I have a Montblanc or two stashed away from ~25 years ago (roller ball, not fountain), but get by day-to-day with Pentel mechanical pencils. Once a year or so I remember about the MBs and will pull one out to write or sign something. I think my father still has a MB fountain pen and maybe a Pelican or two that we bought for him in the '80s. Not vintage, but I guess they are getting up there in years. I tried to catch the pen bug years ago but quickly recovered. A good friend of mine recently got into buying and restoring vintage fountain pens, but he's still shy about his restoration capabilities and will not show them off to me yet.
I do like my Cross Century fountain pens, a sterling original model and a chrome Century II. I use them primarily at work for meeting notes, and also for the reams of both birthday and sympathy greeting cards I've been sending lately. I have pretty bad penmanship so I prefer medium nibs. I prefer the pure blue ink. Sometimes I do actually write to my friends. Anne actually set this as her profile pic for a while.
I was ordering more blue ink cartridges yesterday when I thought I should order some bottled ink, which I have never used in 24 years of using fountain pens. I've always liked green ink so that's what I ordered, and thanks to Amazon Prime it arrived today. Fun! Now to write some notes... Plus I still have blue in my other one so it's not like I'm stuck with only green.
I'm quite a fan of the LAMY 2000 series, classic 60's design. (not my photo btw! more at http://toolsandtoys.net/reviews/the-lamy-2000-fountain-pen/)
pens and watches.... what a stupid idea...... lets not get started on this .......please! the case of watches is bad enough, but I don't think she's noticed the little drawer on the bottom.SHHHHHH!
My vote also goes to the Parker Jotter, but it's not the nicest to write with. That prize goes to Mont Blanc; they are just a joy to use, whether in fountain pen or rollerball versions. I gave my Mum a rose gold Meisterstück Classique Rollerball a few years ago as a Christmas present. She was so scared that one of her grand kids would discover it, she hid it away until last week, when she called me just to say it was the best pen she had ever used. So guys you know what to buy your wives for Christmas . As for collecting the things; been there done that and lost interest pretty quickly. It's mostly technical pencils and cheap plastic ballpoints that clutter my desks at home and work. But for what its worth here are some nostalgic pics. of the pieces I bothered to keep. The retracting nib and overall simplicity of the MB Heritage 1912 are rather nice.
I love Rapidographs, but alas, I'm left-handed and they tend to dig into and gouge the paper, much as fountain pens do. I do have these, original box and papers included. They look good with a suit and tie, but in actual use, I'm partial to Pilot ballpoints.
Have you guys decided what pen is the equivalent to a Speedmaster yet? I need to know what writing instruments to never buy.
Um, I don't want to tick anyone off here, but apparently some serious fountain pen connoisseurs consider Montblanc pens, though the most famous, not to be the very best quality for sophisticated collectors in the know, and also, um, perhaps overpriced. Some whisper the same about certain watches, but perhaps more Rolex than the Speedmaster? Anyway, don't kill the messenger.
The space pen is a no brainer but the Zebra F-701 also get my vote. Rough and tumble and a good writer. A finely made pen and doesn't break the bank. Did I mention that it also looks great in its utilitarian self?
All of them. A clear victory for the keyboard. Which begs the question what is the keyboard equivalent of the ....? Nope I can't imagine anyone collecting "vintage" computer keyboards.
