@HemingwayJones If you could let me know anything that is close but different to Aurora Optima/88 in the vintage line, I'd be intrigued. Maybe I've answered my own question...I've not tried a vintage 88! (Otherwise, out of my small collection, it is my Auroras that delight me every time ...and make my messy writing look acceptable!!).
Aurora especially vintage, is a great way you can reconnect. Especially if it has appeal and familiarity for you. Why not get back into them through what you love?
I love how when he is journalling there's a sense of calm and peaceful abandon around him, I had only ever used the Parker 51 my dad bought me from auction in 1986 for my 16th birthday, and then just before he passed he gave me his , no case no paperwork a few dents and dongs here and there and what was left of his Parker teal ink. Almost impossible to get today. And I used it during my degree and did not know it had been discontinued longer than I had been alive at that time. His was the executive version of the 51 large all gold fittings and cap and a 24ct nib. As a left hander he just gave it to me and said write your thesis with this. I passed all my master mariner certificates with it in the early 50s. It has his name engraved onto the barrel . My grandad had Cpt added before the WCTindal after he passed his certificates. Dad always said see, it's not only your gen who think parents don't listen, it's a parents right to not listen... That pen sailed through both Panama and Suez canals in their most dangerous times, but back and forth across the north Atlantic from 1943 till 45 with a RN escort to bring oil to the UK during the war. He sailed Scarpa flow many times too. Although it would probably only buy a replacement cap for a MB my. Mb is literally at number 3 after my two antique/ vintage parker 51. , mind it is not a ltd just a normal meister stukk and although we wrote with different hands IE I'm a right hander , it never needed broken in it always works great to. . Advice about buying old pens, go to a pen shop or auction/ antique dealers and try first. Way too many people selling say the P 51 on eBay and when it arrives it is not in condition of the filtered photos. If the pic of the nib is slightly blurry it means the nib is bent, or has some other fault, and don't trust writing test sheets to show how beautifully it writes quite often people use a new pen and describe the older badly perished ones details. Not tested but selling for £30 to £60 if it's gold nibbed chances are it's broken. I bought a pen and the photos and vids were great but the seller chose to write one of those notes to demonstrate it working and she only did it to convince me how nice it was, I had already put it in my basket and paid before a disaster of a vid came through with a very heavy handed person pressing down as if it was an almost dry Biro. Luckily I had a nib from the same model and got it repaired but pretty much everything under £70 is hit and miss. I did get a bargain one time though only once, buying a pink Kaweco for my daughter when the Barbie film was out, she has dyspraxia, the sport was £10 reduced I guess because of the bubblegum pink colour, and got a message, I had emailed is it fine nib or medium, why have you not asked about the other pen, it has no brand it has a magnetic lid and no name on maybe a good idea to teach her to use fountain pens with the cheap one unbranded I threw in for free. I hadn't looked at all the pics, so they arrived. The ' unbranded pen had a white ,4 leaf flower on the cap jewel. He gave me a diplomat Traveller for free! No p&p either. But I'm not sure I would risk paying over £25 on eBay. That day was awesome 😎 a ice cream pink 🩷 kaweko Sport for £10 and a free brand new Diplomat Traveller. Have fun!
A very interesting update to your Top 5 pens - 2 demonstrators, 2 flex nibs, 1 old favourite. For myself, it doesn't matter how much I love my newer purchases, when it comes to favourite pens I have some core ones which I couldn't possibly relegate: my dad's Parker 51, the Montblanc Slimline given to me by my brother, the Lamy Studio which was a gift from my sister, the Lamy LX gifted by my daughter, and, at the tippy-top of the tree, my Cross Century II bought with money from my dad for the first birthday after we lost my mum. I could buy the most expensive and/or most jaw-droppingly beautiful pen in the world, it could write like a dream, but it would never match the stories behind my true favourite pens.
Same for me - my grandad's Parker 51 is a favourite for writing as well as for sentimental reasons, and my mum's Parker 180 is a beautiful design (not so much for writing!)
I love the part of the video with the side view of the Magna Carta as you write and it flexes. It is mesmerizing. My favorites are not as extravagant as yours. Beautiful choices HJ!
Any pen currently suiting my needs perfectly is a favorite of mine. I am in the middle of a project with beginner pens. The standouts are: 1. Stabilo EASYbuddy 2. Pelikan Pelikano jr 3. Pelikan School Pen
In an interview, Margaret Atwood dropped that her fountain pen used in her writings is a Lamy Vista. When in hand, I can understand why it can go hours of long form writing without giving you issues.
Thank you for this comment. I just recorded an episode on writers and their pens and I didn’t know about this. You are helping me building Part II. Thanks!
A very interesting new look top five. I loved the idea of the journey of the pen and the adventures of the user. Wonderful video. Well done and thank you for sharing it with us❤
I have a vintage Mabie Todd "Swallow" pen, that was my grandfather's. It is blue celluloid, petite (junior ?) in size, with a gold loop on the cap, so must have been made for a carrying or hanging chain. It has the typical bladder filling mechanism with gold lever, which is not functioning. But the nib! It is a favorite of mine -- it's so smooth...with a lovely flex. There really is something special about vintage pens! -- I'm new to your channel and am very happy that I have subscribed.
Is my GOAT, Shaeffer fountain pen from the 1960's with either a lever-filler or a squeegee internal mechanism, an 18k gold nib in if I recall correctly, a pen you might consider "vintage?" 60 years vs the Waterman 5 at 100 years -- idk I love the Shaeffer because it symbolized elegance and being an adult, and it brought me closer to my beloved surrogate parent who, as a professional, used pens in her daily work inked, BTW, with green ink. Loving memories that fountain pen activities remind me of.
Thanks so much! That is a very good point. I love the Pilot C 823. I think it’s nearly perfect, but that’s basically what keeps it off the list. It is so fast, so precise, that it isn’t as fun to write with as these other pens. It is right there on the cusp though and could show up on future lists.
The thing that gets me with vintage pens is exactly what you said! Not to mention that pens like the 5 were quite upscale in their day. This pen was cherished by someone, probably owned by a person with one, singular, beautiful pen! The places it’s been and documents it’s signed….wow, the wonderful world of vintage pens!
That would make a great story for fountain pen enthusiasts to collaboratively write and archive as a 2024 momento chronicling paths of pens we own, those we consider GOAT, and Grail pens, etc. Comedy, charm, history and some geography thrown in for seasoning could make an amazing venture. The Waterman 5, for example would have been circulating during the times of Carnegie, TRoosevelt, Gilded Age, and come of age, as it were, about the time of the Gatsby/Roaring 20's era. There are the bones to at least one story for various subscribers to craft flesh and muscle around. And, of course, there's Ernest Hemingway, for HJ et al., and stories around his adventures and writings as other story lines. And we're off to the races. Story lines can be imagined, such as what would have happened if X occurred, instead of Y event. Or, figures from one era can be imagined in another Era with or without a prominent invention or technological advancement with some imagined novel approach to the different challenges. I'm an art student taking 5 different art classes, and I might want to imagine a favorite master like Boticelli, or Picaso, Georgia O'Keefe, etc. with access to color shifting paints, or to an iPad with Apple's digital art app. I need access to onion skin paper to bind my own fountain pen books for practicing forms and shapes using Chinese, and Japanese language characters and calligraphy. I'd write about the demise of paper production mills running onion skin paper, and what could be done with Yupo or Tyvek -- expensive -- substitutes. There are several more prompts for story lines. If we were reaching out to other generations, we could include young Gen Z or Gen X etc. or Millennials having them contribute or tweak subscribers' stories. This encourages collaboration with other channels and brings in future generations of ft pen users. Limited possibilities. These are mostly fluffy topics, but there are others which trend deeper. Don't get me started ... lol Sorry for seeming to digress from our channel here, however, marketing and growing the channel is always top of mind so that we're ever vibrant. Handwriting the various stories and binding them together could be exquisite fun. Any thoughts are welcome, HJ?
Loved hearing about your top picks. I’m pretty envious of the Waterman & Montblanc, as a long-time Egypt/King Tut geek (again, influenced by my father, who rode horseback in the sand and scaled a pyramid in Egypt when in the RAF). I even longed to be an archeologist as a kid! Do you have a video on tips for finding vintage pens? I will check. I want the pen, of course, but just love the look of the various cases I’ve seen people share. I restore vintage sewing machines so I really enjoy bringing abandoned things back to life and service!
I think your Dad is my hero! What a man. I also wanted to be an Archeologist when I was a kid; up until someone told me that someone needs to die before you can find a job (probably not true, but may have felt true to them). I am so glad you like the Egyptomania so much. That pen is special. It is still around some places. On my “why Vintage Pens or Awesome” video (I think that’s what I called it), I do get into where I get mine. I am a big fan of Peyton Street Pens. Thanks again for being here!
I bought my wonderful 1980's Montblanc 146 from Truphae, which is an authorized Montblanc dealer. Paid more than I would on eBay, but offers all the assurances of an authorized dealer (while still being a good value).
Always nice to see the favorite pens of reviewers I follow, including the changes that occur over time. I would love to have the Montblanc Egyptomania - and kudos to you for showcasing it at the Egyptian temple at the New York Metropolitan Museum! I'm also a fan of vintage pens with wonderful gold nibs that often put modern ones to shame. I know exactly what you mean when you said a flexy vintage nib does something wonderful to the look of your handwriting. The flexing of the nib on the Magna Carta was just delicious. Lamy is one of the few companies that still make all their nibs in-house. I haven't purchased a TWSBI, but I see one in my near future as you and other reviewers I follow really like them too. And by the way, I liked how you layered and built up the suspense before diving into your top 5.
Thanks so much! It is definitely a process for me. I am also glad you liked the B Roll. There is a whole video on the Egyptomania there: th-cam.com/video/-CXg6GWB2XQ/w-d-xo.html You may enjoy that one. I love flex pens, although I am only now beginning to learn how to use them. Thanks so much for watching and for the great comment. Stop by again soon.
In no particular order -- and just models (for I have several colors that I often use): 1. Pelikan 800 (and 805) 2. Aurora Optima, 3. Opus 88 Demonstrator (and the Koloro), 4. Schon DSGN Monoc nib, 5. Magna Carta M600 6. TWSBI Eco and 580 (can't decide) 7. Benu Euphoria (love the wet Schmidt nibs, the Talisman is also great), 8. JinHao 9019 (M) (but JH nibs are inconsistent -- QC is getting better, but could still be improved). 9. Pilot 823 or 723 (and also 912 and 722) 10. Platinum 3776 with various nibs including B and Music. And yes, I can't count.
Hi Hemingway. Have any of your Ecos cracked near the nib section? I really loved my Eco and then it just seemed to split in 2022 along the barrel seam where the nib touches the barrel. I received a replacement barrel and that cracked too in (2023), in the same way. I don't know if my nib is causing this, or if the Eco is just a poorly made pen. I would love to get another Twsbi though, if I could find one that won't break. Maybe a 580 would be more durable? Let me know. Thank you. By the way, those MB and Watermen pens are beautiful and I can see why you like them.
Thanks so much and thanks for watching! I have never had a TWSBI crack, ever. I have heard from other people that they can, but it has never happened to me. I also have one of the first Diamond 580s. No issues at all ever. So I just do not know what is going on. So sorry. That is annoying.
I would have been disappointed if the Egyptomania were not your #1. In my mind it IS your signature pen. And you are so animated when you speak of it…true love. It wouldn’t work for me at all. Lol
Finally got my TWSBI Eco with a medium nib and Noodler's Red-Black. I absolutely love this thing. It's cool the Eco made your top 5 with all the cool pens you have. I don't know if I'll get more than 2 or 3 fountain pens. I really love this TWSBI. That Egyptomania is reeeeaaalllyy cool though haha.
Celluloid vintage Waterman pens are an absolute pleasure to write with! I got a waterman 3V for my mom's birthday, not knowing that my grandmother still had my great grandfather's waterman 3V. I've only used it as a dip pen because the bladder broke down and I haven't gotten around to changing it, but it's amazing nonetheless. I've also been toying with the idea of getting a TWSBI eco in smoke and rose gold for a while now, and you've convinced me to get it. What nib size is the one you've shown in the video? It seems like a perfect size for my handwriting. I completely understand why you kept the Montblanc Egyptomania at the very top of your list, it's a gorgeous pen. Thank you so much for posting! I really enjoyed seeing your updated list
Thank you so much for the wonderful comment! I showed a few TWSBI Ecos. The transparent is a F. The colored ones were both Stubs. TWSBI has amazing Stubs! Thanks again!
That's a great list. The Egyptomania is such a beautiful pen. I'm generally not a fan of Montblanc because it's the brand that people like to show off when they want to appear fashionable, but the Egyptomania is a Montblanc that is lovely without appearing snobby. My top 5 fountain pens are: 1. Conway Stewart Churchill lever filler 2. TWSBI Precision 3. Narwhal Nautilus Blue Ringed 4. Lamy 2000 5. Conklin Mark Twain crescent filler
I am with you on those MB associations. I see this in the finance world, where I work, but they are usually rollerballs. You have a great list. I love Conway Stewart. All the best!
If anyone is here and on the fence about spending $20-$40 on a pen and it’s accessories: if you are someone who wants to be more active in journaling, or writing letters, or doing whatever it is you want to do with a pen; I really couldn’t recommend a Lamy or other entry-level fountain pen enough. It is a total luxury-buy. You do not need one. And yet, it is easier to do the things we tell ourselves we want to do when the tools we use to do them bring us joy. Obviously not everyone has $40 in the pen budget this month (as pens are essentially free), but if you can afford it and think you might want to try it, I (an online stranger) endorse the decision to get a new pen.
I am very happy to see that the "Egyptomania" i still your "true love" (as far as fountain pens are concerned, of course...). It is good to have some things that don't change so easily in this world where change seems to be the most important thing.
good list. I would be there for half of your list. This year I will be converting/expanding my collection in the following directions: 1. Classic, Japanese fountain pens (Urushi) 2. Smaller German manufacturers and old / limited Germans and 3. Italian (more color, but not colorful). and of course the “treasure hunt” never ends... NEVER 😱😱😱
Very well said, it never ends! I try to slow down. I love your direction: Traditional Japanese! Excellent. I may update this every 6 months. Super fun to do. Thanks for watching.
Man, that was such a delicious video to watch! I'm slightly surprised that the Kaweco Bronze Sport didn't make it as I remember how enthralled you were by its beauty. I have the Brass Sport and I enjoy just holding it!
Thanks so much! It was right there at the edge of the list. Top 5’s are hard for me. In the past I called it a Top 5, listed 7, and no one noticed! I wanted to be true tot he exercise. It might be fun in the future to speak more about the thought process and those that almost made it. it went down to use at the end of the year when I was writing a lot of correspondence, etc. Thanks so much! I still love that Bronze pen!
@@HemingwayJones This may be in your older videos but I'd love to know a couple of things: 1. What to look out for (and avoid) when buying a vintage pen. Have the nibs changed over time (is an old EF the same as a modern one, for example) the best way to clean them up, if you should change the nib, where to find them, the holy grail of vintage finds etc. 2. How you make your videos (equipment you use to record and edit) because they are so stylish. I mainly write content but would like to record more videos this year. I want the process to be as easy and simple as possible and yours are the exact style I was thinking of. If you've covered these things and have time, could you point me to them? I did take a quick look through but you know your content better than I do!
Hello! You know, I made the other video you suggested: on Creative People and their Fountain Pens. There’s a thank you to you on there in the front. So, Thank you! I have not covered these things specifically. I can sometime. Especially on Vintage pens. I want to do more on them. I have a nice mic and I use lights, but I shoot everything on an iPhone 13 Pro Max; everything in studio, everything outside, all B Roll. Maybe I should make a video. Thanks! You always have the best comments. @@thevahandbook
I do not wish to appear greedy as I already have a host of top notch pens but I'm craving for a vintage Sheaffer Legacy 1 or 2 with a black barrel, chrome cap snd gold trimmings, and has a medium or gold nib. I love Sheaffer because of its historically great contribution to the world of writing which was highly valued in my home.
I remember seeing one recently on Peyton Street pens. That is a fine pen. I have a chrome Legacy from around 20 years ago and it’s epic. Thanks for watching.
@@HemingwayJones Is it beautiful to look at? There is one on eBay but the photography is mediocre so I cannot judge the aesthetic. The reason I want a black barrel is the chrome would compete with my Parker Sonnet Fougere that is gorgeous to look at. The one at Peyton's has a fine nib, I'm looking for a medium or broad as my handwriting is thick. I also have a few Targas with fine nibs.
Excellent top 5, really enjoyed the video. I was surprised to see the variety of price points. That Waterman 5 is a neat piece of history. Where would you recommend picking up a vintage pen? Thanks for sharing.
Thanks so much for watching! I appreciate it. I hold all pens in equal esteem, so to me, price doesn’t matter. OK, so how do we get you started in a vintage pen?! Not knowing what you like, I love Old Waterman’s for their flex. 5s & 52 1/2s tend to be a bit cheaper than 52s. Old Parker Duofolds are very nice. Vintage Conway Stewart, Oxfords, all very nice. It really depends what experience you want: nib, flex, fill system, material. You cannot beat an Esterbrook J for a first pen.
Ups… i did it again… do i need help, can you help me ? I ordered my next Wancher. This time the Bacelite and i am allready looking to the next… a red Urushi…
I would put LAMY safari/vista on my favorites list but the problem with how quickly it dries out when you don't use it kills it for me. I do like the pen a lot, especially by AL Star Petrol. It is just so fun to use but I get frustrated feeling like I always have to pick it up. Agree with the Eco, my favorite pen to gift people. I do think the TWSBI Go is underrated. Especially the EF nib on there, it is a surprising pen. Reminds me of the Kakuno. Would love to get my hands on a Waterman 5, I will have to try and get one at the Ohio Pen show this year. I just won an auction on a Parker 51, my first vintage pen purchase. Not surprised about the Magna Carta! I am enjoying the feel of my FA nib 743, which I like to swap onto my Custom 823 so I don't think I need another flex nib at the moment. The FA on an 823 is an absolute juicer. Highly recommend trying it out if you don't mind voiding your warranty (I'm assuming that would happen). HJ, I am eyeing a custom order pen from Edison pens. Their resin selection is mind blowing. Quite a price tag though. I have been influenced by you to get a Conway Stewart eventually, I love that honeycomb flake resin in your recent video. I am also thinking I need to get a 149 eventually. My LAMY 2000 in medium is definitely my favorite current pen.
My Visconti Homo sapiens bronze age with a medium custom ground cursive italic and Writer’s blood ink is, so far, my favorite pen by far over the other few nice pens I’ve tried.
@@HemingwayJones tbh one of your dark academia episodes may be why I tried a sample of writers blood. Now I have an 80ml bottle coming bc of how much I liked it.
Pilot Custom 823 Amber broad TWSBI VAC 700 Iris medium TWSBI VAC 700 medium (with Goulet nib) TWSBI ECO Smoke on Rose Gold medium Sailor Pro Gear Orange broad
I am drooling over that waterman 5 and liking that magna carta. My top 5 that are in the moment are... 1). Sheaffer pen for men (F) 2). Montblanc 146 from the 80's with the grey ink window and the Germany is on the clip band (F) 3). Pelikan M805 Stresemann (M) 4). Lamy 2000 (E/F) 5). Parker duofold Centennial Big Red (M). Honorable mentions, 5a).Jinhao 996 cream with tiger stripes. The nib has a cat face that I swapped from a Kannan cat nib fountain pen 5b). My levenger true writer in the foliage variant with a swapped out nib from a pilot custom heritage 92 , (B) puts down ink like a fire hose a real gusher Last but not least my Pelikan M805 in the clear demonstrator (E/F).
The biggest shock was that there were only five favorite pens. Where are numbers six and seven?? LOL. Always fun to see what people are writing with and currently using. Thanks, HJ.
I know, right? I actually filmed two more and cut them. I wanted this one to be snappy and breezy. I have been a bit more disciplined lately, but we will see! Thanks!!!
I’ve never commented on your videos though I’ve watched many…but I have always wondered where you grew up? I hope you’ll be able to reply to this comment because I am beyond curious!
Sure, if you promise to comment more! Seriously though, I appreciate your watching and saying hello. I have spoken about my last before in some LIVE episodes. “My Crazy Life” specifically. But, I grew up in Philadelphia. Fire away with any other questions and thanks!
Well, I regard myself as the utility guy in this gang, not romantic, so I find this sort of questions hard to contribute to. If I were to save pens from a burning house, and I could only take 5, I'd be sure of the 3 first, but then I'd burn in and die because of indecision. Which are the 3 first? There's no reason to tell you, because no one would know any of them or find one in the market. Which is exactly the point: I can buy a new M800, 149, HM BA, 1911 etc. The limited editions will be harder, but I'd gamble I'll find some used on ebay. The pens I'd first try to save would be the truly irreplaceable ones. "Favorite" pens tend to be those of the ones I use for the current moment, which also manage to work very well. Just now, those includes two 'unmentionable', excessively excusive pens, but also a Wing Sung 618 (my default Sudoku/crossword pen, with Noodler's Black), an unknown (800?) Moon Man that is remarkably excellent, a Waterman Carene, and a Jinhao X159 (nib tuned) that very surprisingly is just great 👍and my main pen currently, which it will remain only until the ink runs out, then I'll rotate in a different pen. I also have some other pens in current use: A little Nibcreeper. I think it's a lovely little pen. This one is quite pretty in the moldings of it's colors. The little stiff flex nib is expressive regardless if you try to write flex or not. But I don't count it as a favorite, because as much as I like it, these days I find it harder to write well with pens that are that slim and small. Also, it is not sealed well enough to make it into my top league. I also use a couple of Safaris as "mark-note" pens, their colors reflecting their ink. They could well have belonged to my "favorites", meaning they're good enough, but I don't use them as writing pens, only for contrasting notes. Ever since I moved on from my Parker Vector workhorses, I've always been keen to rotate my pens and inks, to explore and experience them all. Interestingly, that period may now come to an end for some pens and inks. My Wing Sung 618 is my permanent Sudoku pen, and will always be filled with Noodler's Black. One of my unmentionable pens seem to have settled into a fix career as my RED pen, and have always Noodler's Empire Red ink in it. There are other pens that seem to have "found their ink" to say. Like my Medici LE which has only had Akkerman Akkerman Blauw in it for years. I'll probably go that route, some of my pens will always have the same ink. Also means I don't have to wash them.
I stopped watching after the Lamy Vista and TWSBI Eco....... OK, maybe not, but I wanted to. Both are so mediocre in almost every aspect that they don't belong on any Top 5 list of anything.
I think you have the romance of the fountain pen nailed...you are inspiring an older man to look back in time to find some treasures!
Thank you very much! That is definitely my thing. Happy to help if you need suggestions.
@HemingwayJones If you could let me know anything that is close but different to Aurora Optima/88 in the vintage line, I'd be intrigued. Maybe I've answered my own question...I've not tried a vintage 88! (Otherwise, out of my small collection, it is my Auroras that delight me every time ...and make my messy writing look acceptable!!).
Aurora especially vintage, is a great way you can reconnect. Especially if it has appeal and familiarity for you. Why not get back into them through what you love?
I love how when he is journalling there's a sense of calm and peaceful abandon around him, I had only ever used the Parker 51 my dad bought me from auction in 1986 for my 16th birthday, and then just before he passed he gave me his , no case no paperwork a few dents and dongs here and there and what was left of his Parker teal ink. Almost impossible to get today. And I used it during my degree and did not know it had been discontinued longer than I had been alive at that time. His was the executive version of the 51 large all gold fittings and cap and a 24ct nib. As a left hander he just gave it to me and said write your thesis with this. I passed all my master mariner certificates with it in the early 50s. It has his name engraved onto the barrel . My grandad had Cpt added before the WCTindal after he passed his certificates. Dad always said see, it's not only your gen who think parents don't listen, it's a parents right to not listen... That pen sailed through both Panama and Suez canals in their most dangerous times, but back and forth across the north Atlantic from 1943 till 45 with a RN escort to bring oil to the UK during the war. He sailed Scarpa flow many times too. Although it would probably only buy a replacement cap for a MB my. Mb is literally at number 3 after my two antique/ vintage parker 51. , mind it is not a ltd just a normal meister stukk and although we wrote with different hands IE I'm a right hander , it never needed broken in it always works great to. . Advice about buying old pens, go to a pen shop or auction/ antique dealers and try first. Way too many people selling say the P 51 on eBay and when it arrives it is not in condition of the filtered photos. If the pic of the nib is slightly blurry it means the nib is bent, or has some other fault, and don't trust writing test sheets to show how beautifully it writes quite often people use a new pen and describe the older badly perished ones details. Not tested but selling for £30 to £60 if it's gold nibbed chances are it's broken. I bought a pen and the photos and vids were great but the seller chose to write one of those notes to demonstrate it working and she only did it to convince me how nice it was, I had already put it in my basket and paid before a disaster of a vid came through with a very heavy handed person pressing down as if it was an almost dry Biro. Luckily I had a nib from the same model and got it repaired but pretty much everything under £70 is hit and miss. I did get a bargain one time though only once, buying a pink Kaweco for my daughter when the Barbie film was out, she has dyspraxia, the sport was £10 reduced I guess because of the bubblegum pink colour, and got a message, I had emailed is it fine nib or medium, why have you not asked about the other pen, it has no brand it has a magnetic lid and no name on maybe a good idea to teach her to use fountain pens with the cheap one unbranded I threw in for free. I hadn't looked at all the pics, so they arrived. The ' unbranded pen had a white ,4 leaf flower on the cap jewel. He gave me a diplomat Traveller for free! No p&p either. But I'm not sure I would risk paying over £25 on eBay. That day was awesome 😎 a ice cream pink 🩷 kaweko Sport for £10 and a free brand new Diplomat Traveller. Have fun!
Nice update. I'm happy that my city was able to bring you some joy with the Lamy Vista.
Love NYC! We had such a great trip. We need to come back soon.
A very interesting update to your Top 5 pens - 2 demonstrators, 2 flex nibs, 1 old favourite. For myself, it doesn't matter how much I love my newer purchases, when it comes to favourite pens I have some core ones which I couldn't possibly relegate: my dad's Parker 51, the Montblanc Slimline given to me by my brother, the Lamy Studio which was a gift from my sister, the Lamy LX gifted by my daughter, and, at the tippy-top of the tree, my Cross Century II bought with money from my dad for the first birthday after we lost my mum. I could buy the most expensive and/or most jaw-droppingly beautiful pen in the world, it could write like a dream, but it would never match the stories behind my true favourite pens.
I love that all of your top pics are sentimental! That is wonderful and what this is all about. Thanks for watching.
I love how you bring meaning to the tools you have for recording meaning!
Same for me - my grandad's Parker 51 is a favourite for writing as well as for sentimental reasons, and my mum's Parker 180 is a beautiful design (not so much for writing!)
This video is so very enjoyable! The love that you have for your favourite pens is wonderful to see! Thanks for sharing ❤️
Thank you so much! I appreciate your kind comment!
I love the part of the video with the side view of the Magna Carta as you write and it flexes. It is mesmerizing. My favorites are not as extravagant as yours. Beautiful choices HJ!
Thank you! I like that shot too. It really emphasizes the flex. Thanks for watching.
Any pen currently suiting my needs perfectly is a favorite of mine. I am in the middle of a project with beginner pens. The standouts are:
1. Stabilo EASYbuddy
2. Pelikan Pelikano jr
3. Pelikan School Pen
I don’t know the Stabilo. I will have to seek it out. Nice list. The Pelikan School Pen is very nice.
@@HemingwayJones I bought the Stabilo from a German online retailer. In the USA they a best known for art supplies.
Thanks for the tip!
In an interview, Margaret Atwood dropped that her fountain pen used in her writings is a Lamy Vista. When in hand, I can understand why it can go hours of long form writing without giving you issues.
Thank you for this comment. I just recorded an episode on writers and their pens and I didn’t know about this. You are helping me building Part II. Thanks!
A very interesting new look top five.
I loved the idea of the journey of the pen and the adventures of the user.
Wonderful video. Well done and thank you for sharing it with us❤
Thank you so much for the kind feedback!
I have a vintage Mabie Todd "Swallow" pen, that was my grandfather's. It is blue celluloid, petite (junior ?) in size, with a gold loop on the cap, so must have been made for a carrying or hanging chain. It has the typical bladder filling mechanism with gold lever, which is not functioning. But the nib! It is a favorite of mine -- it's so smooth...with a lovely flex. There really is something special about vintage pens! -- I'm new to your channel and am very happy that I have subscribed.
Is my GOAT, Shaeffer fountain pen from the 1960's with either a lever-filler or a squeegee internal mechanism, an 18k gold nib in if I recall correctly, a pen you might consider "vintage?" 60 years vs the Waterman 5 at 100 years -- idk
I love the Shaeffer because it symbolized elegance and being an adult, and it brought me closer to my beloved surrogate parent who, as a professional, used pens in her daily work inked, BTW, with green ink. Loving memories that fountain pen activities remind me of.
Always a pleasure to watch a "Top 5" video. It was nice to see your TWSBI make the list. I knew the Egyptomania would remain on your list. Bravo!
Thanks Kurt! These are fun and tough mental exercises. Thanks for watching.
Such a great video- I’m trying to figure mine out, but I love them all….
It’s tough to narrow it down. Thanks so much for watching!
I do have to agree with your #1 pen choice!!!!!!!!!! It will likely never be dethroned. It is too stupendous!
Thanks very much! It is pretty great.
I’ve been curious about finding an old waterman! Any suggestions on getting an antique pen? Love your videos!
Thank you! I buy mine mostly from Terri at Peyton Street Pens. They are always restored and very nice.
A beautifully representative list. Thank you!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Egyptomania looks lovely indeed. 🫵🏾👁👌🏾
Thank you! It’s still one of my absolute favorites.
I knew the Egyptomania would be in that top 5! Gorgeous pen. Great video as well!
Thank you so much and thanks for watching!
I love your selection! I absolutely love my ECOs and Lamy fountain pens. But, where is the Pilot 823....😥?
Thanks so much! That is a very good point. I love the Pilot C 823. I think it’s nearly perfect, but that’s basically what keeps it off the list. It is so fast, so precise, that it isn’t as fun to write with as these other pens. It is right there on the cusp though and could show up on future lists.
I understand...lol.@@HemingwayJones
I too go to my go to often...EcoT- fine in Blue, Eco med- in Black.
The thing that gets me with vintage pens is exactly what you said! Not to mention that pens like the 5 were quite upscale in their day. This pen was cherished by someone, probably owned by a person with one, singular, beautiful pen! The places it’s been and documents it’s signed….wow, the wonderful world of vintage pens!
Hear, hear! Sincerely, they resonate with so much history.
That would make a great story for fountain pen enthusiasts to collaboratively write and archive as a 2024 momento chronicling paths of pens we own, those we consider GOAT, and Grail pens, etc. Comedy, charm, history and some geography thrown in for seasoning could make an amazing venture.
The Waterman 5, for example would have been circulating during the times of Carnegie, TRoosevelt, Gilded Age, and come of age, as it were, about the time of the Gatsby/Roaring 20's era. There are the bones to at least one story for various subscribers to craft flesh and muscle around.
And, of course, there's Ernest Hemingway, for HJ et al., and stories around his adventures and writings as other story lines. And we're off to the races. Story lines can be imagined, such as what would have happened if X occurred, instead of Y event.
Or, figures from one era can be imagined in another Era with or without a prominent invention or technological advancement with some imagined novel approach to the different challenges.
I'm an art student taking 5 different art classes, and I might want to imagine a favorite master like Boticelli, or Picaso, Georgia O'Keefe, etc. with access to color shifting paints, or to an iPad with Apple's digital art app. I need access to onion skin paper to bind my own fountain pen books for practicing forms and shapes using Chinese, and Japanese language characters and calligraphy. I'd write about the demise of paper production mills running onion skin paper, and what could be done with Yupo or Tyvek -- expensive -- substitutes. There are several more prompts for story lines.
If we were reaching out to other generations, we could include young Gen Z or Gen X etc. or Millennials having them contribute or tweak subscribers' stories. This encourages collaboration with other channels and brings in future generations of ft pen users. Limited possibilities. These are mostly fluffy topics, but there are others which trend deeper. Don't get me started ... lol
Sorry for seeming to digress from our channel here, however, marketing and growing the channel is always top of mind so that we're ever vibrant. Handwriting the various stories and binding them together could be exquisite fun. Any thoughts are welcome, HJ?
Loved hearing about your top picks. I’m pretty envious of the Waterman & Montblanc, as a long-time Egypt/King Tut geek (again, influenced by my father, who rode horseback in the sand and scaled a pyramid in Egypt when in the RAF). I even longed to be an archeologist as a kid! Do you have a video on tips for finding vintage pens? I will check. I want the pen, of course, but just love the look of the various cases I’ve seen people share. I restore vintage sewing machines so I really enjoy bringing abandoned things back to life and service!
I think your Dad is my hero! What a man. I also wanted to be an Archeologist when I was a kid; up until someone told me that someone needs to die before you can find a job (probably not true, but may have felt true to them). I am so glad you like the Egyptomania so much. That pen is special. It is still around some places.
On my “why Vintage Pens or Awesome” video (I think that’s what I called it), I do get into where I get mine. I am a big fan of Peyton Street Pens.
Thanks again for being here!
I bought my wonderful 1980's Montblanc 146 from Truphae, which is an authorized Montblanc dealer. Paid more than I would on eBay, but offers all the assurances of an authorized dealer (while still being a good value).
What was the nib on the MB?
Medium. They have lovely mediums.
I also have a Magna Carta. Its been inked up continuously since I bought it.
It’s an awesome pen! 👏
Gorgeous ink at 2:30. what is that? wow.
I got an Egyptomania on your suggestion, and I love it.
Nicely done! I am so glad to hear. There really is nothing like it out there. Thanks for watching.
Currently writing with the Egyptomania inked with the Elixir Calligraphy Yellow Gold. It’s a very nice combo if you haven’t tried it already!
Excellent choice all around!
Always nice to see the favorite pens of reviewers I follow, including the changes that occur over time. I would love to have the Montblanc Egyptomania - and kudos to you for showcasing it at the Egyptian temple at the New York Metropolitan Museum! I'm also a fan of vintage pens with wonderful gold nibs that often put modern ones to shame. I know exactly what you mean when you said a flexy vintage nib does something wonderful to the look of your handwriting. The flexing of the nib on the Magna Carta was just delicious. Lamy is one of the few companies that still make all their nibs in-house. I haven't purchased a TWSBI, but I see one in my near future as you and other reviewers I follow really like them too. And by the way, I liked how you layered and built up the suspense before diving into your top 5.
Thanks so much! It is definitely a process for me. I am also glad you liked the B Roll. There is a whole video on the Egyptomania there: th-cam.com/video/-CXg6GWB2XQ/w-d-xo.html You may enjoy that one.
I love flex pens, although I am only now beginning to learn how to use them.
Thanks so much for watching and for the great comment. Stop by again soon.
Nice vid as usual. I love the Egyptomania, maybe one day I wll take the plunge.
Thanks so much! I appreciate it. I love that pen (obviously), it has really resonated with me. Thanks!
In no particular order -- and just models (for I have several colors that I often use): 1. Pelikan 800 (and 805) 2. Aurora Optima, 3. Opus 88 Demonstrator (and the Koloro), 4. Schon DSGN Monoc nib, 5. Magna Carta M600 6. TWSBI Eco and 580 (can't decide) 7. Benu Euphoria (love the wet Schmidt nibs, the Talisman is also great), 8. JinHao 9019 (M) (but JH nibs are inconsistent -- QC is getting better, but could still be improved). 9. Pilot 823 or 723 (and also 912 and 722) 10. Platinum 3776 with various nibs including B and Music. And yes, I can't count.
Music Nib! Awesome! I have a video coming up comparing the D 580 with the Eco! Thanks so much for watching!
@@HemingwayJones I think Platinum makes the best music nib. Others: Sailor, Pilot, Taccia (actually a steel Sailor)m, Franklin Christoph.....
I have yet to try one. I really should.
Hi Hemingway. Have any of your Ecos cracked near the nib section? I really loved my Eco and then it just seemed to split in 2022 along the barrel seam where the nib touches the barrel. I received a replacement barrel and that cracked too in (2023), in the same way. I don't know if my nib is causing this, or if the Eco is just a poorly made pen. I would love to get another Twsbi though, if I could find one that won't break. Maybe a 580 would be more durable? Let me know. Thank you.
By the way, those MB and Watermen pens are beautiful and I can see why you like them.
Thanks so much and thanks for watching! I have never had a TWSBI crack, ever. I have heard from other people that they can, but it has never happened to me. I also have one of the first Diamond 580s. No issues at all ever. So I just do not know what is going on. So sorry. That is annoying.
@@HemingwayJones Thank you for your response. Maybe I'll go ahead and buy another and hope for better results. Love your videos. So much culture!
I would have been disappointed if the Egyptomania were not your #1. In my mind it IS your signature pen. And you are so animated when you speak of it…true love. It wouldn’t work for me at all. Lol
Thank you! That’s very kind of you to say! I’m glad you enjoy them.
Thanks so much. I have really bonded with it and it’s an odd pen. It just has a quality. Thanks!
I never owned a pen with faceted body. Should go & check Montblanc Egyptomania if available in boutiques.
Definitely try it first. It is subtle. You are not overly aware of it when writing, but it reflects the light magnificently.
Does anyone know a credible link for the waterman 5 celluloid?😍
I would keep an eye on Peyton Street Pens. They give a writing sample, so you know what you are getting into.
Curious why the LAMY 2000 didn't make the list?
Because it's not one of my favorites. I like it, but it is not near my top five at the moment. Thanks for watching.
Great video,5 wonderful pens I'll get my grandfather's watermen repaired ripple no 5 pink,frank in Oswego,ill
Finally got my TWSBI Eco with a medium nib and Noodler's Red-Black. I absolutely love this thing. It's cool the Eco made your top 5 with all the cool pens you have. I don't know if I'll get more than 2 or 3 fountain pens. I really love this TWSBI.
That Egyptomania is reeeeaaalllyy cool though haha.
Thank you very much! I love TWSBI. Sounds like an excellent choice.
oh boy, thanks for posting
Thanks for watching!
Cool music at the credits. Kind of like Rai music techno
Thank you! And thanks for watching all the way through. It was super fun to edit to as well. I love songs like this.
Celluloid vintage Waterman pens are an absolute pleasure to write with! I got a waterman 3V for my mom's birthday, not knowing that my grandmother still had my great grandfather's waterman 3V. I've only used it as a dip pen because the bladder broke down and I haven't gotten around to changing it, but it's amazing nonetheless. I've also been toying with the idea of getting a TWSBI eco in smoke and rose gold for a while now, and you've convinced me to get it. What nib size is the one you've shown in the video? It seems like a perfect size for my handwriting.
I completely understand why you kept the Montblanc Egyptomania at the very top of your list, it's a gorgeous pen. Thank you so much for posting! I really enjoyed seeing your updated list
Thank you so much for the wonderful comment! I showed a few TWSBI Ecos. The transparent is a F. The colored ones were both Stubs. TWSBI has amazing Stubs!
Thanks again!
That's a great list. The Egyptomania is such a beautiful pen. I'm generally not a fan of Montblanc because it's the brand that people like to show off when they want to appear fashionable, but the Egyptomania is a Montblanc that is lovely without appearing snobby.
My top 5 fountain pens are:
1. Conway Stewart Churchill lever filler
2. TWSBI Precision
3. Narwhal Nautilus Blue Ringed
4. Lamy 2000
5. Conklin Mark Twain crescent filler
I am with you on those MB associations. I see this in the finance world, where I work, but they are usually rollerballs.
You have a great list. I love Conway Stewart.
All the best!
If anyone is here and on the fence about spending $20-$40 on a pen and it’s accessories: if you are someone who wants to be more active in journaling, or writing letters, or doing whatever it is you want to do with a pen; I really couldn’t recommend a Lamy or other entry-level fountain pen enough. It is a total luxury-buy. You do not need one. And yet, it is easier to do the things we tell ourselves we want to do when the tools we use to do them bring us joy. Obviously not everyone has $40 in the pen budget this month (as pens are essentially free), but if you can afford it and think you might want to try it, I (an online stranger) endorse the decision to get a new pen.
Cool Top 5....
Thanks Ceit! You are the best!
I am very happy to see that the "Egyptomania" i still your "true love" (as far as fountain pens are concerned, of course...). It is good to have some things that don't change so easily in this world where change seems to be the most important thing.
Very true! I am very consistent with that one. I reach for it regularly. It has really captured my imagination. Thanks for watching.
good list. I would be there for half of your list. This year I will be converting/expanding my collection in the following directions: 1. Classic, Japanese fountain pens (Urushi) 2. Smaller German manufacturers and old / limited Germans and 3. Italian (more color, but not colorful). and of course the “treasure hunt” never ends... NEVER 😱😱😱
Very well said, it never ends! I try to slow down. I love your direction: Traditional Japanese! Excellent. I may update this every 6 months. Super fun to do. Thanks for watching.
@@HemingwayJones Yes, please -- 1 vote here for a 6-month update.
Man, that was such a delicious video to watch!
I'm slightly surprised that the Kaweco Bronze Sport didn't make it as I remember how enthralled you were by its beauty. I have the Brass Sport and I enjoy just holding it!
Thanks so much! It was right there at the edge of the list. Top 5’s are hard for me. In the past I called it a Top 5, listed 7, and no one noticed! I wanted to be true tot he exercise. It might be fun in the future to speak more about the thought process and those that almost made it. it went down to use at the end of the year when I was writing a lot of correspondence, etc. Thanks so much!
I still love that Bronze pen!
@@HemingwayJones This may be in your older videos but I'd love to know a couple of things:
1. What to look out for (and avoid) when buying a vintage pen. Have the nibs changed over time (is an old EF the same as a modern one, for example) the best way to clean them up, if you should change the nib, where to find them, the holy grail of vintage finds etc.
2. How you make your videos (equipment you use to record and edit) because they are so stylish. I mainly write content but would like to record more videos this year. I want the process to be as easy and simple as possible and yours are the exact style I was thinking of.
If you've covered these things and have time, could you point me to them? I did take a quick look through but you know your content better than I do!
Hello! You know, I made the other video you suggested: on Creative People and their Fountain Pens. There’s a thank you to you on there in the front. So, Thank you!
I have not covered these things specifically. I can sometime. Especially on Vintage pens. I want to do more on them.
I have a nice mic and I use lights, but I shoot everything on an iPhone 13 Pro Max; everything in studio, everything outside, all B Roll. Maybe I should make a video.
Thanks! You always have the best comments.
@@thevahandbook
I do not wish to appear greedy as I already have a host of top notch pens but I'm craving for a vintage Sheaffer Legacy 1 or 2 with a black barrel, chrome cap snd gold trimmings, and has a medium or gold nib. I love Sheaffer because of its historically great contribution to the world of writing which was highly valued in my home.
I remember seeing one recently on Peyton Street pens. That is a fine pen. I have a chrome Legacy from around 20 years ago and it’s epic. Thanks for watching.
@@HemingwayJones Is it beautiful to look at? There is one on eBay but the photography is mediocre so I cannot judge the aesthetic. The reason I want a black barrel is the chrome would compete with my Parker Sonnet Fougere that is gorgeous to look at. The one at Peyton's has a fine nib, I'm looking for a medium or broad as my handwriting is thick. I also have a few Targas with fine nibs.
Nice mix of pens considering there’s only five of them. The Safari and the Eco are among my favorites…a lot of pen for the price.
Thanks so much, My Friend! I agree they are excellent pens!
Excellent top 5, really enjoyed the video. I was surprised to see the variety of price points. That Waterman 5 is a neat piece of history. Where would you recommend picking up a vintage pen? Thanks for sharing.
Thanks so much for watching! I appreciate it. I hold all pens in equal esteem, so to me, price doesn’t matter.
OK, so how do we get you started in a vintage pen?! Not knowing what you like, I love Old Waterman’s for their flex. 5s & 52 1/2s tend to be a bit cheaper than 52s. Old Parker Duofolds are very nice. Vintage Conway Stewart, Oxfords, all very nice. It really depends what experience you want: nib, flex, fill system, material. You cannot beat an Esterbrook J for a first pen.
@@HemingwayJones Thank you for the help. I'll be looking into each of these pens.
Such a unique, interesting & exciting top 5.
Thank you, My Friend! That is very kind.
@@HemingwayJones Sorry for the typo - EXCITING and not existing 😂
Corrected now.
I knew what you meant! Happens to me all the time. Worse when it’s in a video I can no longer edit.
Ups… i did it again… do i need help, can you help me ? I ordered my next Wancher. This time the Bacelite and i am allready looking to the next… a red Urushi…
I like that your top 5 evolves, changes.
I would put LAMY safari/vista on my favorites list but the problem with how quickly it dries out when you don't use it kills it for me. I do like the pen a lot, especially by AL Star Petrol. It is just so fun to use but I get frustrated feeling like I always have to pick it up.
Agree with the Eco, my favorite pen to gift people. I do think the TWSBI Go is underrated. Especially the EF nib on there, it is a surprising pen. Reminds me of the Kakuno.
Would love to get my hands on a Waterman 5, I will have to try and get one at the Ohio Pen show this year. I just won an auction on a Parker 51, my first vintage pen purchase.
Not surprised about the Magna Carta! I am enjoying the feel of my FA nib 743, which I like to swap onto my Custom 823 so I don't think I need another flex nib at the moment. The FA on an 823 is an absolute juicer. Highly recommend trying it out if you don't mind voiding your warranty (I'm assuming that would happen).
HJ, I am eyeing a custom order pen from Edison pens. Their resin selection is mind blowing. Quite a price tag though.
I have been influenced by you to get a Conway Stewart eventually, I love that honeycomb flake resin in your recent video. I am also thinking I need to get a 149 eventually.
My LAMY 2000 in medium is definitely my favorite current pen.
You have varied and interesting taste! I don’t have a Go. I’ve been thinking of getting one for the Channel. Thanks for watching.
Thank you for replying! especially on an older video @@HemingwayJones
My Visconti Homo sapiens bronze age with a medium custom ground cursive italic and Writer’s blood ink is, so far, my favorite pen by far over the other few nice pens I’ve tried.
That pen is Top Shelf and I love your ink choice.
@@HemingwayJones tbh one of your dark academia episodes may be why I tried a sample of writers blood. Now I have an 80ml bottle coming bc of how much I liked it.
Wonderful! Happy to have inspired you.
Pilot Custom 823 Amber broad
TWSBI VAC 700 Iris medium
TWSBI VAC 700 medium (with Goulet nib)
TWSBI ECO Smoke on Rose Gold medium
Sailor Pro Gear Orange broad
Excellent List!
I am drooling over that waterman 5 and liking that magna carta.
My top 5 that are in the moment are...
1). Sheaffer pen for men (F)
2). Montblanc 146 from the 80's with the grey ink window and the Germany is on the clip band (F)
3). Pelikan M805 Stresemann (M)
4). Lamy 2000 (E/F)
5). Parker duofold Centennial Big Red (M).
Honorable mentions,
5a).Jinhao 996 cream with tiger stripes. The nib has a cat face that I swapped from a Kannan cat nib fountain pen
5b). My levenger true writer in the foliage variant with a swapped out nib from a pilot custom heritage 92 , (B) puts down ink like a fire hose a real gusher
Last but not least my Pelikan M805 in the clear demonstrator (E/F).
Wait… Cat Face Nib and it isn’t #1! How awesome! Fantastic list. Thank you!
The biggest shock was that there were only five favorite pens. Where are numbers six and seven?? LOL. Always fun to see what people are writing with and currently using. Thanks, HJ.
I know, right? I actually filmed two more and cut them. I wanted this one to be snappy and breezy. I have been a bit more disciplined lately, but we will see! Thanks!!!
Love this list!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Glad to see Mag 600 making it to the list !This is one of the most ‘ talked about ‘ pens in the FP world!
It is indeed. They did a wonderful job with it. Thanks for watching.
When you have too many expensive hobbies, but you want all the fountain pens 😂😅 Me, this is me lol 😂
Yes! Then you make a video paring them down to favorites!
Lamy Vista
TWSBI Eco
Waterman 5 celluloid
Magna Carta Mag 600
Mont Blanc Egyptomania
こんにちは ♪ ・The pen you chose is old and wonderful.👍
Thank you!
I’ve never commented on your videos though I’ve watched many…but I have always wondered where you grew up? I hope you’ll be able to reply to this comment because I am beyond curious!
Sure, if you promise to comment more! Seriously though, I appreciate your watching and saying hello. I have spoken about my last before in some LIVE episodes. “My Crazy Life” specifically. But, I grew up in Philadelphia. Fire away with any other questions and thanks!
Well, I regard myself as the utility guy in this gang, not romantic, so I find this sort of questions hard to contribute to. If I were to save pens from a burning house, and I could only take 5, I'd be sure of the 3 first, but then I'd burn in and die because of indecision. Which are the 3 first? There's no reason to tell you, because no one would know any of them or find one in the market. Which is exactly the point: I can buy a new M800, 149, HM BA, 1911 etc. The limited editions will be harder, but I'd gamble I'll find some used on ebay. The pens I'd first try to save would be the truly irreplaceable ones.
"Favorite" pens tend to be those of the ones I use for the current moment, which also manage to work very well. Just now, those includes two 'unmentionable', excessively excusive pens, but also a Wing Sung 618 (my default Sudoku/crossword pen, with Noodler's Black), an unknown (800?) Moon Man that is remarkably excellent, a Waterman Carene, and a Jinhao X159 (nib tuned) that very surprisingly is just great 👍and my main pen currently, which it will remain only until the ink runs out, then I'll rotate in a different pen.
I also have some other pens in current use: A little Nibcreeper. I think it's a lovely little pen. This one is quite pretty in the moldings of it's colors. The little stiff flex nib is expressive regardless if you try to write flex or not. But I don't count it as a favorite, because as much as I like it, these days I find it harder to write well with pens that are that slim and small. Also, it is not sealed well enough to make it into my top league. I also use a couple of Safaris as "mark-note" pens, their colors reflecting their ink. They could well have belonged to my "favorites", meaning they're good enough, but I don't use them as writing pens, only for contrasting notes.
Ever since I moved on from my Parker Vector workhorses, I've always been keen to rotate my pens and inks, to explore and experience them all. Interestingly, that period may now come to an end for some pens and inks. My Wing Sung 618 is my permanent Sudoku pen, and will always be filled with Noodler's Black. One of my unmentionable pens seem to have settled into a fix career as my RED pen, and have always Noodler's Empire Red ink in it.
There are other pens that seem to have "found their ink" to say. Like my Medici LE which has only had Akkerman Akkerman Blauw in it for years. I'll probably go that route, some of my pens will always have the same ink. Also means I don't have to wash them.
This IS SHOCKING!
Thank you!
Stationary people like to enunciate a lot.
Words are cherished here, too!
Well I'm here early
So much BS! WATTERMAN! Please
You know little of this world, My Friend. Study up. I do appreciate you watching.
I stopped watching after the Lamy Vista and TWSBI Eco....... OK, maybe not, but I wanted to. Both are so mediocre in almost every aspect that they don't belong on any Top 5 list of anything.
Well, I appreciate your hanging in. Believe me, I most appreciate people watching when something is challenging or different. Thanks Man!
Ok. I'm here to learn -- what's the beef from your perspective, I wonder.