4 replies to this topic

[AndWhoDisguisedAs]

Could really use some expert advice with the following newbiesque questions:

 

1. What's the best way to travel with fountain pens? I'm taking a short 1 hour-ish flight to Manhattan. I plan to clean and empty the pens before leaving, but would appreciate any advice, tips and tricks.

 

2. I've checked this site and Google and the only fountain pen store I can find in Manhattan is the very pricey Fountain Pen Hospital. Art Brown and Joon have closed. Any other suggestions, even slightly outside of Manhattan provided they are subway accessible? I live in a tiny town in Vermont and the closest fountain pen stores are in Boston and Montreal.

 

3. Any suggestions for quick-drying inks, specifically blue, blue-black and/or black. I write in a journal and finding the inks I'm using in my Lamy and Waterman Phileas feather and bleed even on a ruled Master Leuchtturm1917 (which I admit I was really looking forward to using and have been bitterly disappointed with). My "go to" every pens - Lamy Safari and Waterman Phileas - have been sidelined. 

 

4. I've been using a Platinum Preppy .03 fine disposal and like the way it writes. Thinking of upgrading. Can anyone tell me the difference between the Platinum Plasir ($22.00) and Shine Crystal ($49.50). And then how these Platinum Pens compare to the TWSBI Diamond 580 Clear Fountain Pen (and would their FINE nib compare to the Platinum Fine Nib) or the Noodler Flex Pen or Pilot Prera? I've read a lot about the TWSBI, Noodler and Prera pens and curious. If the TWSBI or Prera are similar (or superior) I like the look of these pens much more than the Platinums. If it helps, I love my venerable Lamy Safari.

 

5. Tombow Roller Ball Replacements. I'm looking for 05P Fine in blue, black, blue-black, or other blue and black combinations. Is it me or are there less color choices these days? Would also try a Medium point.

 

6. Speaking of less choices, it appears Waterman only makes a Fine roller-ball replacement for the Phileas. Can anyone recommend another manufacturer's roller ball replacement that will fit/work in my Phileas? To paraphrase the world's most interesting man, "I don't always write with a roller ball, but when I do" I prefer my Phileas and Tombow roller ball pens.

 

7. One last thing: lined journals. I like writing in a large college ruled lined journal, the above mentioned Master Leuchtturm1917 is 8.75 x 12.5 and it's grade school lined pages are a disappointment especially compared to the college-ruled lines in the Slim Master. Any recommendations? Has anyone tried the lined TWSBI Notebook/Journal?

 

Thank you!

Edited by AndWhoDisguisedAs, 09 February 2014 - 02:18 PM.

[Jerry Adair]

Re the journals.  Hit up Lisa Anderson (President of PCA) at her web site www.andersonpens.net She has excellent in stock choices and will also custom design to your taste.  You will not be dissapointed.

[PatMorgan]

Hi there,

When are you coming to NY? We have the Long Island Pen show coming up http://www.lipenshow.com/ and it is a fun show.

[david i]

Hi,

 

It's not a bad idea to empty the pens before plane travel.

 

I do very little now with modern pens, though I recall in the late 1990's using Tombow RB's and liking them.

 

I'm based in NYC and have occasionally met collectors in the UWS when they sought some of the older pens that I happen to have in stock.  The loss of pen shops in NYC has been somewhat disheartening.

 

regards

 

david

[AndWhoDisguisedAs]

Thanks everyone. I'll be in NY later this week so I have missed the Big Apple Pen Club meeting and too early for the LI Pen Show (but will put it on my radar for next year. Still hoping for a fountain pen show in Boston later this year). 

Thanks for the Anderson Pen tip. I plan to empty the three pens I'm taking and store all ink cartridges in double ziplock bags.