Flat tops all the way (Lisa and I must have similar tastes)-Pilot Custom Heritage, Sailor Pro Gear Slims and Esterbrook JRs being among my very favorites.
Thanks for my Thursday happy. I hadn't really thought of the shape of the pen before. Absolutely flat tops! My one "almost" cigar pen (rounded ends but no taper) is still in my possession only because Linda Kennedy ground it into something special.
Oh my goodness - flat water! On that note, I seem to prefer flat top pens as well. I do own some beautiful pens that are cigar-shaped, but find them less comfortable to use, so they sit in the case (yes they are clean) more than not. Thanks for another great show.
Hi Lisa and Brian. Always something interesting and fun in your videos! I would say it’s the overall aesthetic/style of the pen, how it feels in hand and how writes, more than flat or cigar shaped. I have a number of “flat top” pens that I like a lot, (Sailor Pro Gear, Parker Duofold, Waterman, Pelikan, etc.), and the same goes for cigar shaped pens (Aurora 88, Esterbrook Esties, Shaeffer Balance, Montblanc, Sailor 1911, etc.). Hoping you have a great weekend!
Look forward to you guys every week. I wish I lived in the neighborhood, but I guess I should say wish you lived in the neighborhood as it does not snow in the ca Bay Area. I think to my first contemplation of flat vs round and that was with sailor. I wanted the anchor on my cap so it was flat all the way. I have stuck to that when given a choice. I love most all fountain pens, so any new pen is a cause for celebration. I don’t discriminate flat vs round all are welcome.
Nice episode, as always! I've noticed you always begin with laughter and it is so welcoming. Cigar shaped pens seem to be my preference, although I own both. To me the two most important criteria are minimal hardware and a grip section that is pleasant to write with (think Edison Collier).
Another fabulous show. As usual. Early in my collecting journey I never looked at the shape, just the overall aesthetic of the pen. Now looking at my collection, I’m about 50/50. But thinking about it would probably like the flat top just a bit more.
I’m with Team Flat Top like Lisa. Most of my pens are flat tops (Sailors, Esterbrook J or JR, quite a few maker pens, etc.). However, if I see a gorgeous cigar shaped pen (like the Esterbrook Estie Peacock), the shape won’t stop me from buying it. Great video - see you next week!!
11 April is also International Louie Louie Day! I'm shocked you didn't honor this critical, international holiday! I strongly prefer the classic cigar shaped pen. Remember, nature abhors a straight line!
Definitely prefer flat-tops. Random story. I recently picked up two Sheaffer's in a sale: a Balance from the early 1930s and a jade green flat-top from the late 1930s. I thought this was interesting because it shows the very beginning of the cigar shaped pens and the very end of Sheaffer's flat-tops.
I prefer flat-top pens, but I have cigar-shaped ones, too. I'm with Lisa and will choose flat-top over cigar-shape when purchasing a new pen! I am loving the Cross Broad refills!
You folks are thought provoking. I'm not sure I had ever noticed a pen choice based on it's style other than being drawn toward the Tombow pen that has a "zen" like shape (or design) to it which is more flat in style than cigar shaped. That and the Diplomat Zeppelin pen are the only two pens I can think of that drew me in based on shape. Typically, I am more drawn toward a pen due to the material it is made from or a design feature linked to the cap. The Visconti Homo Sapiens in volcanic rock hits the mark for me on two of those counts but I hesitate to really consider the purchase because of an inability to try a demonstration in various nib sizes.
I do like both cigar shaped and flat topped, but like Brian I seem to have mostly flat top pens in my collection at a 3 to 1 ratio. Although my favorite for use is my Sheaffer desk set Touchdown.
I like both flat top and cigar shaped. In Sailor I have more pro gear than 1911’s. From other makers that have similar models in both, I have both. If I have a shirt with a pocket I would prefer to put a flat top in it. Otherwise it wouldn’t matter.
Happy Submarine Day! (April 11) Q: What’s a submarine’s least favorite vegetable? A: Leeks! Couple things: Pet Day. Made me really miss my constant companion of almost 15 years. My rescue (b)rat terrier Aednat (she followed my sister home when she was 3. Tried for several months to find her original owner). She had to be put down in January due to cancer. Locks won't keep your cat out of your room. Cats can teleport.😂 They're an alien species, so... Hah! Someone who admits the Balance influenced the cigar shapes that followed (can REALLY upset some Montblanc folks pointing out the 149 is a derivative shape. 😈) Don't really know if I have a shape preference. Can I hold it? Does it write well? Those things matter more than shape, to me. Besides, where does that leave the pens I tend to use more often, the Esterbrook J series?😁
I seem to favor flat tops (not my haircut in the 5th grade). My most beautiful is a red Visconti Opera Gold that I bought from Anderson Pens and had my initials on the finial-a great writer. But today I’m sad because I lost my wife's audio book last night...now I'm never going to hear the end of it.
Though I have a number of flat-top pens I enjoy, I do prefer cigar-shaped ones, which is not something I would have guessed when I started buying pens.
I prefer a flat top.. Lamy Al-Star, Twsbi, silly as it sounds, love my Pilot's E95s, Prera, Kakuno. All flat tops. They fit so much better in my wooden cigar boxes.
I wonder how many of Phil's students end up with inky fingers - whenever I've lent pens to students they've all tried to grab them right at the nib! I will go either way, but I prefer flat tops because they have fun finials
Love cigar shaped pens but even within the relam of cigars, the torpedo shaped is when it becomes unsightly for me so love the Meisterstuck 149 shape but find it difficult to like Sheaffer balance or edison. Similarly love souveran 1000 ...but is there a flat top when it gets 😮 yes there is Sheaffer no nonsense. Even Twisbi is great but that flat is too flat for it ends so guess there is a limit or line I would draw but like the best of both the worlds Sheaffer 440 or Heritage best design ever 😊
The Alchemy bottles are reminiscent of Erlenmeyer flasks used in chemistry laboratories. Those have flat bottoms though.
Flat tops all the way (Lisa and I must have similar tastes)-Pilot Custom Heritage, Sailor Pro Gear Slims and Esterbrook JRs being among my very favorites.
Always fun to hang out with you both! Flat top or cigar - don't care. I just want the pen to write well. :)
Thanks for my Thursday happy. I hadn't really thought of the shape of the pen before. Absolutely flat tops! My one "almost" cigar pen (rounded ends but no taper) is still in my possession only because Linda Kennedy ground it into something special.
As long as the pen is comfortable in my hand, I don't care what the ends look like. Thanks for another great episode.
Oh my goodness - flat water! On that note, I seem to prefer flat top pens as well. I do own some beautiful pens that are cigar-shaped, but find them less comfortable to use, so they sit in the case (yes they are clean) more than not. Thanks for another great show.
Hi Lisa and Brian. Always something interesting and fun in your videos! I would say it’s the overall aesthetic/style of the pen, how it feels in hand and how writes, more than flat or cigar shaped. I have a number of “flat top” pens that I like a lot, (Sailor Pro Gear, Parker Duofold, Waterman, Pelikan, etc.), and the same goes for cigar shaped pens (Aurora 88, Esterbrook Esties, Shaeffer Balance, Montblanc, Sailor 1911, etc.). Hoping you have a great weekend!
Look forward to you guys every week. I wish I lived in the neighborhood, but I guess I should say wish you lived in the neighborhood as it does not snow in the ca Bay Area. I think to my first contemplation of flat vs round and that was with sailor. I wanted the anchor on my cap so it was flat all the way. I have stuck to that when given a choice. I love most all fountain pens, so any new pen is a cause for celebration. I don’t discriminate flat vs round all are welcome.
Nice episode, as always! I've noticed you always begin with laughter and it is so welcoming. Cigar shaped pens seem to be my preference, although I own both. To me the two most important criteria are minimal hardware and a grip section that is pleasant to write with (think Edison Collier).
Another fabulous show. As usual. Early in my collecting journey I never looked at the shape, just the overall aesthetic of the pen. Now looking at my collection, I’m about 50/50. But thinking about it would probably like the flat top just a bit more.
I’m with Team Flat Top like Lisa. Most of my pens are flat tops (Sailors, Esterbrook J or JR, quite a few maker pens, etc.). However, if I see a gorgeous cigar shaped pen (like the Esterbrook Estie Peacock), the shape won’t stop me from buying it. Great video - see you next week!!
11 April is also International Louie Louie Day! I'm shocked you didn't honor this critical, international holiday! I strongly prefer the classic cigar shaped pen. Remember, nature abhors a straight line!
Great APTV. I prefer flat tops. Conical are nice too. There are some nice cigars on my wish list, just not many.
Great episode! I think I like the look of cigar over flat, though my only fountain pen, the TWSBI 580, is flat. My dream pen, the 823 though is cigar.
I have many cigar shaped pens, but where do you fit TWSBIs or Lamy-s? Both flat top and cigar can be good, it depends on the particular pen.
Definitely prefer flat-tops. Random story. I recently picked up two Sheaffer's in a sale: a Balance from the early 1930s and a jade green flat-top from the late 1930s. I thought this was interesting because it shows the very beginning of the cigar shaped pens and the very end of Sheaffer's flat-tops.
I prefer flat-top pens, but I have cigar-shaped ones, too. I'm with Lisa and will choose flat-top over cigar-shape when purchasing a new pen! I am loving the Cross Broad refills!
You folks are thought provoking. I'm not sure I had ever noticed a pen choice based on it's style other than being drawn toward the Tombow pen that has a "zen" like shape (or design) to it which is more flat in style than cigar shaped. That and the Diplomat Zeppelin pen are the only two pens I can think of that drew me in based on shape. Typically, I am more drawn toward a pen due to the material it is made from or a design feature linked to the cap. The Visconti Homo Sapiens in volcanic rock hits the mark for me on two of those counts but I hesitate to really consider the purchase because of an inability to try a demonstration in various nib sizes.
I do like both cigar shaped and flat topped, but like Brian I seem to have mostly flat top pens in my collection at a 3 to 1 ratio. Although my favorite for use is my Sheaffer desk set Touchdown.
Shorter compact pens - cigar shaped.
Longer pen - flat top
I like both flat top and cigar shaped. In Sailor I have more pro gear than 1911’s. From other makers that have similar models in both, I have both. If I have a shirt with a pocket I would prefer to put a flat top in it. Otherwise it wouldn’t matter.
Happy Submarine Day! (April 11)
Q: What’s a submarine’s least favorite vegetable?
A: Leeks!
Couple things: Pet Day. Made me really miss my constant companion of almost 15 years. My rescue (b)rat terrier Aednat (she followed my sister home when she was 3. Tried for several months to find her original owner). She had to be put down in January due to cancer.
Locks won't keep your cat out of your room. Cats can teleport.😂 They're an alien species, so...
Hah! Someone who admits the Balance influenced the cigar shapes that followed (can REALLY upset some Montblanc folks pointing out the 149 is a derivative shape. 😈)
Don't really know if I have a shape preference. Can I hold it? Does it write well? Those things matter more than shape, to me. Besides, where does that leave the pens I tend to use more often, the Esterbrook J series?😁
I prefer the looks of flat tops, but have quite a few cigar-shaped pens. I wish Pilot would come up with a 913!
I seem to favor flat tops (not my haircut in the 5th grade). My most beautiful is a red Visconti Opera Gold that I bought from Anderson Pens and had my initials on the finial-a great writer. But today I’m sad because I lost my wife's audio book last night...now I'm never going to hear the end of it.
Brian just proved that the Earth is flat
Though I have a number of flat-top pens I enjoy, I do prefer cigar-shaped ones, which is not something I would have guessed when I started buying pens.
Cigar shape. I love my classic black Aurora 88 with rose gold nib and trim.
I prefer a flat top.. Lamy Al-Star, Twsbi, silly as it sounds, love my Pilot's E95s, Prera, Kakuno. All flat tops. They fit so much better in my wooden cigar boxes.
I prefer flat top pens usually with silver-tone trim.
I wonder how many of Phil's students end up with inky fingers - whenever I've lent pens to students they've all tried to grab them right at the nib! I will go either way, but I prefer flat tops because they have fun finials
i prefer cone tops, that being rare amongst most choices anymore, i tend to go with flat when available.
I would say I prefer cigar shaped pens, except when they are flat tops.
Love cigar shaped pens but even within the relam of cigars, the torpedo shaped is when it becomes unsightly for me so love the Meisterstuck 149 shape but find it difficult to like Sheaffer balance or edison. Similarly love souveran 1000 ...but is there a flat top when it gets 😮 yes there is Sheaffer no nonsense. Even Twisbi is great but that flat is too flat for it ends so guess there is a limit or line I would draw but like the best of both the worlds Sheaffer 440 or Heritage best design ever 😊
definitely a flat top is preferred.
I prefer a flat top pen, not sure why, perhaps for the same reason as Lisa
I prefer flat tops but if I love the color or material I will get the cigar shape.
I think I only have two cigar shaped pens. I definitely prefer the flat tops!
#teamflattop
I am allergic to cats so hard pass on the cat cafe. I like cigar shape but also pick up a few flat tops.
I prefer a flat top shaped pen but I still own a fair amount of cigar shaped.
No real preference, but it so happens my favorite pens are cigar shaped. Just a coincidence I’m sure.
I prefer cigar shaped pens.
Flat tops!