The Signature Pen

When I first started looking for and defining my signature pen, several people asked me, "Well, which of your pens is your favorite", or "Which pen do you use the most" almost always ending with "use THAT as your signature pen".  I have a lot of pens, so I can definitely see why someone could question my need for another. So, at the risk of sounding pedantic, I am looking for a pen whose main job is to be used for my signature... not a pen that IS my signature piece.  As horrible as it sounds, I don't know that I could make one of my current pens into a signature pen, because it would feel like I was picking a favorite child or something... gosh I hope my actual children never read this ... I love you guys :-)

I am not a famous author... or a famous... anything... for that matter, nor am I just that vain.  I have used fountain pens for over 20 years, but have only recently gotten back into calligraphy.  While the broader pens make up most of my stable, I have never really gotten into crisp italics because they do not work with my cursive, I blame Zaner-Bloser.

Enter the epic Pilot Parallels.

These little pens are what made me dig out my dip pens.  They are certainly not a replacement for dip pens, but they are sweet little things.  BUT, their greatest act was making my signature look awesome... so maybe I am a little bit vain.

I have spent the better part of the last decade as an educator, so signing my name is a common occurrence, and I did not really feel like it would be wise to carry around a Pilot Parallel all day.  I can tell you what pens I used to sign our marriage certificate, birth certificates, Baptismal records, love letters to my Wife, letters to friends (particularly after they have past), and so, as I thought about having a pen that would be used to provide uniformity to my signature and link the things I have signed, I did want it to have some presence.

While I have many pens, and have more than I should inked at any given time, I do not have any that serve only one purpose; even the pen that is filled with Iron Gall ink is not relegated to only address envelopes,  it gets a turn to stretch its legs.  For this reason, I did not want an italic nib.  I decided on a classy stub.

I toyed with a custom pen, I looked at several brands that had factory stub nibs, and (probably influenced by my recent love affair with the London Fog) I decided I wanted a Visconti to fill the void.  I was almost swayed by a few beautiful MontBlancs, and an older Pelikan.

So, whilst browsing Chatterley Luxuries to find a moderately priced stub nib, I came across the Visconti-Chatterley Desert Opera 10th Anniversary Limited Edition ST Fountain Pen.  I really do love the Desert Springs material in the Divina, so this was not a hard sell.

I messaged back and forth with Bryant about what I wanted with the pen, and he said he would find the prettiest one he had.  As an afterthought, I sent a messaged him and told him that if no7 was nice, I would love to have it.  The response I got from Bryant was wonderful... He said that when he went back to see if they had no7, his wife had already picked out the one that she thought had the best pattern, and it happened to be no7!  What are the odds.

The shipping was prompt, the pen had been tested and wrote beautifully.  I was really surprised by two things, the first was the blue enamel in the clip and the second was how well the stub wrote.  My experience, even with higher end brands, has been that when you get larger than a medium nib, they are prone to at least a little baby's bottom.... this had none.

It is a cartridge/converter, but I am not horrible bothered by that.  I felt a little better about putting Noodler's Liberty's Elysium in it because it is much easier to clean out.  Also, it is the nicest converter I have ever used.  It screws into the pen, and it aesthetically very pleasing, with the silver trim and subtle branding.

The packaging is always nice from Visconti, a grey lacquered box.  

The silver grip does not get slippery for me... although as you can see... it attracts fingerprints like nothing else.  

The desert springs material is GORGEOUS!!!  I wish I could take a picture that really captured it.  

In conclusion, I found a pen that not only suits my vanity and makes my signature beautiful, but is one that I genuinely like to write with.  The price was great, and fit in my budget from other pens I had to sell.  It is not my favorite pen, but I have no problem keeping it constantly inked and it will keep a place in my pen pouch.  I was not disappointed in the least, but I still enjoy using a regular nib for general writing... I am not saying that this is the only stub nib I will ever buy, but even if it is, I am happy I have this one.

Na Zdraví!

Visconti London Fog --- Get Excited

So, got this in today from Appelboom. This is not a review yet. I have only had it for an hour. I will say this is the first pen I have ever gotten that looks better in person than the stock photos. Enjoy the eye-candy!!! These are not done with the good camera.... those will come with a review.

Top Five Giveaway Fountain Pens

This weeks Friday Top Five is Giveaway Fountain Pens.  I am doing this one before the Top Five Starter Fountain Pens for 2 reasons:

1) I have found that a lot of people will be introduced to fountain pens by someone else and don't usually just go out and pick up the hobby (of course there are exceptions... I decided in high school that I was going to write with fountain pens without anyone encouraging the hobby.)

2) I just bought a bunch of fountain pens to give away, so the idea is on my mind...

My guidelines for a giveaway fountain pen are dependent upon whether or not I will be around the pen as they start to use it, and how much time I have to tinker with it before I give it away.

If I am going to be around, I don't mind giving away a piston filler, or cartridge converter, because I have bottles of ink they can refill from.  If I do not have time to tinker, than I am not going to give away a really cheap pen that might not start writing well out of the box.

#5 The Hero 616

The Hero 616 is cheap, really cheap.  It is a replica of the old Parker '51.  Apparently some parts are interchangeable, but I haven't tried.  I usually buy these in a pack of 10 from China, because I have to work on them before I give them away.  Some of them won't work, but most of them can be put into use with a little bit of micro-mesh, a razor, and some shellac.  This tends to be one of the last ones I give away, but if I have been using my Parker '51, then I give these away so they look like the pen I have been using.

Pros:  

• Holds  enough ink to get a starter by for a while
• Has built in converter
• Does not dry out quickly
• Classic Look
• CHEAP
• Comes in several colors

Cons

• Poor build quality
• Stiff nibs that need work
• Can leak

#4  The Platinum Preppy

The Platinum Preppy is one of those quintessential give away pens.  These pens can be bought from any major vendor.  They will take Platinum's proprietary cartridge, their converter, or can be converted to an eye-dropper.  Some people prefer the Platinum Plaisir, but I like these.  Most of mine are converted to eye droppers, but then if they break or come unscrewed... it is a BIG mess.  

Pros:  

• Holds a decent amount of ink
• Will take Cartridge or Converter or Eye-dropper
• Does not dry out quickly
• Clear demonstrator
• CHEAP
• Comes in several colors
• Decent Nib

Cons

• Cheap plastic can break
• Can leak
• Looks very "kiddy"

#3 The Dollar 717iT

No, the Dollar Pen does not cost just a Dollar.  The Company's name is Dollar.  This pen comes from Pakistan, and generally can be purchased from eBay for just a few dollars.  It is a piston filler, has a decent nib, and comes in several colors.

Pros:  

• Holds a decent amount of ink
• Piston Filler
• CHEAP
• Comes in several colors

Cons

• Will only take bottled ink
• Can leak around the section
• Not always easy to get

#2 Pilot 78g

The Pilot 78g is one of my favorite pens, not just to giveaway, but as part of my every day carry pens.  These have surprisingly good nibs, normally have decent flow, and look nice.  They are not always available in the U.S., and when they are they are 10-15$

Pros:  

• Has built in converter, but can also take cartridge
• Great Nib
• Classic Look
• Comes in 3 colors

Cons

• Hard to find in U.S.
• Not as cheap as other options
• Painted on gold bands will wear away
• Does not hold a lot of ink

#1 Pilot V-Pen

The Pilot V-Pen is sold as the Varsity in the U.S., but I like the styling of the V-Pen better, and since my last name is Voboril, it's just better.  These are disposable fountain pens, and they are really pretty amazing.  No they can not be refilled, but the nibs are very smooth, they are super cheap, and they never ever dry out.  I have never had a hard start or even a skip, that I can remember.

Pros:  

• Holds a lot of ink
• Does not dry out, period.
• Great Nib, smooth as butter
• CHEAP
• Comes in several colors

Cons

• Disposable
• Disposable
• Disposable

I give away more Pilot V-Pens than any other.  When someone is ready to move up to a starter pen, I usually help them with that too.  To me, a starter pen is the gateway to the fountain pen world.  If someone picks up a $400 pen, or sometimes even a $30 pen as their first fountain pen, they will be hesitant to use it all the time.  These pens are pens you use every day, and if you loose it, or break it, you don't sweat about it.

Review of the MontBlanc 149 by a former anti-montblancite

So, I will be the first to admit that I have said nasty things about MontBlanc, and those who buy their pens.  If you look, you can find all over Fountain Pen Network... my disapproval of the company, the pens, and most especially... the cost.

I have been using fountain pens for a long time.  I first used a dip pen from HobbyLobby... 20 years ago... when I was in grade school.  I made quills from goose feathers my sophomore year of high school (not very practical... but amused my English teacher. They did not last for long...) and I used a kit-pen with a steel nib for college.  I have been through Lamy, Sheaffer, Waterman, Pelikan, Pilot, Noodler's. Platinum, Parker, Stypen, Wearever, Retro 51, and even some Hero pens.  Through it all, I swore I would never use a MontBlanc.

I now use a lot of pens for work.  I am a history teacher.  I LIKE taking notes... which is why we give so many notes....

Having children softens you.... When you are teaching your children not to hate something, or to have an open mind... it has an effect on you.  I can remember being in and out of the great ink battles shortly after Noodler's came out with ink.  I finally concluded that it is.... ink... just ink.  The thing that really urked me was that there were people that just would NOT try a brand because of one thing or another.  I always thought they were silly... but my MB thing was different... I had just cause... or so I thought.  After several years, I concluded that if someone handed me a MontBlanc for cheap... I would give it a whirl... just to see what the fuss was about... but I was not about to be impressed...

Shawn Newton ... the infamous 'watch_art' may be the most laid-back fountain pen user I have ever met... actually he may be the most laid back person I have ever met that still works in education.  I went down to visit him in Arkansas, the last time I was down south.  We talked about pens, ink, students, and all the personalities on Fountain Pen Network.  I realized that I was as judgmental about somethings as some of the people I complain about... the anti-this or the anti-that.  He handed me a MB 149 and I thought it was a nice pen... but I didn't know if I thought it was the end-all-be-all.  That trip, I also got to go to a pen shop in Little Rock... Vanness... and played with a Waterman Exception Slim, a Sheaffer PFM (or rather the reincarnation... think it is called the Legacy), and a Pilot Metal Falcon.  I loved the look of the Waterman and the nib wasn't bad, it was just so scrawny... it hurt.  I hated the the look of the Sheaffer Legacy, but loved the feel in my hand; the nib was... generic.  I loved the weight of the Metal Falcon... but the Soft-Broad skipped waaaay too much.  I was lost as to what pen I wanted next.... everything seemed inadequate.

Then I visited Craig's List.  Idle hands are never good, and teachers get summers off... I found someone listing "Montblanc Meisterstück Le Grand Fountain Pen and Meisterstück Le Grand Rollerball Pen". They were listed cheap... really cheap.  If you really want a price tag... look at this post To Buy Or Not To Buy ... Montblanc.  I bit...

The pens were not what was advertised.  Pictured are the pens I got.  The top is a MontBlanc Meisterstuck 149 fountain pen, the bottom is a MB 163 Roller-ball.  Both pens were damaged.  The 163 has a crack in the cap, but it is not a big deal.  I may fix it someday, but I am in no rush... I am not really a RB user.  The 149 had a crack in the finial (top of the cap where the star is.)   That did bother me.  The seller did give me a discount because of the cracks... so I can't complain too much...

Finding a rough manufactured date was not difficult using this resource:  http://www.fountainp...montblanc-149s/   It had plastic threads on the filler mechanisum, a 14K two-tone nib, and a split ebonite feed.  Some of that can be seen below.  It is a late 80's model.

I did send it off to MontBlanc.  It took 10 days from when I put it in the mail to when I got it back... this afternoon.  I did have some issues with the quote... I called customer service.  Both times I called, I talked to Miriam.  She was one of the nicest, most knowledgeable, customer service reps I have ever worked with, and everything was taken care of to my satisfaction.

I did loose a few things... They replaced the entire body... and the entire cap... The only original parts are the clip and the nib.  The most important part... the finial was fixed.

I also gained brass threads on the the filler mechanism....

While loosing the split ebonite feed...

All things considered, I think I came out ahead.  Considering I got a brand new pen (save the nib) for a very nominal fee... I think I came out ahead.

As far as the pen goes... I said earlier that when I was looking at some other higher endish pens there were things I really liked and things that really bugged me.  I just was not satisfied with any of those pens.  So I guess we start with the superficial... This pen is a looker....

I never get tired of looking at this pen.  There is something very classic about it.  This is the first pen of mine that people spot in my pocket and know it is a fountain pen and comment... and I have been using fountain pens for a long time.  There is a flow to it that really works.  I know the material is fragile... but it does keep a shine to it that tries hard to impress... and I don't drop pens... 

I don't see it as "bling" per-se ... but it is darn perty...

How does it feel?.... well... do you like big pens.... If you answer "YES" than it is a very comfortable pen.  The first night I had it inked, I wrote 6 extra pages in the journal... it was just so comfy. Here's how it compares to some others.

Front to back, or left to right: Parker 51, Lamy 2000, TWSBI 540, Noodler's Ahab, Lamy Safari, MontBlanc 149, Noodler's Neponset.

It is a big fat pen... no denying it.  It does not fit in my shirt pocket very well.  It fits fine in a sports blazer inside pocket.  It will not fit in my pen case.  I have really considered getting a Franklin-Christoph Penvelope 6.

The nib... 

(I love the effect of Pilot Kon-Peki on the Nib)

CAUTION:  Don't use this pen outside... you will get a sunburn on the bottom of your nose.

It is not the smoothest nib, but it did not have the best owner for the past 20 years.  The little bit of tooth can be smoothed out with a little micromesh.  It is a little springy.  It is more springy that any of the modern Bock nibs, less springy than a Pilot Falcon.  I am content with the nib.  Any of my problems have easy fixes. It looks like a medium to me, but I am not an expert...

There is always a comment on these reviews about price.  This has always been a bone of contention with me. How can people spend that kind-of money... etc... Here is the thing.  I am satisfied.  I could have bought 3 pens adding up to 800$ that could have made me happy... combining the best features.  I am not blown away by the pen, but I am satisfied.  A good point is that there is a strong used market for these pens... they can be had for half the price... on par with a lot of other vintage pens.  Even new, they can be found for 650$ (MB lists them for upwards of 800$ or more).  I have been working on a project to teach geography to my students using celestial navigation... I fund raised... and one of the things I was able to buy was this...

THAT... boys and girls... is an Astra IIIB Deluxe sextant.  This is one of the most affordable sextants that still retain maximum accuracy... it is a sweet tool... and I dropped 770$ for it and some accessories.  When I did  restorations on antique furniture, we spent a whole lot more on tools and equipment. Don't even get me started on what people will pay to have the latest Apple IPad etc...

What I am trying to say is that the Montblanc 149 removed distractions in my writing.  It is easy to use for long periods of time, it holds a ton of ink, and I don't spend all my time thinking about other pens that I am not writing with...

Every profession has its tools.  Sometimes the name on the tool is Klien, Apple, CodaBow, Global Knives, Dewalt... and sometimes it is Montblanc.

So... in conclusion... 

Dear Montblanc Users,

I have offended a lot of you in the past.   I was wrong.  I take back everything I said about them being COMPLETELY overrated (maybe just a little tiny bit overrated).  I take back what I said about the price... they have their reasons.  I am not saying I am sold over.  These may be the only MB pens I ever have, but I understand.  I was not disappointed...  I will say the MB 149 is one of the first pens in a long time that did not disappoint me... I will start calling y'all Montblanc users... not people who have been used by Montblanc.

I am not over the moon... but I am satisfied...

Sincerely,

Tom

Noodler's Music Nib Neponset

I really thought I would keep this all to myself. I never want to rock the boat or start anything, but with the love/hate relationship the fountain pen community has with Noodler's Ink, I really wanted to share what I firmly believe is the most beautiful pen that has come out of Nathan Tardif's workshop.

It all started with a bottle of Noodler's Ink Baystate Blue.



I will be the first to admit that BSB is messy, it stains, and it has a mind of its own... but I love it. I think it is more vibrant than anything else you can put in a fountain pen. I know it is not for everyone, but I took the plunge and haven't looked back. I e-mailed Brian Goulet to see if he knew anything about the "tax-achusetts" label more than what the youtube video had talked about it. He told me to talk to Dick Egolf at Luxury Brands. Dick and I talked a few times. In the end, he told me to send it straight to Nathan... that was in October.

Fast forward to April and the close of the artist competition...



I was shocked... I have seen other people's neponsets and none of them seem to have the same material as this one... and I haven't heard of anyone with a music nib. I was even more shocked when I ran across my pen and my name in one of Nathan's post in the artist contest topic (Fountain Pen Network).

It is a true music nib with three tines.



My writing sample of it, does not give it justice...



Noodler's Neponset w/ Music Nib (Black Swan in English Roses), TWSBI 540 with a Fine (Green Marine), Schmidt EF nib in a kit pen (Noodler's Black), Noodler's Ahab W/ Flex nib (Baystate Blue)

For the sake of the name... I did copy down a piece of music I was learning for violin... happens to be the tune my wife walked down the aisle to.



It lays down so much ink, and the staff paper I have was really made for pencil... it is probably 20lb paper... I had feathering and bleed through. It was, none the less, an enjoyable experience.

It is definitely a smooth writer. It worked out of the box with out nary a problem. It has great flex, but I have no ability to write with flex. I had posted the following on the Artist Contest topic but I am putting it up again, because you can see more of the line variation.



I guess my point is, great things are churning at Noodler's... if you have been turned off in the past, I would challenge you to give them a second chance. I really truly believe that Nathan has more a mind to keep fountain pens and ink alive more than he wants to make money. For me, the willingness to send out all these pens... and to send me this beauty... dare I say a grail pen... is proof that Noodler's really just wants us all to be happy.

Again, I am not trying to pick a fight with the naysayers... I don't know any better way to say "Thank-you Nathan, I love the pen" than to get up on a soap box and wave it in the air.


UPDATE:

I forgot some comparison photos... I think these are the more common / identifiable pens I have



Platinum Preppy (this one has the highlighter insert... just gave away the FP) , Lamy Safari, Lamy 2000, Noodler's Ahab, Noodler's Neponset, Shaeffer 330, Noodler's Nib Creaper, Wearever Pennant, TWSBI 540



Uncapped... sorry the Lamy 2k is not the same size as the Ahab... things were not stable.

It is a big guy, it does stick out the shirt pocket a bit... but for such a beautiful pen... I am ok with it.

Comparing it to other pens on the Pen Data Page from VintagePens.com ... no affiliation... you can see it is a big pen. It is 14.7/15 cm long and about 14.9 mm wide. It is not far from the dimensions of the MontBlanc 149.. with some obvious differences... or course... The only other things that are close in size are the Conway Stewart Churchill LE (but it had flat ends), Namiki Custom Impressions (Also flat ends), Sheaffer Senior Balance (Very close appearance when you look at trim and clip.... and it is from the late 20s) Same thing with the Sheaffer Balance II.

I would love to see Noodler's turn this one into a vaccumatic... or a level fill... classic..


UPDATE:

Compared to the Noodler's Ahab


Neponset and Ahap ... classic Noodler's, you can see a ray of light through the tines of the neponset.



Music nib just would not fit well in an ahab... caps too small



Massive ebonite feed



Neopnset does have the double wall o-ring in the plunger. and it seems like it might be a smingen longer...



The thing barely fits in my case... not a huge collection in there right now.... a few are in a converted cigar case (its has never had cigars... but the fit is perfect) and a couple in the book bag.


UPDATE:


The images is a little rough... I have never done 3d pens before.... but I just had this thought in my head ...