Options for 1st Fountain Pen

[Covi101]

Gents,

need some advice for a 1st fountain pen purchase. Budget is $250, and looking for a classic look. Thank you.

[vintage69]

Lamy makes a good fountain pen. Also check Shaeffer, Look at Waterman, Sailor, Cross, Parker, Monteverde, and Platium. Then, when you can look at Omas, Montegrappa, and Monte Blanc for future additions

[Formulansx]

My first fountain pen was a Monteverde and it's been a great pen. You might want to consider a Visconti Rembrandt or a Michelangelo for a classic look as well. If you shop around those should fall in budget. The Rembrandt for sure and the Michelangelo if you dig a bit. I was able to get the deal of the century on a new Montegrappa NeroUno Linea in your budget by pure luck on eBay. Sometimes you can find a ridiculous deal. I've also seen some historical posts on fountain pen forums with great prices for lightly used pens as well.

[68camaro]

Lots of good choices, Visconti are unbelievable with steel nibs.

[Covi101]

Thank you Gents. Wow, I like the Visconti Michelangelo in black and grey! what are your thoughts regarding magnet vs screw on caps?

[Covi101]

Originally Posted by 68camaro

Lots of good choices, Visconti are unbelievable with steel nibs.

So the Visconti Michelangelo would be a good fountain pen? I found one for $269.99. Any issue with magnet vs screw on top? Thank you.

[vman]

My first pen was a Lamy. I still have a few and they are great with proper ink + break in period. Oh, and they're cheap as hell... ~$40.

[NewEnthusiast]

I would recommend the Cross Townsend. It's got a classically elegant look and holds it's own against my MB for writing experience.

[broadoblique]

If this is your first pen I strongly suggest you try a few, any brand, to determine a size and material preference.
For some only large pens fit their hand while others find them tiring to hold. Some like metal sections while others, like me who hold pens very lightly, find them too slippery. Even with strong hands, many find heavy pens tiring while others like the substantial feel.
And I wouldn't hesitate to look at used pens. Buying a used pen isn't like buying a used watch. Any issues are immediately apparent. Pretty much anything made since the 1980's is good. You could get a couple of nice steel nib pens for that budget (Bexley, Edison, Faber Castell, Lamy and many others) or a couple of gold nibs from Pilot, Platinum, Lamy and a few others.

Good luck!

[bdex75]

If you have never used a fountain pen I suggest you start with a Lamy Safari or some other sub $100 example to "get your feet wet". You didn't mention how/where you planned on using the pen and that would help.

I have a Lamy Safari I love because I don't care if it gets banged around and won't be torn up if it gets lost. As a matter of a fact I am on my 3rd or 4th one because if I have a friend or coworker that shows a genuine interest I generally give it away. I also have some high dollar MB pens as well but they generally stay in the home office.

Once you know it will work for your situation and you will enjoy it I say go for the $250-$350 Mont Blanc.


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[Formulansx]

Originally Posted by Covi101

Thank you Gents. Wow, I like the Visconti Michelangelo in black and grey! what are your thoughts regarding magnet vs screw on caps?

I don't currently have a magnet closure cap yet but I have a Michelangelo on order so I'll be sure to post about it when it comes in. I didn't see anything really bad about them. I would imagine it easier to cap and uncap. I have a Lamy Al-star and that thing is cake to cap and uncap. No magnetic closure though. Regardless of what pen you buy you really should get a Lamy Safari/Al-star as well one day. Nice pen for less than $40 and there's a ton of nib options and a million colors. It's just a fun pen to have. I have not had any problems with screw down caps coming undone so no real problems there for me. You might want to check out some youtube videos from SBRE brown. He has a ton of reviews and one on the specific rose bronze and black Michelangelo I just put in for. There's some discussion about magnetic closures on there and the Michelangelo specifically. You'll also find several others who have very useful information as well. I've spent more hours than I care to say watching youtube videos about pens lately

[Formulansx]

Originally Posted by 68camaro

Lots of good choices, Visconti are unbelievable with steel nibs.

You're making me think about getting a Rembrandt now

[Covi101]

Originally Posted by Formulansx

I don't currently have a magnet closure cap yet but I have a Michelangelo on order so I'll be sure to post about it when it comes in. I didn't see anything really bad about them. I would imagine it easier to cap and uncap. I have a Lamy Al-star and that thing is cake to cap and uncap. No magnetic closure though. Regardless of what pen you buy you really should get a Lamy Safari/Al-star as well one day. Nice pen for less than $40 and there's a ton of nib options and a million colors. It's just a fun pen to have. I have not had any problems with screw down caps coming undone so no real problems there for me. You might want to check out some youtube videos from SBRE brown. He has a ton of reviews and one on the specific rose bronze and black Michelangelo I just put in for. There's some discussion about magnetic closures on there and the Michelangelo specifically. You'll also find several others who have very useful information as well. I've spent more hours than I care to say watching youtube videos about pens lately

Thank you for the YouTube info, will check out. Will post pen info in a few days when I receive!

[Bisquitlips]

Originally Posted by Covi101

Gents,

need some advice for a 1st fountain pen purchase. Budget is $250, and looking for a classic look. Thank you.

I would go for a Montblanc 144 in Burgundy. Love those pens!

And only getting more rare!

[Formulansx]

Originally Posted by Bisquitlips

I would go for a Montblanc 144 in Burgundy. Love those pens!

And only getting more rare!

That's actually pretty tempting! I see a few on eBay very reasonably priced.

[tifosi]

Originally Posted by Covi101

Thank you for the YouTube info, will check out. Will post pen info in a few days when I receive!

Looks like you may have already ordered something, but if not I have a Lamy Safari I could send your way. Let me know.

[Bisquitlips]

Russ is giving good advice.

But just as another idea if you are looking for a "classic" design that will hold its value please do consider the 144. You will graduate from there!

[Covi101]

Originally Posted by tifosi

Looks like you may have already ordered something, but if not I have a Lamy Safari I could send your way. Let me know.

Thank you for your offer, but I did end up ordering something. I should have by next week and will post. Also, now I'm looking for a MB ball pen for everyday but different than the standard MB pen. I already have a MEISTERSTÜCK PLATINUM-COATED CLASSIQUE ROLLERBALL. Looking for something bigger and different.

[Bisquitlips]

I acquired a Montblanc 144 with a broad 0B nib.

It is an incredible wet writer! Satisfaction comes to mind!

[Formulansx]

Originally Posted by Bisquitlips

I acquired a Montblanc 144 with a broad 0B nib.

It is an incredible wet writer! Satisfaction comes to mind!

Did you just get it? Pics??

[Formulansx]

Originally Posted by Covi101

So the Visconti Michelangelo would be a good fountain pen? I found one for $269.99. Any issue with magnet vs screw on top? Thank you.

I received my Michelangelo today and that magnetic cap is AWESOME!! So far..... We'll see how it does at work once I decide to go back Journaling at home, it's great. Not sure why there's not more unity in the Visconti line designwise. As of now I have 3 Visconti's and all are completely different from each other. As in absolutely zero features are shared. Two have a 14kt nib and even those are night and day different from each other. This is an interesting pen company we have here. My next Visconti should be a palladium stub nib. That's way out in left field. What's going on here??

[ecdc]

Get a Pelikan M400 or M600. You cannot do better.

[Bisquitlips]

Originally Posted by Formulansx

Did you just get it? Pics??

Here are a couple of pics. Not very good, but all I have at the moment.

[Formulansx]

Originally Posted by Bisquitlips

Here are a couple of pics. Not very good, but all I have at the moment.

Really nice Montblanc you have there! Making me jealous! I'm still planning to add a classic Montblanc to my collection. Just gotta figure out what it's going to be.

[Covi101]

Just picked up my new Fountain Pen from my PO BOX! I love the look and richness of the navy and rose gold! Tomorrow I will have time to write with it! Thank you all for the comments and advice!

[ChrisM]

Have a look at Reform pens - lovely to write with and excellent value. Stepping it up a bit then Caran dAche are nice.

[Formulansx]

Originally Posted by Covi101

Just picked up my new Fountain Pen from my PO BOX! I love the look and richness of the navy and rose gold! Tomorrow I will have time to write with it! Thank you all for the comments and advice!

The blue looks really good on that pen!! That's a hit!

[Bisquitlips]

That is a nice FP and Visconti is a renowned maker!

Enjoy!

[tifosi]

Great looking pen. Great choice!