Fountain Ink Pen Acquisitions

Noodlers Monkeyhanger ink is a bit of an oddball, it can bleed through two pages of paper with ease. It would be interesting to learn of how the pen performs with a more conventional ink. Thanks for the tip on Good Blue, a new one to me.
 
Noodlers Monkeyhanger ink is a bit of an oddball, it can bleed through two pages of paper with ease. It would be interesting to learn of how the pen performs with a more conventional ink. Thanks for the tip on Good Blue, a new one to me.
The first inking was with Dominant Industry "Lake", but that was on the dry side, and I couldn't obtain much line variation. The Noodler's is an excellent ink, and I have three others besides "Monkey Hanger"; all of which are "bulletproof" and run wet. All will, in a wet pen, push their way through most papers.

I think the next inking will be with something blue, like Watermans "Blue Serenity", a Diamine or perhaps R&K "Blau Permanent".
 
My favorite blue ink with an exceptional flow is Iroshizuku Kon-Peki.
It's a nice colour. I'm using Iroshizuku (tsukushi, asa-gao, yama-budo and ina-ho) inks in my other flex pens, and they're ideally suited for flow and wetness, with the addition of variance in shades in the thicker downstrokes. It's just a pity they're so expensive, or I'd have a few more.
 
Here's another pen in my search for good modern flex pens. This is a 615 LE pen from The Good Blue. The maker is in London, and these pens are machined in the UK. The nibs and feeds are specially made, and this has a fine flex nib with wet polymer feed.

Various editions have had brass grips and caps and bodies in different coloured aluminiums. This is different as the grip is stainless steel. All are made in small numbers, have a launch day and time, and sell out rapidly.

The only thing I'm not sure about is whether, being a converter and very wet, it will need frequent refilling. View attachment 84470
Very Interesting @Ferrum,
Looks like quite a step-down from the barrel to the grip. How does it handle? Does the step-down feel uncomfortable in any way?

I've been thinking about the FPR Jaipur V2 with Ultra Flex nib but still window shopping.
 
Very Interesting @Ferrum,
Looks like quite a step-down from the barrel to the grip. How does it handle? Does the step-down feel uncomfortable in any way?

I've been thinking about the FPR Jaipur V2 with Ultra Flex nib but still window shopping.
It's fine to use. Oddly, I find pen ergonomics fit with my razor ideals. With a few exceptions, most razor details don't bother me much, and I'm usually more concerned with the end result.

The Good Blue has only one slight disadvantage. It's a clipless cap, and although the body is longer than the cap, they're very alike, and I've unscrewed the wrong end by mistake. The solution is to be more careful.

I've got three or four of the FPR original flex nib pens, including a Himalaya that I won in a competition of theirs. My own view is that their nibs are more suited to me than the Noodlers, with easier flex, smoother and little or no paper bite. I haven't bought from them for a while, but I may buy a couple of their newer nibs and feeds to rejuvenate their pens.

The FPR pens are very good value, and, within their known limitations, perform well. Although I've never managed it, springing an FPR nib isn't the expensive disaster it is with more "deluxe" makes.

If you decide on one, I'd like to know how you find it.
 
Captain Tightwad has emerged from his cabin. Does anyone have a Cult Pens discount code they can PM me? Got my eye on a new pen.
I'll have a look, but since they became part of Smith's, it's changed a bit. They have various offers, with some nice pens and prices, but I think the latest tranche ended yesterday. Have a look anyway. They've also changed the shipping costs; higher, and higher threshold.
 
I didn't know that - that's probably not good news. - I.
I

I didn't know that - that's probably not good news. - I.
It was a while back, and I think the erstwhile owners have tried to keep it on track. So far, so mainly good.

 
So far, so mainly good.
I had no idea that it was so long ago - they, Cult Pens, didn't shout about that in their newsletter. Doesn't really suit their down-home, matey style of communication? Here's a picture of our dug. Perhaps it will become obvious when next I go to buy some ink and I'm offered a huge bar of chocolate I don't want at checkout. :) - I.
 
I had no idea that it was so long ago - they, Cult Pens, didn't shout about that in their newsletter. Doesn't really suit their down-home, matey style of communication? Here's a picture of our dug. Perhaps it will become obvious when next I go to buy some ink and I'm offered a huge bar of chocolate I don't want at checkout. :) - I.
I think that, for once, a small but very successful enterprise has sold itself to a monolith, but all parties have read the market and realised that mucking about, rather than doing the same but more, would devalue the business.

My heart sank when they emailed me about this, but, as I said, so far so good.
 
I have had the same 2 Waterman pens for well over 20 years and they have always performed well, however, they have recently started having blow-outs and covering everything in ink. The worst blow-out included me transferring the ink to my face whilst I was presenting to an audience of about 20 other engineers and as I had deep, dark red ink, it made me look like I'd taken a blade to my head. Luckily, I'm able to laugh at myself, but decided I would get a new pen.

In the past 2 months, I have purchased the following pens:
TWSBI, as seen on the OP - only £1 more than it was in 2020, so not a massive increase.
Kaweco Sport with gold nib and 5 packs of ruby red cartridges.

I decided after seeing the colour of Writer's Blood in a note I was sent, that I liked it, as it's a fair bit darker than the ruby red. I also thought I should at least get a dark blue ink so that it wasn't just red, or black that I have had for the last 10 years. However, it's my wife that has been using that.

After using the TWSBI for a month solid, I really like it and so far I've not covered myself in ink!
The sport has been used on and off when I've been making notes and I'll use it when I travel for work.
Not just shaving that TSR has helped me with.
 

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