cybersnark - If you could send me some scans of your pen or point me to a site where they have a pen like yours I could probably hook you up with someone who could get you a nice stub nib to fit that pen… they usually aren’t that expensive. If the nib is indeed interchangeable I am thinking you have an older Craftsman or Crest pen.
Stubs are preferable for every day writing as they don’t have the square/sharp edges found on an italic (calligraphy) nib. They’re my nib of choice and a stub for your pen will also probably be semi flexible.
If you send a scan please show the entire pen, the nib, and the filling system… lever? The other markings on the pen such as the stamp on the barrel and the markings on the nib will ensure an accurate identification.
I have a 1950’s Sheaffer Craftsman with a 14K 33 nib which is simply a delight to use. I found it in new condition and paid $13.00 Cdn for it… it would have been a steal at three times that amount.
Thea - The pen geek will help you find a good pen in the Vegas area…
I know I could have gotten a better price if I waited for another auction, but I was impatient, and it has the green pen; usually I only see the blue pen, and I’ve been lusting after the green.
Oh, and this is for Feynn:
e-Bay has two auctions currently for the 51 Flighter here. One ends in 3 days and the other in a week. Hope these could help you.
I swear, when I have more money, I’m gonna be a pen collector (commuting college student + caffeine addiction + $7/hr part time job == broke most of the time). The Phileas set is the first “me” thing I’ve bought in months, and I’m bouncing in anticipation of receiving the package!
With all this discussion of fountain pens and such, I feel like such a simpleton. I use only one type of pen: a Pilot BP-S fine point black ink pen. 3 to a pack at Wal-Mart. Used them since 6th grade and I’ve never gone back, although the G-2 does seem to be a nice model as well.
zweiss - I have two of those Wearevers, the other is identical except for the colour which is a grey and black striped pattern. The green one is a keeper (it is absolutely mint) while the grey and black one (near mint) will likely find it’s way to a new home. It’s either that or I complete the collection to include the other colours that they came in.
Jim Mamouldies has a great site that shows a Wearever Pacemaker which is almost identical to my other Deluxe (it has different filler) and a Zenith.
I find them all to be fairly well made pens and nice writers after you perform a little tweaking to the nibs.
The prices on them are variable, I have seen them go for as little as $15.00 and as much as $60.00. With most old pens you will likely have to replace the ink sac although the Wearevers I’ve found have still been in good working condition.
Take a look… the rest of the site is also awesome.
There are some things you need to consider when buying a Mont Blanc and this applies mostly to post 1960 models.
The resin they use is not as durable as the plastics other companies use so they may not withstand the same daily abuse.
Quality control seems to be inconsistent.
They are widely copied and their are many forgeries out there.
You want to make sure you are dealing with a reputable seller or authorized dealer and in the case of buying a new Mont Blanc, there is no such thing as a discount.
There’s nothing like coming home, checking the mailbox, and finding something other than bills and junk mail.
That was the situation yesterday when I found two parcels containing seven pens. Yes… seven.
I did my happy dance, you should have seen it.
3 were for parts while 3 more are British made Osmiroid fountain pens (not calligraphy pens) and one Parker 45 that is in great shape and suitable for daily use, as opposed to the mint in the box 45 flighter.
One of the Ossies falls into the “really rare” category and I am fortunate to have acquired this one. the other two are really nice “users” and one has already gone to a loving home where it will be properly cared for, fed, and used alot.
If my server wasn’t down for some routine maintainence I would upload more pics and post more links.
a) Before I let my wife wrap my new Parker 51 for Christmas, I tested it out. I love it. It writes soooooo smoothly.
b) I am having a little trouble with the new Private Reserve ink I bought for my Waterman Carene. I use an extra fine point nib and I’ve found that the Private Reserve ink is a little thicker than the Parker Quink I was using. Makes sense. The Private Reserve ink has a much better color saturation. So I’ve mixed a little of the Quink to get a little more consistent ink flow. So far so good.
I wouldn’t be able to stand it… having to wait to use something as lovely as a 51. I have read that the new 51’s write similarly to the vintage models despite the difference in the nib, feed, and filling system.
I found a nice looking vintage 51 (black with 1/10 gold filled cap) at the antique store down the street. The dealer told me it was sold to him by the original owners who purchased it in 1946. It needs to be refitted and I will return later to haggle over the price. There was also a beautiful 1940’s Duofold Vacumatic Jr. (with a matching pencil) there and I think I can probably get them all for $40.00 Cdn. The dealer knows nothing about pens…
I was really happy to have gotten another 45 that I can use every day… it too is another of Parker’s outstanding designs and an incredibly smooth writer despite the fine nib.
I did a nib servicing today on an extra fine nib and tried using Pelikan royal blue when the work was all done. It was a no go and I switched the ink to blue black Quink which worked just fine.
I have discovered that Pelikan violet is probably their thickest ink, the colour saturation is excellent but I wouldn’t make any promises that it would work in every pen. Even my venerable Vector didn’t like it very much.
I had fun with the Osmiroids I got, one 75 went to a client along with a customised Sheaffer pen and the other two are sitting in my pen case. The 65 now has a fine italic stub which writes like a wet dream while the 75 is simply beautiful.
I also found a vintage mint in the box Parker Jotter pen and pencil set in a Flighter version as well as a Rotring Art Pen with a 1.1 mm italic nib. I already have one Rotring and they write splendidly. At 7 inches they really don’t fit in a pocket very well so the one I have has been shortened so I can carry it in my shirt.
And still… I have no server access so no new pics. I am gonna have to make a call and see what’s going on.
