Montblanc

[Spilchy]

Originally Posted by todd@bsaw

I have always had a Parker pen since I was in high school...It was sad when the Parker plant closed down and moved, but it always makes me smile when i see them around.

Well here a couple of vintage Parkers made in that plant many, many years ago.

The first is a sterling silver jotter with a broad, blue point ink. The texture makes for a nice grip.

The second is a matching pen and pencil set that has my grandfather's initials engraved on them (not visible). It has a nice decorative star sapphire looking piece on the tops. The pencil has .09mm lead and the pen has a broad, black point ink.

[kompressornsc]

Here's my take:
I sell pens (among other things) for a living. Last year, probably in the neighborhood of $100,000 worth. Everything from $200 Watermans to 22 cent stick pens. All of the higher end pens (Montblanc, Waterman, Parker, Cross, Shaffer, etc.) look nice, but don't write worth a crap. If you're interested in looks, they're great...if you're interested in quality and easy writing, they fall short. I bet I have over $1000 worth of pens (retail) sitting here in my pencil cup (many of them given to me to promote the line). What do I write with everyday? A 39 cent pen called a Divot, made by Norwood. It writes better than any of the high-end pens I have. now, when I go on appointments, I do use my $10 Zippo pen (made for Zippo in China) becasue I like the looks of it (Carbon Fiber) and it writes fairly well. Unfortunately, they no longer make it-but I did horde them for a while. It goes in my Cross leather portfolio-the Cross pen that came with it sits in the pencil cup.
Another great writing pen is any Bic with the Easy-Glide Ink System. They make a stic ($ .65) as well as a few retractables now ($1.25). Next time you go to a restaurant, see what your server is writing with - chances are it's a Bic with Easy Glide.
I use to be really in to pens, and I still like to use a nice one on appointments, but just can't justify the higher-end ones. And no offense to Montblanc fans, but they can call it whatever fancy name they want...it's still plastic.
And by the way. There are no high-end pen manufacturers left in the US. Everyone has moved component production offshore-in in industry terms "Assembled in the US of globally sourced components."

[Spilchy]

Originally Posted by kompressornsc

All of the higher end pens (Montblanc, Waterman, Parker, Cross, Shaffer, etc.) look nice, but don't write worth a crap.

That's just patently absurd. I have used my Mont Blanc for 12 years. I did a quick calculation regarding how many times I twist open and close the pen and I came up with an estimate of roughly 88,000 times. The broad ink point writes flawlessly; NEVER skips, drips, smudges or leaks. It has held up mechanically and aesthetically all this time despite daily abuse. The fit and finish is still perfect and the quality is excellent.

Add up all the pens you will have used over a 12 year period and I'm sure it'll be more than the cost of a basic Mont Blanc ball point pen.

Plus as someone who likes pens and has a small collection of new and vintage, I get enjoyment out of writing with it.

You might as well drive a Ford Fiesta or wear a cheap Timex or eat at McDonald's with the wife for her birthday or buy your suit for work at WalMart since all those places satisfy a need like writing with a .39 cent Bic pen.

The notion that they "don't write worth crap" is simply not true.

Just my $0.39

[kompressornsc]

Originally Posted by Spilchy

That's just patently absurd. I have used my Mont Blanc for 12 years. I did a quick calculation regarding how many times I twist open and close the pen and I came up with an estimate of roughly 88,000 times. The broad ink point writes flawlessly; NEVER skips, drips, smudges or leaks. It has held up mechanically and aesthetically all this time despite daily abuse. The fit and finish is still perfect and the quality is excellent.

Add up all the pens you will have used over a 12 year period and I'm sure it'll be more than the cost of a basic Mont Blanc ball point pen.

Plus as someone who likes pens and has a small collection of new and vintage, I get enjoyment out of writing with it.

You might as well drive a Ford Fiesta or wear a cheap Timex or eat at McDonald's with the wife for her birthday or buy your suit for work at WalMart since all those places satisfy a need like writing with a .39 cent Bic pen.

The notion that they "don't write worth crap" is simply not true.

Just my $0.39

Oh, I didn't say that the pens aren't pretty, nice to hold or anything of the sort. I'm just talking about writing. Talk to anyone who sells pens for a living and they'll tell you that the high-end pens don't write as well (smooth, free flowing, etc.) as some of the cheap ball-points. One of my favorite things to do when I am selling an inexpensive pen (50 cent) is to let the client write with it, then hand them my Waterman Expert to write with. Never had a single person say that the $100 Waterman wrote as well as the cheapie.

I too enjoy fine pens (I have six Waterman Experts here in my desk-2 fountain, 2 rollerball and 2 ballpoint), I'm just saying that if I had to write a 100 page essay, I would want a better writing pen. And honestly, when I'm writing thank you notes or something short, I prefer my fountain pens because of being able to vary the stroke. They're scratchy, difficult to write with and you have to be very careful not to smear the ink, but I do still use them.

I'd hate to think how many pen samples I have here in my office-perhaps 2500. And I test every sample I get in, so I know a good writing pen from a bad one. When you make your living selling them, you learn the advantages of each. If I have a client that wants Montblanc, I don't try to sell them a 39 cent pen just becasue it writes better - I sell the Montblanc.

[raadkins16]

I use a Pilot G-2 07 at work and it works well for those who are left handed that don't want the ink to smear as they write. A plus as well is not having to bear down to get it to write properly (Gel pen). It is a great pen for everday work!

[integritydetail]

I got a Montblanc for my birthday one year and I've been hooked ever since.

[EdLancer]

The Parker 51 is the all time classic as modern today as it was in the 1940s. I have about a dozen of these in my collection. I own other brands of fountain pens from Watermans to Mont Blancs , but I always come back to use and cherish my Parker 51 !


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[adjulian]

Originally Posted by kompressornsc

Oh, I didn't say that the pens aren't pretty, nice to hold or anything of the sort. I'm just talking about writing. Talk to anyone who sells pens for a living and they'll tell you that the high-end pens don't write as well (smooth, free flowing, etc.) as some of the cheap ball-points. One of my favorite things to do when I am selling an inexpensive pen (50 cent) is to let the client write with it, then hand them my Waterman Expert to write with. Never had a single person say that the $100 Waterman wrote as well as the cheapie.

I too enjoy fine pens (I have six Waterman Experts here in my desk-2 fountain, 2 rollerball and 2 ballpoint), I'm just saying that if I had to write a 100 page essay, I would want a better writing pen. And honestly, when I'm writing thank you notes or something short, I prefer my fountain pens because of being able to vary the stroke. They're scratchy, difficult to write with and you have to be very careful not to smear the ink, but I do still use them.

I'd hate to think how many pen samples I have here in my office-perhaps 2500. And I test every sample I get in, so I know a good writing pen from a bad one. When you make your living selling them, you learn the advantages of each. If I have a client that wants Montblanc, I don't try to sell them a 39 cent pen just becasue it writes better - I sell the Montblanc.

This topic is completely subjective IMO. It depends on your perceptions and taste. It's just like the detailing products that we talking about here and the debate that goes on regarding product that you buy at WalMart like Turtle Wax or pay good money for in Zaino or Ultima.

The great thing is that we all have choices and we will do what works for each of us.

As far as forums go, obviously everyone is entitled to their own opinion and I respect their opinions but don't have to agree with them.

Happy writing (with whatever implement you choose)!

[Dom]

Agree that the topic is subjective.

I prefer fountain pens over ballpoints, etc. I think they tend to write better, but also, what is the point of having a $2.00 refill in a $200+ pen?

I like the Montblanc's though I feel that they are a little overpriced for what they are. You can usually get other fine brands of equal or better quality for the same price. However, no other company has the brand recognition factor of Montblanc.

My two most often used pens are an Omas 360 and a Namiki (pilot) vanishing point. The Omas 360 has a very cool shape and is quite comfortable to hold and write with. The nib is buttery smooth. The vanisihing point is waay cool- a retractible fountain pen. Very useful for taking notes in meetings.

I also have a Pelikan M800, which is a great pen, and a Montblanc 144 which was given to me by my wife on our engagement.