Pen for Dad

[Deacon Frank]

My Dad has been keeping a journal for most of my life, but over the past few years he has not written much. A recent diagnosis of prostate cancer (thankfully in the early stages) has him anxious to take it up again. The problem is, his fountain pen (a Parker Vector) isn't working. This is probably due to neglect more than anything -- it had been inked up and stored for a couple of years. I cleaned out the pen about a month ago when I visited, and the pen writes, but it seems like the tines might be damaged, and maybe from my kids playing with it.

Anyhow, he wants me to order him a new fountain pen setup from Amazon. It needs to be something classy. He wants to try a converter/ink setup, but he needs to be able to revert to cartridges if that suits him better. Budget of around $50. I'm torn between two choices (each with a converter and cartridges) -- but open to other suggestions. Ink capacity isn't so important.

• Lamy Logo, brushed stainless, Z26 converter, Lamy Blue ink (nifty blotter paper with the bottled ink)
• Pilot Prera, royal blue, CON20 converter, Pilot Blue ink (cool ink well)

Which would you fine gents suggest? Or do you have other suggestions?

Thanks!

 

[ChefJohnBoy-ardee]

Flip a coin.

 

[Wil]

My Lamy is a workhorse- between the two really a coin toss. Each pen depends on the writer themselves- is he a heavy writer or does he have a light touch? Also cursive or print..... The nib will need to be chosen base on that as well.....

 

[nemo]

If he can use a medium point ... meet the Metropolitan gold.

I just got one for a friend and she really likes it. Classy, yet inexpensive and writes well.

 

[cursethis]

I agree with Doug... get him a Pilot Metropolitan. It's $15-$18 off of Amazon (depending on the style) and is eligible for Amazon Prime.

 

[Boro62]

i just got this last week http://www.coloradopen.com/product/Sheaffer-300-Chased-Chrome-Fountain-Pen-Medium-Nib/Sheaffer-300

it ended up being $27 and so far I'm really liking it.

 

[whereisandy]

In addition to the Pilot Metropolitan I would also suggest a Parker Frontier. Your Dad might have converters and/or cartridges laying around still so he would only need a bottle of ink. The nibs are typical Western width but if he's used to or likes the Vector he would probably like the Frontier. A month ago I got a metallic burgundy one at Amazon for less than $10 but I see that the price has gone up since.

PS. glad they diagnosed the cancer earlier. Hope he's doing well and I'll keep him and your family in my prayers.

 

[andrew98]

The Pilot Frontier is a decent little fountain pen. I still prefer the Metropolitan over it, though. The latter is the best bang for the buck in pendom, imo. Mine is almost always inked.

-Andy

 

[Deacon Frank]

His handwriting is cursive and compact, so a fine nib is ideal. I think he has a lighter stroke. His hands are larger, so something with substance is probably more comfortable. He found the Vector a bit skinny, and looking at the Lamy Logo I wonder if he would have the same problem.

I have a Frontier ('98 stainless GT) and it is my least favorite pen -- scratchy nib and stingy feed, very picky about ink. It is a good size, though. He doesn't currently have a converter, so it doesn't really matter which brand. The Sheaffer 300 is an option if it comes with a fine nib (the reason I disqualified the Metropolitan).

Thanks for the kind thoughts and prayers, Andy.

 

[Boro62]

His handwriting is cursive and compact, so a fine nib is ideal. I think he has a lighter stroke. His hands are larger, so something with substance is probably more comfortable. He found the Vector a bit skinny, and looking at the Lamy Logo I wonder if he would have the same problem.

I have a Frontier ('98 stainless GT) and it is my least favorite pen -- scratchy nib and stingy feed, very picky about ink. It is a good size, though. He doesn't currently have a converter, so it doesn't really matter which brand. The Sheaffer 300 is an option if it comes with a fine nib (the reason I disqualified the Metropolitan).

Thanks for the kind thoughts and prayers, Andy.

the shaeffer 300 does come in a Fine nib. But also a Pilot M nib seems to be comparable to an F from other manufacturers at least thats wat Ive been told.

 

[Snargle]

The Pilot Metropolitan nib is a Japanese medium, which is basically the equivalent of a European/North American fine. It's an amazing pen for its price...honestly, you'd have no trouble believing it cost double or triple (or more) the $15 price if no one told you differently.

 

[oc_in_fw]

the shaeffer 300 does come in a Fine nib. But also a Pilot M nib seems to be comparable to an F from other manufacturers at least thats wat Ive been told.

They have a Japanese medium, which is usually equivalent to European fine.

 

[whereisandy]

His handwriting is cursive and compact, so a fine nib is ideal. I think he has a lighter stroke. His hands are larger, so something with substance is probably more comfortable. He found the Vector a bit skinny, and looking at the Lamy Logo I wonder if he would have the same problem.

I have a Frontier ('98 stainless GT) and it is my least favorite pen -- scratchy nib and stingy feed, very picky about ink. It is a good size, though. He doesn't currently have a converter, so it doesn't really matter which brand. The Sheaffer 300 is an option if it comes with a fine nib (the reason I disqualified the Metropolitan).

Thanks for the kind thoughts and prayers, Andy.

Sorry to hear that your experience with your Frontier has been poor. I love mine and use it at work a lot since I wouldn't be as heartbroken if it got damaged or lifted.

In that case, I would agree with the majority of my nib brothers with the Pilot Metropolitan. The medium nib is equivalent to a Western fine and it is an amazing pen, especially for the price. I hacked the feed to give mine a wetter flow and swapped out the nib with the stub off of a Plumix and I love writing with it.

I have a Sheaffer 300 withe a medium nib and it lays down a wide, wet line. It is a heavy pen but it isn't balanced as nicely as the Metro, imo.

 

[Deacon Frank]

Sorry to hear that your experience with your Frontier has been poor. I love mine and use it at work a lot since I wouldn't be as heartbroken if it got damaged or lifted.

The only ink my '98 Frontier likes is Diamine Red Dragon. It has a dry feed and scratchy nib. With the Diamine, however, it is an acceptable writer...but not great. I much prefer my '95 Sheaffer and Lamy 2000. Heck, I even prefer the Hero 1000, which has turned out to be a great pen for me.

My sister-in-law got a Metropolitan (I recommended it after reading the good reviews here) and it has worked nicely for her - same model Nemo/Doug posted above. It feels nice in the hand, and I'll probably pick one up at some point. So that's a contender. Thanks for the suggestions!

So to recap, the contenders are:
-Pilot Prera
-Pilot Metropolitan
-Sheaffer 300
-Lamy Logo

Of those, the Prera and 300 seem more like my Dad's style.

 

[Boro62]

The only ink my '98 Frontier likes is Diamine Red Dragon. It has a dry feed and scratchy nib. With the Diamine, however, it is an acceptable writer...but not great. I much prefer my '95 Sheaffer and Lamy 2000. Heck, I even prefer the Hero 1000, which has turned out to be a great pen for me.

My sister-in-law got a Metropolitan (I recommended it after reading the good reviews here) and it has worked nicely for her - same model Nemo/Doug posted above. It feels nice in the hand, and I'll probably pick one up at some point. So that's a contender. Thanks for the suggestions!

So to recap, the contenders are:
-Pilot Prera
-Pilot Metropolitan
-Sheaffer 300
-Lamy Logo

Of those, the Prera and 300 seem more like my Dad's style.

not sure if this makes a difference but the prera is a relatively light pen compared to the 300 which is pretty heavy. I'd probably compare the weight to a lamy safari. The 300 is also weighty to a point where I don't like to write with it posted. I think the metropolitan would be somewhere in the middle.

 

[Eeyore]

How about a Cross ATX for something classy, and American (if that matters to you?)