Newest fountain pen

[MJB]

Well--I decided it was time for a new fountain pen. These are something I collect so I wanted something innovative and unique.

A relative newcomer to the world of fountain pens is Monteverde. The have created something called the Mega Ink ball. It is more or less a rollerball that you can fill yourself as if it were a fountain pen. Prelimiary reviews have been phenomenally positive so I bought one--not any one--but the limited addition yellow with alternative black cap--I own #236 of 1999 to be made.

I have used it for 2 lines so far and I like it--will let you know what the full day use brings to the table.

[TimmyBoston]

I'm looking for a fountain pen. I've had a few Montblanc's and honestly I've been very unhappy with them. Recently my girlfriend was looking at an Exception Platinum by Waterman, but I can't accept a $400 pen. I'd lose the damn thing. I really love the Waterman Carene Rollerball that I have. Any thoughts on a good fountain? But also something that won't have me running for my razor if I lose the thing? (which is a strong possibility)

[rtaylor61]

Tim,

I use a Waterman Charleston and a Lamy Safari. The Safari is my everyday writer (around $20 bucks). Neither are fancy, but both lay down a nice line and are easy to maintain.

Randy

[Shermdog]

I'm looking for a fountain pen. I've had a few Montblanc's and honestly I've been very unhappy with them. Recently my girlfriend was looking at an Exception Platinum by Waterman, but I can't accept a $400 pen. I'd lose the damn thing. I really love the Waterman Carene Rollerball that I have. Any thoughts on a good fountain? But also something that won't have me running for my razor if I lose the thing? (which is a strong possibility)

Tim.....

I have an Aurora Fountain Pen. It is made in Italy and a superb pen. For the money, I think it is the best gold nibbed pen out there. I think mine was about 120 bucks and is my everyday pen.

Do a search on the popular fountain pen sites. Aurora's are very nice instruments. Look at the Aurora Ipsilon Deluxe.

Shermdog

[RichGem]

Timmy,

I'd be interested in hearing a reveiw of how this one works. Pelikan came out with a similar (tho way cheaper) fp a few years ago and it's a lousy writer (contrary to all their other offerings).... scratchy and the ball tends to clog with ink.

Best,
Rich

[Suzuki]

If you're looking for a reasonably priced pen that will spank the pants off of any of the MB's I've tried, I highly recomend the Lamy 2000.

Its quite modern looking (but not in a Buck Rogers kind of way) but is actually a 1966 design.

It is a piston fill with a 14K platinum coated nib and is a terrific workhorse/daily use pen. I've had mine for a couple of years and it still looks new.

They generally retail for between $100 - $125 - and sometimes you can get them for less on sale/e-bay.

The nibs tend to run a little wide, so you might want to try one out before you buy, but its pretty easy to have the nib swapped out.

If you're looking for a less expensive pen, you're into steel nibs (not bad, just different) and I second the Lamy Safari and add the Waterman Phileas to the list of very good inexpensive pens.

[jazzman]

I recently picked up two steel-nibbed fountain pens, each of which may be going out of production, at low prices. First, Rotring 600 is a modern-looking, slim but heavy, pen that seems to be bullet-proof. Second, a Sensa, which is the most comfortable pen I've ever held. Each works just fine with the standard converter or cartridge.

[asadasam]

I love my Lamy 2000 - an absolute design classic, an amazing writer and a workhorse - but on the real cheap end, I always recommend the FPs made by the Japanese company MUJI. They run about $18 (cheap enough to buy a half dozen and lose 'em one at a time) at the stores affiliated with the Museum of Modern Art (the lone US retailer for Muji, unfortunately, which has yet to expand into America as they have in the UK and France) and as far as steel nibs go, they're some of the most satisfying I've used - one nib size only (at least in the US), which is a Japanese medium, so more like a medium-fine. They're an all-steel minimalist kinda design and they look a bit like an X-Acto knife when closed. Don't know if you have access to a MOMA store and they seem not to be on the website anymore, but I'm sure they're relatively easy to locate via friends/eBay/etc.

Adam

[asadasam]

Oh, here are a couple pics...