2012 Herald Grande ... initial observations &c.

[Doc4]

Okay, so I've had my 2012 LE Edison pen for a little while now, inked up with Benevolent Badger Blue. (What else?)

Generally, I find myself liking this pen more than the 2011 Glenmont LE. I'll set out my various observations.

First off, you notice how FREAKING BIG this pen is. You also notice the colour. Now, the 2011 pen was a nice black & green swirl ... and from a moderate distance you see the black, swirling with the green. The '12 pen, however, is much more restrained in that sense. I had originally expected a similar swirling of blue and black, but this pen seems much more tri-coloured, with most of the pen being a dark prussian grey, with subtle blue and black swirled in, so from a similar distance (where the '11 swirls are still very noticeable) the '12 seems to be simply an off-black sort of colour. The swirl is evident only upon a closer examination. (For me, that more subtle marbling is preferable.)

The choice of white-metal nib and clip is perfect for this pen, just as the choice of yellow-metal was for the '11 green. (The engraving is about the same ... although the badger head is tilted a bit differently, being an improvement for the '12 version.)

I actually find that the '12 nib writes better than the '11 nib. I've always had a bit of hassle with the '11 nib being a bit of a slow starter on downstrokes when I start writing, but no such problem with the '12.

Back to the size thing. When capped, this pen is only 3/4" longer than the '11. Both are quite manageable to carry in a suit jacket pocket; neither would work well in a shirt pocket or ... heaven forbid ... pants pocket. Opened and unposted, they are even closer in size ... a mere 3/8" added length for the '12. (Mind you, the "grip" part of the '11 has a concave taper, while the '12 is a straight taper, so the '12 can feel a bit thicker in the hand when writing.) But post the pens ... and ... well, there's 7/8" more on the '12. (I actually thought there would be more before I measured them, so the fact that it's "only" 7/8" difference is a bit of a surprise.

Here's the thing. Posted, the '11 feels just right in the hand. But the '12 feels a bit too long, maybe a bit too back-end-heavy, so I'll want to use it unposted. (I note that I am currently using my '11 as an eyedropper and my '12 with the converter ... so maybe the extra ink inside the '11 changes the weight distribution.)

Anyhow, they are both great pens. I think I like the '12 a little bit more ... which one would hope for, I guess, not resting on one's laurels from the '11 but pushing to make the '12 even better ... but if I feel like posting my pen, I'll reach for the '11 first.

[BigFoot]

Okay, so I've had my 2012 LE Edison pen for a little while now, inked up with Benevolent Badger Blue. (What else?)

Generally, I find myself liking this pen more than the 2011 Glenmont LE. I'll set out my various observations.

First off, you notice how FREAKING BIG this pen is. You also notice the colour. Now, the 2011 pen was a nice black & green swirl ... and from a moderate distance you see the black, swirling with the green. The '12 pen, however, is much more restrained in that sense. I had originally expected a similar swirling of blue and black, but this pen seems much more tri-coloured, with most of the pen being a dark prussian grey, with subtle blue and black swirled in, so from a similar distance (where the '11 swirls are still very noticeable) the '12 seems to be simply an off-black sort of colour. The swirl is evident only upon a closer examination. (For me, that more subtle marbling is preferable.)

The choice of white-metal nib and clip is perfect for this pen, just as the choice of yellow-metal was for the '11 green. (The engraving is about the same ... although the badger head is tilted a bit differently, being an improvement for the '12 version.)

I actually find that the '12 nib writes better than the '11 nib. I've always had a bit of hassle with the '11 nib being a bit of a slow starter on downstrokes when I start writing, but no such problem with the '12.

Back to the size thing. When capped, this pen is only 3/4" longer than the '11. Both are quite manageable to carry in a suit jacket pocket; neither would work well in a shirt pocket or ... heaven forbid ... pants pocket. Opened and unposted, they are even closer in size ... a mere 3/8" added length for the '12. (Mind you, the "grip" part of the '11 has a concave taper, while the '12 is a straight taper, so the '12 can feel a bit thicker in the hand when writing.) But post the pens ... and ... well, there's 7/8" more on the '12. (I actually thought there would be more before I measured them, so the fact that it's "only" 7/8" difference is a bit of a surprise.

Here's the thing. Posted, the '11 feels just right in the hand. But the '12 feels a bit too long, maybe a bit too back-end-heavy, so I'll want to use it unposted. (I note that I am currently using my '11 as an eyedropper and my '12 with the converter ... so maybe the extra ink inside the '11 changes the weight distribution.)

Anyhow, they are both great pens. I think I like the '12 a little bit more ... which one would hope for, I guess, not resting on one's laurels from the '11 but pushing to make the '12 even better ... but if I feel like posting my pen, I'll reach for the '11 first.

I noticed as well the Nib is smoother on the 12. I also have large paws so the added girth is a plus for me. If writing for a long time I find myself gripping higher on the barrel of the 11 I have not had to do that on the 12.

Overall they are both great pens. I cant wait for 13.

[luvmysuper]

I cant wait for 13.

http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthr...alive-today-gt

[maxman]

I agree with everyting you said.
Especially about the nib vs. the '11 nib.

[Dave258]

I noticed as well the Nib is smoother on the 12. I also have large paws so the added girth is a plus for me. If writing for a long time I find myself gripping higher on the barrel of the 11 I have not had to do that on the 12.

Overall they are both great pens. I cant wait for 13.

I do the same thing with the 2011 Glenmont, grip it further back on the body above the section. Thank God it is comfortable enough to do it! Obviously with the 2012 there is no reason to grip it high.
2013, what about the 2012.5????

[chuckr9]

I really like the looks of mine (#30 with M-nib), but was not happy with the nib flow. Since this was not a Noodler's Ahab or Konrad, I was reluctant to try to "fix" the nib at first. I decided to spread the tines to improve flow but slight adjustments did not help. So, I took the handy razor knife, split the tines and wiggled it a bit (dangerous) - now the flow is great! Been using the pen everyday at work.

[bgray]

I really like the looks of mine (#30 with M-nib), but was not happy with the nib flow. Since this was not a Noodler's Ahab or Konrad, I was reluctant to try to "fix" the nib at first. I decided to spread the tines to improve flow but slight adjustments did not help. So, I took the handy razor knife, split the tines and wiggled it a bit (dangerous) - now the flow is great! Been using the pen everyday at work.

I always promote people doing their own nib work....so congrats on the fix!

It's impossible for us to get every nib perfect for every person, so having even the most rudimentary nib adjusting skills can be a lifesaver for an average consumer.

But for anyone else out there that is not happy with the nib and is not comfortable making the adjustments, just reach out.

[scoopster]

I just wrote some thank you letters with this pen today. I haven't used a fountain pen in many, many years and never one so nice. The writing was smooth and expressive, truly a pleasure to use. I'm very happy.

I did have some trouble drawing ink into ink pump. Not sure what I was doing wrong. Moved the plunger down, dunked the tip of the pen into ink and retracted the plunger. Not a lot of ink was getting drawn up, almost none. I twisted the ink pump a bit, removed it and re-inserted. Still no luck. Any suggestions for a pen noob?

[oc_in_fw]

My guess is that what you were pulling up was flooding the feed. The feed can take a good bit of ink. Try it a couple more times. Once the feed is full, more will make it to the converter. This is normal, by the way.

[Doc4]

Make sure you hold the whole nib under the ink level. The ink gets sucked up in a little hole right near where the nib screws into the rest of the pen.

(I won't say how long I made this mistake when I got my first FP years ago.)

[luvmysuper]

Ok, If it's first use, I just put the converter in the ink and draw it full, put it in the pen and start to unload the converter to prime the pen. After the pen is writing, I just pull off and refill the converter whenever needed.

I don't like to dip the entire nib in the ink because it is difficult to remove all the ink from that gorgeous nib.

I can't be the only guy that does that right?

[scoopster]

Hmmmm. Different techniques to load a pen, different approaches for filling when a pen is new, personal YMMV preferences about nib cleanliness.,,,,,,,

I'm starting to get it. This "pen thing" sounds a lot like the "shaving thing"....

Thanks for the advice. Most likely I wasn't dunking deep enough. But I got eye droppers and know about direct draw now.

[rearviewmirror]

So, I found out yesterday just how beautiful this pen really is. I normally leave it at work, but brought it home with me yesterday for some reason. As I was outside walking to my car, it was in my hand and in the full Florida sunlight, this pen had a depth of color I didn't think was possible. It was almost awe inspiring. So gentlemen, take your pen out for a walk!

[luvmysuper]

So, I found out yesterday just how beautiful this pen really is. I normally leave it at work, but brought it home with me yesterday for some reason. As I was outside walking to my car, it was in my hand and in the full Florida sunlight, this pen had a depth of color I didn't think was possible. It was almost awe inspiring. So gentlemen, take your pen out for a walk!

Should we be using sunscreen?

[rearviewmirror]

Should we be using sunscreen?

always

[Doc4]

always

He meant "on the pen".

[rearviewmirror]

He meant "on the pen".

so did I. I dont want my Herald Grande to get ebonite cancer!

[barneykiller]

After the pen is writing, I just pull off and refill the converter whenever needed.

I don't like to dip the entire nib in the ink because it is difficult to remove all the ink from that gorgeous nib.

I can't be the only guy that does that right?

Not anymore you're not. I will be doing this going forward on all of my cartridge converter pens. I just wish I could not get ink all over my M800 every time I dip it in the ink. Got any tricks for that?

[oc_in_fw]

Not anymore you're not. I will be doing this going forward on all of my cartridge converter pens. I just wish I could not get ink all over my M800 every time I dip it in the ink. Got any tricks for that?

Yeah, but the capacity of that 800 dwarfs that of converter pens.

[Dave258]

Not anymore you're not. I will be doing this going forward on all of my cartridge converter pens. I just wish I could not get ink all over my M800 every time I dip it in the ink. Got any tricks for that?

Unscrew the nib and fill like an eyedropper????