This captures my thoughts exactly. I do own a Pelikan M805, a Lamy 2000, etc. However, the last three pens I purchased were handed directly to me by the person who made them (Brian Gray (Edison), Ryan Krusac, and Ian Schon (SchonDSGN). I purchased these at pen shows. All three write beautifully and each has a special connection for me. This really does make a difference.
“He who pays the piper calls the tune.” Your collection is to make you happy. If others think one is overpriced it doesn’t matter. If it gives you that much joy, that’s true value. I am buying old pens with “property of” a company engraved on them, and the paint gone where it was held. Not leisure pens or luxury pens. Pens that helped a man feed his family. That gives me a thrill. Whatever rolls your socks down.
Great video. I had an experience with a customer service, I am talking about Waterman. I love the pens they made and I have got seven pens of their, from the 40s to the actual lineup. My problem was find out a converter for the C/F model. I tried to buy it in a shop but they didn't have it anymore so I contact to the customer service, and magic: they sent me one unit totally free. And my intention was purchase it! The result is simple, I continue buying their products. Now I´m falling in love with a Carene in marine amber finish and OB nib. It's simply outstanding.
I've had similar experiences with waterman customer service. They are better than any other company I've dealt with. Their nibs are some of the best out of the box, they just work perfectly. Hence I will keep supporting and buying their pens.
exactly to me thats what really matters if the service is great and the product is good its the best thing because you can actually have trust in them to buy things that you know can get fixed or repaired
Just acquired my first Pelikan. I have super small hands so I went M400 with a medium nib. And i got an incredible deal on it. The the nib really is something else. Really nice on the page. I use my fountain pens for drawing. I feel like I could do a nice lengthy drawing session with this one. We will see. Great video!
I loved your video and accept your comments。 My favourite pen is Montblanc 149. My story is simple, shortly after I bought the pen I took it to the office. My mistake as a colleague got hold of it and to test it threw it up in the air. The pen fell on the floor and the nib was bent. I took it to Montblanc and the pen was sent in for repairs. It came back with a new nib. Cost of the repair: no charge. 😊
I understand your points completely. It is truly a pleasure to work with a company, large or small, that takes their customer service seriously and gains their own pleasure in providing top notch service. Things are just "right with the world" when that happens.
I find myself growing more and more towards this mentality. I have an M800, a 146, a Pilot Custom 823 and a Visconti Homo Sapiens Bronze Age. Aside from perhaps that last one, those are all plastic, machine-made pens. Don’t get me wrong: I love those pens; my 823 has a fantastic nib and a great ink capacity, my 146 has a stub nib ground by Annabelle at Appelboom and my M800 has a wonderfully juicy nib. However, I find myself looking more and more at brands like Yard-O-Led, Namiki or Nakaya for their artistry and manual work.
@ I think we’ve summed up the most common ones to be honest. I do maintain that you don’t necessarily need an expensive gold-nibbed pen as a workhorse; I’m sure there are fantastic steek-nibbed options out there. I know someone who daily drives a Lamy Al-Star and he’s over the moon with it. So long as a pen writes well, is comfortable and not too luxurious that you wouldn’t want to take it everywhere, it can be a good workhorse imo.
I belong to India… This is what i was thinking in my short pen journey too… considering my budget. I found ASA pens, PLP pens and few lotus pens (all indian companies) better for their price to value as considering their cost equivalent in sailor, pilot or other well known brands… The first red flag is when you hold the costly but low in value pens from well known brands you can feel they have cut down on the material itself…. The cost of japanese artisanship has escalated costs too much too… the Ranga and PLP pens have pan master craftsmen who are more than 50 years into the pen making… ASA nauka pen also has such amazing threads that they vanish after fully closing it and you cant distinguish them from the barrel…wishing all pen collectors or connoisseurs of fountain pens such happy and mysterious discoveries in your life too..i thank this channel because I always find him pretty honest about all stuff … 🙏🙏
Well said, Stephen. Fountain pens have been one of my hobbies for years now, and as time passes, I've found that it was independent pen makers that've raised my eyebrows and piqued my curiosity the most frequently.
Very well said. People forget that we all have different ideas as to what makes a great pen and instead get they get hung up on the “hype or brand name “. Everyone has their own individual differences, we’re lefty’s or right-handed, small hands or large, write predominantly in cursive or print. I have 3 MB’s, both are pre-80’s and the smaller sizes, I love them. Would I buy a new 149, no, it holds no attraction for me. Would I purchase a Pelikan, nope, instead I am considering a vintage Sheaffer for the striated body which I think is more appealing. I enjoy listening to people’s personal lists of their greatest pens because it’s fun to see what others consider their “greatest”. As always a great video.
I've given up on Montblanc. Almost every pen I've owned has had nib issues, and in one case, a piston problem. Repairs take weeks, and when they come back, they're not always properly fixed. While they're beautiful pens, I found myself making excuses for their poor writing performance. A 'cheap' TWSBI writes better and is, therefore, more enjoyable to use. Go figure. I've since developed an appreciation for lower-cost pens, some of which are handmade. I second your comments. I recently acquired my first Edison pens, and they are both stunning and flawless writers. Brian Gray was incredible throughout the process, and as a result, I feel a much deeper connection. Case in point: I'm selling most of my Montblancs and redirecting the funds toward pens like Edison.
I have several fountain pens and they all bring me great joy, both to look at and to use. The one I pick up the most ( I have 2) because it works everytime and puts just the right amount of ink on the paper is a Lamy Safari. At some point I will get a Montblanc, the 149 or the 146, most likely with a fine nib. The Lamy's are fine and medium, the fine suits my writing style better.
I have used Montblanc services and they were excellent, great service, parts, and they replaced my nib weeks faster than expected. Sometimes you do get what you pay for.
I strongly concur with your line of thinking on the topic of relating to our pens as the product of people -- people not alienated from the results of their labor! After a while, a lot of our passion for fountain pens is about relationships.
Been following you for so long and yet, timeless... proof - just bought a new Mesiterstuck 146 Sterling Silver (new0 and true to your review 11 years ago - spot on! My perspective is that in the simple question of "owning all pens you like"... would be akin to asking a sommelier if he/she had in the home cellar all the great wines they sell nightly... just - impractical... you provide good, sound, objective reviews and really, same craft as restaurant/wine and the like reviews... You do very good, beneficial and valued work... always have... Keep doing it! You can never make 100% of the people happy... Cheers and blessings
+1 on the Edison Pen Company customer service. They're quick, responsive, and do good work. I've also had great customer experiences with Karas Pen Company and Schon Design.
The Lamy abc is a pen for little children learning how to write. It is a terrific pen if you have small hands. Some people even add a Lamy gold nib to it.
Agreed. I usually recommend Franklin-Christoph to anyone looking for an affordable "next level pen". The nib selection (JoWo) is fantastic and they are tuned by the in-house nib-meister. Don't buy that TWSBI, save up and get yourself something really nice!
...And get yourself something that will amaze you, like their SIG nibs. From Franklin-Christoph I buy all their specialties, like Music nib or Broad-Cursive Italic. Good luck with purchase of such nibs from Pelikan.
A passionate fountain pen user who listens to their own heart thoughtfully. Your comments are so appreciated with salient points. I had to up my subscription to all. There is a local pen maker who owns a local pen shop. Now I have two of his pens as there is beauty there, craftmanship there, history there. Likely I shall own more of his pens as on my last visit, I came so close to buying more than one. And one sticks in my mind. Thanks again for this video.
I agree with you. I’ve always liked MB and Pelikan just fine, but I don’t want one. (Okay, I’d definitely drop some money on some of their LE pens.) There are thousands and thousands of interesting pens out there, beautiful and beautifully made, made by hand, made of interesting materials. For the price of a MB149, I could have a YOL Grand Victorian; if I wanted a black pen for just a little more, I could have a Namiki No. 20, elegance in black urushi. There are so many pens out there that are less common and less expensive than MB, but stunning. And with WAY better customer service than you can get from MB, a company which, not incidentally, seems utterly indifferent to the pen community. They sell so many pens to so many accountants and lawyers and business executives that they really have no need for us. As an economist, I can respect that. They serve a different market than Namiki, Hooligan, Montegrappa, and a much larger market. But as a pen collector, I find that attitude from MB to be a bit of a turnoff.
another pen company that I have had a good experience with in the customer service area is Senator. 2 of my Presidents needed service which they did for free. The Senator is no longer in production and still all I paid for was the postage to Germany.
So clearly you and I have different ways of thinking. Which is great! You are more practical and I am far from that. Where you keep your pens usually only if you use them, I keep them so I can rediscover them. For instance, I have about 6 M800s and I keep them all because they are lovely (even the black one) and they have different sized nibs on them. And each broad is different, and the same with mediums. They each have their own personality. Even if I don't use them often, once in a while I will ink one up and realize why I bought it, because it writes so wonderfully and is so very comfortable. Some pens, I haven't used because I didn't like how the nib wrote when I bought it. But now I pull it out and find that I love how it writes! I have about 500 pens because I love the colors, and the nibs, and designs of the pens are so different. And when I pull out a pen I haven't used in a year or more, it is like getting a new pen. I fall in love with it all over agin. Sure, I have some that I could get rid of. But even those pens remind me of when I first bought them and used them often and how nice they are. And if I come across a nib that is just too wide for me, I will have it ground to an italic (my favorite grind). To me, pulling out a pen I have not used in a while is like meeting an old friend...we pick up right where we left off. And, yes, there are always pens I want to ink up and use. But having 45 currently inked is about all I can manage. So, as soon as I am ready to move on from a pen, or it runs dry, I clean it, store it, and pull out aother old friend with which I can become reacquainted and enjoy.
You make a really good point, production pens have become so unreasonably expensive that I might as well get a custom from a small maker, it's even worse for Italian pens where you find normal resin pens with a steel nib that cost way over 300 euros.
I totally get the sentiment. My problem is that I want something beautiful and interesting on all the points of 1) body material and design, 2) nib, 3) tipping, and 4) filling system. I feel acutely the lack of interesting nibs on most of the small makers, since most of the time they are fitting standard Jowo or Bock feeds with standard tipping ranges. I really want someone to make an inlaid nib again in interesting nib grinds and a silver body that is relatively lightweight and ergonomic in the classic Sheaffer style. For me, I feel like Pilot's Sterling pen offers the most interesting design and nib combination right now, but there is a distinct lack of nib tipping styles and filling systems there. Santini offers quite a range, but I just don't think the nib grinding is consistently good or that they are the most ergonomic pens. So...I'm in a real pickle. I'm stuck with compromises to my ideal pen. ;-)
I will agree to your points, even though I have those pens inked up and using them. On the flip side my 2 Conway Stewart Churchills are fantastic pens. The Heritage was ordered and then put in the que, and the nib is tested and adjusted by a person who takes care of them all. They are wonderful writing and the fit and finish is superb. Closer to home purchased a Franklin-Christoph pen that was made 30 miles from me. I could have scheduled a time to go and see the place and pick up my pen. My wife sent some special wood to a pen maker and he made a pen pencil set out of it. Something you can't do with a large company. My collection of pens is small less than 25. They are all used, if they get scratched that's ok for me they do me no good just looking at them. Thank you for making the video.
One of the (many) things I like about your videos is that the content is different from what I might expect from the title (sincere). I wholly agree with your points. Take MB, eg (btw, I did succumb to "you have to have one if you're a collector). I did purchase a 146 (NIB, ebay) for a rather good price to see what all the fuss was about. I did and do like it but I'm put off by a plain, black "precious resin". I also had a prolonged Pelikan phase (new, vintage, lots of 400's with different finishes) finally got an M800 (Mike Masuyama tweaked the nib) as one of my most favorite pens -- and then stopped, having no desire for the M1000. I FINALLY got into small/custom makers, particularly enamored for Brian Grey of Edison and Schon Design.
My favourite Pelikan is the M1000, and for Montblanc it is the 149. I like the 146 Solitaire because I prefer the extra heft, but in resin form I prefer the 149. Having said all that, when I look at pens by Leonardo, Wahl-Eversharp and Santini, I feel they offer much better value for money for people who like big pens.
For me, fountain pens are an energy source. They propel me to do transformative things like journaling, note taking, productivity planning, etc. Whatever it is about a pen that provides that energy is what matters. It might be the softness of the nib or the way light reflects off the resin or the warmth of the lava, etc. For whatever reason, Montblanc pens don't do it for me, either. But my Homo Sapiens feels like a magic wand in my hand. And my Delta Amalfi reminds me of my grandmother's birthplace. My Custom 823 is probably the finest writer in my collection in a clinical sense but it doesn't inspire me. In my opinion, this hobby is all about finding those pens that inspire and energize you for whatever reasons, be they rational or subjective or a little of both. And maybe it's best not to overthink the reasons, lest that dulls some of the magic.
Lovely reflection and makes sense. Sometimes it takes a while to find these independent pen makers (or smaller companies) unless you spend some time in this hobby (obsession?), the larger companies have these great budgets whilst the smaller ones do not. As for customer service the smaller companies cannot be beat.
If only Montblanc would make fountain pens/rollerballs in the new color they are using for some of their leather goods I would run out tonight and get one, the color is "warm yellow". They make sling bags in that color and probably a few other pieces.
Very well put, and I agree totally. I own most of the leading flagship pens and quite honestly, I find them all disappointing to one degree or another, so I hardly ever use any of them. I much prefer the mid-range models and the lesser-known pen makers because (1) they typically write just as well; (2) they cost much less; (3) they attract less good/bad attention; and (4) they can still satisfy my desire to write with a fountain pen.
Yes Stephen, I agree with You. I do have a collection of vintage Pelikans as I just get them from people who have no interest in the old pens from their parents or grand parents...and I restore them, - for my collection, I am not in any business with pens. And as You might know, I am a big fan of vintage nibs, some of them being extraordinary nibs. Modern pens I do have some: two Conids, as I know Francis personally and have great respect for him, and his work, or Matthieu Faivet, who does a beautiful job in a different way. He made me a modern knock-off from a vintage Waterman Patrician, I had the nib and he tried do get as close as possible to the original shape and ergonomy of that pen that I consider as one of the best pens ever made, - a subjective conviction, true for me. The feed as the whole pen is ebonite s ebonite and the filling goes with converter, not lever filler like in the 1930. But these are my grail pens that i use every day, I must admit that some of the Pelikans . especially from the 1930 are fantastic writers with superb nibs. But as You say : the fun factor is important as we are talking about relaxing things in a less and less relaxed world at the moment. Greetings from Luxembourg, JM
I've had all those... the montblancs were disappointing. The vintage pelikans go from good to supernatural. The one pen I would grab if the house was on fire is a 1980s m600 because that nib, oh my.
I couldn't agree more. The "cheap" pens in my collection are from mass production brands (e.g. Lamy Safari, Pilot Metro, Platinum Preppy, etc.); the nicer pens in my collection are from boutique brands (e.g. Karas Kustom, Schon DSGN, Gravitas, etc.). The attention to detail and customer service are far better (IMHO) from these boutique brands.
The only thing smaller companies can't do better than the large companies is nib manufacturing. That also explains why I've been furiously transplanting nibs over the last few years, I suppose. This is probably why most of these companies don't want to sell nib units or sell them at exorbitant prices, because then you wouldn't be forced to buy their pens along with the nibs and you could simply buy one of their nib units and put it into your ideal pen instead.
I began collecting in 2002. My collection has been growing; my income has not been. I bought MBs, sold them because it was too precious for me to use daily without worrying apart from being too simple for the complex and time and life I had been, have been living through. I said this to the community that exists I discovered recently, only to belittle my position. But, it is true for me.
My wife calls the Pelikans and Montblancs boring too. She loves Benu because the look is fun and exciting and she likes the way the Schmidt nibs writes.
If i may suggest a "starter" pen for someone it would be the Monteverde Ritma. You won't be disappointed and you won't get that cheap plastic feel that the classic "starter pens" give you
3:35 this is exceptionally true as much as i hate to admit. I love these expensive luxuries brands, but my 149 m1000 dont get used enough. Ironically my TWSBI diamond 580 stub 1.1mm and Fine Writing Instrument Scepter Blue fine nib, are my most 2 pens. Its all comeback to our needs vs our wants, very very difficult thing to control.
I don't own either the M1000 or the 149. I do not miss not having them; not because of finish but I think the prices for either is far too much. I have a Sailor King of Pen. I bought it the second year it was released. At that time you could purchase one for about USD400. Now, it is exorbitant, in my opinion. There are far too many other pens that have excellent performance, beautiful resins and are more affordable. I am not about status or prestige. I am about quality, comfortable and excellent writing experience.
Thank you for saying it. That is exactly why I don't think I will ever buy a mont blanc. That much money for a cigar shaped black pen with gold hardware that hasn't changed in how many years?
I think, the last part at least, explains things quite nicely. If you're collecting pens to make a statement, then supporting these sort of marginal groups of makers the normal community generally never considers is one good way to differentiate yourself. For those of us that collect and distill our collections to keep only the very best of what we've found, there's simply no possibility to not have a Montblanc there. There's no way you won't have an Omas. There's no way to not have an S.T. Dupont, or a Dunhill, or a Namiki. For all the very justified hate I may give Montblanc, for me criticise those questionable engineering decisions, they actually need to be present. And for that, they need to be invented. The reason you can't really flaw a generic dull 3-part plastic rod is just that - nothing is there to be analysed. It's just a dull shapeless c/c rod. The amount of innovation condensed in a "boring" 1940s 146 (btw, much more "handmade" than any of your generic conveyer "artisinal" Leonardos) is such that very few companies can even compare the model today, 70 years later. Fewer even, can rival the raw precision of a 1940s Omas, still requiring 0 service and utilising beautiful, paper-thin celluloid that doesn't crack, degrade or deform. You may shill the death of professional competence all you like, buy pens from people who watched how to make them on UA-cam for 20 min 2 weeks ago. But saying classic models that have been perfected for generations just aren't wholesome enough, in favour of cheapened knock-offs of same exact pens? Idk, man. Leaves a foul taste in my mouth.
I am so sad that with my tiny puny little hands with stubby fingers, I cannot enjoy the gigantic monster pens that invariably are more beautiful and have bigger and better nibs than their smaller siblings. 😞
Good day, I own a Sailor King of Pen Urushi Iromiyabi, Pilot Custom 845 Urushi, Graf von Faber Castell Classic & Visconti Opera Demo Carousel (bad QC). I was looking for another pen either a 149 (1990 with the ebonite feed), Platinum Izumo, M805 Grand Place & Sailor Ebonite Sculpture. I am new to this, only a month now, after listening to you, I completely agree with you, as it's been my thoughts too, would you recommend any of these or a smaller brand? I like a nice nib and unique body, as I like to look at my pen when I write. The writing experience is very important for me. I have been diagnosed with chronic depression and chronic PTSD, my psychiatrist suggested that I journal/write my thought & feelings that I'm experiencing daily as a form of therapy. This is why I want a nice pen that looks and performs nicely. Sorry or the long message. thanks
The biggest issue I have with buying an M149 is the price. Its insanely expensive. Its mostly a black plastic injection moulded pen with a gold nib. I think the Pelikan M1000 is much more worth its price considering the materials used and workmanship involved. I have owned an M1000 for the past six years and I think it is awsome!
MB refers to the material as "precious resin", nothing more than a fancy name for PLASTIC. I have 4 Montblancs, none are a fountain pen and I use care when using. I dropped one long ago on a hard surface and the top shattered. Sent it back to MB and they returned it with a new top free of charge. This wasn't the snow cap logo, it was the entire top of the pen. Free from MB today, NO WAY.
Another great video, thank you! I feel like this applies to so many things, including consumption in general. I also think it reflects what seems to be your general approach in life. A nice reminder that buying an item “because you’re supposed to” doesn’t fit with our desire to live an intentional life.
Jinhao make a nice ‘Tribute’ pen to the 149. And Asvine P20 pens are delightful. Buttery smooth nibbage. These are affordable pens that can bring much joy.
montblanc update: when sending a pen for swapping its nib (i damaged mine) for a new one, montblanc do NOT send you your original (damaged) nib back. and montblanc officially claim if they would have to send your original nib back, that'd make the service more expensive. SHAME ON MONTBLANC!
I have this issue with many pens. I adore the nibs, the pen bodies are boring af (Pilot). I love the M1000 B nib. I would put them in other pen bodies in a heartbeat.
This captures my thoughts exactly. I do own a Pelikan M805, a Lamy 2000, etc. However, the last three pens I purchased were handed directly to me by the person who made them (Brian Gray (Edison), Ryan Krusac, and Ian Schon (SchonDSGN). I purchased these at pen shows. All three write beautifully and each has a special connection for me. This really does make a difference.
“He who pays the piper calls the tune.”
Your collection is to make you happy.
If others think one is overpriced it doesn’t matter.
If it gives you that much joy, that’s true value.
I am buying old pens with “property of” a company engraved on them, and the paint gone where it was held.
Not leisure pens or luxury pens.
Pens that helped a man feed his family.
That gives me a thrill.
Whatever rolls your socks down.
Great video. I had an experience with a customer service, I am talking about Waterman. I love the pens they made and I have got seven pens of their, from the 40s to the actual lineup. My problem was find out a converter for the C/F model. I tried to buy it in a shop but they didn't have it anymore so I contact to the customer service, and magic: they sent me one unit totally free. And my intention was purchase it! The result is simple, I continue buying their products. Now I´m falling in love with a Carene in marine amber finish and OB nib. It's simply outstanding.
I've had similar experiences with waterman customer service. They are better than any other company I've dealt with. Their nibs are some of the best out of the box, they just work perfectly. Hence I will keep supporting and buying their pens.
exactly to me thats what really matters if the service is great and the product is good its the best thing because you can actually have trust in them to buy things that you know can get fixed or repaired
Just acquired my first Pelikan. I have super small hands so I went M400 with a medium nib. And i got an incredible deal on it.
The the nib really is something else. Really nice on the page. I use my fountain pens for drawing. I feel like I could do a nice lengthy drawing session with this one. We will see. Great video!
I loved your video and accept your comments。
My favourite pen is Montblanc 149. My story is simple, shortly after I bought the pen I took it to the office. My mistake as a colleague got hold of it and to test it threw it up in the air. The pen fell on the floor and the nib was bent. I took it to Montblanc and the pen was sent in for repairs. It came back with a new nib. Cost of the repair: no charge. 😊
Hello Dr., I feel the same about the MB149. When the 149 Origin - 100 year anniversary came out, I jumped on that model.
I understand your points completely. It is truly a pleasure to work with a company, large or small, that takes their customer service seriously and gains their own pleasure in providing top notch service. Things are just "right with the world" when that happens.
I find myself growing more and more towards this mentality. I have an M800, a 146, a Pilot Custom 823 and a Visconti Homo Sapiens Bronze Age. Aside from perhaps that last one, those are all plastic, machine-made pens. Don’t get me wrong: I love those pens; my 823 has a fantastic nib and a great ink capacity, my 146 has a stub nib ground by Annabelle at Appelboom and my M800 has a wonderfully juicy nib. However, I find myself looking more and more at brands like Yard-O-Led, Namiki or Nakaya for their artistry and manual work.
Those four are exactly the set I have! Add in a Lamy 2000 and that's my gold-nib rotation 😅
Any other great workhorse writers you'd recommend?
@ I think we’ve summed up the most common ones to be honest. I do maintain that you don’t necessarily need an expensive gold-nibbed pen as a workhorse; I’m sure there are fantastic steek-nibbed options out there. I know someone who daily drives a Lamy Al-Star and he’s over the moon with it. So long as a pen writes well, is comfortable and not too luxurious that you wouldn’t want to take it everywhere, it can be a good workhorse imo.
I belong to India…
This is what i was thinking in my short pen journey too… considering my budget. I found ASA pens, PLP pens and few lotus pens (all indian companies) better for their price to value as considering their cost equivalent in sailor, pilot or other well known brands…
The first red flag is when you hold the costly but low in value pens from well known brands you can feel they have cut down on the material itself…. The cost of japanese artisanship has escalated costs too much too… the Ranga and PLP pens have pan master craftsmen who are more than 50 years into the pen making… ASA nauka pen also has such amazing threads that they vanish after fully closing it and you cant distinguish them from the barrel…wishing all pen collectors or connoisseurs of fountain pens such happy and mysterious discoveries in your life too..i thank this channel because I always find him pretty honest about all stuff … 🙏🙏
Well said, Stephen. Fountain pens have been one of my hobbies for years now, and as time passes, I've found that it was independent pen makers that've raised my eyebrows and piqued my curiosity the most frequently.
Very well said. People forget that we all have different ideas as to what makes a great pen and instead get they get hung up on the “hype or brand name “. Everyone has their own individual differences, we’re lefty’s or right-handed, small hands or large, write predominantly in cursive or print. I have 3 MB’s, both are pre-80’s and the smaller sizes, I love them. Would I buy a new 149, no, it holds no attraction for me. Would I purchase a Pelikan, nope, instead I am considering a vintage Sheaffer for the striated body which I think is more appealing. I enjoy listening to people’s personal lists of their greatest pens because it’s fun to see what others consider their “greatest”. As always a great video.
Pelikan m200'm 400 are my favorite fountain pens specially for long period writing .
I've given up on Montblanc. Almost every pen I've owned has had nib issues, and in one case, a piston problem. Repairs take weeks, and when they come back, they're not always properly fixed. While they're beautiful pens, I found myself making excuses for their poor writing performance. A 'cheap' TWSBI writes better and is, therefore, more enjoyable to use. Go figure.
I've since developed an appreciation for lower-cost pens, some of which are handmade. I second your comments. I recently acquired my first Edison pens, and they are both stunning and flawless writers. Brian Gray was incredible throughout the process, and as a result, I feel a much deeper connection.
Case in point: I'm selling most of my Montblancs and redirecting the funds toward pens like Edison.
How do you sell them?
I have several fountain pens and they all bring me great joy, both to look at and to use. The one I pick up the most ( I have 2) because it works everytime and puts just the right amount of ink on the paper is a Lamy Safari. At some point I will get a Montblanc, the 149 or the 146, most likely with a fine nib. The Lamy's are fine and medium, the fine suits my writing style better.
I have used Montblanc services and they were excellent, great service, parts, and they replaced my nib weeks faster than expected. Sometimes you do get what you pay for.
I strongly concur with your line of thinking on the topic of relating to our pens as the product of people -- people not alienated from the results of their labor! After a while, a lot of our passion for fountain pens is about relationships.
Agree 100%!! Thx for enlightening the community!!
Been following you for so long and yet, timeless... proof - just bought a new Mesiterstuck 146 Sterling Silver (new0 and true to your review 11 years ago - spot on! My perspective is that in the simple question of "owning all pens you like"... would be akin to asking a sommelier if he/she had in the home cellar all the great wines they sell nightly... just - impractical... you provide good, sound, objective reviews and really, same craft as restaurant/wine and the like reviews... You do very good, beneficial and valued work... always have... Keep doing it! You can never make 100% of the people happy... Cheers and blessings
+1 on the Edison Pen Company customer service. They're quick, responsive, and do good work. I've also had great customer experiences with Karas Pen Company and Schon Design.
Very nice video. It's really nice to hear your opinions. I always learn something from them.
Great video as always Dr Brown
The Lamy abc is a pen for little children learning how to write. It is a terrific pen if you have small hands. Some people even add a Lamy gold nib to it.
I am delighted by the wide range of pens available, from a wide range of manufacturers.
Thanks for the show.
Agreed. I usually recommend Franklin-Christoph to anyone looking for an affordable "next level pen". The nib selection (JoWo) is fantastic and they are tuned by the in-house nib-meister. Don't buy that TWSBI, save up and get yourself something really nice!
...And get yourself something that will amaze you, like their SIG nibs. From Franklin-Christoph I buy all their specialties, like Music nib or Broad-Cursive Italic. Good luck with purchase of such nibs from Pelikan.
A passionate fountain pen user who listens to their own heart thoughtfully. Your comments are so appreciated with salient points. I had to up my subscription to all. There is a local pen maker who owns a local pen shop. Now I have two of his pens as there is beauty there, craftmanship there, history there. Likely I shall own more of his pens as on my last visit, I came so close to buying more than one. And one sticks in my mind. Thanks again for this video.
I agree with you. I’ve always liked MB and Pelikan just fine, but I don’t want one. (Okay, I’d definitely drop some money on some of their LE pens.) There are thousands and thousands of interesting pens out there, beautiful and beautifully made, made by hand, made of interesting materials. For the price of a MB149, I could have a YOL Grand Victorian; if I wanted a black pen for just a little more, I could have a Namiki No. 20, elegance in black urushi. There are so many pens out there that are less common and less expensive than MB, but stunning.
And with WAY better customer service than you can get from MB, a company which, not incidentally, seems utterly indifferent to the pen community. They sell so many pens to so many accountants and lawyers and business executives that they really have no need for us. As an economist, I can respect that. They serve a different market than Namiki, Hooligan, Montegrappa, and a much larger market. But as a pen collector, I find that attitude from MB to be a bit of a turnoff.
another pen company that I have had a good experience with in the customer service area is Senator. 2 of my Presidents needed service which they did for free. The Senator is no longer in production and still all I paid for was the postage to Germany.
Im the same i have 2 pilot 743s one fm one F , don't think ill need anything else. Maybe a kaweco professional but i actually use my pens alot
So clearly you and I have different ways of thinking. Which is great! You are more practical and I am far from that. Where you keep your pens usually only if you use them, I keep them so I can rediscover them. For instance, I have about 6 M800s and I keep them all because they are lovely (even the black one) and they have different sized nibs on them. And each broad is different, and the same with mediums. They each have their own personality. Even if I don't use them often, once in a while I will ink one up and realize why I bought it, because it writes so wonderfully and is so very comfortable. Some pens, I haven't used because I didn't like how the nib wrote when I bought it. But now I pull it out and find that I love how it writes! I have about 500 pens because I love the colors, and the nibs, and designs of the pens are so different. And when I pull out a pen I haven't used in a year or more, it is like getting a new pen. I fall in love with it all over agin. Sure, I have some that I could get rid of. But even those pens remind me of when I first bought them and used them often and how nice they are. And if I come across a nib that is just too wide for me, I will have it ground to an italic (my favorite grind). To me, pulling out a pen I have not used in a while is like meeting an old friend...we pick up right where we left off. And, yes, there are always pens I want to ink up and use. But having 45 currently inked is about all I can manage. So, as soon as I am ready to move on from a pen, or it runs dry, I clean it, store it, and pull out aother old friend with which I can become reacquainted and enjoy.
You make a really good point, production pens have become so unreasonably expensive that I might as well get a custom from a small maker, it's even worse for Italian pens where you find normal resin pens with a steel nib that cost way over 300 euros.
I totally get the sentiment. My problem is that I want something beautiful and interesting on all the points of 1) body material and design, 2) nib, 3) tipping, and 4) filling system. I feel acutely the lack of interesting nibs on most of the small makers, since most of the time they are fitting standard Jowo or Bock feeds with standard tipping ranges. I really want someone to make an inlaid nib again in interesting nib grinds and a silver body that is relatively lightweight and ergonomic in the classic Sheaffer style. For me, I feel like Pilot's Sterling pen offers the most interesting design and nib combination right now, but there is a distinct lack of nib tipping styles and filling systems there.
Santini offers quite a range, but I just don't think the nib grinding is consistently good or that they are the most ergonomic pens. So...I'm in a real pickle. I'm stuck with compromises to my ideal pen. ;-)
I will agree to your points, even though I have those pens inked up and using them. On the flip side my 2 Conway Stewart Churchills are fantastic pens. The Heritage was ordered and then put in the que, and the nib is tested and adjusted by a person who takes care of them all. They are wonderful writing and the fit and finish is superb. Closer to home purchased a Franklin-Christoph pen that was made 30 miles from me. I could have scheduled a time to go and see the place and pick up my pen. My wife sent some special wood to a pen maker and he made a pen pencil set out of it. Something you can't do with a large company. My collection of pens is small less than 25. They are all used, if they get scratched that's ok for me they do me no good just looking at them. Thank you for making the video.
One of the (many) things I like about your videos is that the content is different from what I might expect from the title (sincere). I wholly agree with your points. Take MB, eg (btw, I did succumb to "you have to have one if you're a collector). I did purchase a 146 (NIB, ebay) for a rather good price to see what all the fuss was about. I did and do like it but I'm put off by a plain, black "precious resin". I also had a prolonged Pelikan phase (new, vintage, lots of 400's with different finishes) finally got an M800 (Mike Masuyama tweaked the nib) as one of my most favorite pens -- and then stopped, having no desire for the M1000. I FINALLY got into small/custom makers, particularly enamored for Brian Grey of Edison and Schon Design.
My favourite Pelikan is the M1000, and for Montblanc it is the 149. I like the 146 Solitaire because I prefer the extra heft, but in resin form I prefer the 149. Having said all that, when I look at pens by Leonardo, Wahl-Eversharp and Santini, I feel they offer much better value for money for people who like big pens.
For me, fountain pens are an energy source. They propel me to do transformative things like journaling, note taking, productivity planning, etc. Whatever it is about a pen that provides that energy is what matters. It might be the softness of the nib or the way light reflects off the resin or the warmth of the lava, etc. For whatever reason, Montblanc pens don't do it for me, either. But my Homo Sapiens feels like a magic wand in my hand. And my Delta Amalfi reminds me of my grandmother's birthplace. My Custom 823 is probably the finest writer in my collection in a clinical sense but it doesn't inspire me.
In my opinion, this hobby is all about finding those pens that inspire and energize you for whatever reasons, be they rational or subjective or a little of both. And maybe it's best not to overthink the reasons, lest that dulls some of the magic.
Lovely reflection and makes sense. Sometimes it takes a while to find these independent pen makers (or smaller companies) unless you spend some time in this hobby (obsession?), the larger companies have these great budgets whilst the smaller ones do not.
As for customer service the smaller companies cannot be beat.
Absolutely agree with you. Perfect sense.
If only Montblanc would make fountain pens/rollerballs in the new color they are using for some of their leather goods I would run out tonight and get one, the color is "warm yellow". They make sling bags in that color and probably a few other pieces.
Are Aurora pens massed produced too, or are more "handcrafted"?
Many good points, valuable as they are from someone who has been immersed in the fountain pen world for many years. Thank you.
A very interesting reflection on ownership.
Very well put, and I agree totally. I own most of the leading flagship pens and quite honestly, I find them all disappointing to one degree or another, so I hardly ever use any of them. I much prefer the mid-range models and the lesser-known pen makers because (1) they typically write just as well; (2) they cost much less; (3) they attract less good/bad attention; and (4) they can still satisfy my desire to write with a fountain pen.
Yes Stephen, I agree with You. I do have a collection of vintage Pelikans as I just get them from people who have no interest in the old pens from their parents or grand parents...and I restore them, - for my collection, I am not in any business with pens. And as You might know, I am a big fan of vintage nibs, some of them being extraordinary nibs. Modern pens I do have some: two Conids, as I know Francis personally and have great respect for him, and his work, or Matthieu Faivet, who does a beautiful job in a different way. He made me a modern knock-off from a vintage Waterman Patrician, I had the nib and he tried do get as close as possible to the original shape and ergonomy of that pen that I consider as one of the best pens ever made, - a subjective conviction, true for me. The feed as the whole pen is ebonite s ebonite and the filling goes with converter, not lever filler like in the 1930. But these are my grail pens that i use every day, I must admit that some of the Pelikans . especially from the 1930 are fantastic writers with superb nibs. But as You say : the fun factor is important as we are talking about relaxing things in a less and less relaxed world at the moment. Greetings from Luxembourg, JM
I've had all those... the montblancs were disappointing.
The vintage pelikans go from good to supernatural.
The one pen I would grab if the house was on fire is a 1980s m600 because that nib, oh my.
I couldn't agree more. The "cheap" pens in my collection are from mass production brands (e.g. Lamy Safari, Pilot Metro, Platinum Preppy, etc.); the nicer pens in my collection are from boutique brands (e.g. Karas Kustom, Schon DSGN, Gravitas, etc.). The attention to detail and customer service are far better (IMHO) from these boutique brands.
"How can you love a pen and not own it." Brilliant question.
The only thing smaller companies can't do better than the large companies is nib manufacturing. That also explains why I've been furiously transplanting nibs over the last few years, I suppose. This is probably why most of these companies don't want to sell nib units or sell them at exorbitant prices, because then you wouldn't be forced to buy their pens along with the nibs and you could simply buy one of their nib units and put it into your ideal pen instead.
Thank you.
Tomorrow is National Handwriting Day! My favorite pen is the one I grab with which to write.
Can’t wait for the GOAT Pens list this year. Got a bottle of SBRE Brown on the way and picking up a Waterman Carene soon. Surprised Carene’s r so low
The carene is probably the best value on the market right now and if you can get them to swap in the stub nib.... Oh la la.
I began collecting in 2002. My collection has been growing; my income has not been. I bought MBs, sold them because it was too precious for me to use daily without worrying apart from being too simple for the complex and time and life I had been, have been living through.
I said this to the community that exists I discovered recently, only to belittle my position. But, it is true for me.
In full agreement!
My wife calls the Pelikans and Montblancs boring too. She loves Benu because the look is fun and exciting and she likes the way the Schmidt nibs writes.
If i may suggest a "starter" pen for someone it would be the Monteverde Ritma. You won't be disappointed and you won't get that cheap plastic feel that the classic "starter pens" give you
3:35 this is exceptionally true as much as i hate to admit. I love these expensive luxuries brands, but my 149 m1000 dont get used enough. Ironically my TWSBI diamond 580 stub 1.1mm and Fine Writing Instrument Scepter Blue fine nib, are my most 2 pens. Its all comeback to our needs vs our wants, very very difficult thing to control.
I don't own either the M1000 or the 149. I do not miss not having them; not because of finish but I think the prices for either is far too much.
I have a Sailor King of Pen. I bought it the second year it was released. At that time you could purchase one for about USD400. Now, it is exorbitant, in my opinion.
There are far too many other pens that have excellent performance, beautiful resins and are more affordable. I am not about status or prestige. I am about quality, comfortable and excellent writing experience.
Thank you for saying it. That is exactly why I don't think I will ever buy a mont blanc. That much money for a cigar shaped black pen with gold hardware that hasn't changed in how many years?
So much hype regarding ‘grail pens’.
I think, the last part at least, explains things quite nicely. If you're collecting pens to make a statement, then supporting these sort of marginal groups of makers the normal community generally never considers is one good way to differentiate yourself.
For those of us that collect and distill our collections to keep only the very best of what we've found, there's simply no possibility to not have a Montblanc there. There's no way you won't have an Omas. There's no way to not have an S.T. Dupont, or a Dunhill, or a Namiki. For all the very justified hate I may give Montblanc, for me criticise those questionable engineering decisions, they actually need to be present. And for that, they need to be invented. The reason you can't really flaw a generic dull 3-part plastic rod is just that - nothing is there to be analysed. It's just a dull shapeless c/c rod.
The amount of innovation condensed in a "boring" 1940s 146 (btw, much more "handmade" than any of your generic conveyer "artisinal" Leonardos) is such that very few companies can even compare the model today, 70 years later. Fewer even, can rival the raw precision of a 1940s Omas, still requiring 0 service and utilising beautiful, paper-thin celluloid that doesn't crack, degrade or deform.
You may shill the death of professional competence all you like, buy pens from people who watched how to make them on UA-cam for 20 min 2 weeks ago.
But saying classic models that have been perfected for generations just aren't wholesome enough, in favour of cheapened knock-offs of same exact pens? Idk, man. Leaves a foul taste in my mouth.
30 years in this hobby and only recently tried sailor...
That 21k MF is something else!
Moved away from both the brands.
Into Pilot, Namiki & Montegrappa now ❤️
I am so sad that with my tiny puny little hands with stubby fingers, I cannot enjoy the gigantic monster pens that invariably are more beautiful and have bigger and better nibs than their smaller siblings. 😞
Hi - maybe go trying a sailor. Don’t they combine nice finishes with a somewhat smaller size?
Good day, I own a Sailor King of Pen Urushi Iromiyabi, Pilot Custom 845 Urushi, Graf von Faber Castell Classic & Visconti Opera Demo Carousel (bad QC). I was looking for another pen either a 149 (1990 with the ebonite feed), Platinum Izumo, M805 Grand Place & Sailor Ebonite Sculpture. I am new to this, only a month now, after listening to you, I completely agree with you, as it's been my thoughts too, would you recommend any of these or a smaller brand? I like a nice nib and unique body, as I like to look at my pen when I write. The writing experience is very important for me. I have been diagnosed with chronic depression and chronic PTSD, my psychiatrist suggested that I journal/write my thought & feelings that I'm experiencing daily as a form of therapy. This is why I want a nice pen that looks and performs nicely. Sorry or the long message. thanks
Great video Stephen…… Jude
Question is how well this newcomers will perform in , say, ten years..
Very valid point.
The biggest issue I have with buying an M149 is the price. Its insanely expensive. Its mostly a black plastic injection moulded pen with a gold nib. I think the Pelikan M1000 is much more worth its price considering the materials used and workmanship involved. I have owned an M1000 for the past six years and I think it is awsome!
MB refers to the material as "precious resin", nothing more than a fancy name for PLASTIC. I have 4 Montblancs, none are a fountain pen and I use care when using. I dropped one long ago on a hard surface and the top shattered. Sent it back to MB and they returned it with a new top free of charge. This wasn't the snow cap logo, it was the entire top of the pen. Free from MB today, NO WAY.
@@thomasmorrison675well with such a high price its just as well they do free replacement parts.
@@NickT6630 Pretty sure they no longer do free replacement parts. MAYBE on the $$$$$$$$$$ limited edition pens but not sure.
👍😊🙏
Another great video, thank you! I feel like this applies to so many things, including consumption in general. I also think it reflects what seems to be your general approach in life. A nice reminder that buying an item “because you’re supposed to” doesn’t fit with our desire to live an intentional life.
φιλοσοφικό τούβλο
Jinhao make a nice ‘Tribute’ pen to the 149. And Asvine P20 pens are delightful. Buttery smooth nibbage. These are affordable pens that can bring much joy.
montblanc update: when sending a pen for swapping its nib (i damaged mine) for a new one, montblanc do NOT send you your original (damaged) nib back. and montblanc officially claim if they would have to send your original nib back, that'd make the service more expensive. SHAME ON MONTBLANC!
What would you do with the damaged nib?
@@eliftekinarslan if you were a nibmeister, would you keep your customers' nibs?
@@faniro4792 Nibmeisters don't swap nibs, they work on the nib you gave them. That's an irrevelant comparison.
Waste of time.
I have this issue with many pens. I adore the nibs, the pen bodies are boring af (Pilot). I love the M1000 B nib. I would put them in other pen bodies in a heartbeat.