Hah! My favourite subject! If there is anyone here who has more fountain pens than I do, I'll eat my shorts. Some will have one or two, some may have as many as 5. One or two really obsessive folks out there may even get into double digits. How many do I have? Haven't counted them for a while but last time I did it ran to just over 1000. So keen on them that we arranged our US holiday to coincide with the Washington Pen Show, biggest pen show in the world. Spent the best part of $2000 in 30 minutes.........
I've collected them for years and my wife sells them on
www.oldschoolpens.com but I'm the buyer and fixer, so I can probably give an informed opinion. First thing, yes the nib is what determines how smoothly it will write but it don't matter a tuppenny damn if it's made of steel or gold. It's the bit that touches the paper that matters most and that's generally made of a ruthenium alloy (not iridium, that hasn't been used for decades). The material may to some extent determine how flexible the nib is but I've got flexible steel and gold nibs and gold nibs that are as flexible as a six inch nail.
Best manufacturer? Forget MontBl*nc (can't even bring myself to write the name, let alone speak it aloud) if ever there was a triumph of marketing above substance it's them. Buy one and you're likely to break it in short order and I've yet to use one that writes correctly without adjustment. My personal favourite is Sheaffer, followed by Parker, Platinum (not Platignum, they were older British junk, Platinum are Japanese), Lamy, Elysee (no longer in production).
Best pen? No doubt about it, Sheaffer Snorkel - I have dozens of them in all sorts of colours, nib types and materials, the most complex fountain pen ever made, writes like a dream and very reliable considering the quirky filling mechanism. Want a really pricey one? Solid 14k gold Snorkel, mint condition, broad stub nib (ultra rare), I'll take £2000. However, a good basic Snorkel is still very affordable. Second on the list I'd put the Parker 51, wonderful pen, almost bullet proof operation. In fact, my favourite daily pen is a 51, black with a rolled silver cap and a broad stub nib that glides over the paper like ice over ice. I have one in the safe that is in mint condition made of solid 18k gold. Price? You don't want to know.......... I usually carry the 51, a Snorkel Autograph with solid 14k cap band, a Namiki Vanishing Point, a Parker 65 Cumulus Clouds pattern (serious bling look!), a Conway Stewart Centenary (limited edition number 50, bought for my 50th by Alison), an Elysee Dragon (cloisonne design), all in a converted leather cigar case and together worth more than I care to think.
My recommendation would be to source a vintage pen from the 1950s or 60s, which were the best eras for good quality and design. Perhaps a Sheaffer Snorkel with a conical nib, but you need to get one that's properly restored, or a Parker 51 as they usually just need washing out with cold water if they haven't been abused. Snorkels come in nib widths that run from paintbrush to needle, the broad ones are the rare ones as are the ultra fine Accountants nibs. Extra fine are common. Very slim and light too, unless you go for the gold filled or solid gold versions. An alternative later model would be the Sheaffer Targa, comes in two widths, loads of choice of design and nib widths.
My phone number is on my wife's website if you want further advice.
Gordon
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