Fountain Pen Hospital has a special on the Pelikan M200 Tradition with a variety of nib options including the italic. There aren’t many italic pens that look this good for under $100 especially with the build quality of a Pelikan. So if you’ve been waiting to take the plunge, now might be the perfect time.
Pelikan M200 Tradition at Fountain Pen Hospital
While the demise of cursive still attracts attention from the media, other things are happening like a 16% Pelikan price increase and a Facebook-style sneaky trick at LinkedIn. Hey, it was a weird week even without the riots and financial meltdown. I’m ready for a quiet weekend. How about you?
It’s summer but I am ready for the sparkle of Christmas lights and chilly temps. An icy drink and random links will have to do.
From around the web…
Just in case you have a snow day and nothing better to do…
There is a mishmash here but definitely themed for the coffee drinking writer…
Confused? Noodler’s does have fanciful names. This time it is a Noodler’s Nib Creaper fountain pen with Noodler’s ‘Black Swan in Australian Roses’ ink. Translation? A modern flex pen meets a lovely dark red/maroon ink.
Noodler's Nib Creaper With Black Swan In Australian Roses Ink
Dave Garrett has done a good job of showing off the beauty of Black Swan so do have a look at his writing sample for a better idea of its attributes. Leigh Reyes has an elegant video of the pair at work both at writing and drawing.
The color of Black Swan is rich and elegant. It has good flow but dries slowly. Actually, I find slow drying time to be common with most deep red purple inks so no surprise there. The ink is well-behaved on good paper but inclined to spread on absorbent paper. This is one ink that should be matched to paper and pen for best results.
The Nib Creaper fountain pen has a nib that passes for modern flex and at the price point has no peer. If you ever wanted to give flex a try, this is the way to do it without making a substantial investment. The nib does not compare to vintage flex but for someone new to such things, the Creaper is a good beginner’s pen. It has a feel of sturdiness that might allow for a bit more pressure than a vintage nib can tolerate but it can still be ruined if you push it too far.
Be gentle with the nib to start and look for slightly wider lines rather than significant variation. Very quickly you will find the limits of your nib. More pressure on the down stroke with less pressure for thinner lines elsewhere will give you the nicest look.
As you can see from my first attempts with the Creaper, the ink flow can be inconsistent. That issue can be eliminated by writing more slowly. The drawback is that more ink on the paper means more time for the ink to dry. All flex nibs have this quirk so if you want to write with flex, slow down and enjoy the ride. Eventually the rhythm will find you and using a flex nib will become as easy as using your other fountain pens.
While flex is fun, the Creaper nib is solid enough to work as a regular fountain pen. With light pressure consider it the equivalent of a fine nib. If you tend to put your weight into your writing, you might get a medium line. Given the range of line widths, this pen could be excellent for some expressive line drawing especially since the piston holds a decent amount of ink.
As for the Creaper’s build, it is in line with the $14 cost. The demonstrator arrived with a distinctly unpleasant odor that seems to be fading. The body is 5 1/8″ capped and 5 1/2″ posted. It is a slender, light-weight resin pen that shouldn’t tire your hand.
The fun of any clear demonstrator is watching the ink flow and bead in the chamber and this piston filler provides an unimpeded view. Filled with Black Swan, the Creaper reminded me of a purple lava lamp as I tilted it back and forth. Simple pleasures, eh?
So there you have it. The pen is a nice bit of fun and the ink a lovely, rich color. They are a good match but lots of other inks would be, too. Think of it this way. For the price of a couple of movie tickets, you can own a Noodler’s Nib Creaper. If you skip the popcorn and soda, you can swing the Black Swan in Australian Roses, too. You know what I would choose. How about you?
More at Fountain Pen Network and Comfortable Shoes Studio.
Some people swear that using a fountain pen improves their writing. Whether it is the weight, shape or balance of the pen or the metal content or cut of the nib, the pen counts. Maybe the difference is so small only the writer can see it but it’s still important.
Call me an equal opportunity pen user. I find a fine nib is the most suited to my writing and best for general use. Mediums and broads are helpful for long sessions since the wide nib takes the pressure off my hand. For sheer aesthetics an italic is lovely. Extra-fines are perfect for margin notes and writing the longest message on a postcard or in the space restrictions of air mail stationery.
An italic nib can make a dramatic change in penmanship but it isn’t helpful to everyone. A little practice can tame it for most of us though such a nib isn’t the best choice for fast writing. Still it does make the most of my writing so a bit of practice has been worth the time invested to get comfortable with it.
Now that’s my experience and probably different from yours. But here’s my dirty, little secret. Pencils, even mechanical pencils, make the most of my penmanship. The difference is pronounced enough that an eighth grade classmate begged our teacher to let me write in pencil. Nary one to compromise, Mr. Morris would hear none of it. Ink or fail was his rule. I’m sure he expected the ubiquitous Bic/Biro to be my tool but it never suited my writing. That’s when I discovered cheap Sheaffer fountain pens and that flipping the pen over would produce a decently narrow line. I was appeased and happy to find a new way to bedevil my teachers with my painfully small if well formed writing. Take that you enemies of individuality and creativity!
These days I stick to fountain pens for correspondence. However, my Autopoint mechanical pencil gets the most use of any writing instrument on my desk. The two things that make it my best choice are its instant start but even more useful, is its compatibility with Post-its. My desk is littered with them. That my writing is very legible is an additional factor but there is a downside. Some of my notes aren’t meant to be read by just anyone. There are things that do deserve a little privacy, you know?
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My lists of favorite pens, inks, and stationery received some overdue updates today so those are current. Lots of new products on hand to test though so those lists are subject to change any day. Yes, I am a very fortunate inkophile.
Inkophile
