Some writing samples of my new pens...[Modem Killer, Dialup Doom..etc]

[Ice Tea]

I have to admit - I've been one of the people that's taken the mickey out of bsodmike in the past for his watch collections/enthusiasm, but you know what - kudos to him for sharing his knowledge about something like this.

Look at it this way - if you went on to a fountain pen/calligraphy forum and started explaining to people how you spent 1 and a half grand building a quad core gaming rig with a SLI video card setup to get that extra few FPS out of your gaming, you'd probably get people thinking "Heh... loser - I bought my Dell PC for £300 and that does exactly what I want. Whey the hell do you need to spend that much?"

WHS Black Metal Cartridge Pen

£4.19

http://www.whsmith.co.uk/CatalogAndS...-32914603.html



Doesn't quite have the same appeal

[bsodmike]

How about an $160,000 / £ 105,314.74 Montblanc Fountain Pen

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jWQPKBVC8TI

London Jewelers features the Montblanc $160,000 fountain pen. 4,810 diamonds set in a platinum case. Only eight are made.

Those are the few pens that simply still allow Montblanc to stay in the pen making business. As a company, their expansion into luxury goods has been looked down on by many but I'm thankful that it allows them to keep bringing this amazing pieces of art to those who enjoy them

They also have been making great leather goods for many years; you do not want to see my Montblanc leather collection...I'm sure someone will throw something at me.... LOL!

[Ice Tea]

At the end when he puts the Montblanc down it looks like a diamond is sitting on the black matt behind the pen as if one had fallen out but i'm sure it must be a reflection.

[bsodmike]

At the end when he puts the Montblanc down it looks like a diamond is sitting on the black matt behind the pen as if one had fallen out but i'm sure it must be a reflection.

In all fairness one does not need to spend £100k on a Montblanc to get diamonds with it; in fact if they did in my book it would be in poor taste as quality is not always measured by quantity

Here's my far less extravagant Montblanc with a single 43-facet cut Top Wesselton diamond, cut into the shape of the Montblanc star,



My Starwalker Fineliner is on the right handside with the standard floating Montblanc star, notice the fire in the diamond on the left...







As a nice touch, the warranty booklet for this pen is rather thick with quite a bit of info on the 100 year history on Montblanc and the warranty portion also has a special section as a guarantee of authenticity of the diamond (mentioning that they are conflict free) along with grading of its 4Cs.

I found this great on-line article covering this special edition.

[Lee H]

I've tried fountain pens over the years but due to my style of writing and the pressure I exert the nibs tend to bend.

Any advice Mike or should I just stick to writing with biro's.

[bsodmike]

I've tried fountain pens over the years but due to my style of writing and the pressure I exert the nibs tend to bend.

Any advice Mike or should I just stick to writing with biro's.

I'm glad you asked that question Lee. Once again, that is simply due to a force of habit ~ the result of using biros for quite sometime.

You can get FPs with harder nibs (still 18K gold) and some that are soft and offer some flex. From my collection I would have to say the hardest nibs I have would belong to the Waterman Edson (~£700 retail) where you will find many reviews describe it as hard as a "nail". The next up would be the nib on the Parker Duofold Centennial (~£280 list).

What I'm trying to convey is that you would need to visit a decent pen shop and give the 'tester' pens a try. If you show that you are a serious customer and ready to buy a pen you will find that the staff will always be more accommodating. Try various brands and start off with say Lamy for example and work your way up to at least the Duofold. Do not settle for a pen shop where they do not even give you a tester to try. One that I can recommend is Pen Friend @ Burlington Arcade in Piccadilly, London.

I personally prefer nibs with a bit of flex as it not only adds to the enjoyment of writing but it tends to give some extra depth on downward strokes. No one should really stick with biro's until they have tried as many nibs they can ~ if you're still unhappy, at least you've tried!

[LWA]

WHS Black Metal Cartridge Pen

£4.19

http://www.whsmith.co.uk/CatalogAndS...-32914603.html



Doesn't quite have the same appeal

Wait a minute though, it's a bargain; the packet says £6.99!

[santa claus]

mmmm...love the Scott Fitzgerald with mother-of-pearl (my new fave) but the diamond adorned over £100k job just doesn't do it for me. The exclusivity is nice but that much decoration is OTT.

I've decided not to get one .

Incidentally, I've decided that all notes to santa this year must be written with an FP or look out all you kiddie-winkies. The only exception is where an FP is being asked for as a present. Go on, mums and dad's, get yer kids a real pen and show them how to use it

[TooNice]

Well, I just don't enjoy writing. I started using cartridge pen when I was 7 as it was compulsory at the school I went to before moving onto fountain pen. Later on, I ditched them for various type of pens (ball, roller etc.) not because I didn't like fountain pens, but out of convenience.

These days I use pencils a lot because I am learning a new language so find myself having to rub out/correct very often. And already, I am finding myself turning in homework more and more often. I have always been told that I have a nice handwriting, but unfortunately, I've been plagued with a slow handwriting from the start and no amount of practice has changed my writing speed relative to my peers. My typing speed on the other hand is quite reasonable.

That said, those are some nice looking pens, and good for you that you enjoy writing

[Ice Tea]

Wait a minute though, it's a bargain; the packet says £6.99!

Though i see that they no longer include the free ink refills that you used to get with budget pens.

[Butuz]

Such an interesting thread,

My hand writing is almost unreadable - it always has been. Don't think doctor, think senior consultant It's the reason I got interested in computers at such an early age - to avoid writing as much as possible. Sad but true!

I think I fancy giving a cheap fountain pen a try just to see if I can get the hang of it!

Butuz

[bsodmike]

David kindly sent this to me today, with his new Waterman...looks great! I personally like his style of writing too...



Will shortly post an update on much joy I have been having with FPs over the past week or so...

[Disturbedguy]

David who?

[dave87]

That'd be me

Pen is the Waterman Expert in Matt Black, not too pricey but I thought would give a decent introduction to Fountain Pens, see if I really get on with them.

Picture taken with my X1i, so not great quality, but gives you an idea of the pen

[Clunk]

Pen is

This.

[dave87]

This.

Must learn to make posts Clunk proof. No matter the time posted