Quote:
Originally Posted by I~LUV~Caddys8792  I'd like a nice fountain pen, but I can't justify spending $50 on a pen. |
Fifty bucks - that's a disposable pen.
I will admit I don't use fountain pens (I'm left handed - gets messy), but I do own several fine writing instruments the most expensive being a 1993 Mont Blanc I bought with my first royalty check from an invention. I currently (that is if my boxes are still around - I haven't unpacked them since I retired in 01) own two Pelicans, a Mont Blanc, a Visconte, a Stipula, three Rotrings, two exclusive Lamys, and a dozen or so Y & C and Niji multifunctions.
I actually got into pens when I was engineering the YF-22 Electronic Warfare suite. I would come home with three pens and two pencils in my pocket and the wife said, "...short of the horned rimmed glasses and pocket protector," I had become a geek. She then presented me with my first multi-function writing instrument, a 24 KT Niji with three pens and a pencil - gravity fed.
While searching for more of the same, I came upon the Rotring line, which quickly led to the Monte Blac and Pelican. While my focus remained multifunction pens, the action and flow of other fine rollerballs (as my dad would describe his infrequent impulse purchases "reached out and grabbed me by the collar and slapped me till I bought it!") The Visconte, Stipula, and limited edition Lamys were purchased in Europe back when the dollar was strong.
Back to the $50 comment. The Y&C and NiJi pens are daily use. Lost and had stolen probably twice as many as I own with a starting price of $40 and at least three that I own over $300 (two Gold and a Platinum and yes I said daily use). In the early days, I learned how to keep up with my pens with the $40-100 units. And after I hadn't lost one in a year, I quickly move up the ladder. Hell I replaced the stylus of my TabletPC that I use for the car with one that was $295 in 1998 and the ink cartridges are from Space Pens (write upside down).
Here, too, much like the fine watch thread you get what you pay for. Some just make a statement, others are true supercars. I will admit, I tested several pens just because of the brand names on them, but what sold me for the ones I own was the feel, the weight and balance, and finally the stroke and flow of actually writing with the instrument.