1) 3:57 I would suggest the Lamy CP1(speaking about the regular one), very nice (available with a gold nib in the version Brian showed us), but I can’t get a good grip on it. This pen is just too small for me (~8,5 mm diameter at the grip section), but the grip section is very grippy. Though I can’t get a good grip on it I really like this pen!
I wondered for so long about the answer to Pooja C.'s question. I'm so surprised that the Stargazer didn't sell well at GPC. What a fantastic pen! I like writing with my pen caps posted and also find that the Stargazer is ideal, in posted length, for my small hands, not to mention that it writes like a dream! The others I use that are of ideal posted length, with the Decimo being the exception, are the Pilot Prera, Lucina, Elite 95S, and a Kaweco AL Sport. I've got another on my wishlist... the Sailor Pro Gear Slim. Wish GPC offered it.
Bought my first Pilot E95s 14k nib last month and I liked it so much I bought 2 more. I highly recommend it. You might want to look at vintage pens. The smaller ‘lady pens’ can be really small and may not have a clip but a ring/loop on the top of the cap. The European pens can be found pretty cheaply. I bought a 4-pen lot of 1930-1950 era French pens. I was surprised when I received 2 gold nibs. The 14k was nice, but the 18k pen was a vintage flex. It is by far the most flexible pen I have used and the line varies from 0.2mm to 1.3mm. If you’re willing to shop around you can find hidden gems.
The Stargazer was one of my dream pens early on, but by the time I was in a position to get one they had been discontinued. Maybe I'll run across one someday.
If you are seriously interested in procuring a new old stock Stargazer, I know my local retailer here in Houston (Dromgoole’s) still carries them. We replaced my wife’s about 6 months ago after years of abuse. I’ve bought enough pens from Larry over the years that I get decent discounts, so let me know if you’re interested and I can always pick one up and ship it out to you at cost.
Emily Chambers I usually get a decent discount below MSRP (≈20%). Let me know what nib size(s) you’re interested in, and I’ll go in early next week and see what he’s got.
You mentioned at the beginning the switch to 30ml bottles of Monteverde inks. I understand the demand is not there for all colors to make it worth carrying the larger size any longer. Is it possible/feasible to carry one black (my vote is for Midnight), one blue (Horizon? Malibu?), and then maybe whatever the top seller is outside of black/blue (guessing California Teal) in both the 30ml and the 90ml for those who are heavy users of those inks? The 90ml is such a great value if it is used daily. Thank you for providing such a huge variety of inks, and have a great day!
I would love to see how Namiki artists work on maki-e. As an artisan myself I am always interested in seeing how other artisans workign in other mediums set up thier space to do thier work, and what tools they find invaluable to create thier art.
Franklin Christoph does tours by appointment. You get to try different pens, and if you buy one, you can watch it being assembled. There’s always a lot to do in North Carolina.
Given your rollerball roots, I would like to see you tour Retro 51’s design department. The Mustang FP is not my most expensive FP, but it is my favorite. I hope to see more Retro 51 FPs in the near future.
Well explained about pen size, a larger pen and nib can be more dramatic in appearance regardless of the style. And agree about the Pilot Stargazer, a great small pen, I do not have smaller hands but still love it for its design, appearance and great writing smoothness and reliability. I bought this as an intro pen for my daughter a couple years ago. )) Yes, I was trying to "stack the deck" :D I wanted to add to the 14k vs 18k nib material discussion and one good example of why not to us the karat as a guide - Omas's super flexible (extra flessiblle) nibs were always in 14k and their 18k nibs were used for their more "normal" nibs.
I think it's a pen you have to see in person. I remember when it was being discontinued. I'd heard people liked it, so I took a quick look and it didn't seem like much. Then, about a month ago, someone brought a Stargazer to a pen meetup and after seeing it and holding it, I had to buy it. I found it somewhere and bought it that night. What an awesome pen! But I didn't realize it from seeing it online.
Alan Shutko True. You can’t tell from photos what a really cool pen it is. The nib is smooth, and soft. It’s one of my favorites. Glad you found one and are enjoying it.
Hi Brian I was wondering what you think are some of the pens that give as little feedback as possible? Pens that you can barely tell you’re writing with.
Ink, nib size, and especially paper play a huge part in this. Smoothest paper I've used is Tomoe River. The broader the nib, the smoother the experience especially with a wet writing ink. That being said, LAMY 2000 Broad is super smooth. Pilot Custom 74 Medium as well. Visconti steel nibs are surprisingly smooth as well as Edison gold nibs. - Colin
Although they didn’t appeal to me at first, I feel like TWSBI has become my overall favorite brand. So if I could tour any factor, that seems like a good choice.
Another Nice Q&A! I went to the tour in the Faber-Castell Factory while I was in Germany and it was just amazing! There is a public tour once a month but I think it's only in German ):
I would love to see the Conid factory. I would also like to see Nakaya, Namiki, Danitrio maki-e production; but that would be more like a documentary than a factory tour.
Hello Brian, I just received my first order from Goulet Pens and I am very impressed with the service, the lollipop and the letter I received with the package. I will definitely be a repeat customer. I see a tortoise shell Stipula Etruria in my very near future even though I really don't need another fountain pen (I have 100 plus in my collection), but it is my passion. Please let Robbie P. know that I am very impressed with the packing department. Cheers, Steve
Nettuno! Mostly because it’s in one of the places I grew up and I get homesick. I love the Neopolitans. Of course, Pineider because I love Florence and Dane Del Vecchio amuses me.
I understand the notion of buying/not buying fountain pens for the investment value. I’m with you Brian. I don’t buy them for their investment value. But what about the recently released Namiki Yakuri Seven Gods set? Surely whoever buys the set is looking at it as on investment, right?
I also think, in regards to size, that for a while now fountain pens were just status symbols for professional men. You can still see the legacy for preferential treatment for men when you look at the Visconti and Montegrappa (and other companies I’m sure) web pages. They have like one or two pens they say are pens for women. It seems to make the implication that their other pens are more masculine pens. Obviously, now all sorts of people are getting into fountain pens, but I think male hands and large designs are still preferred by many designers who are working in the legacy of catering towards male customers
QOTW: Edison, definitely, and if while they are working on my pen (future), even better! I’d be interested in more videos such as the “must be approved by Mfgr prior to release” you did with Lamy, but with a couple of the ink producers.
„What are some pens with a thicker grip section (>11 mm)?“ Except the Lamy Aion (have it, nice section but the rest of it doesn’t feel nice) and the Pelikan M1005 Stresemann (because I -want- will -to- get it with a F nib, when it FINALLY launches). I want to thank everyone that has a suggestion in advance :)
QOTW: Would absolutely love to visit and tour the place where they make Visconti pens. Just an incredibly fascinating company with fascinating products. Plus, definitely would not mind staying in Italy for awhile either.
Question- How to clean pen threads? I tend to hold my pens closer to the threads, particularly on my 3776s and the threads get gunky. There seems to be no easy way to clean them. The pen capping gets harder and harder over time due to the dirty threads.
I use a q-tip with water or pen flush to get in the threads! If it's something particularly challenging, I'll opt to fill via ink syringe to avoid it! - Colin
Ref Architect grinds, I'm unsure about some of the points made as I've been using these nibs for sometime now .. the nib meister normally asks for the individual's writing angle/ angle of pen to paper when writing .. via a photograph .. this means that the angle of the writing surface is ground at an angle that's as close to the desired writing angle of the user .... it's a great nib to write both in cursive and capitals ..
QOTW: I would really love to see the manufacturers making pen blanks. Watching Jonathan Brooks or Chet Herbert mix and pour their blanks would be awesome. But as you suggested, that might give away secrets. YT already has plenty of "dude with a lathe making a pen" videos, the main thing missing there is "dudette with a lathe..." or (for fun) "cat with a lathe...". But don't get me wrong, I subscribe to Edison's channel in the hopes that they'll do more behind the scenes videos. Frankly if I had the opportunity for an in person fountain pen factory tour I would jump on it, regardless of the company, even if it was just another dude with a lathe.
I love my E95S and I love my Stargazer (using it today, actually). Having said that, I'm now looking for a pen that would be the Stargazer's big brother/sister, since I'm finding I do like pens that are a bit bigger than those. Any suggestions for something similar to a Stargazer but bigger (and yes, I love Pilots).
The Moonman Mini M2 is another good small pen. Not available at Goulet, but Amazon has it. I wouldn't call it "luxury", as it's a clear resin eyedropper pen with no fancy... anything... but it's small and it works.
#gouletqa Greetings from brazil!! (sorry about the bad english) I have a question about fine/extra fine nibs. I always heard that these nibs are a lot "scratchier" than the other sizes, and in fact, i own an old parker 51 with a fine nib and i'm not crazy about how it writes.... but the question is that i only use poor quality paper that absorb lots of ink. I have very small writing so thas not a good combination. So, what are the softest (or less scratchy) fine/extra fine nibs around? And talking about inks, witch one are better for using on cheap paper?
I remember Brian answering a similar question (might have been another brand) and he essentially said that sometimes companies only want their pens in actual physical shops rather than online shops. This is most likely the case with Parker, although there are many many other reasons why a company/seller would want to stay away from a specific seller/company
Hey Brian, I didn't read all the comments, so my apologies if this is a repeat. Also, this is not meant to come of as negative in any way, just a minor feedback. FYI - Memorial Day is specific to remebering those that have given their "last full measure of devotion" (to quote President Lincoln). As a veteran (and I will be so bold as to speak for my brothers and sisters) your kind words are always appreciated, but Veteran's Day is November 11th, please keep Memorial Day for the rememberence of those that gave us everything to ensure our freedom.
I have the E95S on my wishlist. I have the Decimo, a nice pen. The Pelikan M200 is a nice choice, too, for smaller pens. Maybe *Pooja C.* would like the *Edison Pearlette.* A very nice pen, and the nib being steel would not deter from the "luxury" feel, plus there are gold gold nibs which can be purchased from Edison which can be very easily swapped with the steel nib. Also, if you want a truly luxury pen with a gold nib, you can have Edison custom make one for you in just the style and nib you want, but will pay the luxury price, too. *QOTW:* I would love to visit Edison Pens, Danitrio, and Namiki and Pilot.
QOTW: Pineider with Dante Delvecchio. For a virtual tour, I would like to see a pen made from start all the way to it being boxed up ready for the customer. 🌻
QoTW:- I'd really like to see Renée Meeks (Scriptorium Pens) , Ryan Krusak (wooden pens, scrimshaw) , Tactile Turn ( metal FP & Ball pens), Jonathan Brooks (his material making, Urushi lacquer , FP) ... These are all US based ... Maybe easier for Brian to saunter into and share 😉😁
Franklin Christoph ( FP, materials and nibs grinding combination) could be added to the list ... Tried to suggest pen manufacturers who are "known" but are doing very interesting things with FP manufacture ... After the Lamy visit, do I think MB or Pelikan or Visconti or MonteGrappa or Sailor or Pilot etc would be very different ? I don't think so .. so certainly more interested in pen makers who are building their brand and sales by doing something unique and different ..
Q6) For the most obvious proof of a pen manufacturer BEGGING you to swap inks between pens, one only has to consider the Pilot Parallel. Watch Rachel’s video on color shifting to see how that’s accomplished!
Another possibility, a pen for small hands , with a 14k gold nib would be the Platinum PTL 5000. Very nice pen to write with ( I possess the red and black versions). They are conservative looking.....but they are great writers (in my opinion ).
i have a similar pen from pilot, i don't have much of any idea what it's called but it takes pilot convertors and looks like a ptl5000. it's very nice, i have two both black they are great writers dry and good for cheaper paper. i also have a E95s which is fine, compare to the other pilot it's much wetter. also a great sized pen.
@@x-changex-outx-oner8224 i definately want to get a pilot falcon when i can afford it, i bought a taccia spectrum instead, pilots are great, i have 4 gold nibs from pilot, and i love them all.
@@BloodSprite-tan I have a Taccia Pinnacle, Taccia definitely makes a solid pen. I came across a Taccia at a Colorado pen show but already spent the money I brought, , liked how it wrote (sample tested at the table). Six months later I ordered one....no regrets.
QOTW: I would have liked to have toured the Lamy factory when I was in Heidelberg this past December. As it was, I did visit the flagship store. Yes, Faber-Castell does do tours, both of factory and castle. I was there but they didn't offer them in the winter. There are some photos around the castle and in the shop in this album: redharp.smugmug.com/MKB/2018-1203-Dinkelsb%C3%BChl-to-Nuremberg/
Why are fancy pens usually larger? Because the industry prioritizes men. Getting into why men are a higher marketing priority is kinda a chicken/egg situation though.
1) 3:57 I would suggest the Lamy CP1(speaking about the regular one), very nice (available with a gold nib in the version Brian showed us), but I can’t get a good grip on it. This pen is just too small for me (~8,5 mm diameter at the grip section), but the grip section is very grippy. Though I can’t get a good grip on it I really like this pen!
I wondered for so long about the answer to Pooja C.'s question. I'm so surprised that the Stargazer didn't sell well at GPC. What a fantastic pen! I like writing with my pen caps posted and also find that the Stargazer is ideal, in posted length, for my small hands, not to mention that it writes like a dream! The others I use that are of ideal posted length, with the Decimo being the exception, are the Pilot Prera, Lucina, Elite 95S, and a Kaweco AL Sport. I've got another on my wishlist... the Sailor Pro Gear Slim. Wish GPC offered it.
Bought my first Pilot E95s 14k nib last month and I liked it so much I bought 2 more. I highly recommend it. You might want to look at vintage pens. The smaller ‘lady pens’ can be really small and may not have a clip but a ring/loop on the top of the cap. The European pens can be found pretty cheaply. I bought a 4-pen lot of 1930-1950 era French pens. I was surprised when I received 2 gold nibs. The 14k was nice, but the 18k pen was a vintage flex. It is by far the most flexible pen I have used and the line varies from 0.2mm to 1.3mm. If you’re willing to shop around you can find hidden gems.
The Stargazer was one of my dream pens early on, but by the time I was in a position to get one they had been discontinued. Maybe I'll run across one someday.
Me too! I’m watching eBay fingers crossed
If you are seriously interested in procuring a new old stock Stargazer, I know my local retailer here in Houston (Dromgoole’s) still carries them. We replaced my wife’s about 6 months ago after years of abuse. I’ve bought enough pens from Larry over the years that I get decent discounts, so let me know if you’re interested and I can always pick one up and ship it out to you at cost.
Stephen Miles nice! Do they have blue available? Is pice close to MSRP?
I got mine a month or two ago on Amazon. Keep an eye out, there are some out there.
Emily Chambers I usually get a decent discount below MSRP (≈20%). Let me know what nib size(s) you’re interested in, and I’ll go in early next week and see what he’s got.
You mentioned at the beginning the switch to 30ml bottles of Monteverde inks. I understand the demand is not there for all colors to make it worth carrying the larger size any longer. Is it possible/feasible to carry one black (my vote is for Midnight), one blue (Horizon? Malibu?), and then maybe whatever the top seller is outside of black/blue (guessing California Teal) in both the 30ml and the 90ml for those who are heavy users of those inks? The 90ml is such a great value if it is used daily. Thank you for providing such a huge variety of inks, and have a great day!
PVD is a type of vacuum deposition, which is the process they used to put the gold on C3P0 when they were making star wars.
I would love to see how Namiki artists work on maki-e. As an artisan myself I am always interested in seeing how other artisans workign in other mediums set up thier space to do thier work, and what tools they find invaluable to create thier art.
QOTW: behind the scenes tour of Nathan's mad scientist lab
John O'Brien yes! I’d love to see that too!
Franklin Christoph does tours by appointment. You get to try different pens, and if you buy one, you can watch it being assembled. There’s always a lot to do in North Carolina.
Given your rollerball roots, I would like to see you tour Retro 51’s design department. The Mustang FP is not my most expensive FP, but it is my favorite. I hope to see more Retro 51 FPs in the near future.
Well explained about pen size, a larger pen and nib can be more dramatic in appearance regardless of the style. And agree about the Pilot Stargazer, a great small pen, I do not have smaller hands but still love it for its design, appearance and great writing smoothness and reliability. I bought this as an intro pen for my daughter a couple years ago. )) Yes, I was trying to "stack the deck" :D
I wanted to add to the 14k vs 18k nib material discussion and one good example of why not to us the karat as a guide - Omas's super flexible (extra flessiblle) nibs were always in 14k and their 18k nibs were used for their more "normal" nibs.
Pilot Decimo for a lovely capless pen with a narrower barrel than the Pilot Vanishing Point
I love the Stargazer too!! What a hugely underrated pen!
I think it's a pen you have to see in person. I remember when it was being discontinued. I'd heard people liked it, so I took a quick look and it didn't seem like much. Then, about a month ago, someone brought a Stargazer to a pen meetup and after seeing it and holding it, I had to buy it. I found it somewhere and bought it that night. What an awesome pen! But I didn't realize it from seeing it online.
Alan Shutko True. You can’t tell from photos what a really cool pen it is. The nib is smooth, and soft. It’s one of my favorites. Glad you found one and are enjoying it.
Best guess: PNW usually refers to Pacific North West, Oregon/Washington area
YUP. PNWNatureNerd isn't me, but it coulda been me-we've got a lot of nature nerds here! Shout out if PNWNatureNerd sees this!
Hi Brian I was wondering what you think are some of the pens that give as little feedback as possible? Pens that you can barely tell you’re writing with.
Ink, nib size, and especially paper play a huge part in this. Smoothest paper I've used is Tomoe River. The broader the nib, the smoother the experience especially with a wet writing ink. That being said, LAMY 2000 Broad is super smooth. Pilot Custom 74 Medium as well. Visconti steel nibs are surprisingly smooth as well as Edison gold nibs. - Colin
Although they didn’t appeal to me at first, I feel like TWSBI has become my overall favorite brand. So if I could tour any factor, that seems like a good choice.
Still have my Stargazer purchased from y’all! Got it as it was departing the scene!
Another Nice Q&A! I went to the tour in the Faber-Castell Factory while I was in Germany and it was just amazing! There is a public tour once a month but I think it's only in German ):
I would love to see the Conid factory. I would also like to see Nakaya, Namiki, Danitrio maki-e production; but that would be more like a documentary than a factory tour.
I think you can contact the Conid folks if you are visiting Belgium and they will hook you up!
oooh I'm going to Germany in the Autumn. Maybe I could squeeze in a Pelikan tour!
The Japanese maker: Platinum, Pilot, Sailor. It would be great to see the special Sailor nib process
Hello Brian,
I just received my first order from Goulet Pens and I am very impressed with the service, the lollipop and the letter I received with the package. I will definitely be a repeat customer. I see a tortoise shell Stipula Etruria in my very near future even though I really don't need another fountain pen (I have 100 plus in my collection), but it is my passion. Please let Robbie P. know that I am very impressed with the packing department. Cheers, Steve
Thanks for the support! Love the look of that Stipula, writes really well too! - Colin
Nettuno! Mostly because it’s in one of the places I grew up and I get homesick. I love the Neopolitans. Of course, Pineider because I love Florence and Dane Del Vecchio amuses me.
I understand the notion of buying/not buying fountain pens for the investment value. I’m with you Brian. I don’t buy them for their investment value. But what about the recently released Namiki Yakuri Seven Gods set? Surely whoever buys the set is looking at it as on investment, right?
PNW is the Pacific Northwest! Represent!
Stargazers rule! So glad I got two of them before they got discontinued. QOTW: Pilot, of course; Namiki, especially!
I also think, in regards to size, that for a while now fountain pens were just status symbols for professional men. You can still see the legacy for preferential treatment for men when you look at the Visconti and Montegrappa (and other companies I’m sure) web pages. They have like one or two pens they say are pens for women. It seems to make the implication that their other pens are more masculine pens.
Obviously, now all sorts of people are getting into fountain pens, but I think male hands and large designs are still preferred by many designers who are working in the legacy of catering towards male customers
I'd love to go back in time and visit Brian's garage when he started out MAKING fountain pens.
QOTW: Edison, definitely, and if while they are working on my pen (future), even better! I’d be interested in more videos such as the “must be approved by Mfgr prior to release” you did with Lamy, but with a couple of the ink producers.
„What are some pens with a thicker grip section (>11 mm)?“ Except the Lamy Aion (have it, nice section but the rest of it doesn’t feel nice) and the Pelikan M1005 Stresemann (because I -want- will -to- get it with a F nib, when it FINALLY launches). I want to thank everyone that has a suggestion in advance :)
Serious jazz hands starbursts! I've found the name for my new indy-grunge-folk band :D
QOTW:
Would absolutely love to visit and tour the place where they make Visconti pens. Just an incredibly fascinating company with fascinating products. Plus, definitely would not mind staying in Italy for awhile either.
I would love to see a tour of Platinum to see all of the variety. Would be cool to see preppy's made with such speed.
Question- How to clean pen threads? I tend to hold my pens closer to the threads, particularly on my 3776s and the threads get gunky. There seems to be no easy way to clean them. The pen capping gets harder and harder over time due to the dirty threads.
I use a q-tip with water or pen flush to get in the threads! If it's something particularly challenging, I'll opt to fill via ink syringe to avoid it! - Colin
GP doesn’t sell either of these, but if you are looking for high end, thin pens, I’d throw in the Nakaya Piccolo and Montblanc SlimLine as well.
I would loved to tour the Conid factory!
I love the twsbi diamond 580 alr 💜 it's gorgeous
My wife LOVES her Stargazer! By far her favorite writing instrument.
QoTW: 1) Namiki, 2) Pineider
Ref Architect grinds, I'm unsure about some of the points made as I've been using these nibs for sometime now .. the nib meister normally asks for the individual's writing angle/ angle of pen to paper when writing .. via a photograph .. this means that the angle of the writing surface is ground at an angle that's as close to the desired writing angle of the user .... it's a great nib to write both in cursive and capitals ..
QOTW: I would really love to see the manufacturers making pen blanks. Watching Jonathan Brooks or Chet Herbert mix and pour their blanks would be awesome. But as you suggested, that might give away secrets.
YT already has plenty of "dude with a lathe making a pen" videos, the main thing missing there is "dudette with a lathe..." or (for fun) "cat with a lathe...". But don't get me wrong, I subscribe to Edison's channel in the hopes that they'll do more behind the scenes videos.
Frankly if I had the opportunity for an in person fountain pen factory tour I would jump on it, regardless of the company, even if it was just another dude with a lathe.
Pelikan and / or Pilot (fountain pens division of course).
I love my E95S and I love my Stargazer (using it today, actually). Having said that, I'm now looking for a pen that would be the Stargazer's big brother/sister, since I'm finding I do like pens that are a bit bigger than those. Any suggestions for something similar to a Stargazer but bigger (and yes, I love Pilots).
Terri Simon I find the Sailor Pro Gear Slim very similar to the Stargazer, juist a bit bigger.
I still love my sparkly little Stargazer that I got from Goulet, but it's definitely not a pen for larger hands, doubly so when unposted.
The Moonman Mini M2 is another good small pen. Not available at Goulet, but Amazon has it. I wouldn't call it "luxury", as it's a clear resin eyedropper pen with no fancy... anything... but it's small and it works.
Absolutely, great pen. Lots of smaller options in that sub-$100 range. - Colin
#gouletqa
Greetings from brazil!! (sorry about the bad english)
I have a question about fine/extra fine nibs. I always heard that these nibs are a lot "scratchier" than the other sizes, and in fact, i own an old parker 51 with a fine nib and i'm not crazy about how it writes.... but the question is that i only use poor quality paper that absorb lots of ink. I have very small writing so thas not a good combination. So, what are the softest (or less scratchy) fine/extra fine nibs around? And talking about inks, witch one are better for using on cheap paper?
Is there a reason you don't carry Parker pens? They have released some very interesting models lately.
I remember Brian answering a similar question (might have been another brand) and he essentially said that sometimes companies only want their pens in actual physical shops rather than online shops. This is most likely the case with Parker, although there are many many other reasons why a company/seller would want to stay away from a specific seller/company
@@piano9999999 I think that's unlikely as many other "online only" retailers stock parker pens.
Hey Brian, I didn't read all the comments, so my apologies if this is a repeat. Also, this is not meant to come of as negative in any way, just a minor feedback.
FYI - Memorial Day is specific to remebering those that have given their "last full measure of devotion" (to quote President Lincoln).
As a veteran (and I will be so bold as to speak for my brothers and sisters) your kind words are always appreciated, but Veteran's Day is November 11th, please keep Memorial Day for the rememberence of those that gave us everything to ensure our freedom.
I would want to visit Visconti.
QOTW- Edison Pen Company. Or failing that go back in time to Sheaffer and watch Snorkel pens being made.
I have the E95S on my wishlist. I have the Decimo, a nice pen. The Pelikan M200 is a nice choice, too, for smaller pens. Maybe *Pooja C.* would like the *Edison Pearlette.* A very nice pen, and the nib being steel would not deter from the "luxury" feel, plus there are gold gold nibs which can be purchased from Edison which can be very easily swapped with the steel nib. Also, if you want a truly luxury pen with a gold nib, you can have Edison custom make one for you in just the style and nib you want, but will pay the luxury price, too. *QOTW:* I would love to visit Edison Pens, Danitrio, and Namiki and Pilot.
QOTW: Pineider with Dante Delvecchio. For a virtual tour, I would like to see a pen made from start all the way to it being boxed up ready for the customer. 🌻
High end slim pen = ST DuPont Line D?
I figured this was why you didn't have the Kaweco AC Sport in your store.
QoTW:- I'd really like to see Renée Meeks (Scriptorium Pens) , Ryan Krusak (wooden pens, scrimshaw) , Tactile Turn ( metal FP & Ball pens), Jonathan Brooks (his material making, Urushi lacquer , FP) ... These are all US based ... Maybe easier for Brian to saunter into and share 😉😁
Franklin Christoph ( FP, materials and nibs grinding combination) could be added to the list ... Tried to suggest pen manufacturers who are "known" but are doing very interesting things with FP manufacture ... After the Lamy visit, do I think MB or Pelikan or Visconti or MonteGrappa or Sailor or Pilot etc would be very different ? I don't think so .. so certainly more interested in pen makers who are building their brand and sales by doing something unique and different ..
Q6) For the most obvious proof of a pen manufacturer BEGGING you to swap inks between pens, one only has to consider the Pilot Parallel. Watch Rachel’s video on color shifting to see how that’s accomplished!
I would love to see chinkin, maki-e, and urushi pens being made, so pilot/namiki, sailor, and/or platinum are the first ones on my list.
Mine would be the Montblanc factory
Another possibility, a pen for small hands , with a 14k gold nib would be the Platinum PTL 5000.
Very nice pen to write with ( I possess the red and black versions). They are conservative looking.....but they are great writers (in my opinion ).
i have a similar pen from pilot, i don't have much of any idea what it's called but it takes pilot convertors and looks like a ptl5000.
it's very nice, i have two both black they are great writers dry and good for cheaper paper. i also have a E95s which is fine, compare to the other pilot it's much wetter. also a great sized pen.
@@BloodSprite-tan
Pilot makes some excellent pens. I have a Falcon with the SEF nib....can't praise it enough.
@@x-changex-outx-oner8224 i definately want to get a pilot falcon when i can afford it, i bought a taccia spectrum instead, pilots are great, i have 4 gold nibs from pilot, and i love them all.
@@BloodSprite-tan
I have a Taccia Pinnacle, Taccia definitely makes a solid pen.
I came across a Taccia at a Colorado pen show but already spent the money I brought, , liked how it wrote (sample tested at the table). Six months later I ordered one....no regrets.
@@x-changex-outx-oner8224 oh well i bought mine online. with a music nib, in steel, it's definitely the best stub nib i've ever used.
QOTW: Sailor, Platinum, Visconti
QOTW: I would have liked to have toured the Lamy factory when I was in Heidelberg this past December. As it was, I did visit the flagship store.
Yes, Faber-Castell does do tours, both of factory and castle. I was there but they didn't offer them in the winter. There are some photos around the castle and in the shop in this album: redharp.smugmug.com/MKB/2018-1203-Dinkelsb%C3%BChl-to-Nuremberg/
Franklin Christoph let's you visit with appointment not sure about the surrounding area being a vacation destination.
montblanc would be where I'd like to see
Why are fancy pens usually larger?
Because the industry prioritizes men. Getting into why men are a higher marketing priority is kinda a chicken/egg situation though.