Most pens in Belgium and Germany come with blue cartridges because that is the color you -have- to use in school. Royal, prussian or 'standard' dark blue, erasable with a standard chemical ink eraser. I remember a kid in second grade getting told off because he had grabbed a spare cartridge from his dad when his own had run out, and now he had indelible black ink in his school pen. He was the only kid with a Parker pen, so no one could lend him a blue cartridge. He got told to fix it by the next day, or his parents would be getting an angry phone call. 'Good' fountain pens get given to kids for first communions, confirmations, birthdays or even getting really good grades, and people will bug salespeople about the included cartridge being school appropriate. Our local pen guy had stories about parents taking their business elsewhere when kids picked pens with a black cartridge in them, because they assumed that brand did not carry blue cartridges as standard.
I found this to be quite an interesting perspective from another region of the world. Very cool. Prussian blue is one of my favorite blues by ( I use Daler ◇ Rowney) FW ink. (Dip pen blue not for fountain pens [acrylic based ink] ).
Pairing the Conklin Duragraph with a Goulet nib has been a fantastic win for me. I really enjoy the style and function of the Duragraph, but the stock nib leaves something to be desired. Swapping with a Goulet nib has dramatically increased my enjoyment of the pen. In addition, the combination is very affordable.
Those "some lines a day" books are really interesting. I'm not a journaller or diarist at all, but that's the kind of thing that could easily win me over, as well as picking different pens and inks as time passes & writing down what I used that day. I may have to look out for those.
I saw that Aurora actually developed a scent for the Duo Cart box so that it would smell "vintage!" Must be strong and obvious if Brian is commenting that it smells like an old accordion box!
Ryan D I'm getting clarity on that. They will actually have two different cases as far as I understand, because the case I show you here actually is vintage, about 50 years old! There won't be a ton of those though, so they have new cases too. I'm still trying to find out exactly what I'll be getting! This sample is the 50 year old case tho -Brian
looking at my Ahabs and my Singularity.... those nibs are swappable? hrrmmm.... i was thinking of trying the Nighthawk with a stub, that's a spendy pen though... i have a Jinhao that came with black in and my Singularity came with blue, my Pilot Metropolitan and Parker Vector, and my Chrome Cross came with black and blue... my Charlie came with a 4.5oz bottle of Baystate Blue ;)
I don't see this in the comments so I will say it... Most lawyers require blue ink because original documents must stand out as originals - black is much harder to distinguish as an original document "at a glance", so blue is the standard.
For the question of the week... I LIKE pens with flat ends, silver/rhodium trim, piston filler, 14kt gold nib in medium. Sadly, i havent found many options so my collection has SOME of those, but mostly cigar shaped as it is what i find available.
I don't have any particular pen shape that is my favorite. However the most comfortable pen I have ever used is the Edison Collier. Thanks for all you do.
I bought a purple Jinhao 159 and put a black Goulet nib on it and love the way it writes and looks. The black really looks great with the purple pen. On a side note, I also bought a purple Jinhao x750 rollerball in purple to have a matched set.
QOTW: I actually like faceted pens, the whole not rolling off the table thing is nice. Also the pens looks really nice when you turn them in the air making the light reflecting in different ways.
QOTW - Cigar shapes for sure. They're simple, elegant, traditional, but can have a modern twist to them. That's not to say that I can't appreciate some instances of other shapes, but the cigar is the go-to for me.
How about quill-shaped pens? I think you sorta mentioned them as a maybe-crossover, but I think the quill aesthetic is common enough in pen design to be a referenced pen shape. You actually do mention it when you talk about the pilot parallel, lamy joy, and pilot plumix, so maybe it just slipped your mind in the moment?
Azure Skies is beautiful, but I'm putting in my request now for these Edison pens to come in a shade of red, as iridescent as that blue...which is gorgeous.
It's long gone now, but you may have liked the Edison Nouveau Premiere Fireball (blog.gouletpens.com/2015/06/edison-nouveau-premiere-fireball-summer.html). Hopefully they can bring back something similar! - Colin
Any idea if a diplomat Aero takes a goulet nib? I just bought one where someone removed the nib (so I basically just have a missing nib), and was thinking of trying a goulet nib
Hey Brian! I was wondering - there are a lot of fancy dip nibs that are super flexible, or have 5 lines and stuff like that. Are there any fountain pens that could hold such nibs without the need to always dip them? Or are these nibs just plainly incompatible with regular feeds?
Brian I am really loving my Lamy 2000 W/EF nib. I take it everywhere I go to be onset it is my EDC pen of choice. I keep it in a one pen Aston pen sheath for safekeeping in my pocket. But I have to say I was never a blue black ink fan. But I have to say I am really digging Diamens blue black ink. I believe it is the special addition ink as the bottle blows my mind it's so cool looking. My Lamy 2000 came in a Special edition Boss set. I believe that's how You say it. The set came with the Lamy 2000 and Special edition Diamen blue black ink and to top it off also included a black L-Jurnal. Brian You have a amazing team and staff they really helped me with some issues. I was having and they went above and beyond. Did I mention they got the problem solved. Brian I will always bye from You guys as I trust You and Your business is outstanding. Your customer support Team is spot on and just really amazing great people that I would love to call all You guys My friends. Thank You.
35:00 minute mark : Not sure if this is Sheaffer or the shop (P.W. Akkerman) I bought it at, but I recently bought a Sheaffer Prelude, and it comes with a certificate from the shop that says it's under lifetime warranty. It's is written in fountain pen, on shop stationary, and they have been in business since 1910, so I'm going to assume they are not joking around. Any reason why Goulet doesn't carry Sheaffer?
Personally, I like cigar shaped pens in understated colours. Something like the Platinum 3776 is lovely, and it if were just a tiny bit larger I would never put it down.
I have three fountain pens: Platinum Preppy, Pilot Metropolitan, and Twsbi Eco. They are similar in that they are cylindrical. The grip sections are similar, except the Preppy's grip is straight and the other two pens have a slight slant. But, the one that I grab is the Eco. It just holds more ink. But, if there were to be a new pen shape, I would want one shaped like a candy cane with the same red and white stripes of a candy cane. Then at the holidays, it could also double as a holiday ornament.
I really like the weight and feel of my two Jinhaos (×450 and 1200 I believe). I put Goulet nibs on both and I'm very happy with how they write. The problem is the Jinhaos dry out in 2 days. I can't stand that! Both of my TWSBIs and my Preppys can sit weeks or months without use and write perfectly when I pick them up. Hopefully I'll find a better pen to move my Goulet nibs to.
QOTW: Honestly, I think the sort of torpedo with flat ends like the Lamy 2000 is the most appealing to me. That sort of shape just screams elegance and utilitarianism to me, personally. The runner up to that, of course, is the classic flat top akin to the Conklin Duragraph or Nighthawk.
QOTW: Larger bodied pens in general. I don't have large hands, but my fingers are kind of disproportionately long, so sometimes holding on to a more standard size pen can cause all sorts of nasty cramping and numbness in my hands! I draw more than write with my fountain pens, so I end up doing rather long sessions where a more comfortably sized pen will save me many aches.
For me it's less about the body shape and more about the grip shape. I tend towards more triangular grips, it just fits nicely in my hand. Pens like the Lamy AL Stars and Safaris, TWSBI Eco has the bumps just before the nib and that serves the same purpose. So far my exception is the VP. That is because of the clip provides that same I guess 'angled' feel.
The Goulet nib just doesn't fit consistently on the Konrad anymore. Because of the collar on the new design, the nib doesn't fit securely in which could cause all sorts of flow/leaking issues. - Colin
Not so much a pen "shape" as in pen "weight". I can adjust to the shape but if the pen is too light weight I have trouble with it. I now pay attention to the specs of the pen that you so considerately list so that I am not disappointed.
QOTW: I have mostly torpedo and cigar shaped pens with a few flat ended cylindrical pens. The noticeable exception being my Waterman Hemisphere with it's flat barrel finial and diagonal flat cap finial.
Hi! Thank you for your videos! So helpful for a newbie like me. soooo. ..I bought a Jinhao 950 (not from you. I am sorry) and need to replace the nib but don't know the size. Is there a way to find out if it's a #5 or a #6 or a.....? Thank you, and your fabulous company for all you do to make newbies like me feel comfortable and confident.
It's not an exact science as manufacturers can differ. But you should be able to measure it to get a better guess. Brian talks about it in this previous Q&A slice: ua-cam.com/video/G5mQ1pZT6_A/v-deo.html - Colin
Somewhat faceted, but really only on the two flat sides. Has the flat-top look as well, just in a more non-conventional look than like a Duragraph. - Colin
Noodler's actually has quite a few inks that'd work for highlighters: www.gouletpens.com/bottled-ink/c/14/?sortBy=productName+asc&facetValueFilter=Tenant~Ink_Color%3Ahighlighter. Beyond that, I think most light colored inks could work. - Colin
Yeah, we actually took down that video. We're working on a few different ideas to show that information & more in better ways in the future! Sorry about that. - Colin
QOTW: I'm mostly into cigar and torpedo shaped pens, but I have a lot of flat-tops as well, since a lot of cheaper pens have that shape, like the Prera and the Safari. Also, in inks we don't like: Non-saturated inks! I have a bottle of J.Herbin Diabolo Menthe and omg. I can't use it. I put it in my Kaweco Sport, couldn't even get a full fill and flushed it out a week later. I couldn't take it anymore.
That's a Noodler's Ahab (www.gouletpens.com/noodlers-ahab-flex-fountain-pen-clear-demonstrator/p/N15021) with the slide piston filling mechanism. - Colin
Hmmm perhaps I meant the 14/15 second mark. It's the pen shown that has something retractable over the nib! Also has a marking on the side that I think says H/S
Oh yes, that's the Pilot Justus 95 (www.gouletpens.com/pilot-justus-95-fountain-pen-black-fine/p/PN60591) with an adjustable nib, either hard or soft for flexibility. - Colin
QotW: Flat cap by a mile! The rest of the pen can be any other shape really, but the ends have to be flat (e.g. L2K, Kaweco Sport, E95s). I think the only pen I own that doesn't fit this rule is a VP, which is a whole other thing all together.
QOTW: Flat tops and baseball bats are the most attractive. I never thought to separate them into two different categories. They are just all flat tops to me.
QOTW: As long as it's longer than it is wide I'm happy. I find the Faber Castell Ambition shape very interesting but unfortunately lacking in function, or grip as it were.
Sailor question: That is an unfortunate situation. I like Sailor's permanent ink over other brands and it is pretty much the only item that I don't buy from Goulet.
On the subject of pens coming with blue ink for education - GCSE exams in the UK require you to have black ink, so it could be a sneaky move by the manufacturers to get more sales of black ink. Just my guess :3
*Fountain pen No One should ever own* ~ Let me preface this by saying their ballpoints across the board are worth it. Excellent EDC pens that I highly recommend. _However_ their one fountain pen model is absolute garbage! You would literally be better off writing with a roofing nail dipped in a bottle of ink. And I mean everything about it is garbage. The nib, the feed, the incredibly cheap construction that literally fell apart in my hands! And of course the horrific flow issues..... Zebra V-301 Fountain Pen. In terms of price, it competes with the Platinum Preppy. In every other way that matters, the Preppy is 1,000,000x better. And ironically, that's not an exaggeration. It really isn't.
Most pens in Belgium and Germany come with blue cartridges because that is the color you -have- to use in school. Royal, prussian or 'standard' dark blue, erasable with a standard chemical ink eraser.
I remember a kid in second grade getting told off because he had grabbed a spare cartridge from his dad when his own had run out, and now he had indelible black ink in his school pen. He was the only kid with a Parker pen, so no one could lend him a blue cartridge. He got told to fix it by the next day, or his parents would be getting an angry phone call.
'Good' fountain pens get given to kids for first communions, confirmations, birthdays or even getting really good grades, and people will bug salespeople about the included cartridge being school appropriate. Our local pen guy had stories about parents taking their business elsewhere when kids picked pens with a black cartridge in them, because they assumed that brand did not carry blue cartridges as standard.
I found this to be quite an interesting perspective from another region of the world.
Very cool.
Prussian blue is one of my favorite blues by ( I use Daler ◇ Rowney) FW ink. (Dip pen blue not for fountain pens [acrylic based ink] ).
Pairing the Conklin Duragraph with a Goulet nib has been a fantastic win for me. I really enjoy the style and function of the Duragraph, but the stock nib leaves something to be desired. Swapping with a Goulet nib has dramatically increased my enjoyment of the pen. In addition, the combination is very affordable.
Yeah, I do think that's one pen that does really well with a GPC nib. I've tried it wth the stub nib and it writes like a dream. - Colin
Those "some lines a day" books are really interesting. I'm not a journaller or diarist at all, but that's the kind of thing that could easily win me over, as well as picking different pens and inks as time passes & writing down what I used that day. I may have to look out for those.
Wedding gift and various pen shapes were very helpful!
I saw that Aurora actually developed a scent for the Duo Cart box so that it would smell "vintage!" Must be strong and obvious if Brian is commenting that it smells like an old accordion box!
Ryan D I'm getting clarity on that. They will actually have two different cases as far as I understand, because the case I show you here actually is vintage, about 50 years old! There won't be a ton of those though, so they have new cases too. I'm still trying to find out exactly what I'll be getting! This sample is the 50 year old case tho -Brian
looking at my Ahabs and my Singularity.... those nibs are swappable? hrrmmm....
i was thinking of trying the Nighthawk with a stub, that's a spendy pen though...
i have a Jinhao that came with black in and my Singularity came with blue, my Pilot Metropolitan and Parker Vector, and my Chrome Cross came with black and blue...
my Charlie came with a 4.5oz bottle of Baystate Blue ;)
I don't see this in the comments so I will say it... Most lawyers require blue ink because original documents must stand out as originals - black is much harder to distinguish as an original document "at a glance", so blue is the standard.
For the question of the week...
I LIKE pens with flat ends, silver/rhodium trim, piston filler, 14kt gold nib in medium. Sadly, i havent found many options so my collection has SOME of those, but mostly cigar shaped as it is what i find available.
I don't have any particular pen shape that is my favorite. However the most comfortable pen I have ever used is the Edison Collier. Thanks for all you do.
I bought a purple Jinhao 159 and put a black Goulet nib on it and love the way it writes and looks. The black really looks great with the purple pen. On a side note, I also bought a purple Jinhao x750 rollerball in purple to have a matched set.
QOTW: I actually like faceted pens, the whole not rolling off the table thing is nice. Also the pens looks really nice when you turn them in the air making the light reflecting in different ways.
QOTW - Cigar shapes for sure. They're simple, elegant, traditional, but can have a modern twist to them. That's not to say that I can't appreciate some instances of other shapes, but the cigar is the go-to for me.
How about quill-shaped pens? I think you sorta mentioned them as a maybe-crossover, but I think the quill aesthetic is common enough in pen design to be a referenced pen shape. You actually do mention it when you talk about the pilot parallel, lamy joy, and pilot plumix, so maybe it just slipped your mind in the moment?
The shape of the Lamy Studio. I wish I had more pens that look like it.
Azure Skies is beautiful, but I'm putting in my request now for these Edison pens to come in a shade of red, as iridescent as that blue...which is gorgeous.
It's long gone now, but you may have liked the Edison Nouveau Premiere Fireball (blog.gouletpens.com/2015/06/edison-nouveau-premiere-fireball-summer.html). Hopefully they can bring back something similar! - Colin
Any idea if a diplomat Aero takes a goulet nib? I just bought one where someone removed the nib (so I basically just have a missing nib), and was thinking of trying a goulet nib
Hey Brian! I was wondering - there are a lot of fancy dip nibs that are super flexible, or have 5 lines and stuff like that. Are there any fountain pens that could hold such nibs without the need to always dip them? Or are these nibs just plainly incompatible with regular feeds?
Brian I am really loving my Lamy 2000 W/EF nib. I take it everywhere I go to be onset it is my EDC pen of choice. I keep it in a one pen Aston pen sheath for safekeeping in my pocket. But I have to say I was never a blue black ink fan. But I have to say I am really digging Diamens blue black ink. I believe it is the special addition ink as the bottle blows my mind it's so cool looking. My Lamy 2000 came in a Special edition Boss set. I believe that's how You say it. The set came with the Lamy 2000 and Special edition Diamen blue black ink and to top it off also included a black L-Jurnal. Brian You have a amazing team and staff they really helped me with some issues. I was having and they went above and beyond. Did I mention they got the problem solved. Brian I will always bye from You guys as I trust You and Your business is outstanding. Your customer support Team is spot on and just really amazing great people that I would love to call all You guys My friends. Thank You.
Wow, that's amazing to hear. Thanks so much for your support! - Colin
That some lines a day notebook is big. Can't wait to get one.
Yeah, it's really cool. Lots of people here at GPC are already lining up to order one! - Colin
Is there a difference between ebonite and ebony
35:00 minute mark : Not sure if this is Sheaffer or the shop (P.W. Akkerman) I bought it at, but I recently bought a Sheaffer Prelude, and it comes with a certificate from the shop that says it's under lifetime warranty. It's is written in fountain pen, on shop stationary, and they have been in business since 1910, so I'm going to assume they are not joking around.
Any reason why Goulet doesn't carry Sheaffer?
We actually used to carry Sheaffer, but closed out the brand due to low sales. - Colin
Personally, I like cigar shaped pens in understated colours. Something like the Platinum 3776 is lovely, and it if were just a tiny bit larger I would never put it down.
I have three fountain pens: Platinum Preppy, Pilot Metropolitan, and Twsbi Eco. They are similar in that they are cylindrical. The grip sections are similar, except the Preppy's grip is straight and the other two pens have a slight slant. But, the one that I grab is the Eco. It just holds more ink.
But, if there were to be a new pen shape, I would want one shaped like a candy cane with the same red and white stripes of a candy cane. Then at the holidays, it could also double as a holiday ornament.
Ha! Just need to think of some practical uses of the U shape at the end. We'll just say it helps with ink flow. ;) - Colin
I really like the weight and feel of my two Jinhaos (×450 and 1200 I believe). I put Goulet nibs on both and I'm very happy with how they write. The problem is the Jinhaos dry out in 2 days. I can't stand that! Both of my TWSBIs and my Preppys can sit weeks or months without use and write perfectly when I pick them up. Hopefully I'll find a better pen to move my Goulet nibs to.
Defiantly love the larger pens cigar shape is almost totally irresistible
really contemplating that Aurora Duocart in the burgundy. Also debating that 88 Flex. Credit cards getting a workout lately lol
Haven't had a chance to see the Duo Cart in person, but the 88 Flex is a really nice looking pen. Love the way it writes too! - Colin
QOTW: Honestly, I think the sort of torpedo with flat ends like the Lamy 2000 is the most appealing to me. That sort of shape just screams elegance and utilitarianism to me, personally. The runner up to that, of course, is the classic flat top akin to the Conklin Duragraph or Nighthawk.
QOTW: Larger bodied pens in general. I don't have large hands, but my fingers are kind of disproportionately long, so sometimes holding on to a more standard size pen can cause all sorts of nasty cramping and numbness in my hands! I draw more than write with my fountain pens, so I end up doing rather long sessions where a more comfortably sized pen will save me many aches.
i gravitate towards cigar shaped. Primarily due to the large size and the way they feel when writing.
Is there such a thing as a # 7 or 8 nib & if so, what pen might that be?
For me it's less about the body shape and more about the grip shape. I tend towards more triangular grips, it just fits nicely in my hand. Pens like the Lamy AL Stars and Safaris, TWSBI Eco has the bumps just before the nib and that serves the same purpose. So far my exception is the VP. That is because of the clip provides that same I guess 'angled' feel.
What is wrong with the Noodler's Konrad with the Goulet nib? Could you explain the problems that arises from using the two together? Thanks!
The Goulet nib just doesn't fit consistently on the Konrad anymore. Because of the collar on the new design, the nib doesn't fit securely in which could cause all sorts of flow/leaking issues. - Colin
Not so much a pen "shape" as in pen "weight". I can adjust to the shape but if the pen is too light weight I have trouble with it. I now pay attention to the specs of the pen that you so considerately list so that I am not disappointed.
QOTW: I have mostly torpedo and cigar shaped pens with a few flat ended cylindrical pens. The noticeable exception being my Waterman Hemisphere with it's flat barrel finial and diagonal flat cap finial.
Hi! Thank you for your videos! So helpful for a newbie like me.
soooo. ..I bought a Jinhao 950 (not from you. I am sorry) and need to replace the nib but don't know the size. Is there a way to find out if it's a #5 or a #6 or a.....? Thank you, and your fabulous company for all you do to make newbies like me feel comfortable and confident.
It's not an exact science as manufacturers can differ. But you should be able to measure it to get a better guess. Brian talks about it in this previous Q&A slice: ua-cam.com/video/G5mQ1pZT6_A/v-deo.html - Colin
What would you put Lamy Safari and Lamy AL-Star in, category wise? I’m thinking the faceted. :]
Somewhat faceted, but really only on the two flat sides. Has the flat-top look as well, just in a more non-conventional look than like a Duragraph. - Colin
When will the summer nouveau premier be announced?
Should be sometime in mid to late June! - Colin
Awesome! I've been looking forward to it.
Do you think the Duo Carte will be released with a gold nib option?
QOTW: Visconti's Squaring the Circle will always be my favorite!
Is the Homo sapiens dark age staying? in the midi?
Yep, the Dark Age in both midi & maxi are still being made. - Colin
Thanks!
Speaking of light, (almost unreadable) yellow inks, are there any inks that you recommend using in highlighter pens? Any we should stay away from?
Noodler's actually has quite a few inks that'd work for highlighters: www.gouletpens.com/bottled-ink/c/14/?sortBy=productName+asc&facetValueFilter=Tenant~Ink_Color%3Ahighlighter. Beyond that, I think most light colored inks could work. - Colin
Unable to locate the link to 101 flex basics video please help
Yeah, we actually took down that video. We're working on a few different ideas to show that information & more in better ways in the future! Sorry about that. - Colin
Really informative video that one
Of all pens I had, I think that for me the best shape is Lamy 2000.
QOTW: I'm mostly into cigar and torpedo shaped pens, but I have a lot of flat-tops as well, since a lot of cheaper pens have that shape, like the Prera and the Safari.
Also, in inks we don't like: Non-saturated inks! I have a bottle of J.Herbin Diabolo Menthe and omg. I can't use it. I put it in my Kaweco Sport, couldn't even get a full fill and flushed it out a week later. I couldn't take it anymore.
Does anyone happen to know the name of the pen/mechanism/nib shown at around 16 seconds during the intro montage?
That's a Noodler's Ahab (www.gouletpens.com/noodlers-ahab-flex-fountain-pen-clear-demonstrator/p/N15021) with the slide piston filling mechanism. - Colin
Hmmm perhaps I meant the 14/15 second mark. It's the pen shown that has something retractable over the nib! Also has a marking on the side that I think says H/S
Oh yes, that's the Pilot Justus 95 (www.gouletpens.com/pilot-justus-95-fountain-pen-black-fine/p/PN60591) with an adjustable nib, either hard or soft for flexibility. - Colin
QotW: Flat cap by a mile! The rest of the pen can be any other shape really, but the ends have to be flat (e.g. L2K, Kaweco Sport, E95s). I think the only pen I own that doesn't fit this rule is a VP, which is a whole other thing all together.
QOTW: Flat tops and baseball bats are the most attractive. I never thought to separate them into two different categories. They are just all flat tops to me.
QOTW: As long as it's longer than it is wide I'm happy. I find the Faber Castell Ambition shape very interesting but unfortunately lacking in function, or grip as it were.
Sailor question: That is an unfortunate situation. I like Sailor's permanent ink over other brands and it is pretty much the only item that I don't buy from Goulet.
QOTW: I personally like the aesthetic of the cigar shape the most.
Update for Sailor: it's there now, as of this comment! :)
the only thing I can think of with a 'lifetime' warranty is a Zippo lighter:)
and a few specific Knife brands(Benchmade, etc.). but yeah, they're getting pretty scarce nowadays :(
On the subject of pens coming with blue ink for education - GCSE exams in the UK require you to have black ink, so it could be a sneaky move by the manufacturers to get more sales of black ink. Just my guess :3
Yay,! Deatrimentis!
*Fountain pen No One should ever own* ~ Let me preface this by saying their ballpoints across the board are worth it. Excellent EDC pens that I highly recommend. _However_ their one fountain pen model is absolute garbage! You would literally be better off writing with a roofing nail dipped in a bottle of ink. And I mean everything about it is garbage. The nib, the feed, the incredibly cheap construction that literally fell apart in my hands! And of course the horrific flow issues..... Zebra V-301 Fountain Pen.
In terms of price, it competes with the Platinum Preppy. In every other way that matters, the Preppy is 1,000,000x better. And ironically, that's not an exaggeration. It really isn't.
Jinhao I would never ever recommend to anyone