I understand your opinion, coming from someone who has had the experience of owning expensive and many different fountain pens. But it’s $5, which makes this an amazing entertaining level pen for someone who isn’t sure if they want to get into this ‘hobby’.
Honestly my preppy’s write literally as smooth and effortless as my Pilot 823 🤷🏼♂️ so I love writing with them and love that I can take them to work and not worry about it “wandering off” or getting beat up.
Firstly, this pen can use pigment ink, which will not dry out for a year according to the manufacturer, secondly, they have a classic style aluminum option, and thirdly, this is a pen. It's not a calligraphy tool, it's just a pen to write on. A ballpoint pen ruins handwriting, a rollerball pen is good, but it's still a big angle. A fountain pen with a ball at the end of the pen is the best for taking notes and everyday. And the cheapness of this pen suggests its use by beginners. Why would anyone write with a pen when there are ballpoint pens? The answer is simple - to correct your handwriting. And this pen for 4 bucks is great. Just insert a cartridge and you can forget about it for a year, nothing will happen to it. That's the beauty.
The one that started my love for Platinum pens, I mostly use the Procyon these days (best steel nib in the biz if you ask me) but I always keep a couple of spare preppies handy.
Thanks great review! One of my favourite every day carry pens.. I’m looking forward to the new platinum Prefounte... Think it has the same nib but a bigger barrel.. cheers from the UK... (keep the Monty Python references coming 👍🏼)
In Toronto, you can get them for under $5 CDN when they go on discount, even in 2023. Perfect starter for the fountain pen experience to see if it suits you. I got it fitted with an O-ring from the dollar store to prevent over tightening that leads to cracking.
I got it as my first fountain pen and immediately was able to write again, had to stop due to medical problems that stopped my writing, I tuned the nib and it writes even better. But the main draw was over 4ml of ink when eyedropper converted. I used to write a book every year, not saying I'm good at it but I enjoy it. So yeah 4ml of ink was a gods send.
Before Covid I had 3 fountain pens which lasted in my collection and two of them were preppy's in black and blue. I have had them since my school days in 0'8 and have been using them on and off. I agree on the utilitarian aspect of it, but that’s what made it so good for me, I could carry this in my pen case in school and write crazy amount of notes with it, without fiddling with nibs of other pens of similar value during those days. Maybe its part nostalgia but its still the best pen for students who want to write with a fountain pen. Forgot to mention : I still write with them, wrote with them this morning!
The reason that people consider the platinum preppy to be so great is that they have Pilot-like quality control. It might not be glamorous, but it will write every time. Like you, I see value in buying cheap Chinese fountain pens. The quality control on Chinese pens has always been an issue. Beginners aren't used to doing tine adjustments or smoothing, so they need a good experience on the first try.
I agree, mGARANDEUR1, and thanks for your comment. It is true that Chinese pens can be hit or miss, but so are Visconti, Pelikan, Lamy and Faber Castell. Every Cross fountain pen I've owned has sucked and that goes for my Sheaffer VFM and Faber Castell Loom, although I do love my Cross Bailey Rollerball. All of those pens were more than $50. So I'll take a little tinkering on a $15 pen that will make it write better than a $300 Visconti any day.
Hi Doug, I totally agree - finally picked one up in NYC after hearing so much about them, and pretty much had the same reaction as you - it writes just fine, but the fountain pen magic just isn't there.
i think Doug make a fair comment base on his personal view and price tag value, which i think everyones should do even to expensive pens. what magic can pen produce? one, i can understand beautiful handwriting which is not only determine by how cheap or expensive pen price is. What magic you are talking about? . one is clear whether is about pen or guitar or anything's now days will go all out full scale of rhetoric nonsense. Please define the magic if you want and would love to hear it. Thanks
I know this is an old video, but I can't just turn my head and walk away. I like the very utilitarian design of the pen. I have a couple eyedropper converted, but i generally just refill an emptied cartridge. I have a fistful of these banging around in my semi-truck, inked with several colors. I play guitar and write/transpose music while I'm on the road about 10 weeks at a time. For me, the pen isn't the thing that inspires my creativity, but it can sure bring things to a screeching halt. When I'm writing a song, or figuring out someone else's, I need a pen that stays out of my way.. I just want it to write. This pen does that, and it does it without begging to be noticed. You're right in comparing it to a Bic. For me it serves the same purpose. I take it into shipers/receivers to sign and complete paperwork. I take my work related notes with it, jotting down addresses and phone numbers, I write my grocery list with it, I do everything that one can do with a pen, with a Preppy. Why not just use a Bic? Conversely, why not just use a Preppy? I mean i enjoy fountain pens, why switch to a crappy Bic just because what your writing isn't "inspired"?
@@InkquiringMinds Holy crap, I'm sorry I put you through that typo riddled reply. I hate when I hit post, then come back later and see all the dumb typos. I blame anything/anyone but myself.
Douglas Rathbun sorry. But I may sell it and get 160 Preppy’s. I On more serious note, I use it for signing almost every week. But it’s not my daily pen. That’s Preppy and P51
Howdy Doug, I've been binge-ing on your videos of late - thanks for both the information you offer and lively entertainment. Thanks for your Preppy review, I thought I would offer up some thoughts on how I make good use of my handful of Preppys. First, I don't use the Preppy as my primary writing instrument for journaling and pen-pals. But, I take a lot of notes in the course of my workday in an engineering notebook, i.e. not FP friendly paper. Mostly I'm thoughtful and measured about it, but often scratch notes carelessly while on the phone. The .2mm nib with Noodler's X-Feather is a good combo for this. For this purpose the snap cap is convenient, as well as the eyedropper feature. The other feature I like is that the seal is outstanding, they don't dry out. Like any FP aficionado/enthusiast, I have several lifetimes worth of ink on hand, in many colors that I only occasionally dabble with. Sooo, being able to change the nib, eyedropper the Preppy (no converter cost), and not have it dry out, allows me to have "several" nib/ink combos available whenever the whimsy might strike. When I eyedropper these, I don't fill them completely. Lastly, I have a single Preppy reserved for Noodler's notorious Bay State Blue, eyedropper'ed and sealed with loctite. Thanks again for all the great vids! :)
I feel the same way regarding how e experience using a fountain pen. For me, I’ll not buy this but if one enjoys this pen that’s okay too. Thanks for a good review.
'If I Laugh'' is one of my favorite songs. Cat Stevens surely one of the best songwriters. You have good taste Sir Douglas. I tried a Plaisir in the chartreuse color. Did some work on the nib, but ultimately would not write due to a feed issue. Had to return it. 😏
Thanks so much, Star Gazer! I learned to play the guitar 49 years ago playing Cat Stevens. Tea for the Tillerman was the album and "Where Do The Children Play" was the first song I ever learned to play fingerstyle. The Plaisir is just a Preppy with a metal body I think, right?
I'm really surprised the nib is Lamy/WingSung-compatible. That's really good. Even if the pen isn't great you get a nice nib. I absolutely agree with your _looks_ category. Feel the same about it. There is a pen commonly available on the UK ebay called Zebra Fuente. For all terms and purposes it's a disposable Preppy. With a minor differences in the design and comes with a barrel full of ink. And proper full, not like the disposable Pilot v-pen. And way better nib than the Pilot. And way, way better ink than the Pilot. If there really is a rollerball tip for the Preppy, that would be very interesting. No more overpriced proprietary RB refills.
Hey Hrnek! I've seen the rollerball and highlighter options for the Preppy online but not in the store. The WingSung replacement nibs I got from Bobby on eBay DO fit the Preppy but the channels are about a half a millimeter narrow on each side. I made them a little bigger by tugging at them with my needle-nose pliers and they fit and wrote just fine. I'm not sure it is worth the effort for a $5 pen - I could just go to the store and get another Preppy. But inquiring minds need to know! :)
Thanks for the review, though I got the impression it was more of a ”first date” that left you without the desire for a second one. The clip is crappy, as is the clip of a Parker 51, although they don’t look similar. Mine fell off, due to cracking, I realized. I glued it back on, and henceforth it serves only as a roll-stop. The markings on the body are present also on the crystal version, and I immediately removed them when I got my pen. Gentle polishing does the trick. One great asset of the pen is its good feed. Outstanding buffering capacity wich is essential if you eyedropper it. The skipping you exoerienced could have something to do with your dissemmbling it. Air bubbles might be trapped inside, and maybe also oils from your hand, or fibres from someplace stops the harmonious exchange of air and ink in the feed. It may be remedied, spontaneously with prolonged use, or with a flushing.
Thanks, Johan. Your description is perfect for how I feel about this pen... lovely date, thanks but no thanks for another. I flush all my new pens with soapy water, then clear water after. But you may be correct about oils from my hands. A little silicone grease may have gotten on the feed after I greased up the threads while eyedroppering.
Huh. It never occurred to me that you could swap those nibs. I cracked one of mine, I must have tightened it down to hard. Oopsie! Have you tried the Zebra disposable fountain pens? I found them in a 4 color set in one of the big box stationery stores. I like them better than the Varsity and the Preppy. Anyway, I am afraid the eye-drop my Preppys after the cracking issue, the Zebras feel more substantial but I don’t know if they can be modded.
This is true from the practical perspective. It’s less likely to dry out and most importantly it’s not so wet that you can’t use it for note taking. On the other hand if you want a pen to play with different inks at home Visconti may fit your needs better. It definitely has better QC than Visconti.
somehow happened to me with my waterman as well. My cheap Jinhao 992 write better in terms of writing performance. shit happen sometime. i do buy pen what i like and not what brand name written. Aesthetic is personal. Judge it accordingly. thanks
Fountain pen writing is definitely more than getting ink on a page. Besides imparting a feeling of creativity, it provides a tactile experience, akin to using a fidget toy or petting a dog or cat. There is also, I think, an element of being connected to time and the history of humanity. It's all those things, even if you're just writing a grocery list.
Thanks for your excellent comment nickelazoyellow! I was trying to think of the word that describes just that feeling while I was "umm'ing" my way through the evaluation and I couldn't think of it. Your comment brought it back to my mind... "visceral". It is that tactile, body-connected experience of having something silky and smooth in your hand that just makes your whole body relax. Ergonomics play a big part in that visceral response. It is that "satisfying" feeling when you flick the magnetic cap on a Visconti or feel the curve of a PenBBS 323 in your hand. It is hard to describe or quantify, but it is nonetheless a real thing.
Thanks, Luc. I think the overwhelming support for the Preppy comes from its visibility. You can't see a Jinhao 992 on the counter in your local stationary store or on JetPens, or GouletPens etc.
Hey S. Dalton! You can get the Preppy O rings from Goulet Pens for $2. The one I used was too small but I stretched it. It was from an extra nib for a Moonman that I got from Bobby. The ones at Goulet are the right size.
i much prefer my wing sung 3003 (prera copy)much nicer than the preppy and half the cost and a usable clip, it can be eyedropered but i've not tried it myself
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I understand your opinion, coming from someone who has had the experience of owning expensive and many different fountain pens.
But it’s $5, which makes this an amazing entertaining level pen for someone who isn’t sure if they want to get into this ‘hobby’.
Love this pen. Would rather write with a cheap good fountain pen than any old ball point pen any time!
Honestly my preppy’s write literally as smooth and effortless as my Pilot 823 🤷🏼♂️ so I love writing with them and love that I can take them to work and not worry about it “wandering off” or getting beat up.
Firstly, this pen can use pigment ink, which will not dry out for a year according to the manufacturer, secondly, they have a classic style aluminum option, and thirdly, this is a pen. It's not a calligraphy tool, it's just a pen to write on. A ballpoint pen ruins handwriting, a rollerball pen is good, but it's still a big angle. A fountain pen with a ball at the end of the pen is the best for taking notes and everyday. And the cheapness of this pen suggests its use by beginners. Why would anyone write with a pen when there are ballpoint pens? The answer is simple - to correct your handwriting. And this pen for 4 bucks is great. Just insert a cartridge and you can forget about it for a year, nothing will happen to it. That's the beauty.
Thanks for sharing!
The one that started my love for Platinum pens, I mostly use the Procyon these days (best steel nib in the biz if you ask me) but I always keep a couple of spare preppies handy.
Thanks great review! One of my favourite every day carry pens.. I’m looking forward to the new platinum Prefounte... Think it has the same nib but a bigger barrel.. cheers from the UK... (keep the Monty Python references coming 👍🏼)
LOL. Thanks, Soren. Who knew fountain pen geeks would like Monty Python? ;)
In Toronto, you can get them for under $5 CDN when they go on discount, even in 2023. Perfect starter for the fountain pen experience to see if it suits you. I got it fitted with an O-ring from the dollar store to prevent over tightening that leads to cracking.
Great review! I didn't know the nib could be swapped!!! What a great piece of information!
Thanks, Nya. It is a cool little pen!
I got it as my first fountain pen and immediately was able to write again, had to stop due to medical problems that stopped my writing, I tuned the nib and it writes even better. But the main draw was over 4ml of ink when eyedropper converted. I used to write a book every year, not saying I'm good at it but I enjoy it. So yeah 4ml of ink was a gods send.
Before Covid I had 3 fountain pens which lasted in my collection and two of them were preppy's in black and blue. I have had them since my school days in 0'8 and have been using them on and off. I agree on the utilitarian aspect of it, but that’s what made it so good for me, I could carry this in my pen case in school and write crazy amount of notes with it, without fiddling with nibs of other pens of similar value during those days. Maybe its part nostalgia but its still the best pen for students who want to write with a fountain pen. Forgot to mention : I still write with them, wrote with them this morning!
Writing with a fountain pen is a very personal experience. That's why it comes back to you as nostalgia and adds to the experience now.
The reason that people consider the platinum preppy to be so great is that they have Pilot-like quality control. It might not be glamorous, but it will write every time. Like you, I see value in buying cheap Chinese fountain pens. The quality control on Chinese pens has always been an issue. Beginners aren't used to doing tine adjustments or smoothing, so they need a good experience on the first try.
I agree, mGARANDEUR1, and thanks for your comment. It is true that Chinese pens can be hit or miss, but so are Visconti, Pelikan, Lamy and Faber Castell. Every Cross fountain pen I've owned has sucked and that goes for my Sheaffer VFM and Faber Castell Loom, although I do love my Cross Bailey Rollerball. All of those pens were more than $50. So I'll take a little tinkering on a $15 pen that will make it write better than a $300 Visconti any day.
@@InkquiringMinds agree and very well put. Thanks
Hi Doug, I totally agree - finally picked one up in NYC after hearing so much about them, and pretty much had the same reaction as you - it writes just fine, but the fountain pen magic just isn't there.
i think Doug make a fair comment base on his personal view and price tag value, which i think everyones should do even to expensive pens. what magic can pen produce? one, i can understand beautiful handwriting which is not only determine by how cheap or expensive pen price is. What magic you are talking about? . one is clear whether is about pen or guitar or anything's now days will go all out full scale of rhetoric nonsense. Please define the magic if you want and would love to hear it. Thanks
I know this is an old video, but I can't just turn my head and walk away.
I like the very utilitarian design of the pen. I have a couple eyedropper converted, but i generally just refill an emptied cartridge. I have a fistful of these banging around in my semi-truck, inked with several colors. I play guitar and write/transpose music while I'm on the road about 10 weeks at a time. For me, the pen isn't the thing that inspires my creativity, but it can sure bring things to a screeching halt. When I'm writing a song, or figuring out someone else's, I need a pen that stays out of my way.. I just want it to write. This pen does that, and it does it without begging to be noticed.
You're right in comparing it to a Bic. For me it serves the same purpose. I take it into shipers/receivers to sign and complete paperwork. I take my work related notes with it, jotting down addresses and phone numbers, I write my grocery list with it, I do everything that one can do with a pen, with a Preppy. Why not just use a Bic? Conversely, why not just use a Preppy? I mean i enjoy fountain pens, why switch to a crappy Bic just because what your writing isn't "inspired"?
Awesome! Thanks for sharing!
@@InkquiringMinds Holy crap, I'm sorry I put you through that typo riddled reply. I hate when I hit post, then come back later and see all the dumb typos. I blame anything/anyone but myself.
I prefer my Preppy to my Montblanc 149 or Sailor King of Pen. It’s a better writing instrument.
Send me your Montblanc if you're not using it Alex! ;)
Douglas Rathbun sorry. But I may sell it and get 160 Preppy’s.
I
On more serious note, I use it for signing almost every week. But it’s not my daily pen. That’s Preppy and P51
@@alexmood6407 LOL! :)
Hello. Once again found the video to be interesting. I do have one question. Did you ever buy that fine nib Preppy? Plus what did you think of it.
No I didn't. The Preppy and the Pilot Varsity are great for what they are - knockabout and inexpensive.
Howdy Doug, I've been binge-ing on your videos of late - thanks for both the information you offer and lively entertainment. Thanks for your Preppy review, I thought I would offer up some thoughts on how I make good use of my handful of Preppys. First, I don't use the Preppy as my primary writing instrument for journaling and pen-pals. But, I take a lot of notes in the course of my workday in an engineering notebook, i.e. not FP friendly paper. Mostly I'm thoughtful and measured about it, but often scratch notes carelessly while on the phone. The .2mm nib with Noodler's X-Feather is a good combo for this. For this purpose the snap cap is convenient, as well as the eyedropper feature. The other feature I like is that the seal is outstanding, they don't dry out. Like any FP aficionado/enthusiast, I have several lifetimes worth of ink on hand, in many colors that I only occasionally dabble with. Sooo, being able to change the nib, eyedropper the Preppy (no converter cost), and not have it dry out, allows me to have "several" nib/ink combos available whenever the whimsy might strike. When I eyedropper these, I don't fill them completely. Lastly, I have a single Preppy reserved for Noodler's notorious Bay State Blue, eyedropper'ed and sealed with loctite. Thanks again for all the great vids! :)
Thanks for sharing those Preppy uses!
I feel the same way regarding how e experience using a fountain pen. For me, I’ll not buy this but if one enjoys this pen that’s okay too. Thanks for a good review.
Thanks, Tim! I feel as detached writing with the Preppy as I do writing with a Bic pen.
'If I Laugh'' is one of my favorite songs. Cat Stevens surely one of the best songwriters. You have good taste Sir Douglas. I tried a Plaisir in the chartreuse color. Did some work on the nib, but ultimately would not write due to a feed issue. Had to return it. 😏
Thanks so much, Star Gazer! I learned to play the guitar 49 years ago playing Cat Stevens. Tea for the Tillerman was the album and "Where Do The Children Play" was the first song I ever learned to play fingerstyle. The Plaisir is just a Preppy with a metal body I think, right?
@@InkquiringMinds Yes, a nice looking metal body... Good taste in pens and music..
Merry Christmas Douglas! Where can i purchase that set of Wing sung nibs? Thanks
This is the listing from Bobby's eBay shop where I bought the nibs. tinyurl.com/y9rfg939
I'm really surprised the nib is Lamy/WingSung-compatible. That's really good. Even if the pen isn't great you get a nice nib.
I absolutely agree with your _looks_ category. Feel the same about it.
There is a pen commonly available on the UK ebay called Zebra Fuente. For all terms and purposes it's a disposable Preppy. With a minor differences in the design and comes with a barrel full of ink. And proper full, not like the disposable Pilot v-pen. And way better nib than the Pilot. And way, way better ink than the Pilot.
If there really is a rollerball tip for the Preppy, that would be very interesting. No more overpriced proprietary RB refills.
Hey Hrnek! I've seen the rollerball and highlighter options for the Preppy online but not in the store. The WingSung replacement nibs I got from Bobby on eBay DO fit the Preppy but the channels are about a half a millimeter narrow on each side. I made them a little bigger by tugging at them with my needle-nose pliers and they fit and wrote just fine. I'm not sure it is worth the effort for a $5 pen - I could just go to the store and get another Preppy. But inquiring minds need to know! :)
Thanks for the review, though I got the impression it was more of a ”first date” that left you without the desire for a second one.
The clip is crappy, as is the clip of a Parker 51, although they don’t look similar. Mine fell off, due to cracking, I realized. I glued it back on, and henceforth it serves only as a roll-stop. The markings on the body are present also on the crystal version, and I immediately removed them when I got my pen. Gentle polishing does the trick. One great asset of the pen is its good feed. Outstanding buffering capacity wich is essential if you eyedropper it. The skipping you exoerienced could have something to do with your dissemmbling it. Air bubbles might be trapped inside, and maybe also oils from your hand, or fibres from someplace stops the harmonious exchange of air and ink in the feed. It may be remedied, spontaneously with prolonged use, or with a flushing.
Thanks, Johan. Your description is perfect for how I feel about this pen... lovely date, thanks but no thanks for another. I flush all my new pens with soapy water, then clear water after. But you may be correct about oils from my hands. A little silicone grease may have gotten on the feed after I greased up the threads while eyedroppering.
Huh. It never occurred to me that you could swap those nibs. I cracked one of mine, I must have tightened it down to hard. Oopsie! Have you tried the Zebra disposable fountain pens? I found them in a 4 color set in one of the big box stationery stores. I like them better than the Varsity and the Preppy. Anyway, I am afraid the eye-drop my Preppys after the cracking issue, the Zebras feel more substantial but I don’t know if they can be modded.
I used to have a Zebra BP pen and pencil set that attached to my Daytimer (tm) - remember those? Zebras are like Bic pens - cheap, disposable.
Writes better than a Visconti. 😅
This is true from the practical perspective. It’s less likely to dry out and most importantly it’s not so wet that you can’t use it for note taking. On the other hand if you want a pen to play with different inks at home Visconti may fit your needs better.
It definitely has better QC than Visconti.
Visconti has improved apparently. My Visconti Van Gogh and my wife's Breeze were perfect right out of the box.
Douglas Rathbun my Van Gogh was perfect out of the box. Homo Sapiens and Opera needed tuning.
somehow happened to me with my waterman as well. My cheap Jinhao 992 write better in terms of writing performance. shit happen sometime. i do buy pen what i like and not what brand name written. Aesthetic is personal. Judge it accordingly. thanks
Fountain pen writing is definitely more than getting ink on a page. Besides imparting a feeling of creativity, it provides a tactile experience, akin to using a fidget toy or petting a dog or cat. There is also, I think, an element of being connected to time and the history of humanity. It's all those things, even if you're just writing a grocery list.
Thanks for your excellent comment nickelazoyellow! I was trying to think of the word that describes just that feeling while I was "umm'ing" my way through the evaluation and I couldn't think of it. Your comment brought it back to my mind... "visceral". It is that tactile, body-connected experience of having something silky and smooth in your hand that just makes your whole body relax. Ergonomics play a big part in that visceral response. It is that "satisfying" feeling when you flick the magnetic cap on a Visconti or feel the curve of a PenBBS 323 in your hand. It is hard to describe or quantify, but it is nonetheless a real thing.
good stuff ...thank you I agree with you review, I prefered for the price go with the Jinhao 992 much better value and writing experience.
Thanks, Luc. I think the overwhelming support for the Preppy comes from its visibility. You can't see a Jinhao 992 on the counter in your local stationary store or on JetPens, or GouletPens etc.
I would love to eyedropper my preppy. Where do you get your o-ring? Thanks in advance! 🙂
Hey S. Dalton! You can get the Preppy O rings from Goulet Pens for $2. The one I used was too small but I stretched it. It was from an extra nib for a Moonman that I got from Bobby. The ones at Goulet are the right size.
i much prefer my wing sung 3003 (prera copy)much nicer than the preppy and half the cost and a usable clip, it can be eyedropered but i've not tried it myself
Not bad at $1.50!
The barcode and marking can be rubbed off with alcohol
Scotch or bourbon?
@@InkquiringMinds I found a dry martini worked well. Now they smell faintly of olives which is a plus.
@@Domina7ion LOL
It is 9.5 out of20
9.5 out of 20 for 3 bucks.
How many points then should pens score which cost 200, 500, 1000 times higher than this. 15 out of 20? lol