Okay, so I've had my 2012 LE Edison pen for a little while now, inked up with Benevolent Badger Blue. (What else?)
Generally, I find myself liking this pen more than the 2011 Glenmont LE.
I'll set out my various observations.
First off, you notice how FREAKING BIG this pen is.
You also notice the colour. Now, the 2011 pen was a nice black & green swirl ... and from a moderate distance you see the black, swirling with the green. The '12 pen, however, is much more restrained in that sense. I had originally expected a similar swirling of blue and black, but this pen seems much more tri-coloured, with most of the pen being a dark prussian grey, with subtle blue and black swirled in, so from a similar distance (where the '11 swirls are still very noticeable) the '12 seems to be simply an off-black sort of colour. The swirl is evident only upon a closer examination. (For me, that more subtle marbling is preferable.)
The choice of white-metal nib and clip is perfect for this pen, just as the choice of yellow-metal was for the '11 green. (The engraving is about the same ... although the badger head is tilted a bit differently, being an improvement for the '12 version.)
I actually find that the '12 nib writes better than the '11 nib. I've always had a bit of hassle with the '11 nib being a bit of a slow starter on downstrokes when I start writing, but no such problem with the '12.
Back to the size thing. When capped, this pen is only 3/4" longer than the '11. Both are quite manageable to carry in a suit jacket pocket; neither would work well in a shirt pocket or ... heaven forbid ... pants pocket. Opened and unposted, they are even closer in size ... a mere 3/8" added length for the '12. (Mind you, the "grip" part of the '11 has a concave taper, while the '12 is a straight taper, so the '12 can feel a bit thicker in the hand when writing.) But post the pens ... and ... well, there's 7/8" more on the '12. (I actually thought there would be more before I measured them, so the fact that it's "only" 7/8" difference is a bit of a surprise.
Here's the thing. Posted, the '11 feels just right in the hand. But the '12 feels a bit too long, maybe a bit too back-end-heavy, so I'll want to use it unposted. (I note that I am currently using my '11 as an eyedropper and my '12 with the converter ... so maybe the extra ink inside the '11 changes the weight distribution.)
Anyhow, they are both great pens. I think I like the '12 a little bit more ... which one would hope for, I guess, not resting on one's laurels from the '11 but pushing to make the '12 even better ... but if I feel like posting my pen, I'll reach for the '11 first.
Generally, I find myself liking this pen more than the 2011 Glenmont LE.
I'll set out my various observations. First off, you notice how FREAKING BIG this pen is.
You also notice the colour. Now, the 2011 pen was a nice black & green swirl ... and from a moderate distance you see the black, swirling with the green. The '12 pen, however, is much more restrained in that sense. I had originally expected a similar swirling of blue and black, but this pen seems much more tri-coloured, with most of the pen being a dark prussian grey, with subtle blue and black swirled in, so from a similar distance (where the '11 swirls are still very noticeable) the '12 seems to be simply an off-black sort of colour. The swirl is evident only upon a closer examination. (For me, that more subtle marbling is preferable.) The choice of white-metal nib and clip is perfect for this pen, just as the choice of yellow-metal was for the '11 green. (The engraving is about the same ... although the badger head is tilted a bit differently, being an improvement for the '12 version.)
I actually find that the '12 nib writes better than the '11 nib. I've always had a bit of hassle with the '11 nib being a bit of a slow starter on downstrokes when I start writing, but no such problem with the '12.
Back to the size thing. When capped, this pen is only 3/4" longer than the '11. Both are quite manageable to carry in a suit jacket pocket; neither would work well in a shirt pocket or ... heaven forbid ... pants pocket. Opened and unposted, they are even closer in size ... a mere 3/8" added length for the '12. (Mind you, the "grip" part of the '11 has a concave taper, while the '12 is a straight taper, so the '12 can feel a bit thicker in the hand when writing.) But post the pens ... and ... well, there's 7/8" more on the '12. (I actually thought there would be more before I measured them, so the fact that it's "only" 7/8" difference is a bit of a surprise.
Here's the thing. Posted, the '11 feels just right in the hand. But the '12 feels a bit too long, maybe a bit too back-end-heavy, so I'll want to use it unposted. (I note that I am currently using my '11 as an eyedropper and my '12 with the converter ... so maybe the extra ink inside the '11 changes the weight distribution.)
Anyhow, they are both great pens. I think I like the '12 a little bit more ... which one would hope for, I guess, not resting on one's laurels from the '11 but pushing to make the '12 even better ... but if I feel like posting my pen, I'll reach for the '11 first.
