Show off your pens

Visconti Van Gogh 'Starry Night' fountain pen in natural vegetal midnight blue resin with a kaleidoscope of light blue, yellow, orange and green variations.

Chromed trim with sprung pocket clip and magnetic catch cap. Medium steel nib.

 
Visconti Van Gogh 'Starry Night' fountain pen in natural vegetal midnight blue resin with a kaleidoscope of light blue, yellow, orange and green variations.

Chromed trim with sprung pocket clip and magnetic catch cap. Medium steel nib.


You actually 'see' the Van Gogh in that blue and yellow right away.
Very nice.
 
Some time ago I bought this Sheaffer NoNonsense/Viewpoint pen;
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It unfortunately didn't come with any cartridges or a converter so I wasn't able to try it out right away.

Fast-forward to this week, and about $8 later (which was about the cost of the pen as well...), this converter (86700) arrived;
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It popped straight in...
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..filling it with ink from a bottle was a breeze and a few seconds later it was ready to go:
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Scribbed down some stuff on today's date in my Hobo and really, really liked how the pen wrote!
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On a rainy San Francisco day...

Black Parker 51 w/ Extra FIne nib, and
Blue Sheaffer NoNonsense w/ Fine nib.

Both inked up with Diamine Onyx Black

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Few -slightly dated shots- as most of my pens are in the safe deposit box at the moment.

Clockwise L-R:
MB 146P (F nib), MB Boheme Paso Doble red lacquer (M nib), Cartier Trinity (Ball pen).
p5_zpspfgd9tjx.jpg


The 146 Platinum is what most users (who have at some stage tried or owned a MB) would imagine.
The particular Boheme is gorgeous on the outside, not tremendously user-friendly while writing and the nib is a full 18K gold with rhodium-plated finish.
The Cartier Trinity pen is a beauty to hold, a tad heavy, but great for daily use.

L-R:
The two (handmade, silk) soft cases for my Nakayas, Sailor leather pen case w/ zipper, and two Cartier 'Louis' LE pens in black lined lacquer assorted by the burgundy-coloured leather case (.7mm mechanical pencil and roller ball pen).
p4_zpsl2l3t7f8.jpg


Two Cartier 'Pasha' roller balls, terrific texture and pretty heavy-weighted.
In the early days (2003-2008) I predominantly purchased roller balls instead of fountain pens.
p3_zps4wlivvo0.jpg


Lower row/front:
Cartier Diabolo roller ball in blue lacquer, Diabolo .7mm mechanical pencil in black lacquer, Diabolo ball pen in blue lacquer.
The Cartier Diabolo scores very well ergonomically and it used to come in black and blue lacquer (as well in a variety of metal finishes of course), whether ball pen, pencil, roller ball or fountain pen. The blue lacquer was/is more rare and actually if put side-to-side a blue and a black fountain pen, the one in blue lacquer is heavier (the internal design and weight distribution is different).

Top/far end, L-R:
Two Cartier Pashas, Dupont ball pen, Pilot Vanishing Point in black decorated lacquer (LE).
p2_zpsol2uwtlq.jpg


Couple of random items to point out here:
The two Cartier Palladium-coated Diabolos (in a Caran d'Ache leather case), fountain pen and roller, very impressive pens and quite user-friendly albeit heavy. Also two ACME rollers, the one in orange is highly vivid in colour.
p1_zps2ms9mmex.jpg


The handmade ASA Galactic Demonstrator giga-pen from India. For €32 and with good reputation regarding writing performance, it is one of the best value pens I own, and I use it daily. It's an eyedropper so needs care in handling around, being handmade.
m6GLssG.jpg


L-R:
The Pelikan M805 Demonstrator, a Pilot Heritage, and three Sailors 1911.
1122_zpsv0xhi4nz.jpg


094378F9-2B9E-4E19-BD65-7C79396C2707_zpsg6cucxvu.jpg


4FD8749E-CAC2-407E-94EA-77A7C01DE2AD_zpsye3thktx.jpg


Two Cartier Diabolos (Palladium finish) and the infamous Muji fountain pen:
76089E78-9A08-4975-87BE-70C8B3B7450C_zpsc2oqbhck.jpg


The gigantic Dupont Shanghai LE (I think it was the 2008 year LE pen for them) in a Japanese leather case:
0FA109CB-A2F1-4D5D-AF24-49ED185B44CC_zpsnkwdqssd.jpg


I found it in a jewelry shop in Orchard Rd. which was closing down and had this category of display items at 90% off. So in a period of ten days I grabbed three fountain pens and eight or nine Dupont lighters, if memory serves well. The Shanghai LE was £1,650 retail, so my contribution was £165 and likewise for the lighters.

wotd5_zpse06c5b95.jpg
 
Few -slightly dated shots- as most of my pens are in the safe deposit box at the moment.

Clockwise L-R:
MB 146P (F nib), MB Boheme Paso Doble red lacquer (M nib), Cartier Trinity (Ball pen).
p5_zpspfgd9tjx.jpg


The 146 Platinum is what most users (who have at some stage tried or owned a MB) would imagine.
The particular Boheme is gorgeous on the outside, not tremendously user-friendly while writing and the nib is a full 18K gold with rhodium-plated finish.
The Cartier Trinity pen is a beauty to hold, a tad heavy, but great for daily use.

L-R:
The two (handmade, silk) soft cases for my Nakayas, Sailor leather pen case w/ zipper, and two Cartier 'Louis' LE pens in black lined lacquer assorted by the burgundy-coloured leather case (.7mm mechanical pencil and roller ball pen).
p4_zpsl2l3t7f8.jpg


Two Cartier 'Pasha' roller balls, terrific texture and pretty heavy-weighted.
In the early days (2003-2008) I predominantly purchased roller balls instead of fountain pens.
p3_zps4wlivvo0.jpg


Lower row/front:
Cartier Diabolo roller ball in blue lacquer, Diabolo .7mm mechanical pencil in black lacquer, Diabolo ball pen in blue lacquer.
The Cartier Diabolo scores very well ergonomically and it used to come in black and blue lacquer (as well in a variety of metal finishes of course), whether ball pen, pencil, roller ball or fountain pen. The blue lacquer was/is more rare and actually if put side-to-side a blue and a black fountain pen, the one in blue lacquer is heavier (the internal design and weight distribution is different).

Top/far end, L-R:
Two Cartier Pashas, Dupont ball pen, Pilot Vanishing Point in black decorated lacquer (LE).
p2_zpsol2uwtlq.jpg


Couple of random items to point out here:
The two Cartier Palladium-coated Diabolos (in a Caran d'Ache leather case), fountain pen and roller, very impressive pens and quite user-friendly albeit heavy. Also two ACME rollers, the one in orange is highly vivid in colour.
p1_zps2ms9mmex.jpg


The handmade ASA Galactic Demonstrator giga-pen from India. For €32 and with good reputation regarding writing performance, it is one of the best value pens I own, and I use it daily. It's an eyedropper so needs care in handling around, being handmade.
m6GLssG.jpg


L-R:
The Pelikan M805 Demonstrator, a Pilot Heritage, and three Sailors 1911.
1122_zpsv0xhi4nz.jpg


094378F9-2B9E-4E19-BD65-7C79396C2707_zpsg6cucxvu.jpg


4FD8749E-CAC2-407E-94EA-77A7C01DE2AD_zpsye3thktx.jpg


Two Cartier Diabolos (Palladium finish) and the infamous Muji fountain pen:
76089E78-9A08-4975-87BE-70C8B3B7450C_zpsc2oqbhck.jpg


The gigantic Dupont Shanghai LE (I think it was the 2008 year LE pen for them) in a Japanese leather case:
0FA109CB-A2F1-4D5D-AF24-49ED185B44CC_zpsnkwdqssd.jpg


I found it in a jewelry shop in Orchard Rd. which was closing down and had this category of display items at 90% off. So in a period of ten days I grabbed three fountain pens and eight or nine Dupont lighters, if memory serves well. The Shanghai LE was £1,650 retail, so my contribution was £165 and likewise for the lighters.

wotd5_zpse06c5b95.jpg

Holy...that's quite the collection!
I'm curious - no Omas? :)
 
Let's move on to the handmade Japanese pens now.
When someone handles and writes with a handmade Japanese fountain pen, a whole new world opens its doors. This is the feeling.

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Cap stopper installed as extra and is full Sterling Silver 925.

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Neil's magnetic strop can only bring back joyful memories, work of art from a superb craftsman.

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Let's move on to the handmade Japanese pens now.
When someone handles and writes with a handmade Japanese fountain pen, a whole new world opens its doors. This is the feeling.

DSC_0822_zps669a33d9.jpg


wotd3_zps0a6627d2.jpg


nib1_zpsbacc2f3c.jpg


nib4_zps25b57324.jpg


wotd4_zps3afbe477.jpg


DSC_0824_zps37b1493c.jpg


DSC_0820_zps0ec584bb.jpg

Cap stopper installed as extra and is full Sterling Silver 925.

nib3_zps2f5d9c53.jpg


nib2_zps06c980b8.jpg


wotd2_zps746a39d6.jpg


wotd1_zps78f65cc0.jpg

Neil's magnetic strop can only bring back joyful memories, work of art from a superb craftsman.

3_zps5240763d.jpg


5_zpsf1bfa012.jpg


4_zps19a7f638.jpg


2_zpse99a678f.jpg


1_zpsdc82b56f.jpg


DSC_0827_zpscb174848.jpg


DSC_0821_zps17e61acb.jpg

After seeing this I pulled my $8 Sheaffer out of the bag and spat on it.

Also, can you please either adopt me or include me in your will? I'm open to either.
 
...
Also, can you please either adopt me or include me in your will? I'm open to either.
A couple of other members here few years back asked if they could be adopted (hahaha) by me at some stage so you're not the first one filing a request...

Now I've reached a stage where I get relieved and fortunate to be able to reasonably and gradually unload most of my items. Surely I'll keep a few razors, soaps, pens, etc. but come on - this madness is way too much.

Back to pens, I remembered I also have two Pelikans M1000 (one standard black and one Demonstrator) plus a MB 149. The MB is the "nothing extraordinary" item, ok smooth writer and quite practical but you pay a lot for the name. in any event if one should buy one of their pens, this is it. For all the rest they offer, there are much better options out there.

The Pelikans are very good pens, and the M1000s are very different than the one model below (the M800) in nib softness, flex ability and smoothness of writing. Quite wet writers, though.

Re the dozen or so Lamys I have (Safari, etc.) in a number of colour variations, a brief mention. Interesting to play with nib changes, their nibs are a hit and miss but the pen overall is a very good writer for the money. One drawback for me is the fairly light body weight and construction, which reduces the overall writing pleasure and control.

OMAS I do not plan to acquire one, may be perhaps if I come across in one of my business trips. Pity a brand name with centennial history to close down but again I'd stick with the idea (at least from my experiences) that better to have few good tools and squeeze enjoyment out of them every day and week, rather than keep collecting as if our years in this planet are eternal. But of course this is just my personal opinion.
 
I solicited the help of Rick/Charles Krantz that came highly recommended.
In addition to that I do feel a bit lucky living where I am as there is a dedicated group of pen enthusiasts that meet 2-3 times/month here and a couple of them are very skilled pen repair people :)

Also, the huge SF Pen convention is coming up in August where there will, amongst other things, be an 'ink testing station' featuring no less than 700(!) different inks!

You're a lucky chap, but I guess it's all location, location, location. There's nothing at all like that near me in the UK, and I suppose that if there is indeed anything near that scale, then it'll be in London, where I last went 20 years ago.
 
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