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| Cross Townsend |
Black Lacquer |
M 14 K/B 14K |
| Cartridge/Converter |
c 1995 |
Working |
| (B nib shown) Both of these are fantastic! In fact, all my Cross Townsends are great writers, smooth and elegant. They are big and weighty, but I like a pen with a substantial feel. My first, the Medium, needs some TLC, but the rest are all fantastic! |
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| Cross Townsend |
Cardinal Red Lacquer |
XF Two-tone 18K |
| Cartridge/Converter |
c 1995 |
Working |
| Another wonderful Townsend pen. This was probably the first XFine nib I ever really came to love. The Cardinal red lacquer is gorgeous; no photo I have seen does this pen justice. |
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| Cross Townsend |
Medalist Chrome |
XF 18K |
| Cartridge/Converter |
c 1998 |
Working |
| I am slightly less fond of the bright chrome; it seems a little brash. I don't know why; just the deep, rich black, red & brown laquers seem so much more elegant. Still, like all my Townsends, this is a superb instrument. |
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| Cross Townsend |
Sienna Lacquer |
F 14K |
| Cartridge/Converter |
c 1995 |
Working |
| And another fantastic Townsend. Like the Cardinal, the Sienna lacquer is gorgeous; the photos I have just don't do it justice. |
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| Dewen Millenium |
Black Lacque w/gold |
F/M 14K GP |
| Cartridge/Converter |
c 2000 |
Working |
| Dewen is a Chinese brand, and while it's not one of the more well-known (that I've seen, which isn't saying much) it seems to put out a decent pen. One of the smoother, wetter GP Chinese nibs I've used. My only quibble is the brushed steel section - it seems out of place on an otherwise very classy-looking pen. |
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| Eversharp Colonial |
GF Pinstripe |
M Iridium |
| Lever-filler |
c 1940 |
Working |
| Currently a project pen, with what I think will be a lovely fine nib. GP 'pinstripe' body, with unobtrusive personalization. A bit fine for my tastes, but with a bit of flex, and a smooth writer. |
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| Eversharp Skyline |
Black w/GF Derby |
F-M 14K Flex |
| Lever-filler |
c 1940 |
Working |
| Finally! I have my Eversharp Skyline! This is a masterpiece of 1940s Art Deco styling, and it's a fantastic writer. Smooth nib, with an easy, subtle flex. Wonderful! |
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| Krone Stretch |
Oasis Blue w/Sterling |
M 18K |
| Button fill w/blind cap |
c 2008 |
Working |
| I love this pen! It's a little jewel in the hand, with really classy Sterling trim, and a nib like silk. It's small capacity, though, and I have a hard time getting much ink in it. If I can get it filling, it will be a favorite! (I'm tempted to just put in a bigger sac.) |
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| Laban Sterling Set |
Sterling over Black resin |
B GP Steel/Iridium |
| Cartridge/Converter, Pencil |
c 1990? |
Working |
| A stunning pen, in good condition,though there are some pits or dings on the edges of the silver. Both pen and pencil bear a lovely art nouveau sterling slver over black resin. The pen cap and the pencil both have a block incorporated into the pattern for initials, but both are unengraved. I don't know much about this set, but the pen writes passably. The nib is smooth, but the flow is a litle irregular. It may just not have found the right ink. |
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| Lamy 99 |
Turquoise |
M Stub 14K |
| Piston |
c 1950 |
Working |
| NOS, in perfect condition, with sticker. Fantastic little pen, with a smooth piston filler, nifty little visulated ink windows, and a fairly smooth medium-ish semi-hooded nib. |
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| Lamy 99 Desk Pen |
Black |
M Italic 14K |
| Piston |
c 1950 |
Working |
| Also NOS, in perfect condition. A desk pen with a slightly stubbier profile than my 2 Sheaffer desk models, but with a smooth piston filler, small visulated ink windows. Has a smooth medium-ish semi-hooded nib, but with an odd oblique to it that I don't quite have the hang of (may be a lefty problem!) Still, a lovely desk pen, that fits perfectly in a black marble base I scored at an antique shop ages ago. |
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| Namiki Falcon |
Black with GP |
Soft F 14K |
| Cartridge/Converter |
c 2009 |
Working |
| This is one of the 'soft-fine' nibs from Pilot that is supposed to strike a balance between flexy nibs and stiffer writers. So so. You can get some nice variation with it, but it takes a bit more pressure than I like. It seems clunky, too. Not that a pen HAS to be pretty, but.... |
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| Reform 1745 |
Green & Black |
F/M Iridium 2-tone |
| Piston |
c. 1980s |
Working |
| Not the pen I wish it were Lovely little piston mechanism, but a bit of a scatchy, hesitant writer. |
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| Soyus Gold Quill Soviet |
Gold Fill Pinstripe |
F/M 14K '583' |
| Piston fill |
c 1960s |
Working |
| Lovely and rare pen from Soviet-era Russia. Made in Leningrad in the 1960s, it has the 'State Standard Mark, a pentagon with the initials 'CCCP.' A lovely writer, about the same size as a Sheaffer GP Imperial, though a touch lighter. |
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| Unknown: Green Crackle |
Green w/Gold, roll clip |
F GP Iridium, 'Paris' |
| Cartridge/Converter |
c 2009 |
Working |
| I don't even know who made this pen! The nib says 'Iridium Point Paris,' and that's it. It's sturdily made, with a nify roll-clip, and for the $6 I paid, it's a darn fine writer. I bought it for my son, and I wish I'd snagged two. This is one of those no-names that really did pay off.... |
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| Visconti Opera Special Edition |
Ruby Red, Black cap |
M 18 K Two-tone |
| Cartridge/Converter |
c 2007 |
Working |
| Ah, Visconti, how I love thee! The fact that I am a bit of an Italian history buff just adds to my love for these pens. (Sidenote: in the Middle Ages, the Visconti coat of arms was a basilisk devouring a child. Ghastly, right? But even today, you can see that greedy serpent on the front of any Alfa Romeo. True thing!) This pen is pen lust embodied. Crimson marbled with gleaming gold, a big, engraved nib that writes like silk... It's love! I keep this one inked up with my other Italian love, Dante Alighieri, the ruby red ink from De Atramentis. |
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| Visconti Van Gogh Maxi |
Evergreen |
M 22K GP |
| Cartridge/converter |
c 2000 |
Working |
| Another beauty from Visconti. Plated nib, but still an excellent writer. Shimmering green with golds and browns - no photo will do it justice. Nice hefty feel in the hand, and holds loads of ink. Fantastic spring-loaded clip, too. |
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| Wahl Eversharp |
GF Overlay Ringtop |
F 14K Flex |
| Lever-filler |
c 1920 |
Working |
| Lovely little Wahl ringtop, with a superfinenib. I don't generally like super fines, but this one has an intriguing bit of flex, so I think it has potential. Another dainty little pen, in fantastic shape. |
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| Waterman Ideal Nº 3V |
Steel Quartz Celluloid |
F 14K flex |
| Lever |
c 1930 |
Working |
| This may be one of those great writers that's not as showy as some other pens. It's a nice steel marble shot with russet, with silvertone appointments. But the nib is a smooth, flexy champion. Does gorgeous copperplate style script, or it will with practice.... |
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| Waterman Ideal Nº 0552½ V |
Gold-filled “Gothic” overlay |
F 14K #2 flex |
| Lever & pencil |
c 1930 |
Working |
| I had to put a quarter in the nib shot, so you can get an idea how impossibly dainty it is! The nib is fairly flexible (falling well short of what I'd call 'wetnoodle') and writes a gorgeous copperplate script, and puts down a nice smooth line without variance as well. Pencil still has lead, and these darlings are in such beautiful shape! With the original blue velvet box, with vintage Waterman's instructions! |
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| Waterman Lady Patricia |
Rose Red Pearl Ink-Vue |
Semi-flex F-M 14K |
| Double-action lever/bulb |
c 1932 |
Working |
| Another tiny jewel from Waterman. This one has the 'Ink-Vue' barrel, and a modified double-action lever/blulb fill mechanism. In superb shape, with great clarity, no discoloration. |
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| Waterman Phileas |
Blue Marble |
M Steel |
| Cartridge/converter |
c 1990 |
Working |
| I bought this pen for a relative over 10 years ago, she gave it back, I gave it to my mom, and SHE gave it back! Now that I've messed with it again, I'm not sure why I kept giving it away. It's a nice solid little pen. Granted, it's fairly lightweight plastic, and the marbling isn't exactly subtle (I think it's a printed design, but I can't be sure), and the nib is steel, which is generally not my preference. Still, it's a decent writer, fairly wet, not skippy or scratchy. A good pen to take along when I'm just out and about, and would be afraid to take some of my treasures. |
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| Wearever Pioneer Flattop |
Jade Green Celluloid |
M 14K #4 Semi-firm |
| Lever |
c 1920 |
Working, but rough |
| This pen may have some of the best coloring for 1920s jade celluloid I have ever seen. It's absolutely brilliant. Some brassing to the cap band and lever, but minimal wear. Has a good sac and the nib seems like it's a smooth writer, but the tines are a smidge out of alignment. Something I will doubtless send it our for one of these days. Sweet little ringtop pen. |
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Here you will find everything that works and is not a Sheaffer! This includes high-end writing instruments like my Visconti and Cross pens, all the way to my 99¢ Chinese pens and some off-brand or 'third tier' pens. Don't be fooled, though - there are some fantastic treasues here!