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Pen recommendations
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In article , BLandolf
writes: No, Dik. The high-end Namikis go directly to me (esp. those disgusting raden lacquered ones like the Nightline). What are you - an only child?! You have to learn how to SHARE, young lady. Dik |
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Hi, Glen!
$200 can get you a beautiful pen, and there are a lot of options open to you at that price. Things to look for: If the gift is for a man, a full sized pen is the way to go, something that will look slick with a suit and tie. If it's for a woman, go for a compact pen she can fit into a purse, day-runner or checkbook. Unless the recipient is a collector or an irredeemable antique-hound with really specific ideas about what they want, don't go with a vintage pen. It's too easy to get taken by unscrupulous dealers if you aren't on top of the market, and unless it's in absolute mint condition (it won't be at your price), it can come accross as a cheap rather than a thoughtful gift, despite its actual worth. Most new pens, even the really pricey ones, are simply plastic. A high price tag is no gurantee the pen won't feel and look cheap, especially in "basic black". On the other hand, brightly colored "celluloid" pens are very eye catching, and that sort of plastic has a pleasing heft to it. Even if the brand isn't immediately recognized, a high quality pen stands out just the way a fine quality watch does. Filcao, Cesare Emilano, Conklin and Monteverde make excellent celluloid pens in the $80-$150 range. Filcao also has silver and rosewood pens. The Rotring 600 is a heavy, macho pen machined from steel that can be used as a pry-bar or self defense weapon in a pinch. Great for mechanichs, engineers, tradesmen and geeks. Fountain pens are very classy, but also somewhat high maintenance, requiring regular use and care. If the gift's recipient is't likely to use it once a month or so, or just isn't the type to enjoy messing about with neat things for the sake of messing about with neat things, a rollerball and pencil combo might be a better choice. A fountain pen will have more "wow" power, tho. If you go with a fountain pen, a gold nib isn't neccessarily a "better" nib than a steel one, though it can send the right message in a gift. Also, some pens, like all of the Pelikan Souverans, are designed to fill straight from an ink bottle, while most others take cartridges. If you give them a "filler", make sure to give them a bottle of ink to go along with it... the india ink you find at art supply stores will likely wreck the pen. Some models known for their attractiveness and quality in your range: Filcao Leader Filcao Forever (A tiny fountain pen that will tuck away anywhere.) Cesare Emilano Cassiopea (available with a gold nib!) Conklin Glider Pelikan M400 Monteverde Intima (both in FP and rollerball, perfect for a purse) Waterman Carene Namiki VanishingPoint Rotring 600 (Get a pen and pencil, and still be inside the budget.) Others will pipe in with their personal favorites, I'm sure. ~ Matt Gabriel, Mad Poet (GB) wrote in message . com... I think I will be buying a nice pen as a gift. I know NOTHING about pens and really need some links to good information on what to look for. Recommendations are great too. I'll spend up to $200 but could go a little higher. Thanks so much Glen |
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"GB" wrote in message
om... I think I will be buying a nice pen as a gift. I know NOTHING about pens and really need some links to good information on what to look for. Recommendations are great too. I'll spend up to $200 but could go a little higher. Thanks so much I am going to put in a vote for a new or old Parker 51. If you're getting it as a gift, and would like to make a nice presentation, etc, an all, go for the new. If you want to give an original and something that has character or history, go for a used. I was in NYC this past weekend and picked up a new Parker 51 Special Edition and was completely blown away by it. It's a little more than you want to spend but I think you can talk down the price a little. I did. This pen has shot to the top of my pen list. My previous top of the list was the Aurora Mare, which like the Parker 51 worked right, no problems at all, the first time, right out of the box. The new 51 tops the Mare because it's just so much SMOOOOOOTHER. The Mare writes fluidly. The 51 GLIDES across the paper. When I bought my first fountain pens a few years ago, it was tough because so many pens didn't work "exactly" right, right out of the box. I used to hear the gibberish about "breaking it in", and "letting the pen get used to your writing style" etc. I have a Waterman Carene that leaks around the nib. I have an Ancora that needed to be sent back to Italy for repair. With the Mare, the Parker 51 and a few others, you'll learn that those phrases are to cover up poor quality control. Getting a pen is a nice gift. Getting a fountain pen is a special gift. Getting fountain pen that works right, right out of the box is a treasure. Finally, getting a Parker 51, new or old, as a gift would be sublime. |
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On Tue, 26 Aug 2003 11:39:58 -0400, "Robert Chin"
wrote: snip With the Mare, the Parker 51 and a few others, you'll learn that those phrases are to cover up poor quality control.... Not to rain on your parade, Robert, but the new 51s (both colors) had major problems with the barrels cracking (flat out terrible plastic). Parker made new barrels and sent them to all their distributors. Make sure yours has one of the new barrels on it so it doesn't spontenously crack in a few months. --- Bernadette |
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"BLandolf" wrote in message
... Not to rain on your parade, Robert, but the new 51s (both colors) had major problems with the barrels cracking (flat out terrible plastic). Parker made new barrels and sent them to all their distributors. Make sure yours has one of the new barrels on it so it doesn't spontenously crack in a few months. --- Bernadette Thanks for the heads up. Is there a way to check, or should I just call Parker? Bob |
#9
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On Tue, 26 Aug 2003 14:11:10 -0400, "Robert Chin"
wrote: "BLandolf" wrote in message .. . Not to rain on your parade, Robert, but the new 51s (both colors) had major problems with the barrels cracking (flat out terrible plastic). Parker made new barrels and sent them to all their distributors. Make sure yours has one of the new barrels on it so it doesn't spontenously crack in a few months. --- Bernadette Thanks for the heads up. Is there a way to check, or should I just call Parker? Hi Bob... I would ask the folks from whom you bought it. Parker sent spare barrels to the distributors, and the distributors sent spares to dealers. The seller should know whether the barrel has been replaced. Bernadette |
#10
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In article , "Robert Chin"
writes: I am going to put in a vote for a new or old Parker 51. If you're getting it as a gift, and would like to make a nice presentation, etc, an all, go for the new. If you want to give an original and something that has character or history, go for a used. I was in NYC this past weekend and picked up a new Parker 51 Special Edition and was completely blown away by it. It's a little more than you want to spend but I think you can talk down the price a little. The original 51 has an ink collector. This feature is not visible from the outside; and many who own the original 51s might not know about it. Yet, this feature is a part of why the original 51 was such a reliable pen. You don't see the feature on the outside. It's not there for show. But it is there working quietly to ensure that that pen writes well pages after pages. The new 51, as far as I know, lacks such a feature. Even cheapo Heros have an ink collector to regulate ink flow. I don't understand why the new 51 fails to follow the tradition. Dik |
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