@phrenzy1 It depends on the pen - some tarnish quicker than others, but I typically give them a quick polish (with the MB supplied cloth) once in four months)...
Its been 2 plus years since your last video. I thought you said you would put more up after you had settled down after you have finished moving from place to place. Any idea on when you can put more videos up? I really enjoy the quality of your pens, watches and storage boxes and would like to see more. Thanks.
@mahiwagangmanok Hi, sorry to disappoint but I'm still a globe trotter - a good 11,000+ miles away from my whole collection in fact! Subscribe to my channel to be notified of the next video as it may happen anytime this year or the next.
@pittkid42 It's by Hillwood of London. I've got a few other boxes from them - a coin box in maple finish, and a 6-watch box in burlwood. Contact Steve for details steve@hillwood.co.uk
@austinn3116 I take it you mean the little fins like structure? That's call the feeder; it has a very small airgap between each 'fin' - think of it as a carburetor in a car - it's function is the similar in the sense it controls the airflow and this ensures if the ink column is maintained via capillary action between the reservoir and the tip.
@bsodmike oh well thanks i got one but it was a cheep one and it doesnt have the air gaps... its just a black bottom cover but it is disposable fountain pen so that might be why..
@austinn3116 the same flat type feeder is also seen on much more expensive pens, the Parker Duofold for one. I think these feeders just rely on the spacing between it and the nib. The 'fins' and 'central' type of feeders seem to act as a nib-forward reservoir; think of it as a means to supply ink on demand :)
I'd like to put together a small collection of FP that would match the size of the MB149. Which Monegrappa would you recommend and would it match the MB149. Also, can you suggest a Pelican Souveran M?? that would also match the size. I was going to make this small collection of full-sized or over-sized set to satisfy my signing FP collection with B or BB nibs. Lastly, would there be a Waterman, Lamy, Namiki, or even a Parker (Duofold) that you would suggest to further compliment this?Thanks!
Most of the Montegrappas are of different proportions; the Pelikans tend to be very long (M1000 for example).
Rather than focussing on the pens dimensions, why not consider different nibs? If you also want larger pens look at the MB WE and POA pens. My signature pen is the F. Scott Fitzgerald with a silky smooth BB nib that never skips and is perfectly stubbish.
Look at the Delta DolceVita for an oversized model.
For starters, the better fountain pens feature gold nibs so as to resist the corrosion due to the acid content in most inks. The tipping of the nibs, although called 'iridium' is not really iridium but is still an expensive material (might be rhodium or palladium?).
There is also the large 'manual labour' aspect in the fine tuning of the nib, and once you consider the form and fit of the reset of the parts, FPs can easily be sold for over 100 dollars and many are willing to pay for them.
I have found that it tends to depend on the company. For instance, I believe most German companies, including Pelikan, (and Montblanc?,) use actual iridium. While it is invariably found at the K-T Boundary, it is otherwise a fairly rare metal that is difficult to work with.
Also, gold nibs are also prized for their softness and potential for flex, (true flex, and not just springiness, is rare for modern pens.)
@EeekMeep I can relate to your comment regarding the softness of gold. The 22K Naginata Togi nib on my sailor has exceptional flex ~ of course, it is not the gold only causing this but the way it has been made as well.
My collection comprises of quit a few 14K Montblanc nibs as well as 18K nibs. The extra flex is of course most noticeable when the nib design is largely based on longer tines - such as the 149 and the Naginata Togi as well.
The demand for a commodity is always determined by the market (buyers). We can take Rolex, as a great example.
If one were to ignore the manufacturing costs of say a SS GMT-IIC, the cost of the parts alone is still far higher than the final cost of the product. The manual labour only comes into play during the fitting and testing of movements, besides that the rest of the Rolex production is automated (apart from the dial setting process as well). The market determines these prices are OK.
If one were to look at the Limited Edition (LE) pens, especially those by Montblanc, Visconti, Monegrappa, Waterman etc. These companies can always justify charging a premium as the effort gone in has only yielded a certain fixed quantity.
Of course, the extra manual labour (engravings) and precious metals increase their manufacturing costs but also serve to justify the largely inflated sales costs. These profits are typically returned to the company to finance future designs etc.
Blue-black now. Racing green is not very green if you've seen it. It's a very dark, black, green that only appears green under certain lighting. To anyone else, it's as good as writing in black.
Hi Scott. Not quite. I do have a few pens that are not a part of my main collection. These include a Pelikan M1000 with a F nib and a Caran d'Ache Leman M nib (that I gifted to my Mother).
With regards to Montblanc I also have the Mozart FP in gold, Mozart mechanical pencil, a Starwalker fineliner, 100th Anniversary Starwalker (as shown in the video) and the Montblanc Leonardo Sketch Pen. This should cover all of it, at least for now :)
You're best bet would be to Google for them, as this would depend on where you live. I've used Webster's Pen Shop in the past (based in England).
Most pen shops carry all the basic pens (Lamy etc) right up to some mid-ranged and decent pens. Then you have those than also stock all the high-end pieces as well.
MB prices went up recently around the time the world economic "turmoil" really got going. The more expensive pieces in my collection are the two writers editions and Solitaire LeGrand, priced in the £750+ range. The Edson costs about the same, new.
The Diplomats (149s) retail near the £500 mark, each, same as the Montegrappa in my collection. Definitely worth it; I tend to use them all on a regular rotation. Different nibs, inks and paper keeps things very fresh!
MY EXTREME COMPLIMENTS ON A FANTASTIC COLECTION
MrBQ2010 1 day ago
Don't you worry about the silver parts tarnishing? Do you have to do anything to keep it looking fresh and clean?
phrenzy1 1 month ago
@phrenzy1 It depends on the pen - some tarnish quicker than others, but I typically give them a quick polish (with the MB supplied cloth) once in four months)...
bsodmike 1 month ago
Its been 2 plus years since your last video. I thought you said you would put more up after you had settled down after you have finished moving from place to place. Any idea on when you can put more videos up? I really enjoy the quality of your pens, watches and storage boxes and would like to see more. Thanks.
mahiwagangmanok 4 months ago
@mahiwagangmanok Hi, sorry to disappoint but I'm still a globe trotter - a good 11,000+ miles away from my whole collection in fact! Subscribe to my channel to be notified of the next video as it may happen anytime this year or the next.
bsodmike 4 months ago
Where did you get the storage box? It looks nice.
pittkid42 5 months ago
@pittkid42 It's by Hillwood of London. I've got a few other boxes from them - a coin box in maple finish, and a 6-watch box in burlwood. Contact Steve for details steve@hillwood.co.uk
bsodmike 5 months ago
what r the black lines under the tip?
austinn3116 1 year ago
@austinn3116 I take it you mean the little fins like structure? That's call the feeder; it has a very small airgap between each 'fin' - think of it as a carburetor in a car - it's function is the similar in the sense it controls the airflow and this ensures if the ink column is maintained via capillary action between the reservoir and the tip.
bsodmike 1 year ago
@bsodmike oh well thanks i got one but it was a cheep one and it doesnt have the air gaps... its just a black bottom cover but it is disposable fountain pen so that might be why..
austinn3116 1 year ago
@austinn3116 the same flat type feeder is also seen on much more expensive pens, the Parker Duofold for one. I think these feeders just rely on the spacing between it and the nib. The 'fins' and 'central' type of feeders seem to act as a nib-forward reservoir; think of it as a means to supply ink on demand :)
bsodmike 1 year ago
I'd like to put together a small collection of FP that would match the size of the MB149. Which Monegrappa would you recommend and would it match the MB149. Also, can you suggest a Pelican Souveran M?? that would also match the size. I was going to make this small collection of full-sized or over-sized set to satisfy my signing FP collection with B or BB nibs. Lastly, would there be a Waterman, Lamy, Namiki, or even a Parker (Duofold) that you would suggest to further compliment this?Thanks!
seasterl 2 years ago
Most of the Montegrappas are of different proportions; the Pelikans tend to be very long (M1000 for example).
Rather than focussing on the pens dimensions, why not consider different nibs? If you also want larger pens look at the MB WE and POA pens. My signature pen is the F. Scott Fitzgerald with a silky smooth BB nib that never skips and is perfectly stubbish.
Look at the Delta DolceVita for an oversized model.
bsodmike 2 years ago
Do you know why most of the fountain pens are like 100 + dollars
lods321 2 years ago
For starters, the better fountain pens feature gold nibs so as to resist the corrosion due to the acid content in most inks. The tipping of the nibs, although called 'iridium' is not really iridium but is still an expensive material (might be rhodium or palladium?).
There is also the large 'manual labour' aspect in the fine tuning of the nib, and once you consider the form and fit of the reset of the parts, FPs can easily be sold for over 100 dollars and many are willing to pay for them.
bsodmike 2 years ago
@bsodmike
Michael,
I have found that it tends to depend on the company. For instance, I believe most German companies, including Pelikan, (and Montblanc?,) use actual iridium. While it is invariably found at the K-T Boundary, it is otherwise a fairly rare metal that is difficult to work with.
Also, gold nibs are also prized for their softness and potential for flex, (true flex, and not just springiness, is rare for modern pens.)
Thank you for sharing your collection,
Joel.
EeekMeep 1 year ago
@EeekMeep I can relate to your comment regarding the softness of gold. The 22K Naginata Togi nib on my sailor has exceptional flex ~ of course, it is not the gold only causing this but the way it has been made as well.
My collection comprises of quit a few 14K Montblanc nibs as well as 18K nibs. The extra flex is of course most noticeable when the nib design is largely based on longer tines - such as the 149 and the Naginata Togi as well.
bsodmike 1 year ago
The demand for a commodity is always determined by the market (buyers). We can take Rolex, as a great example.
If one were to ignore the manufacturing costs of say a SS GMT-IIC, the cost of the parts alone is still far higher than the final cost of the product. The manual labour only comes into play during the fitting and testing of movements, besides that the rest of the Rolex production is automated (apart from the dial setting process as well). The market determines these prices are OK.
bsodmike 2 years ago
If one were to look at the Limited Edition (LE) pens, especially those by Montblanc, Visconti, Monegrappa, Waterman etc. These companies can always justify charging a premium as the effort gone in has only yielded a certain fixed quantity.
Of course, the extra manual labour (engravings) and precious metals increase their manufacturing costs but also serve to justify the largely inflated sales costs. These profits are typically returned to the company to finance future designs etc.
bsodmike 2 years ago
cant wait to see your next fountain pen update
aget19 2 years ago
Keep any eye on my blog mate. Just search google for bsodmike :)
bsodmike 2 years ago
i havent seen racing green.
and i say good choice - blue black is one of my favourites (after plain black of course).
aget19 2 years ago
your daily writer is in green? man thats a crime..
aget19 2 years ago
Blue-black now. Racing green is not very green if you've seen it. It's a very dark, black, green that only appears green under certain lighting. To anyone else, it's as good as writing in black.
bsodmike 2 years ago
that was my first ink as it was the only dark ink the AD had on hand because they were closing
scotfreak 2 years ago
I like fountain pens too but my girlfriend would kill me and toss me out the window if I ever spent that much money on pens.
aaahhhhaaaahhhh 2 years ago
have you shown us all of your pens?
scotfreak 2 years ago
Hi Scott. Not quite. I do have a few pens that are not a part of my main collection. These include a Pelikan M1000 with a F nib and a Caran d'Ache Leman M nib (that I gifted to my Mother).
With regards to Montblanc I also have the Mozart FP in gold, Mozart mechanical pencil, a Starwalker fineliner, 100th Anniversary Starwalker (as shown in the video) and the Montblanc Leonardo Sketch Pen. This should cover all of it, at least for now :)
bsodmike 2 years ago
Looks like you spent $8,000 on pens
Ryan39551987 2 years ago
I've never sat down and looked at it that way.
"The quality remains long after the price is forgotten"
~ Sir Henry Royce.
bsodmike 2 years ago
Very Nice Collection. Keep up with it and make some more vids!
GunGuy0 2 years ago
Thanks GunGuy0; is there a particular pen you'd like to see more of?
bsodmike 2 years ago
Anything Mont blanc. I think every piece they make is a work of art in its own right.
GunGuy0 2 years ago
hey, i was thinking about getting a montblanc cool blue starwalker, could u make more reviews that include starwalkers? Thank you!
velocitycain 2 years ago
I'll see what I can do Cain :)
bsodmike 2 years ago
Very nive collection sir. What online store sells inexpensive fountain pens? Thanks.
Orthophone 2 years ago
You're best bet would be to Google for them, as this would depend on where you live. I've used Webster's Pen Shop in the past (based in England).
Most pen shops carry all the basic pens (Lamy etc) right up to some mid-ranged and decent pens. Then you have those than also stock all the high-end pieces as well.
bsodmike 2 years ago
Wow that's a fine collection! Roughly how much do these Mont Blanc pens cost? Bet they're worth it, though! :)
AntMcL1 2 years ago
Hey Anthony,
MB prices went up recently around the time the world economic "turmoil" really got going. The more expensive pieces in my collection are the two writers editions and Solitaire LeGrand, priced in the £750+ range. The Edson costs about the same, new.
The Diplomats (149s) retail near the £500 mark, each, same as the Montegrappa in my collection. Definitely worth it; I tend to use them all on a regular rotation. Different nibs, inks and paper keeps things very fresh!
bsodmike 2 years ago