Need a few suggestions for Fountain pens

[Blewbyou]

I have no experience with fountain pens but thought it would be a neat idea to get one for my son for Christmas. He's currently in 3rd year University doing a double major in Politics and economics. I know he has looked at fountain pens before so this is why I think it would be a great gift. He is also the type that would hand write an assignment instead of printing one off from a computer.
Further more I think it would be an idea to get he and I matching pens. I'm looking for something mid range that will give he and I years of enjoyment (providing neither of us lose it). Looking to spend $150-$200 each.
Also a list of accessories that would be needed would be grand.

Thanks Steve

 

[dgerson]

Steve,

Can you offer some input into what kind of style he (and you) have? Classic v. modern? Wood v. metal? Bright v. restrained? There are simply too many options otherwise at that price point and all you're going to get is lists of other people's favorite pens.

 

[Blewbyou]

Sorry as I said I have no experience in these matters.
Classic over modern, Wood over metal and somewhere between bright and restrained.

Thanks Steve

 

[dgerson]

Hmmm...

A lot of the models from Edison Pens would be in that range, and you're talking a beautiful pen.
Lamy 2000 is gorgeous and classic looking.
There are a bunch of Pelikan's in that range, and those certainly are beautiful pens that hold up well. I think the M215 is particularly classy looking.

Many others options and I'll let the true experts chime in with their advice...

 

[americanarmsdealer]

By classic do you mean vintage? If so, a Parker 51 is very hard to beat. Sweeping, modern-looking lines, amazing build quality, performance, and almost ridiculous ink capacity, especially if you stick with the Vacumatic fillers. If you look around, you can easily pick them up for $60-100, and if they need work, you can get them fully restored for less than $50 in most cases. Have fun hunting for the first pen for your son, but beware, because you may turn him into a lifelong FP junkie!

 

[dgerson]

I knew there was a reason the Edison pens were rattling away in my head:

http://edisonpen.com/index.cfm/2012/9/18/Sull-Minuskin-Edison-LE-Platt-Rogers-Spencer-Pen

 

[jumper]

The Lamy 2000 is a great pen with a great design. You could easily get one for around 150 here in Canada and not have to deal with the hassle of cross border shopping.

 

[Blewbyou]

I do appreciate the recommendations so far. Could anyone offer up any more? Where would be the best place to try to obtain a beautiful pen in Canada?

Thanks Steve

 

[Lexbomb]

I would love a custom title 'Just get the Lamy' because honestly they have one for every price range. If your a beginner you can start with the safari and work your way all the way up. They are all bulletproof and have fantastic nibs although to me the medium nib is almost a fine compared to my other pens.

Honestly great great pens you'll never go wrong with one.

Seriously just buy the Lamy

 

[strop]

Options for wooden pens will primarily be from custom makers. I'm sure Rudy Vey, our resident brush guru, could make matching pens.

In that price range I'd look at the Sailor 1911M. Classic styling, and great quality.

 

[LouieGrandie]

I would suggest a Pilot Vanishing Point. Due to it's design it is easy to use with one hand in an office setting.

 

[Dunkind]

Here's a good buying guide: http://goodpens.blogspot.com/2011/11/holiday-gift-guide-penstravaganza.html

 

[jumper]

Stylo.ca in QC or stylusfinepens.com out of Edmonton. Both have a pretty good selection at fair prices. I think stylo.ca has a bigger selection and I have ordered from them in the past with great results.

I do appreciate the recommendations so far. Could anyone offer up any more? Where would be the best place to try to obtain a beautiful pen in Canada?

Thanks Steve

 

[bogiesan]

My fountain pens are all NOS, new old stock. There are many vendors online who offer NOS in several brands including Parker, Cross, Pelikan. I happen to enjoy shopping with Teri at Peyton Pens and all of mine are Sheaffers.
But I also hope you will give your local vendors, if you have any, a chance to earn your money.
If you live in a market large enough to support a stationer or an art supplier —that is not a chain store—you may find some interesting fountain pens.

 

[andrew98]

Here are some of my favorites in your price range:

Pelikan M215 Lozenge (small-ish pen)
Pilot Vanishing Point (perhaps the most practical fountain pen I own, especially for start/stop use in an office setting)
Sailor Sapporo (small-ish pen) or any other Sailor. The 1911 is a great pen with classic styling.
Waterman Laureat (That's the correct spelling, and ebay may be the only place to get a new old stock example... sometimes for about $30. You will see many selling for $100 to $150 ore more. They very well could be worth that, but I've never paid more than $50 for one. I own 3. They're excellent pens.)
Edison Pens (wonderful handmade pens in a huge range of styles and colors)
Platinum 3776 (another classic design)

The pens in bold are my top recommendations for you based on your initial post, and they're probably the highest quality pens I own or have used.

I'm also interested in the Namiki Falcon (semi-flex nib), Faber-Castell Ondoro (just looks unique and comfortable to use), and Franklin Cristoph (lovely designs) pens, although I don't own any of those.

Note that Namiki, Pilot, Sailor, and Platinum pens are Japanese makes, and will typically have nibs that are finer than their western equivalents. For instance, a Fine Waterman nib will be similar to a Medium nib from those Japanese makers. If you choose to buy a Japanese pen, I would recommend a medium or bold nib if it's your first pen. For western makes, probably go with a medium nib, unless you know you like a fine line. All the pens I've listed are quality pens that, with proper care, should last a lifetime. I have my grandparents' and great-grandparents' fountain pens, all in working order. I'll mention that I like small-ish pens for some reason, although I have average to slightly large hands, hence the Sailor Sapporo and Pelikan M215.

The pens I recommended (most quality pens in fact) will come with a disposable ink cartridge and a converter. The converter allows you to use bottled ink with the pen. I like Parker Quink, Noodler's, Visconti, and Pelikan inks. Private Reserve and J. Herbin are supposed to be good too, but ink acquisition disorder hasn't set in (yet). I haven't really run across an ink I didn't like, regarding performance. Just choose a color or two that you like. Bottled ink is a much better value than disposable cartridges.

A bulb syringe for cleaning/flushing pens is handy, a leather pen case is nice for protecting your investment, and some quality paper (Rhodia, Clairfontaine, Exacompta, etc.) will enhance your writing experience. That should about do it. I almost forgot: you'll need a nice wooden case once your addiction to fountain pens really takes hold.

-Andy

Canadian Sellers: Stylus, and I found a huge list of sellers here. Your own, more extensive google search may unearth more. Have fun!

Edit: Buying fountain pens is easy. Just find a reputable seller who stocks a bunch of pens, buy one you really like, then buy 6 more. See. Easy... too easy.

 

[Doc4]

Check this out ...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Sailor-Prod...536?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1e6e22d1a8

 

[andrew98]

That's a beautiful pen! Import duties may bust the $200 budget, but then again, it may be worth it.

-Andy

 

[andrew98]

I forgot to make one more point about paper. You can get good, fountain pen friendly paper at most chain office supply stores. Thin paper will most likely show feathering whereby the ink bleeds away from the line you've written. Ink will also show through the back of a thin sheet of paper, making the reverse side of the page unusable for writing. Look for 90 to 100 gram per square meter (gsm) paper. The only gripe I have seen with some quality paper is that if the surface is very smooth, it can take some time for fountain pen ink to dry (30 seconds or more).

I would also avoid Moleskine brand paper/notebooks. That's only my opinion, though. Moleskine is the Marmite of fine paper. Some folks love it. It's pricey, but I haven't had positive experience with it.

-Andy

 

[Blewbyou]

Thanks for all the recommendations thus far. I have been snooping around the net and have found some very nice looking pens. True to form for me most of the ones I really like are above the budget I first set .........so up goes the budget. I really like the Visconti pens and the sailor pens. Does anyone have any experience with the two? Is one make better than the other?

 

[Doc4]

T.........so up goes the budget. I really like the Visconti pens and the sailor pens. Does anyone have any experience with the two? Is one make better than the other?

I have plenty of experience with Sailor (none with Visconti, though) and IMHO they are wonderful. The nibs are fantastic ... especially if you can afford the "Nagahara" nibs. (Of those, there are a lot of unique specialty nibs, that cost a lot of money, but the naginata togi is comparatively very inexpensive, and a great daily writer with line variation.) If you can stretch your budget to a naginata togi nib, you will be doing well indeed. (I like the MF size of that nib, for daily writing.) BIN on e-bay straight from japan ...