Help for picking fountain pens

Daisy Buchanan · Sep 20, 2006

binkmeisterRick said:
Hem, what were you doing trying to write with a rubber noodle in the first place?[huh]

Daisy, does your Cartier accept a converter at all? I believe converters come in a couple different sizes, though not all cartdridge pens will accept a converter.

I was told that it won't accept a converter at all, but I'm going to do some research on it. It would be great if I could get a converter for it. It is a smaller fountain pen, I didn't know that they made converters small enough for it. Thanks for the infor, I'm definitley going to see if it will accept a converter, and if so, try to find one small enough to fit it.

binkmeisterRick · Sep 20, 2006

Doug said:
Go to an antiques fountain pen dealer and buy yourself a nice Parker Vacumatic from the 1930 or 40's. These pens were the ball points of their day. They were inexpensive, but were designed to be used a great deal.

Actually, they weren't as cheap as you might think. 7-12 bucks for a pen in the 30's and 40's was nothing to be scoffed at. It was still a pen you laid down a decent chunk of change for. Yet the Vacumatics are fantastic pens. I have a 1937 Vacumatic that belonged to my grandfather which still writes as good as new. I had it refurbished, but you could tell he wrote a LOT with this pen. I also have a 1947 Vacumatic which also writes beautifully. I must admit, though, that I'm still favoring my 1926 Jr. Duofold. Parker pens work very well for me. I think Parker nibs are great for lefties, which is probably why I write with one so often.

binkmeisterRick · Sep 20, 2006

Daisy Buchanan said:
I was told that it won't accept a converter at all, but I'm going to do some research on it. It would be great if I could get a converter for it. It is a smaller fountain pen, I didn't know that they made converters small enough for it. Thanks for the infor, I'm definitley going to see if it will accept a converter, and if so, try to find one small enough to fit it.

It could very well be that a converter won't fit this pen, but it's worth looking into.

magneto · Sep 21, 2006

Daisy Buchanan said:
I was told that it won't accept a converter at all, but I'm going to do some research on it. It would be great if I could get a converter for it. It is a smaller fountain pen, I didn't know that they made converters small enough for it.

There are definately converters for small pens, maybe something like this:
(quoted from a pen sales website)
"3. Aerometric-type Bantam converter. This is a short converter, which will fit those pens that only take a single international type "short" cartridge.
Gold plated finish; this is the only converter that will fit many pens that
could only use cartridges because of their short length. Price $3.50"

The pen dealer quoted from is Tryphon (sorry I don't have a direct link handy but they do online sales and the owner is a frequent presence on alt.collecting.pencils-pens).

Daisy Buchanan · Sep 22, 2006

magneto said:
There are definately converters for small pens, maybe something like this:
(quoted from a pen sales website)
"3. Aerometric-type Bantam converter. This is a short converter, which will fit those pens that only take a single international type "short" cartridge.
Gold plated finish; this is the only converter that will fit many pens that
could only use cartridges because of their short length. Price $3.50"

The pen dealer quoted from is Tryphon (sorry I don't have a direct link handy but they do online sales and the owner is a frequent presence on alt.collecting.pencils-pens).

Thank you so much, Magneto, for this very helpful information. I'm going to get one and give it a try. It's a small investment. Thanks

I finally got the Cartier in the mail today. Wow, it is amazing. The perfect size for my little hands, and it write beautifully. I got the fine point, and it is not scratchy at all, and writes smoothly from all different angles. I've gotta lay off on the pen buying now, I've gone a little too nuts lately!

Thanks again Magneto, that is exactly what I was looking for. It's just so much nicer to use ink from the bottle instead of pre-filled cartridges.

magneto · Sep 23, 2006

Daisy Buchanan said:
...
Thanks again Magneto, that is exactly what I was looking for. It's just so much nicer to use ink from the bottle instead of pre-filled cartridges.

You're very welcome...and I sure hear you about the ink bottles!

John in Covina · Sep 24, 2006

Parker Duofold Junior 1926-28 in Fed Permanite

Well, Tuesday, I went to the Antiques Store in San Dimas and got this Parker Duofold Junoir that is in red permanite circa 1926-1928. Paid a little more than what I wanted but it was in good shape, seemingly.

Got over to the Fountain Pen Shop to see Fred and he was working on a project pen with John R. having to do with Parker Vacumatics, the ones with the circular layers of clear and color from around the 40's. Secret!

Anyway, the Junoir got disassembled and needed some Ultrasonic cleaner time for the parts, as the ink was in there good. Most of the staining came out. They cleaned it out pretty good. The barrel has the small Duofold Lucky Cure imprint with is pretty crisp. As so many before it have had their original nib replaced this has a later Duofold nib. It had been fiddled with as the Pressure bar was missing. THe nib was tweaked, so Fred worked his magic with it and it's pretty good, but needs a little smoothing since we ran out of time.

Inked it with some blue Parker Quink ink and away we went. So here is a 78 to 80 year old pen returned to service and a really great looking item in the flat top pen era.

I got it smoothed out today and it gives a deliciously wet line.

Daisy Buchanan · Sep 24, 2006

magneto said:
You're very welcome...and I sure hear you about the ink bottles!

I ended up ordering one just like the one you showed me. I hope it fits and that it works in the pen I got. But if not, I still love the pen. It writes so nice and fine, with no scratchiness.
Yes, using ink bottles does have such a romance to it. I'm also learning that I'm partial to the Waterman Blue ink. I used to like the Black Noir that they made, it was a blue/black in color. But the straight up blue is so nice and bright. I have been using it in all of my pens.

Daisy Buchanan · Sep 24, 2006

John in Covina said:
Well, Tuesday, I went to the Antiques Store in San Dimas and got this Parker Duofold Junoir that is in red permanite circa 1926-1928. Paid a little more than what I wanted but it was in good shape, seemingly.

Got over to the Fountain Pen Shop to see Fred and he was working on a project pen with John R. having to do with Parker Vacumatics, the ones with the circular layers of clear and color from around the 40's. Secret!

Anyway, the Junoir got disassembled and needed some Ultrasonic cleaner time for the parts, as the ink was in there good. Most of the staining came out. They cleaned it out pretty good. The barrel has the small Duofold Lucky Cure imprint with is pretty crisp. As so many before it have had their original nib replaced this has a later Duofold nib. It had been fiddled with as the Pressure bar was missing. THe nib was tweaked, so Fred worked his magic with it and it's pretty good, but needs a little smoothing since we ran out of time.

Inked it with some blue Parker Quink ink and away we went. So here is a 78 to 80 year old pen returned to service and a really great looking item in the flat top pen era.

I got it smoothed out today and it gives a deliciously wet line.

Oohh, that sounds like a beauty of a pen. I have yet to buy an actual vintage fountain pen, but have found some great ones on line. For now, all shopping is on hold (HA

).
I had no idea that they cleaned out pens with ultrasonics. Glad to hear the expensive machines are being used for other things besides teeth! I guess if they can remove calculus, a very hard substance of minerals, then it would be great at removing ink. I hear they are also great for cleaning jewellery.

John in Covina · Sep 24, 2006

Calculus 101

Daisy Buchanan said:
I had no idea that they cleaned out pens with ultrasonics. Glad to hear the expensive machines are being used for other things besides teeth! I guess if they can remove calculus, a very hard substance of minerals, then it would be great at removing ink. I hear they are also great for cleaning jewellery.

Wow! I always thought calculus was that math that was always over my head.

A college cheer I heard while visiting a friend from the Beta House At Columbia University in the Late 70's:

D to the X!
D-u, D-X!
D-x, D-x, D-x!
Secant, Tangent, Cosine, Sine!
Three point one four One Five Nine!
Go grubs!

For the guys taking Calculus for the first time.

At Plattsburgh, I threw up my hands in the first class and dropped it, concepts were flying by me and over my head at supersonic speeds.

Plus the teaching style put me at odds with the staff. College proffesors, I still don't understand the concept of a teaching profession that prides itself on not actually teaching.

Daisy Buchanan · Sep 24, 2006

Oh, believe me, I'm in no way talking about the Calculus that is taught in schools and called Math. I wouldn't know where to begin, in a discussion of that calculus. I took it, hated it, was terrible at it. Math just isn't my thang!
But, thanks for the cheer, it was, well, it was, Hmmmmm, I just don't know

John in Covina · Sep 24, 2006

Vintage or New

Daisy Buchanan said:
Oohh, that sounds like a beauty of a pen. I have yet to buy an actual vintage fountain pen, but have found some great ones on line. For now, all shopping is on hold (HA )

Vintage is a whole new ball game. You get time honored designs, materials and craftsmenship that is not present today and history. THere are some wonderful pens made today and I have some, but for every new pen I have 3 vintage ones. The colors and patterns cannot be duplicated today without great expense. Some of the nib styles are made or offered only by a few manufacturers now. Vintage for me is mostly a good oppourtunity, I find something that can be restored fairly easily and clean it up usually first so the repair time is more on replacing sacks and getting the nib right.

If you like fountain pens try to find a local club. The shops will often have contact info or do an on line search maybe. It helps because, at the club meetings, people will do their best to help you with finding a specific pen, repairs and general information. Plus they become your support group for your growing pen habit.:eusa_clap

SIncedrely,

Miss Neecerie · Sep 24, 2006

John in Covina said:
Well, Tuesday, I went to the Antiques Store in San Dimas and got this Parker Duofold Junoir that is in red permanite circa 1926-1928. Paid a little more than what I wanted but it was in good shape, seemingly.

Got over to the Fountain Pen Shop to see Fred and he was working on a project pen with John R. having to do with Parker Vacumatics, the ones with the circular layers of clear and color from around the 40's. Secret!

Hehe....I was at Fred's yesterday too! I got my Esterbrook J resaced and working and my Waterman nib realigned and cleaned out.

Must have just missed you...

McPeppers · Sep 25, 2006

Well as per request heres my new-old fountain pen in all its stainless steel glory.

Anyhow when it got here I noticed the few bumps in its casing but its stainless steel... My wastebaskets from this year have more dings than this 1970's pen so I was (obviously) excited. Seems this pen hadnt seen daylight since the last use only 5 years after purchase and it's ink cartridge was dried up... when I yanked it out I was greeted with a puff of blue smoke.

The nib itself was encrusted with old ink aswell but since this was original MB ink all it needed was a little bit of water to get it cleared up (and on my fingers)

Its actually still writing with the rewetted ink, so since this isnt going to be writing any legal documents soon i'mma let the old ink have one last hurrah. Already have a converter for this size pen so once this ink is toast *shrug* hehe.

(and even though its watered down...WOW this ink is nice lol)

Edit: On a side note my neighbors must think I've lost my mind. My gardener bailed on me after katrina and my backyard has shoulder-heigh weeds in it (just got a new gardener lined up for tuesday...score) so I'm out there in the pouring rain with my rain-jacket and brown fedora hacking a path to my back shed with a Machete... lol... fun times.

Hemingway Jones · Sep 25, 2006

The Mont Blanc symbol on the cap is supposed to look like the glacier on Mont Blanc.

I like that pen; it is very interesting. I don't think I would like the steel in my hand for writing, but I would love to add it to my collection.

Daisy Buchanan · Sep 25, 2006

I like it too, it's a great looking pen. Enjoy

binkmeisterRick · Sep 25, 2006

John in Covina said:
Well, Tuesday, I went to the Antiques Store in San Dimas and got this Parker Duofold Junoir that is in red permanite circa 1926-1928. Paid a little more than what I wanted but it was in good shape, seemingly.

Sounds like my Duofold Jr! My Junior Red dates 1926 and has a nice Lucky Curve imprint on it. It's all original and has a letter imprint on the nib identifying it as a Canadian nib, even though it's a U.S.A. body. Bert at Pen Haven told me that sometimes Parker U.S.A. would use Canadian nibs on their U.S. pens because they were great nibs. (Shoot, it's not like the Canadian border is that far from Wisconsin.

) Heck, I like mine! But he assured me it was the original nib with the pen. Either way, everything is proper vintage on this pen. It's in fantastic shape -- near mint, except that I write with it.

Daisy, one reason why I'd recommend a vintage Parker Duofold, if you want a vintage pen, is that the filling mechanism is incredibly easy to use and exceptionally efficient. Just dip the pen in the inkwell, push the small button at the end, release, and you've got a pen full of ink. Many pen collectors I've talked to consider the classic Duofold button filler system to be the best filling design of vintage pens...

Hemingway Jones · Oct 5, 2006

Here are a couple of pictures of my Cartier Diablo. I love the substantial feel of this pen and the beauty of the lacquer.

This is now my favorite and I carry it always.

Daisy Buchanan · Oct 5, 2006

Great pictures of a beautiful pen. I know why you'd be happy with it, for I have the Diablo Mini, and it writes quite beautifully.
Enjoy it, a handsome gentleman deserves such a handsome pen.

John in Covina · Oct 6, 2006

Diablo classic

I really like the carbuchon on the end of the cap. There was a time when many pens featured a "jewel" at the ends and it looks classy.

Best wishes with it, now go out and get a variety of inks to try!

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