Ink Links

-- Lamy 2000 Fountain Pen (Ed Jelley)

-- Piccadilly Essential Notebook Review (The Well-Appointed Desk)

-- What Has It Got in Its Pocketses? (Field Notes)

-- Monteverde Cartridge Refill for LAMY Fountain Pens Review (Writer's Bloc Blog)

-- TWSBI 580 Disassembly (Ink Nouveau)

-- One year ago today… (JustDaveyB)

-- Patina (From the Pen Cup)

-- Prometheus Alpha Pen Review (Everyday Commentary)

-- Pelikan Brilliant Red ink review (Peninkcillin)

-- Lisa's Weekly Carry (Anderson Pens)

-- Noodler's Antietam Ink Review (Goldspot Pens)

-- The Success Choice Binder (Plannerisms)

-- Review of Word. Notebooks (Pencil Revolution)

-- N. M. & Co. (Cronicas Estilograficas)

-- Spring Time Means Frankenstein and Fantasy Baseball (And release...)

-- Vintage Faber Castell Higgins ink bottles and other donated art supplies (Lung Sketching Scrolls)

-- The Pilot Metropolitan (Independence!)

-- My Lindy Pens (My Supply Room)

-- TWSBI 580 with B nib (LostInBrittany Pens)

-- Unearthing Buried Treasure: A Savanna Green Lamy Safari (Retro Tech Geneva)

-- Review: Lamy Safari Fountain Pen EF nib- Green Body (delectable pens)

-- Pilot V7 Hi-Tec Point 0.7mm Cartridge System (Informal Scribble)

Pentel Fude Touch Sign Pen Review

I'm having a hard time classifying the Pentel Fude Touch Sign Pen. By definition, fude is a Japanese term for brush pen, then Pentel went and encased the pen in their traditional Sign Pen barrel. When writing, it is a mix between a marker and an art pen. So, Pentel Fude Touch Sign Marker Art Drawing Pen might have been a better name for it.

The tip is very soft like a brush pen and that is the general action you get when putting the tip to the page. But, the business end of the brush tip is a very small area. This makes it act more like a marker to me. I can get a small amount of line variation, but a traditional brush pen this is not.

There is something unique about this pen that makes it very enjoyable though. I have never used a brush/felt/plastic tip pen that has been this soft and smooth. Buttery is not an adjective normally used with brush pens, but that is the feeling I get from it. Honestly, I have never used a pen with this type of feedback. I'd say it was odd if it wasn't so cool.

The Violet color I am using here is a favorite of mine. I wish more purple pens came in this shade. Just that little bit of lavender black does it for me.

Has anyone else used this pen? I'm wondering 1. What you use it for, and 2. What you think of the feel? Let me know in the comments section if you have.

My Fountain Pen Education: The Parker 51

In the fountain pen world, is there a pen more well known than the Parker 51? I am not educated enough to know for sure, but in researching this pen I would have to say the answer is a resounding no.

The Parker 51 saw a production run from 1941 until 1972 where it was one of the most popular pens in the US. It was a mass market pen with tens - some say hundreds - of millions produced. Chances are that if you went to your grandparents house right now you could come up with a 51 floating around in an old desk drawer.

Ever since I started down this fountain pen rabbit hole I have been aware of the Parker 51, but I was not interested in vintage fountain pens until recently. I have been happy with my Pilot's and Lamy's but the more I read up on the history of some of these great pens the more anxious I get to add a few to my arsenal.

The design of the 51 speaks to me. It has a sleek, minimalistic shape with a distinct hooded nib that is often imitated but never duplicated. What impressed me the most about the model that I tested from Thomas' collection is how easy it is to write with. The nib was fine, smooth, and true - a real joy in the hand. In fact, everything about the pen fit me perfectly.

Thomas has sent me some incredible pens to test out (with more to come) and the Parker 51 has been the hardest to send back. I think the number one spot on my pen show shopping list is now solidified.

(You can see more pictures of this great pen in my Davis Leatherworks review because my picture above is hideous.)