Veblen goods. Nothing new here.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Veblen_good
Veblen goods are types of luxury goods for which the quantity demanded increases as the price increases, an apparent contradiction of the law of demand.
A Japanese Pen Maker Anticipated the Fountain-Pen Renaissance
11–20 of 129 posts
Re: A Japanese Pen Maker Anticipated the Fountain-Pen Renaissance
#12Oh my, this brings back memories that still impact me today. Growing up, finding that perfect pen was sort of a hobby and artform. I suppose part of it was growing up in the 90s, trying to do Pen & Ink drawing, calligraphy, and writing all day. The current analog is searching for the perfect keyboard. While wasteful on first blush, it truly is the most utilitarian decision you can make when measured for optimizing tools.
There really is something horrible about cheap pens, and nothing is worse than a pen that looks expensive yet writes cheaply... for those who don't know what I'm talking about, when lines matter, little things like skipping, shaking, and uneven lines become massive aggravations, no matter how minute they seem to a casual observer.
With all that said, I'm not so into writing implements that I'd want to drop hundreds or thousands of dollars on a pen. I'd need a lot more convincing to believe that extra money is worth it.
I still like the article.
Re: A Japanese Pen Maker Anticipated the Fountain-Pen Renaissance
#13I enjoy a good fountain pen. If you are interested in an inexpensive practical fountain pen, you should look into the Lamy Safari. It is easy to maintain, writes smoothly, and feels good in the hand. It is my every day pen. Quick drying "document" inks are also good for everyday use. They don't fade or smear.
+1 for the Lamy Safari. It's an excellent writer, and if you lose one (an everyday hazard with an everyday pen), it's going to have cost you about 20 USD.
See also Sailor and TWSBI for good everyday fountain pens.
Re: A Japanese Pen Maker Anticipated the Fountain-Pen Renaissance
#14I enjoy a good fountain pen. If you are interested in an inexpensive practical fountain pen, you should look into the Lamy Safari. It is easy to maintain, writes smoothly, and feels good in the hand. It is my every day pen. Quick drying "document" inks are also good for everyday use. They don't fade or smear.
Even as a left-hander, the Lamy Safari just writes so well, it's a joy.
Re: A Japanese Pen Maker Anticipated the Fountain-Pen Renaissance
#15Earlier quoted context omitted.
> I bought a pack There's your problem right there. You can get very high quality fountain pens for a LOT less than the $5k that a Nakaya pen costs. But they aren't sold in packs.
Apologies for not making it clear, the pens I have are quite nice to write with. I recommend them quite heavily for anyone that does not care for standard pens you get most anywhere else. Are there easy to get high quality pens elsewise? Probably. But these really are good entry level pens that give me delight to use.
[deleted]
Re: A Japanese Pen Maker Anticipated the Fountain-Pen Renaissance
#16I enjoy a good fountain pen. If you are interested in an inexpensive practical fountain pen, you should look into the Lamy Safari. It is easy to maintain, writes smoothly, and feels good in the hand. It is my every day pen. Quick drying "document" inks are also good for everyday use. They don't fade or smear.
I can't believe that Lamy Safari is still on market. I used mine up to Abitur (German A-levels) and must have bought it almost 20 years ago. By the end of grammar school I found Online Rollerball, which is a ballpoint pen with standard ink and ink cartridges. I still buy the latter from time to time.
As for ballpoint pens, during stays in Japan I accumulated a small collection of multi-color ballpoint pens with extra thin tips, most of them from Mitsubishi. Small sketches and notes tend to look a bit tidier and the thin Japanese pens made for kanji writing are superior for this. Also changing colors is quite nice for note-taking.
Re: A Japanese Pen Maker Anticipated the Fountain-Pen Renaissance
#17I bought a pack of fountain pens last year. Plastic, so cheap feel in many ways. Though, it has been a long time since I used a pen that wasn't plastic. The few gimmick wooden ones actually feel more cheap. A "plus" for these, they are easily refillable and use the same ink as the "parallel" pens that are fun for calligraphy. link: https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B0058NN9FC
Maybe try to get a Lamy Safari, <20€/$28.
Takes both prefilled cartridges or fill it by yourself with a converter Z24/Z28. Plastic body feels solid, especially the matte variants (like Charcoal Black).
Re: A Japanese Pen Maker Anticipated the Fountain-Pen Renaissance
#18I enjoy a good fountain pen. If you are interested in an inexpensive practical fountain pen, you should look into the Lamy Safari. It is easy to maintain, writes smoothly, and feels good in the hand. It is my every day pen. Quick drying "document" inks are also good for everyday use. They don't fade or smear.
+1 for Lamy Safari.
But if you want something real cheap, I find that Platinum Preppy ($3) is also quite good.
Re: A Japanese Pen Maker Anticipated the Fountain-Pen Renaissance
#19Nakaya pens are prime example of Veblen good - luxury goods for which the quantity demanded increases as the price increases.
The old desire of building your identity around what you own instead of what you do is not going anywhere. Good for them picking up the extra money people have.
Of course Nakaya pens are good writing pens, but the quality of pen as a tool levels around $50-$70 price mark. Extra is just collecting expensive shit. I have Japanese fountain pen that costs $60 and any more expensive pen I have tested is no better, just different. Good nib and mechanism is not rocket science. https://www.twsbi.com
Re: A Japanese Pen Maker Anticipated the Fountain-Pen Renaissance
#20I have a Nakaya. I bought it to celebrate a promotion at work. It is far and away my most expensive fountain pen. I have pens ranging from $1 to $750. I use the Nakaya daily and enjoy it.