to get them here in Canada. And getting one online is expensive with shipping. (one varsity is $8 shipped from jetpens), and that's using the cheapest shipping method

 

 

I found it in a bookstore (I don't recomand it for books) in Montreal, "Renaud-Bray".

 

I'll check that out if I go to montreal this summer.

 

I'll also check staples

 

Staples has them here, $6 for three!

[mnpd]

Hey guys, I've gone the route of pulling the feed out and refilling the Pilot that way. It is the easiest way. In every case (3 pens), the hardware weakened after several pulls and half the feed came out with the other half still stuck in the pen. When that happens the disposable pen truely become disposable because it can't be fixed.

 

Here's what I'm looking at next... preparing the pen as I wrote earlier, but using the fuel hose to apply vaccum on the top of them pen with the nib/feed in the ink bottle. I'm betting that might work!

[usonian]

Interesting! I tried a black Varsity a couple of years ago (the place I bought it didn't have the other colors or the three-pack) and found it to be, like someone else said, a fire hose; really wet, with a very broad line. It bled through and feathered on pretty much every surface upon which I tried it. It doesn't sound like that's the norm, so perhaps I'll give them another try next time I see them; I definitely like the idea of having a cheap but functional pen on hand to give to someone who shows an interest.

Edited July 13, 2009 by usonian

[Sailor Kenshin]

Interesting! I tried a black Varsity a couple of years ago (the place I bought it didn't have the other colors or the three-pack) and found it to be, like someone else said, a fire hose; really wet, with a very broad line. It bled through and feathered on pretty much every surface upon which I tried it. It doesn't sound like that's the norm, so perhaps I'll give them another try next time I see them; I definitely like the idea of having a cheap but functional pen on hand to give to someone who shows an interest.

 

 

For what it's worth, mine are pretty much fire hoses as well. If I want something less hose-ish, I turn the pen upside down and write on the wrong side of the nib.

[Spector]

amazon has them godly cheap

 

http://www.amazon.com/Varsity-Disposable-F...5475&sr=1-3

 

they are 69 cents each and 2.99 shipping per pound, you would have to get a lot of em to get more than a pound worth of fountain pens

Edited July 15, 2009 by Spector

[itsame]

Can someone clarify on this? Are these pens really disposable (ie, you can't refill them), or due to their relative low cost, people treat them as disposable items?

[Namo]

Can someone clarify on this? Are these pens really disposable (ie, you can't refill them), or due to their relative low cost, people treat them as disposable items?

 

There are designed as disposable objects. But you can, by diffrent ways (for example, taking out the nib and feed) refill them.

 

I must say that the idea of a disposable FP somewhat disturbs me: the main advantage of a FP being, IMHO, that you have to take care of it. You might say the same for a BP, but I guess I was educated to consider BP as cheap, disposable and (very) "loosable" objects and to consider FP as object you could keep for your all life (my mother still pssesses and uses a Pelikan of the 50s, I still possess and use a Waterman I own since the 90s and plan to do so for the next few decades).

 

 

[Sailor Kenshin]

But fountain pens come in all price points and styles. The cheapies and disposables really do fill an important niche.

[A2JC4life]

amazon has them godly cheap

 

http://www.amazon.com/Varsity-Disposable-F...5475&sr=1-3

 

they are 69 cents each and 2.99 shipping per pound, you would have to get a lot of em to get more than a pound worth of fountain pens

 

Wow; thanks!

[Namo]

But fountain pens come in all price points and styles. The cheapies and disposables really do fill an important niche.

 

 

Absolutly. I didn't say that what I fell is an absolute truth. I am just realising that this is a matter of education and habits and, in this case, of "préjugé" - as if a BP couldn't be a beautiful and durable object! I just never thought of FPs as something disposable.

 

This being said, I bought a Vpen recently and I am astonished by the quality of the writing.

 

 

[itsame]

Can someone clarify on this? Are these pens really disposable (ie, you can't refill them), or due to their relative low cost, people treat them as disposable items?

 

There are designed as disposable objects. But you can, by diffrent ways (for example, taking out the nib and feed) refill them.

 

I must say that the idea of a disposable FP somewhat disturbs me: the main advantage of a FP being, IMHO, that you have to take care of it. You might say the same for a BP, but I guess I was educated to consider BP as cheap, disposable and (very) "loosable" objects and to consider FP as object you could keep for your all life (my mother still pssesses and uses a Pelikan of the 50s, I still possess and use a Waterman I own since the 90s and plan to do so for the next few decades).

 

Thank you for the clarification and I must say that I too echo your sentiments. A fountain pen in my eyes, by definition is something permanent, something to be used, enjoyed, and then finally passed on to close family and friends. You don't buy a fountain pen, you make a commitment. You have a relationship with it.

[HenryLouis]

These pens look interesting but alas, I don't know where to get them here in Canada. And getting one online is expensive with shipping. (one varsity is $8 shipped from jetpens), and that's using the cheapest shipping method

 

 

I found it in a bookstore (I don't recomand it for books) in Montreal, "Renaud-Bray".

 

I'll check that out if I go to montreal this summer.

 

I'll also check staples

 

Staples has them here, $6 for three!

 

Called staples and they said they didn't have it.

[A2JC4life]

Check at any office supply stores. I've found their availability to vary widely. I first saw them at some small local place.

 

BTW, did anyone else notice that the Amazon seller that was posted has several different listings for these (in several package sizes), and one of them is listed as a medium and one is listed as a fine point?

[Sailor Kenshin]

Check at any office supply stores. I've found their availability to vary widely. I first saw them at some small local place.

 

BTW, did anyone else notice that the Amazon seller that was posted has several different listings for these (in several package sizes), and one of them is listed as a medium and one is listed as a fine point?

 

Pilot also makes a fine-point Vpen that looks fairly similar to the Varsity.

 

[Art R]

These pens look interesting but alas, I don't know where to get them here in Canada. And getting one online is expensive with shipping. (one varsity is $8 shipped from jetpens), and that's using the cheapest shipping method

 

 

I found it in a bookstore (I don't recomand it for books) in Montreal, "Renaud-Bray".

 

I'll check that out if I go to montreal this summer.

 

I'll also check staples

 

Staples has them here, $6 for three!

 

Called staples and they said they didn't have it.

 

 

Well, I really wanted to try these just to have something inexpensive that I wouldn't mind losing. Office Depot sells the Extra-Fine nib version for $2.99 via their website. That's going to have to wait until I have a bigger order to place as the shipping would make the Varsity an expensive pen.

 

I walked in to staples and asked, and the girl said the only fountain pen in stock was the Waterman ($52.00) She stated they did not carry the Varsity. So, I wander back to the pen aisle, past the ball points, roller balls, felt tips, to the specialty pens, and finally found the three pack of medium nib Varsitys for $6.40. I bought these after advising her that they did have them in stock. I can tell you right off the bat, I do not like the purple. I'll be giving that to one of the girls at work.. It also lays down a thicker line than the black and blue. This is probably due to the ink formulation.

 

I think I would much prefer the fine or extra-fine nib on these. On laser paper they work great. In a spiral bound notebook, they write a little on the thick side, actually they bleed a bit on that cheap paper. Funny thing, on grocery store receipts they are all consistently great. The black seems a little thinner.

 

Bottom line, a great little pen especially for travel. And when passing judgment on a pen or pen/ink combination, try a bunch of different paper grades. Cheap paper can make a fine pen look like a coat hanger.

 

 

Art

[mucephei]

My local stationer has a large selection of V-Pens - the full colour range I think. I picked another one up today, filled with blue ink, to take on holiday with me in a few weeks' time.

[Chthulhu]

These appear to only be called "Varsity" in the US; elsewhere the pen is marketed as "VPen." Similarly, they only seem to be available with the M nib, which is more of a fat F, in the US.

 

http://hans.presto.tripod.com/cat012.html

 

Staples and Office Depot's Web sites insist the pens are not available in their B&M stores, and this is certainly true in my town, but they do still seem to be on pegs in some locations. I found a double handful at a local small independent office supply and pen shop yesterday, and bought two.

 

Art, keep in mind that these pens CAN be refilled fairly easily; I wasn't wild about the purple ink in an older one I had, and refilled it with some red ink for my wife to use; the line was much finer with the red ink than with the purple.

Edited October 3, 2009 by Chthulhu

[Kabe]

Mexico has the pinstriped Varsity

[Possum Hill]

JetPens has both Varsitys and VPens, so you can get M or F nib. Also, you can full the F nib and feed from a Pilot Petit1 and use it in a Varsity body.