In other news, it's been shown that in a world rising income inequality, selling bespoke goods to the rich is still a viable way to make a profit. Helps to include a lot of words explaining the provenance of the bits and pieces.
A Japanese Pen Maker Anticipated the Fountain-Pen Renaissance
61–70 of 129 posts
Re: A Japanese Pen Maker Anticipated the Fountain-Pen Renaissance
#62Oh 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 to…
The thing with 'cheap pens' is that they work and aren't messy. They can sit in drawers for years and with a little coaxing will write once again.
They might not be 'pleasant' to write with, but writing is such a passive task to people they don't notice or care.
I've gifted people starter fountain pens on occasion, if there job involves lots of writing. Very few actually got into it, and just stuck to cheap Bics, since they always worked with no issue. And the only Montblancs I've ever seen in the wild were Roller Balls, though I suppose Doctor's scratch the tool doesn't matter.
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The keyboard analogy is nice. Since people often hunt for vintage fountain pens like old Model M's. And I suppose a keyboard's just a modern pen.
Re: A Japanese Pen Maker Anticipated the Fountain-Pen Renaissance
#63What other quality pen could one recommend if I would like to get one and not spend a fortune on ones like these? By no means they look and feel probably great, but I'm simply not in their target market. However, from my young years I remember owning few Parker pens, few Pelikan and one or two Waterman. I remember enjoying ones with a 'buttery smooth' writing feeling most (don't really know how to describe it other w…
I'd suggest trying out the Pilot Metropolitan, in a Medium nib. It's not an _Amazing_ pen, but it's got a nice solid brass body, the quality control is very consistent), it's a nice consistent writer, and they sell on Amazon for ~$12. It's my usual recommendation for a "gateway" pen.
If you don't think it's amazing I'd really appreciate your recommendations for my "next level" pen, because I got the Metropolitan and _love_ it. I've bought three already; it's also one of the first I've found flows beautifully even though I'm left-handed. (I prefer the fine nib, that said)
Re: A Japanese Pen Maker Anticipated the Fountain-Pen Renaissance
#64What other quality pen could one recommend if I would like to get one and not spend a fortune on ones like these? By no means they look and feel probably great, but I'm simply not in their target market. However, from my young years I remember owning few Parker pens, few Pelikan and one or two Waterman. I remember enjoying ones with a 'buttery smooth' writing feeling most (don't really know how to describe it other w…
I'll second the Pilot Metropolitan. Of all the pens I've liked, it is the cheapest and the best experience.
Also, definitely do get the Medium nib. The Fine will feel scratchy. And keep in mind the Pilot Medium is almost the same as a Fine in the US/Europe.
Your bigger challenge is finding suitable paper to write on. It affects whether you get feathering or bleeding. To a smaller extent it that will affect smoothness. My favorite is the Figurare notebooks. Clairefontaine is also decent. In general, I don't see a correlation between price of notebook and fountain pen friendliness. I've bought decent cheap notebooks from Office Depot, but the exact same "model", in larger size paper, was crap.
Re: A Japanese Pen Maker Anticipated the Fountain-Pen Renaissance
#65Earlier quoted context omitted.
I'd suggest trying out the Pilot Metropolitan, in a Medium nib. It's not an _Amazing_ pen, but it's got a nice solid brass body, the quality control is very consistent), it's a nice consistent writer, and they sell on Amazon for ~$12. It's my usual recommendation for a "gateway" pen.
If you don't think it's amazing I'd really appreciate your recommendations for my "next level" pen, because I got the Metropolitan and _love_ it. I've bought three already; it's also one of the first I've found flows beautifully even though I'm left-handed. (I prefer the fine nib, that said)
For me, I've tried a few pricier ones, and didn't like any more than the Metropolitan. But YMMV. What may work for you:
TWSBI Eco. People talk about how smooth it is but I found mine to be scratchy (which may not bother you because you like the Metro Fine and I found it scratchy as well). Be warned, you cannot fill it using a syringe.
Another option is the Jinhao X450, but use a Goulet nib instead of the Jinhao nib.
Re: A Japanese Pen Maker Anticipated the Fountain-Pen Renaissance
#66What other quality pen could one recommend if I would like to get one and not spend a fortune on ones like these? By no means they look and feel probably great, but I'm simply not in their target market. However, from my young years I remember owning few Parker pens, few Pelikan and one or two Waterman. I remember enjoying ones with a 'buttery smooth' writing feeling most (don't really know how to describe it other w…
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Re: A Japanese Pen Maker Anticipated the Fountain-Pen Renaissance
#67Earlier quoted context omitted.
> We could have an incredibly fulfilling life while living frugally. And we could also live frugally while appreciating things of beauty and craft like those pens. I know people who don't have a car (and aren't rich) but chose to spend $5000 on art, or such things. > Writing books, making art, creating new software, doing research, etc. Well, if you have the money -- even enough to live with--, what would be the need…
The point is that the desire to climb the status ladder by purchasing conspicuously expensive, useless commodities is generated by a pretty deformed set of social relations. It is a product of a very shallow capitalist culture, and has the effect of wasting productive capacity that could in the counter-factual be used to help people who need it. It's also philosophy 101: self-realisation is who you are and not what y…
>The point is that the desire to climb the status ladder by purchasing conspicuously expensive, useless commodities is generated by a pretty deformed set of social relations. It is a product of a very shallow capitalist culture
I disagree. People liked rare and expensive things in all cultures since forever -- from ancient Egypt and Greece, to African tribes to Polynesian island nations.
What's unique in modern capitalist culture is the commercialization of everything and anything and the constant consumption -- not the appreciation of finely crafted / expensive stuff. In some ways a Lamborghini is a great achievement of engineering and art, for example.
I also don't think people buying those pens are doing so because of a "desire to climb the status ladder". That might be true for those buying a $1000 suit or $300 shoes, but those paying $3000 for a fountain pen have already climbed it.
Re: A Japanese Pen Maker Anticipated the Fountain-Pen Renaissance
#68Nakaya 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 collect…
> The old desire of building your identity around what you own instead of what you do is not going anywhere.
And so is the old desire of looking down on people that see life differently from us.
Re: A Japanese Pen Maker Anticipated the Fountain-Pen Renaissance
#69Earlier quoted context omitted.
The ways in which people express status varies from social group to group So does this notion only apply to people who demonstrate this status? Does it apply to someone who buys an expensive fountain pen, keeps it in their desk drawer, and uses it to write, but doesn't talk/boast about it? It seems a bit of a sweeping statement to claim that owning a pen is vain, and could use a bit more clarification/justification t…
I never claimed that 'owning a pen is vain'. I said that one can only understand its cultural significance through careful sociological reflection. That is a truism to me. "If any such claim relies on ethnographic or sociological studies, then wouldn't it be appropriate to cite those when making such a claim?" I think you might have wrong end of the stick. I have no idea if there are any studies on the cultural capit…
I never claimed that 'owning a pen is vain'.
When I ask "Where is the cut-off", it's to prompt thought, to draw out an answer to the question: where is that cut-off?
"obviously buying a $4000 pen…is utterly grotesque"
Another aspect to that debate are those who didn't buy the pen. For example, those gifted it in a will, or who win it as a prize. Or even of those who do buy it, perhaps an aspiring writer, who spends the entirety of their advance on this pen - not to signify or demonstrate their wealth - but as relief that they've finally been signed, as proof to themselves that they're not an imposter. Sure, it might not be the most practical use of their money, but does it justify the ad hominem of "grotesque"?
Yes, there is vast inequality in the world, and $4000 would be an enormous amount of money to a vast number of people. But if that's the argument, it doesn't matter whether it's a pen, a car, a house, a painting, an antiquity, a rare MtG card; the argument simply becomes: is it grotesque to spend $X when there's a cheaper alternative?
Re: A Japanese Pen Maker Anticipated the Fountain-Pen Renaissance
#70Earlier quoted context omitted.
I’ve got both and they’re both excellent workhorses. I use Lamy mostly with Twsbi as alternatives for different inks. Paper is a bigger issue with fountain pens. Avoid Moleskine, choose Rhodia.
The importance of paper quality depends on which ink you're using. I like Noodler's Black, because it writes well even on cheap paper. It starts reliably and it doesn't feather (spread horizontally) or bleed through the paper easily. I've tried many other inks, trading samples with other fountain pen users, and I never found anything else so trouble-free.
I have a Mont Blanc fountain pen, which I want to use as my main pen but cannot due to the ink spreading and bleeding through cheap notebook paper. Thank you for the ink suggestion.