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Pen suggestions

tonypaj

Practically Family
Messages
659
Location
Divonne les Bains, France
I'd like some advice here. I would need an ink pen, preferably not with cartridges (pump systems seem to like me), as heavy as possible. Old is fine in most colors, new is fine in stainless steel. I'm not fussy with the nib, slightly wider might do the trick. The weight is the thing, though. As heavy as possible.
 

DeaconKC

One Too Many
Messages
1,732
Location
Heber Springs, AR
The Pelikan 215 series uses a brass liner unlike most of their line and are superb writers, piston fillers. The Cross ATX is built like a tank, heavy and has an adapter available that works well. Both have very good nibs, with Cross generally running somewhat wide.
 

de Stokesay

One of the Regulars
Messages
181
Location
The wilds of Western Canada
Any of the newer metal pens would likely work fine for you as most of the old ones are very, very light, even if they're quite big. The idea was that a heavy pen would tire out the hand if you were writing quite a lot. Note that this notion comes from a time when handwriting large blocks of text was much more common now and there's indeed something to this. Nowadays though if people have very much to write they almost always type it.

I have both light and heavy fountain pens and if I'm writing a lot then the old vintage ones are definitely my choice. If just jotting the odd note though it makes no difference. YMMV.

de Stokesay
 

tonypaj

Practically Family
Messages
659
Location
Divonne les Bains, France
Cross is appreciated in my family as my wife comes from RI, and some in her family worked in the factory. It's a bit like Guild guitars, they're from her hometown originally, we have some of them for my son. However, I don't know if the Crosses have a piston, but if not then not, cartridges are a bummer to me, though. Thank you all for the suggestions, they seem to lead me to where I want to be.
 

GHT

I'll Lock Up
Messages
9,780
Location
New Forest
Montblanc Meisterstuck are very heavy, but very expensive. Just curious, why do want something heavy to write with?
At school, I had an Osmiroid pen, quite light, but comfortable to use. It has a bladder for the ink and a lever for refilling. My father bought it for me, so I have no idea of the price. But I can tell you, it's still as comfortable to write with, and the bladder has never perished.
 

tonypaj

Practically Family
Messages
659
Location
Divonne les Bains, France
Montblanc Meisterstuck are very heavy, but very expensive. Just curious, why do want something heavy to write with?
At school, I had an Osmiroid pen, quite light, but comfortable to use. It has a bladder for the ink and a lever for refilling. My father bought it for me, so I have no idea of the price. But I can tell you, it's still as comfortable to write with, and the bladder has never perished.

I had one, it got stolen at the office. People here in the Geneva region like their Mont Blancs.

Why heavy? I just tend to take notes at meetings, I do not write much with pens. Most of my work is done with a computer. Heavy when taking notes feels comfortable to me, just like heavy as in leather jackets or boots worn does. And my DE razor is the heaviest I could find. I also drive a Jeep...
 

CircuitRider

One of the Regulars
Messages
208
Location
Southern Indiana
Cross is appreciated in my family as my wife comes from RI, and some in her family worked in the factory. It's a bit like Guild guitars, they're from her hometown originally, we have some of them for my son. However, I don't know if the Crosses have a piston, but if not then not, cartridges are a bummer to me, though. Thank you all for the suggestions, they seem to lead me to where I want to be.

You can get a conversion (piston) for Cross pens to replace cartridge for less than ten dollars...I have the basic Adventura...writes great and bottle of ink lasts forever.:cool:
 

Kirk H.

One Too Many
Messages
1,196
Location
Charlotte NC
I'd like some advice here. I would need an ink pen, preferably not with cartridges (pump systems seem to like me), as heavy as possible. Old is fine in most colors, new is fine in stainless steel. I'm not fussy with the nib, slightly wider might do the trick. The weight is the thing, though. As heavy as possible.

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I like the Parker IM Premier. It is a heavy pen and takes both cartriges and converter so you can use bottled ink. I got mine for under 50.00 here in the states. Hope this helps.

Kirk H.
 

Hemingway Jones

I'll Lock Up
Bartender
Messages
6,099
Location
Acton, Massachusetts
I wouldn't call a Meisterstuck heavy. That's my everyday pen and the best writer of any pen I have ever owned. It also has a great fill mechanism, but I digress...

The heaviest pen that I own or have felt so far is my Cartier Diabolo; Chinese lacquer and a brass core, I believe. It feels as if it weighs a pound.
 

DeaconKC

One Too Many
Messages
1,732
Location
Heber Springs, AR
I can't believe I forgot these, the Harley Davidson Combustion and Horizon pens from a few years ago. Heavy, all metal, made by Waterman and just get a universal converter and they write beautifully.
 

John J

Familiar Face
Messages
73
Location
Upstate NY
My favorite pen is My pelican 800 its made with celluloid thus its not very heavy but is a bigger body. Pellikan pens in the sovereign series are piston fill only

another favorite is my Parker Duofold also a larger pen with celluloid body and can use cartridge or a converter. Cross are OK I have a Cross tuxedo that has an 18K nib made by Pelikan but the cap is worn out and wont stay put anymore this was a medium body pen with brass/Lacquer barrel and sterling cap. . My heaviest pen is a Montagrappa that is celluloid and sterling silver, its a beauty but stays in the box as its not a comfy writer and the sterling grip gets tarnished badly.

the only metal bodied pen I liked for every day carry was a Scheafer legacy with an inlaid Nib (cuz I loved the nib) it was a brass barrel with lacquer finish. I lost it.

one thing I do like about plastic or celluloid pens for daily use is they do not show scratches and do not dent if dropped. My Sheaffer legacy had lots of little dings and little brass colored scratches showing though lacquer. Ive dropped and banged my celluloid pens as much as that one and they are no worse for the wear, cant notice the scratches at all .

antique pens 30s -50s are mostly celluloid or some sort of plastic ,many with metal caps. I restore Fountain pens and modern fill systems are better for sure.

with all the pens I have I'm thinking of getting a Pilot vanishing point retractable fountain pen to carry in the sports coats. the body is metal but I like that it is retractable and convenient with No cap to take off when I have to sign a check or whatever.

hope this helps.

"John"
 

tonypaj

Practically Family
Messages
659
Location
Divonne les Bains, France
Lots of things to think about, thanks. I work in Geneva, Switzerland, and Mont Blancs and Cartiers are a dime a dozen. I liked my Mont Blanc, never had a Cartier. Crosses are a bit sneered at, if you bother to have a fountain pen, but there I have the heritage. I'm looking for something more bland, industrial, maybe, something different, like an old WW II watch. Again, as far as watches go everyone's got their Rolexes, or whatevers here, there's always a multimillionaire (which I'm not), who'll spend 5'000 bucks on a drink and has a 30'000 dollar watch.

I'll do a bit more of research, maybe just go back to lighter vintage things. Thanks anyway for the suggestions.
 

tonypaj

Practically Family
Messages
659
Location
Divonne les Bains, France
Lots of things to think about, thanks. I work in Geneva, Switzerland, and Mont Blancs and Cartiers are a dime a dozen. I liked my Mont Blanc, never had a Cartier. Crosses are a bit sneered at, if you bother to have a fountain pen, but there I have the heritage. I'm looking for something more bland, industrial, maybe, something different, like an old WW II watch. Again, as far as watches go everyone's got their Rolexes, or whatevers here, there's always a multimillionaire (which I'm not), who'll spend 5'000 bucks on a drink and has a 30'000 dollar watch.

I'll do a bit more of research, maybe just go back to lighter vintage things. Thanks anyway for the suggestions.
 

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