Fountain pen users, rejoice!

[Scepticalscribe]

A nice offer on Amazon today;

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0182KJ...m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&pf_rd_r=1QCYKQSVE1ECYNP5VKV9

I'm one of those who prefers to buy my pens from a shop that specialises in pens; I love handling them, asking about them, discussing them. Actually, I love the almost Dickensian air of some of those old pen shops, tiny, ancient and with very informed and specialised staff.

 

[JamesMike]

I'm one of those who prefers to buy my pens from a shop that specialises in pens; I love handling them, asking about them, discussing them. Actually, I love the almost Dickensian air of some of those old pen shops, tiny, ancient and with very informed and specialised staff.

I have never been to a 'Pen Shop', when I come to England can you give me a address for one?

 

[Scepticalscribe]

I have never been to a 'Pen Shop', when I come to England can you give me a address for one?

Well, @JamesMike, there is a fantastic one - tiny, but marvellously atmospheric - in the Burlington Arcade off Piccadilly, (@Kurwenal had mentioned it to me) called Penfriend.

A wonderful shop. You could easily lose yourself for an hour or so while browsing and sampling pens.

Actually, I bought one of my Mont Blanc pens there. And, as a delightful extra, this shop also stocks some gorgeous antique pens (you know the ones with tortoiseshell casing), dating from the 20s onwards.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Saw the Mont Blanc Blue Hour (in both the ballpoint and fountain pen versions - midsize, not Le Grand) in Frankfurt airport - and yes, I handled them, and wrote with them, - and must say that they were - and are - absolutely gorgeous.

 

[Ulenspiegel]

Looks amazing, have to feel it how it writes. Will do today or tomoz.
This one?

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Looks amazing, have to feel it how it writes. Will do today or tomoz.
This one?

The very one.

They had the Le Grand version, - which is far too large and heavy for my hand - but I requested a look at the mid size (which is the standard 145, or 146 size, I think).

Candidly, I will not attempt to hide the fact that I was quite smitten.

 

[Ulenspiegel]

The very one.

They had the Le Grand version, - which is far too large and heavy for my hand - but I requested a look at the mid size (which is the standard 145, or 146 size, I think).

Candidly, I will not attempt to hide the fact that I was quite smitten.

I also prefer the mid size.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Passing through Frankfurt Airport yesterday, - en route and transiting with a few hours to spare - I paid a return visit to the Mont Blanc shop. (Store to our Transatlantic Cousins).

And requested another long look at the 'Blue Hour' fountain pen in the midsize - (the large size, the Le Grand, is far too large for my hand, whereas the midsize is marginally larger, while quite a bit heavier, than my Meisterstuck classique which I had with me and took out for a size and heft comparison).

Anyway, I asked to write with it, to see how it felt in my hand, and how well it balanced and sat in my hand while writing.

What can I say? It is a gorgeous pen, with a beautiful heft and writes exquisitely.

 

[David G.]

I've owned numerous Lamy Safari fountain pens, and I mostly like them, but I love my Pelikan M400. I've written with some Mont Blancs at the boutique in San Antonio, but just walked out with the ink because I didn't think there was enough of a difference between the MB Meisterstücks and my Pelikan Souverän to justify a purchase.

 

[AVBeatMan]

I've owned numerous Lamy Safari fountain pens, and I mostly like them, but I love my Pelikan M400. I've written with some Mont Blancs at the boutique in San Antonio, but just walked out with the ink because I didn't think there was enough of a difference between the MB Meisterstücks and my Pelikan Souverän to justify a purchase.
View attachment 665539

Love the look of the Pelikan. Have this one in my Amazon basket:

 

[David G.]

Love the look of the Pelikan. Have this one in my Amazon basket:

They look so much better in the flesh than they do in photos. The striations up and down the body look like glitter almost, but on a microscopic scale, both in size and effect.

 

[CooperBox]

I've owned numerous Lamy Safari fountain pens, and I mostly like them, but I love my Pelikan M400. I've written with some Mont Blancs at the boutique in San Antonio, but just walked out with the ink because I didn't think there was enough of a difference between the MB Meisterstücks and my Pelikan Souverän to justify a purchase.
View attachment 665539

I certainly agree here about the Lamy Safari (unbeatable value for money), and the M400. In fact the top quality of Pelican fountain pens imho is one of the best kept secrets. Whoops......was a well kept secret. Mont Blanc have an unbeatable marketing presence, hence their justified popularity, but I prefer the absolute top-quality, less bling-bling presence of Pelikan.
I've always seen Mont Blanc marketing in a similar, first-class league as Rolex. However, being an owner of a DateJust which is worn far less often than my beloved IWC, it may not be too surprising that I also carry a Pelikan for use rather than a Mont Blanc?

 

[Scepticalscribe]

I certainly agree here about the Lamy Safari (unbeatable value for money), and the M400. In fact the top quality of Pelican fountain pens imho is one of the best kept secrets. Whoops......was a well kept secret. Mont Blanc have an unbeatable marketing presence, hence their justified popularity, but I prefer the absolute top-quality, less bling-bling presence of Pelikan.
I've always seen Mont Blanc marketing in a similar, first-class league as Rolex. However, being an owner of a DateJust which is worn far less often than my beloved IWC, it may not be too surprising that I also carry a Pelikan for use rather than a Mont Blanc?

Depends on the actual model of Mont Blanc pen that one uses.

I'll readily concede that some of the 'special series' Mont Blanc pens are indeed a bit 'bling bling' (and massive and monstrous in the hand, as they are more a loud statement rather than a carefully crafted writing instrument), but the Meisterstuck series is very comfortable in the hand and writes beautifully.

 

[CooperBox]

I have never been to a 'Pen Shop', when I come to England can you give me a address for one?

I can highly recommend a pen shop, if you should be visiting places other than London.
I discovered 'Signatures of York' a few years ago, in Fossgate - within the walled city of York. I was like a kid in a candy-shop, and on my last visit, came away with a very large smile and a vintage Conklin Endura Symetrik, with original Toledo gold nib. This model ran from 1925-1938.
I must try and upload a photo of this interesting pen.
[doublepost=1476781124][/doublepost]

Depends on the actual model of Mont Blanc pen that one uses.

I'll readily concede that some of the 'special series' Mont Blanc pens are indeed a bit 'bling bling' (and massive and monstrous in the hand, as they are more a loud statement rather than a carefully crafted writing instrument), but the Meisterstuck series is very comfortable in the hand and writes beautifully.

I agree. The Meisterstuck series do write so well, and confortable too.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

I can highly recommend a pen shop, if you should be visiting places other than London.
I discovered 'Signatures of York' a few years ago, in Fossgate - within the walled city of York. I was like a kid in a candy-shop, and on my last visit, came away with a very large smile and a vintage Conklin Endura Symetrik, with original Toledo gold nib. This model ran from 1925-1938.
I must try and upload a photo of this interesting pen.
[doublepost=1476781124][/doublepost]
I agree. The Meisterstuck series do write so well, and confortable too.

Sounds as though it is a wonderful place; must pay it a visit when my travels next take me to York.

 

[cdcastillo]

Depends on the actual model of Mont Blanc pen that one uses.

I'll readily concede that some of the 'special series' Mont Blanc pens are indeed a bit 'bling bling' (and massive and monstrous in the hand, as they are more a loud statement rather than a carefully crafted writing instrument) ...

And speaking of Monstrous bling bling pens, I was at my local MB boutique this weekend and saw the most expensive pen I've ever encountered. It is the second "special edition" of the "110 years special edition" if that makes any sense. It eliminates (despises) the retro-cuteness and petite-ness (sorry for the neologisms) of the original 110 years celebration model. I can not imagine anyone writing with that 28,000 USD monster. It is a "piece for collectors" who never intend to write with it. I did not like it.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

And speaking of Monstrous bling bling pens, I was at my local MB boutique this weekend and saw the most expensive pen I've ever encountered. It is the second "special edition" of the "110 years special edition" if that makes any sense. It eliminates (despises) the retro-cuteness and petite-ness (sorry for the neologisms) of the original 110 years celebration model. I can not imagine anyone writing with that 28,000 USD monster. It is a "piece for collectors" who never intend to write with it. I did not like it.

I haven't seen that one - perhaps you can post a picture?

Mind you, I am not t all taken by the "Writers' Series" - I thought some of them too bloated, too bling, bling.

 

[cdcastillo]

I haven't seen that one - perhaps you can post a picture?

Mind you, I am not t all taken by the "Writers' Series" - I thought some of them too bloated, too bling, bling.

I did not took a picture of it, but I'll be going back this week and I promise to take one. On the writer series, I fell in love with the Daniel Defoe one, it is beautiful. I also like the Poe, but more for sentimental reasons than aesthetic ones.

 

[cdcastillo]

Yesterday I went to the boutique to get one of my pens repaired, and snapped these crappy pictures for you guys

This is the pen that costs about 29,000 USD

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Yesterday I went to the boutique to get one of my pens repaired, and snapped these crappy pictures for you guys

This is the pen that costs about 29,000 USD

Thanks for sharing.

Yes, I have seen this thing, - in the flesh, so to speak, - and, to be perfectly honest, I don't like it at all.

Good luck with the repair.

 

[Ulenspiegel]

Actually it's a kinda retro version of an older edition (1920s, 1930s, if I remember correctly). The original, old version sometimes can be found on ebay and some other professional sites.

 

[Venderious]

Waterman Pro Graduate

 

[cdcastillo]

Actually it's a kinda retro version of an older edition (1920s, 1930s, if I remember correctly). The original, old version sometimes can be found on ebay and some other professional sites.

The one I posted pictures of? It's the third iteration of the special edition for the 110 years of Montblanc (1906-2016)

The first one is made of laque, is slim, very retro and decorated with faux-coral. The second one has the same form factor but it's made of ebonite, similar to cork. The third is the monster I posted.

Every new iteration is more exclusive/expensive than the last one. In México city, the first one costs about $730 usd, the 2nd about $1,640 usd, and the last monster $29,000 usd.

 

[Ulenspiegel]

@cdcastillo
Yes, this is the one. I had in my hands the origianl version from the 1920s (black), almost bought it, but it lacked the silver snake on the cap.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

The one I posted pictures of? It's the third iteration of the special edition for the 110 years of Montblanc (1906-2016)

The first one is made of laque, is slim, very retro and decorated with faux-coral. The second one has the same form factor but it's made of ebonite, similar to cork. The third is the monster I posted.

Every new iteration is more exclusive/expensive than the last one. In México city, the first one costs about $730 usd, the 2nd about $1,640 usd, and the last monster $29,000 usd.

@cdcastillo
Yes, this is the one. I had in my hands the origianl version from the 1920s (black), almost bought it, but it lacked the silver snake on the cap.

Yes, I have seen it - in a lovely pen shop in Piccadilly - where I bought a subdued, but exceedingly elegant sterling silver 144 Meisterstuck Mont Blanc pen, but am not crazy about it.

I suppose it comes down to the fact that I prefer an understated look - and not only in pens.