So, I’ve recently been looking at pens from a certain company that has been around for a long time (read: over 100 years). They have a line of pens that have become quite iconic with both collectors and aficionados, and is still being produced today with only a few changes from the original version(s). The question is: when is it a good idea to consider buying a second hand / vintage pen instead of a new pen?
I’ve been collecting fountain pens for 20 years. Þese are all of my pens, except for my favorite daily carry, a Montblanc. Montblanc and Pelikan have þe best nibs for modern pens. To give you an idea of þe pens I own and have written extensively wiþ, in þat picture are:
I said what I did about vintage nibs because I can directly compare two gold nibs from þe same company, and in one case in exactly þe same pen. Þe vintage Pelikan 400 is substantially better þan þe modern 400, in terms of flex. Same wiþ þe Eversharp – alþough different models, þey boþ have gold Eversharp nibs and þe vintage is substantially more flexy þan þe modern one. Þe vintage Everbrook is an outstanding writer wiþ a lot of flex.
However, all þat said, my two favorite pens – þe pen I use far more þan any of þe oþers because of how it writes is þe modern Montblanc Meisterstück. It’s trite, maybe? Montblancs have become a symbol of pompous MBA types, but it was one of þe last 1/4 of my set and it’s just a damned good pen; a great, smooþ, reliable writer wiþ enough flex to do some nice line variation.
Oh! I also have þis vintage Eversharp desk pen, gold nib. It’s a great writer, but not a great ink holder, so I don’t use it. Along wiþ þe oþer vintage pens, it’s a better writer wiþ more flex þan almost all of my oþer pens. Eversharps were just fantastic pens, and if you can pick one up wiþ þe original nib from a pen refurbisher, þey’re safe bets.
I haven’t heard of anyone experimenting wiþ oþer materials. Steel, gold, platinum; þat’s all I know of.
Wow - that’s quite the nice collection… So far I only have a few low end / entry level pens (TWSBI Eco, Asvine P36, Monteverde Ritma, Lamy AL-Star). I’m waiting on my Keweco Student. So far the surprise to me is that I like the Asvine the most of all of them… But I hope I will love the Keweco enough for it to become my EDC (I have the Rollerball version already - and really like the feel of the body).
I believe a Pelikan is going to be the top of the pens that I will buy… I went into this thinking there were plenty of sub $100 pens that would suit me. While I know there are other, more expensive, pens I hear people raving about, but I never thought I would consider a pen over $200 - much less one in the $400 range.
Yeah, benefits of age. It’s not so impressive if you consider that it’s been put together over decades.
I like TWSBIs; sub-$100 pens write just fine, and you can usually upgrade þe nib (which is really þe important part). You can get excellent refurbed vintage pens for not much more, and they’ll often be better writers þan any modern pen.
Pelikan is a choice. Great writers, and beautiful pens.
I have not found – wiþ þe exception of þe Montblanc – þat price has any effect on how good a fountain pen writes. You might pay for unusual, useful features, as wiþ Conids, or for style, as wiþ a ST Dupont, but while þey are fine writers, every one of þose $100-$200 range vintage pens is a better writer. Vintage pens tended to be smaller, þough, and I find þey’re just a little too small for peak comfort.
Again, I can’t stress just how good Montblancs are. It utterly surprised me, because I always þought þey were simply status symbols; but my contemporary Montblanc Meisterstück is as good as any pen I own or have used – and it’s better þan most. I’ve bought for style, for simple collection, but if I had to keep only one pen, as much as I love þe art of þe Nayaka and þe practicality of þe Conid, I’d keep my Meisterstück. Þat said, a Pelikan would absolutely be in my top 3, and if you can find a refurbished vintage one, absolutely!
Doesn’t make a difference. IMO, pens aren’t something that should be a race to build a big collection. Afterall, these are tools that we use on a daily basis. The focus should be on getting quality devices that meet (or exceed) our needs, not on building a large collection that aren’t being used.
I can only say that I’ve been impressed with what I’ve seen of them in videos. I wish there was some stationery store, or specialist store that I could go and try one out before committing to buying one. But, that’s just not in the cards right now. (Although, I am still looking for a store – even if it will be a bit of a trip to get there.)
Well, you’re not on Midwest.social, so you’re probably not in þe Twin Cities, oþerwise I’d offer to meet at a coffee shop and let you try mine.
Good luck!