Basic but decent fountain pen

[Curator]

About 20 years ago, I bought a Parker fountain pen (for less than £10 no doubt).

Problem is, it keeps leaking from the nib to the black bit.

Not sure if it's because I'm using it wrong or what - only just started using it.

Considering another one but wouldn't want to spend more than £10 again as not sure if I'll keep using it or not.

Any advice?

 

[Digimonkey]

Hello mate - pretty much all the ink writing I do is with a fountain pen - some are good - some are not - including many that - at a greater price - ought to be much better - drying out, or just pishing ink everywhere - for no readily apparent reason - within your stated budget - and from personal experience - I have used all of these models - and can recommend - the links are to a UK supplier - I have no idea where you are in the world - but you should be able to source them in most markets -

Pilot VPen (V4) Disposable Fountain Pen

Pilot VPen (V4) Disposable Fountain Pen <i class="product-data" data-product-vat="20">£4.75</i> In stock now for fast UK and worldwide shipping.

www.cultpens.com

Bomb-proof - but are not refillable - for the cost - a superb nib. They will stay wet for weeks between uses.

Monami Olika Fountain Pen Fine

Monami Olika Fountain Pen Fine <i class="product-data" data-product-vat="20">£3.49</i> In stock now for fast UK and worldwide shipping.

www.cultpens.com

For the price - a stand-out - takes standard international refills - or - surprisingly a converter - but I wouldn't bother with the latter option. A pig to clean between ink colour changes.

Zebra Disposable Fountain Pen

Zebra Disposable Fountain Pen <i class="product-data" data-product-vat="20">£2.25</i> In stock now for fast UK and worldwide shipping.

www.cultpens.com

In terms of the best writing experience of the pens I am highlighting - this would be my choice. Not refillable.

Platinum Preppy Fountain Pen Crystal

Platinum Preppy Fountain Pen Crystal <i class="product-data" data-product-vat="20">£4.99</i> In stock now for fast UK and worldwide shipping.

www.cultpens.com

My second choice of the above - refillable but, with propriety Platinum sized cartridges - not a problem really - as they are easily available and cheap - you can use international standard refills - but you'd need to get a converter cap - probably not worth the hassle.

Bear in mind - that all these pens are Japanese made - so - when they describe a medium nib - it means fine in European standards - extra fine - even more so - so - if your writing needs a broad line - you are going to have to stick another £5 or £10 on your budget - to get something suitable - ditto - stub, italic or flex nibs. Hope this helps - yours - I.

@Blademonkey

 

[Manstein]

If you shop around theres the Parker "Jotter" fountain pen which can be picked for around £10-12. Not sure if its cartridge or reservoir ink supply.

 

[Digimonkey]

If you shop around theres the Parker "Jotter" fountain pen which can be picked for around £10-12. Not sure if its cartridge or reservoir ink supply.

The world of pens - and particularly fountain pens - seems much like razor porn. . Each to their own. - I.

Beginner fountain pen buyers deserve better than the Parker Jotter

Let me be bold and say this: the Parker Jotter is a pretty bad fountain pen. But before I explain why, let me clarify a couple of starting principles: I have deep, fond memories of Parker fountain …

ukfountainpens.com

 

[Manstein]

The world of pens - and particularly fountain pens - seems much like razor porn. . Each to their own. - I.

Beginner fountain pen buyers deserve better than the Parker Jotter

Let me be bold and say this: the Parker Jotter is a pretty bad fountain pen. But before I explain why, let me clarify a couple of starting principles: I have deep, fond memories of Parker fountain …

ukfountainpens.com

HaHa not quite Montblanc is it! I've still got a pair of Parker 51's from the 1970's. It seems the eastern brands own the sub £20 market.

 

[Tony'schin]

The world of pens - and particularly fountain pens - seems much like razor porn. . Each to their own. - I.

Beginner fountain pen buyers deserve better than the Parker Jotter

Let me be bold and say this: the Parker Jotter is a pretty bad fountain pen. But before I explain why, let me clarify a couple of starting principles: I have deep, fond memories of Parker fountain …

ukfountainpens.com

Actually a good read, when I went to school, which I missed little, we were expected to write with fountain pens, especially English, I can honestly say I had very nice hand writing; those wraps on the knuckles or Red Scrawl across your homework put pay to sloppiness.
Now I use ballpoint and write like a spider has just walked through the ink pot.

Must try harder

 

[Digimonkey]

. It seems the eastern brands own the sub £20 market.

This indeed seems to be the case - although - most of my script pens - as opposed to just normal writing pens - are Lamy - German made I think? My go to pen? - a Platinum rhodium tipped 3776 music nib - not the most expensive - but also not the cheapest - Noodlers - the ink company - make some great - proper - flex nibs - they take the paper lovely - but get a bit hissy if you don't use them enough. They don't cost much though. For dramatic lettering - the Kaweco - three tine nib - pretty much kept back for envelope labels - otherwise you'd get seasick reading it. If the op moved to £20 - or thereabouts - any Kaweco Sport model would do. A choice of nibs too. I've never known a pen less likely to dry out between uses - if you don't use it that much - looks so small as to be useless - but when capped - it fits entirely comfortably into my navvy sized hand. - I.

Kaweco Sport | Cult Pens

The original pocket fountain pen. Classic, aluminium, brass and steel versions. All in stock for fast UK and worldwide shipping.

www.cultpens.com

 

[Manstein]

Thats a coincidence I own a Kaweco brass fountain pen and it always writes first time. Not sure if I like the long cap design but thats merely personal preference.

 

[Digimonkey]

we were expected to write with fountain pens, especially English

That's interesting - I was only allowed to use pencils at primary school - then ink at secondary - but only shite ball-points - I must have learned the basics though - subsequently - I have been complemented on my handwriting - but - here is the caveat - good - for a man! What - do girls write more legibly than us? By default - no - I don't think so. I am even more of a pencil snob than fountain pens - next to me - I am working intensely on a proof reading job at the moment - my tray of bits and pieces - that I use to annotate print outs - before going back to the screen - Word - mark changes - a Mars Lumograph pencil - B grade - a Caran d'Ache Fluo highlighter, Staedtler Mars plastic eraser , Platinum fountain pen and a pile of a5 post it notes. Old and new technology. @DukeCaboom - sorry for taking your thread off topic - but at least you know that all that contributed care about our writing instruments - - I.

 

[pjgh]

I'm actually quite a fan of the Jotter - it's super-lightweight with a really nice flow. Kinda like using a 1970s Tech.

Otherwise, Parker Vector for a bit more class. Still cost-effective and you can go for the all metal 'Flighter' for very reasonable money. Shaving equivalent would be a 1950s Tech - classic but developed and solid-feeling. You can pick up a Vector months down the line and it won't be dried up. Use Parker ink. Get a matching rollerball?

 

[Manstein]

This reminiscing is a bit worrying as I started off at school with slates and chalk and progressed to inkwells and dip pens. Digimonkeys stationary fetishes rang a bell and drawers were searched for this won in a German photo comp 20 years ago the pen that is!

 

[pjgh]

While we're reminiscing I remember something like this at middle school:

I guess kids use something like this nowadays:

 

[Blademonkey]

Hello mate - pretty much all the ink writing I do is with a fountain pen - some are good - some are not - including many that - at a greater price - ought to be much better - drying out, or just pishing ink everywhere - for no readily apparent reason - within your stated budget - and from personal experience - I have used all of these models - and can recommend - the links are to a UK supplier - I have no idea where you are in the world - but you should be able to source them in most markets -

Pilot VPen (V4) Disposable Fountain Pen

Pilot VPen (V4) Disposable Fountain Pen <i class="product-data" data-product-vat="20">£4.75</i> In stock now for fast UK and worldwide shipping.

www.cultpens.com

Bomb-proof - but are not refillable - for the cost - a superb nib. They will stay wet for weeks between uses.

Monami Olika Fountain Pen Fine

Monami Olika Fountain Pen Fine <i class="product-data" data-product-vat="20">£3.49</i> In stock now for fast UK and worldwide shipping.

www.cultpens.com

For the price - a stand-out - takes standard international refills - or - surprisingly a converter - but I wouldn't bother with the latter option. A pig to clean between ink colour changes.

Zebra Disposable Fountain Pen

Zebra Disposable Fountain Pen <i class="product-data" data-product-vat="20">£2.25</i> In stock now for fast UK and worldwide shipping.

www.cultpens.com

In terms of the best writing experience of the pens I am highlighting - this would be my choice. Not refillable.

Platinum Preppy Fountain Pen Crystal

Platinum Preppy Fountain Pen Crystal <i class="product-data" data-product-vat="20">£4.99</i> In stock now for fast UK and worldwide shipping.

www.cultpens.com

My second choice of the above - refillable but, with propriety Platinum sized cartridges - not a problem really - as they are easily available and cheap - you can use international standard refills - but you'd need to get a converter cap - probably not worth the hassle.

Bear in mind - that all these pens are Japanese made - so - when they describe a medium nib - it means fine in European standards - extra fine - even more so - so - if your writing needs a broad line - you are going to have to stick another £5 or £10 on your budget - to get something suitable - ditto - stub, italic or flex nibs. Hope this helps - yours - I.

@Blademonkey

+1 for the Zebra disposable fountain pen, you can buy a pack of three for under a tenner, cheap but good pens!
P.

 

[Curator]

This is mine:


I guess it's the standard "jotter"?

Will take a look at some of the others linked and give them a go.

I did have a disposable one once and I remember it being fairly nice to write with but didn't think about those now.

 

[pjgh]

Yep! Also called the 15. That's a 'Flighter' model - metal casing. I like 'em ...