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Post by davidv on Dec 12, 2020 4:35:54 GMT
I feel like there's a certain amount of stumbling across what ends up being a great pen. I've got a medium-small collection of vintage pens and a few modern ones. Some just seem to have a magic combination of size, shape, weight, look, and writing characteristics. Some pens that I have are similar in terms of specs, but one is great while the other is just OK. Some of that probably comes down to variable condition and sizes of vintage pen nibs; there's a bit of "we'll just see what we get" with those.
I've been focusing on using the pens I've got more in the past few months and am enjoying figuring out which are my favourites and why.
Also, the shape and balance of desk pens is something I really like.
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Post by ole on Dec 12, 2020 15:23:45 GMT
I feel like there's a certain amount of stumbling across what ends up being a great pen. I've got a medium-small collection of vintage pens and a few modern ones. Some just seem to have a magic combination of size, shape, weight, look, and writing characteristics. . . .
"Stumbling across" describes my experience. Most of my pens just ended up in my possession without me making a choice, but I recently bought a 1920 Moore BCHR. It was cheap because it had a crack in the cap and showed scratches on the gold nib from some old repair. I never, ever post a pen, so this seemed like one made for me - though I did worry about the nib a bit. Anyway, the funky period application clip on the cap was the deciding factor in me buying it.
When it arrived, it was everything that I had imagined. Small, light and comfortable and looks every bit like 1920. But more than that, it turns out that it writes like no other pen I've tried. It is absolutely wonderful!
If it didn't have that funky clip I would never have bought it. How's that for stumbling.
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Post by sails on Dec 12, 2020 15:39:20 GMT
Not a fountain pen, per se, but on my desk, always filled, is an Esterbrook Dip Less pen and "hockey puck' inkwell in which it sits. I can fill it with any old ink (and do!), and one dip writes for a page, more or less. It feels nice in the hand, too. I really love it. So much that I have to force myself not to buy another or three or four or...
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Post by although on Dec 12, 2020 15:51:56 GMT
Desk pens are pretty great. I keep one inked up and ready to go all the time. For my money, pocket pens were a necessary but unfortunate adaptation of a proper pen so that it could be portable. Sort of like a laptop is to a proper computer. I always shake my head when I see them go begging for half the price of pocket pens on auction sites. Also, the fascination with holders that make a pocket pen work like a desk pen... why not just get a real honest to goodness desk pen?
I'm not saying that I don't like pocket pens... I've got more than my fair share. I just wonder why more people don't discover the real deal.
cheers! mike
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Post by sails on Dec 12, 2020 17:31:25 GMT
Desk pens are pretty great. I keep one inked up and ready to go all the time. For my money, pocket pens were a necessary but unfortunate adaptation of a proper pen so that it could be portable. Sort of like a laptop is to a proper computer. I always shake my head when I see them go begging for half the price of pocket pens on auction sites. Also, the fascination with holders that make a pocket pen work like a desk pen... why not just get a real honest to goodness desk pen? I'm not saying that I don't like pocket pens... I've got more than my fair share. I just wonder why more people don't discover the real deal. cheers! mike Are you TRYING to get me to buy more Esterbook Dip Less hockey pucks?
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Post by penguy on Dec 12, 2020 18:39:41 GMT
I feel like there's a certain amount of stumbling across what ends up being a great pen. I've got a medium-small collection of vintage pens and a few modern ones. Some just seem to have a magic combination of size, shape, weight, look, and writing characteristics. . . .
"Stumbling across" describes my experience. Most of my pens just ended up in my possession without me making a choice, but I recently bought a 1920 Moore BCHR. It was cheap because it had a crack in the cap and showed scratches on the gold nib from some old repair. I never, ever post a pen, so this seemed like one made for me - though I did worry about the nib a bit. Anyway, the funky period application clip on the cap was the deciding factor in me buying it.
When it arrived, it was everything that I had imagined. Small, light and comfortable and looks every bit like 1920. But more than that, it turns out that it writes like no other pen I've tried. It is absolutely wonderful!
If it didn't have that funky clip I would never have bought it. How's that for stumbling. Ole, I'm a Moore person, love the pens. My first vintage pen was a Moore I picked up at an antique store for $5.00. That really started me with Moores and now I have about 20. I love their flex nibs and they produced some beautiful pens. But the Black hard rubber pens may not look the best but they can be some fine writers. Recently I picked up some ringtops for under $40.00 on eBay and most only needed a new sac. Congratulations on stumbling onto a very good brand of pen.
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Post by ole on Dec 12, 2020 19:33:44 GMT
Ole, I'm a Moore person, love the pens. My first vintage pen was a Moore I picked up at an antique store for $5.00. That really started me with Moores and now I have about 20. I love their flex nibs and they produced some beautiful pens. But the Black hard rubber pens may not look the best but they can be some fine writers. Recently I picked up some ringtops for under $40.00 on eBay and most only needed a new sac. Congratulations on stumbling onto a very good brand of pen. Thanks. Yes, I saw that you were into Moore. There's not much information about them on the net. For some reason fountain pen people don't seem to republish old catalogues. Mine is an L-82. Do you know anything about that model? As for black hard rubber not looking the best? What! lol To me they are the most beautiful pens ever made. Well, maybe also red hard rubber. I really like the subtlety in the surface of that material. To me it just sings. But then I'm a bit unusual that way and generally eschew anything new and shiny.
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Post by allanorn on Dec 12, 2020 21:52:32 GMT
Desk pens are pretty great. I keep one inked up and ready to go all the time. For my money, pocket pens were a necessary but unfortunate adaptation of a proper pen so that it could be portable. Sort of like a laptop is to a proper computer. I always shake my head when I see them go begging for half the price of pocket pens on auction sites. Also, the fascination with holders that make a pocket pen work like a desk pen... why not just get a real honest to goodness desk pen? I'm not saying that I don't like pocket pens... I've got more than my fair share. I just wonder why more people don't discover the real deal. cheers! mike I have a Sheaffer Snorkel desk pen that I picked up for $10 at the end of a San Francisco Pen Show. It needs to be restored. I could see it residing on a desk for quick notes but staying in the holder for longer missives; it’s simply too thin to grip for long periods of handwriting for me.
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Post by davidv on Dec 13, 2020 0:28:02 GMT
<abbr> </abbr>it’s simply too thin to grip for long periods of handwriting for me. I understand what you're saying. I've got a snorkel and a thin model touchdown, and they're pretty thin. I don't have the desk pen versions though. I for sure have to consciously lighten up my grip with those, but I find I can get used to the thinness after a while. It sounds like you got a nice bargain! I was at a vintage fair a couple years ago and got a Parker 51 desk pen in very shiny condition for $15. I think it's my best find in terms of value to $ ratio. I'm guessing it was a gift that was used once or twice and put away.
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Post by davidv on Dec 13, 2020 0:36:45 GMT
Desk pens are pretty great. I keep one inked up and ready to go all the time. For my money, pocket pens were a necessary but unfortunate adaptation of a proper pen so that it could be portable. Sort of like a laptop is to a proper computer. I always shake my head when I see them go begging for half the price of pocket pens on auction sites. Also, the fascination with holders that make a pocket pen work like a desk pen... why not just get a real honest to goodness desk pen? I'm not saying that I don't like pocket pens... I've got more than my fair share. I just wonder why more people don't discover the real deal. cheers! mike
Yes, I hear what you're saying. For me there are 3 great features of the desk pen.
1. The convenience of quickly grabbing and setting down in the socket.
2. The balance and feel from the extra length of the taper
3. The looks of the item on the desk.
Especially for vintage pens the price discount on desk pens is odd. Unfortunately I often see them without their bases, or with wrong bases.
I get why people would be interested in those holders, as they would get the ability to pick up and put down the pen like a real desk pen, but they'd miss out on the taper and some of the looks element I think.
It feels like making a nice modern desk pen could be low hanging fruit for someone to make. It feels like there'd be enough people out there who could be persuaded to like one, especially if the material looked really nice. Even something like the old Parker Duofolds, where you could screw on a taper to convert between desk pen mode and pocket pen mode.
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Post by davidv on Dec 13, 2020 0:58:51 GMT
Not a fountain pen, per se, but on my desk, always filled, is an Esterbrook Dip Less pen and "hockey puck' inkwell in which it sits. I can fill it with any old ink (and do!), and one dip writes for a page, more or less. It feels nice in the hand, too. I really love it. So much that I have to force myself not to buy another or three or four or... Those do seem pretty cool!
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Post by penguy on Dec 13, 2020 1:16:00 GMT
Ole, I'm a Moore person, love the pens. My first vintage pen was a Moore I picked up at an antique store for $5.00. That really started me with Moores and now I have about 20. I love their flex nibs and they produced some beautiful pens. But the Black hard rubber pens may not look the best but they can be some fine writers. Recently I picked up some ringtops for under $40.00 on eBay and most only needed a new sac. Congratulations on stumbling onto a very good brand of pen. Thanks. Yes, I saw that you were into Moore. There's not much information about them on the net. For some reason fountain pen people don't seem to republish old catalogues. Mine is an L-82. Do you know anything about that model? As for black hard rubber not looking the best? What! lol To me they are the most beautiful pens ever made. Well, maybe also red hard rubber. I really like the subtlety in the surface of that material. To me it just sings. But then I'm a bit unusual that way and generally eschew anything new and shiny. If you have a beautifully cared for chased black hard rubber pen they are beautiful. But a lot of them have been exposed to the sun and turn ugly brown or sort of green....but they write beautifully. My grail pen is a Moore and I happened to pick one up last year its a L-96 Tuscan, I believe it is the largest pen Moore made. If you want some information on Moores check out rosspens.com. He collects Moores so you won't find any for sale on his site but he has some good information. He is also an excellent guy to buy from providing you are looking for vintage pens other than a Moore.
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Post by davidv on Dec 13, 2020 3:56:38 GMT
My grail pen is a Moore and I happened to pick one up last year its a L-96 Tuscan, I believe it is the largest pen Moore made.
That model does look really beautiful. In a similar style, I find those early plastic Wahl-Eversharp flat tops to be just wonderful to look at. I really like the look of some of the Dorics too. Unfortunately they're a bit too uncommon/expensive in these parts for to likely ever get one.
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