Time for a new pen

[sun_set_bravely]

I'm still going to investigate the repair of my old pen. But, based on my friends' comments on my last post, I think that this pen may be retired. It only cost about $25, and I don't know that this break is very fixable. I know when to let something go.

And anyway, it's time to expand my fountain pen horizons. I need a durable, not-super-expensive fountain pen that will stand up to daily use (and not too much abuse).

My LJ friends know much more about this subject than I do. What pens do you love? Where do you shop for them? I'm in Houston now, and although I can wait until next week to return to NYC to look for a new pen, I'm a little impatient. Are art stores a good place to start? Or are specific pen stores better?

Comments

Spoooons

[platofish.livejournal.com]

Parker pens are really durable, and reasonably priced.....where reasonably is around $90.

On-line seems to be a good place to buy pens these days, if you know exactly what you are looking for, otherwise, art or pen shops are the places to go.

[curmudgeon.livejournal.com]

I actually bought my favorite pen at Staples, or maybe it was Office Max, about 10 years ago. Waterman Laureate, about $70 at the time.

[roadnotes.livejournal.com]

I have a fondness for the Sheaffer Prelude, which runs about $45 at the Fountain Pen Hospital and probably a bit less at Pearl Paint. I have a really nice Waterman Hemisphere, which runs around $55 at FPH, and is a bit heavier in the hand.

What you might need to do is go on a field trip, test a few (FPH will let you dip a nib and try writing a bit with a pen, one of their virtues), and see how you like them. Or go with friends and friendly acquaintances with pen fetishes.

Art stores are less likely to let you try the pens, but sometimes have cheap ones.

[freak1c.livejournal.com]

Watermans are nice. I like my Aurora, but it's a little light, especially compared to my badass new left-handed fountain pen.

TAS is a good place to check - but kind of far perhaps. Yah really Office Max or Depot or whatever - they've got some decent stuff.

[eleanor.livejournal.com]

My two favortie everyday pens are my Tombow ofuntain pen, which was made to take cartridges byt does just fine with a converter, is pedendable, and writes beautifully -- I think it was i the $50-7- range, and my Parker 51. It's considered by many to be the best pen ever made, and I'd agree. It's probably possible to pick one up (if it's not one of the fancy models, and you're not concerned with looks) i the $50 range as well. The aerometric filler is best. If you want to come over for coffee before we head out to the Fountain Pen Hospital, I'll let you try mine.

FYI, while I love my two ivntage Parkeres, I've had nothing but trouble form my new Intrigue. It's beautiful, has a 14K gold nib, has been checked out and received a clean bill of health several times, and it just hates me.