So how about those Platinum Preppies?

[ethernautrix]

Remember those? Platinum Preppies?

A few years ago, there seemed to be much attention paid to the Platinum Preppies over at fpn. Caught up in the enthusiasm, I bought a half-dozen at least and filled them with different inks, but I was still in the phase of trying to carry fewer pens, not more, so that experiment ended with my giving away most of the Preppies.

I kept two.

These two always had ink in them. I rarely remembered that I had them. I mean, I knew I had a couple Preppies in the pen cup, but... you know... it was the junk-drawer equivalent of a pen cup.

I don't remember when I filled these two pens with ink -- one I'm using as an eye-dropper, the other has a cartridge. Was it two years ago? A year ago? It was a long time ago for pens to lie dormant with ink in them.

I took them out tonight to see if they would write (expecting that they would, cos I have left Platinum Carbon Black in a Preppy for a hundred-seventy-two years (or one-and-a-half), and it wrote freely as soon as the nib touched the paper. That was back when I still had several Preppies, and the only hard-starter in the bunch had Noodler's Polar Blue. That's all I remember.

As expected, these two Preppies wrote without problem, as if I'd inked them yesterday. I identified one ink as Sailor Rikyu Cha, and the one in the cartridge? It's a blue, blue-black, not sure if it's Platinum or a blue that I had a sample of or what.

Aesthetically, the Preppy is no Nakaya. "I know Nakaya. I own several Nakayas. Nakaya has been my favorite pen for a few years. You, Platinum Preppy, are no Nakaya."

But for performance? I don't know if Nakaya can compete with the Preppy, cos I can't imagine leaving a Nakaya unused for even a week much less a year. But it's nice to know that if I want a sample of ink, I can use the Preppy in lieu of a vial, if I were out of vials.

[KrazyIvan]

That spring activated cap thingie does work. I have one preppy and it has been inked ever since I got it. I think I only pull it out when I am doing ink comparisons on pen pal letters and testing paper for reviews. Currently, I refilled the cartridge with Visconti Blue. I can't see doing the eyedropper thing, as the plastic seems too cheap.

[mhosea]

Yeah, they don't advertise it as such, but the Preppies have that spring loaded "slip-and-seal" mechanism that pushes the inner cap down to make a pretty good seal with the section. This works great as long as the cap lip hasn't yet cracked. I have a couple long-ago-inked Preppies on my desk, one ED and the other not, that are still full of ink ('cause I just don't like to use 'em :) ). I have another that is an ED and felt tip but with a cracked cap. The cap is being held together with some rubber splicing tape, but it's apparently too little, too late. I filled it with Noodler's Liberty's Elysium several months ago, and without using it much it is down to 35% full (of ink concentrate, I guess).

[ethernautrix]

That spring activated cap thingie does work. I have one preppy and it has been inked ever since I got it. I think I only pull it out when I am doing ink comparisons on pen pal letters and testing paper for reviews. Currently, I refilled the cartridge with Visconti Blue. I can't see doing the eyedropper thing, as the plastic seems too cheap.

It was watching the Platinum video clip about the spring-activated cap that made me take another look at the Preppies.

The ED one came with a large bottle of Noodler's ink. There are no markings on it.

[ethernautrix]

I have a couple long-ago-inked Preppies on my desk, one ED and the other not, that are still full of ink ('cause I just don't like to use 'em :) ).

This is my experience, hahaha. Great pens for whatever low price I paid for them (less than $3 each, I think). Except that I don't use them, so... money down the drain, albeit not much.

I'd had visions of keeping one or two fine pens inked with black and using the Preppies to add color, but I found that I prefer using those colors in nicer pens.

[KrazyIvan]

writetomeoften posted not too long ago about a Turkish brand? that seems to be re-branded Preppies called "Peaks". Her comparison review is here: http://www.banasikcayaz.com/2013/12/scrikss-peak-vs-platinum-preppy.html

and the Scrikss site page here: http://www.scrikss.com.tr/Products/Product/1967/Peak_Fountain_Pen

[Jon Szanto]

When I first got into all this, I bought 5 to use for testing inks. Only two wrote even acceptably, and even those weren't any fun. They are cleaned and sit in the PIF box for future expulsion from the premises. I wanted to like them, as I did the Hero 616 pens, but no joy is no joy.

[AndyT]

I have a couple, both with cracked caps "mended" with cable ties. To my way of thinking they're the equivalent of a Bic ballpoint, neither attractive nor temperamental and therefore a practical item to have lying around in situations where pens are likely to go walkabout.

The caps are dreadful and really need a band to reinforce them, but the seal is excellent, as is the feed. By the way, the no "o"-ring eyedropper Preppy discussed in this thread (http://fpgeeks.com/forum/showthread.php/4049-Platinum-Preppy-as-an-eyedropper?highlight=eyedropper) is still going strong and has yet to ruin a shirt. It's what I use for the crossword. :)

[jjdeal]

Well, I have two of them, and I converted both to eyedroppers. They write very well...one is a F and one a M. Of course, they are not on a par with my finer pens, but they are great to stick in my trousers pocket when I go out and want to have a pen handy (and no shirt pockets for others). And the price is right. I think as an introductory pen for someone just getting into fountain pens, they cannot be beat! Just like other pens, sometime the nibs need tweaked, which I did with both of them. Not an issue...they now write very smoothly and dependably.

[Sketchy]

I filled mine a few years ago with the dreaded BSB as an experiment to see how long it would survive. Every once in awhile I take it out and write something with it then forget about it until awhile has passed again. Each time it writes fine. I suppose to be a real experiment I should have recorded when I first filled it and how often "awhile" is but I'm not a real scientist and I have known for awhile now that I don't really care what the results are.

[rdcalhoon]

As a noob who started out by purchasing five Preppies in different colors and sizes, I want to comment on Preppies here.

My first thought was to point out that their ability to start right up each time is a major positive to get new fountain pen users through their initial tryout phase and to become converts. I suspect it is hard starting and skipping that turns off most people who dabble in trying out fountain pens. That or the idea that you have to spend at least $100 to get a worthwhile fountain pen turns them away.

On the other hand, it is true that I dropped one pen and cracked the cap in the first month, and another started out very dry. That one I got flowing nicely by taking it apart and working on the feed. The others I did a little smoothing to reduce some directional feedback. However, I like tinkering, and maybe that is not a general beginner characteristic.

So we have a pen that is a great inexpensive intro to fountain pens, but that only delivers on that promise if you draw one of the non-troublesome pens. I'm happy with mine for now. I also look forward to new pens that shoulder them aside.

[kia]

I never much cared for the Preppy, but I still have a couple of them about. I did find it to be most useful in deterring a former co-worker (and known office thief of others' nice bp/rb pens, spare change, and other such personal effects) from trying to steal my good pens, because watching the ink slosh around in the Preppy kept him preoccupied.

[Waski_the_Squirrel]

My only fault with the Preppy is that the plastic breaks too easily, especially on the cap.

Other than that, I love the pen. It stays sealed and always starts. It is the only pen that I own in which I can store Noodler's Manjiro Nakahama ink and use it day after day. This ink becomes harder and harder to start in other pens as days go on. Not so in the Preppy.

It may be cheap looking, but I love it.

[reprieve]

I'm rather fond of the Preppy. I don't use mine often because I don't love the cheap plastic feel, but they always write and they write well. I have two, both eyedroppers, both unmarked Preppies from the giant bottles of Noodler's (Nikita, I think, and Borealis Black). They're smooth. They don't dry out. They hold a ton of ink. They live in my pen cup at work for those "I don't have any other fountain pens!" emergency moments.

[txfz1]

I have a preppy at work that I used for redlining drawing/documents when checking. I had it setup as an eyedropper but get annoyed when it burps cause I hold it so long. I have switched to a converter and I'm happy, happy, happy. Noodler's Nakita red lives in it and has always started.

David

[kia]

Nikita Red was my choice in the Preppy, too!

[ethernautrix]

I had at least six, maybe eight, and I guess I didn't have them long enough to experience problems with crackage. And none of them had wonky nib issues.

I'm impressed that the pens can be dormant for who knows how long (has it been a year? longer?) and then write immediately.

But, as already pointed out, if they were such a pleasure to use, they would not be left lying around filled with ink.

I think they are good pens, though - you know, starter pens and art pens (inexpensive to have many all with a different color ink) and lender fps.



ETA: My Noodler's freebie came with Polar Blue.

[mhosea]

I'm not sure whether posting them is what leads to cracking of the cap lip or whether it just happens anyway.

[reprieve]

I've had mine for a few years now and haven't yet experienced the cracking. Granted, I don't use them often, and I don't post them, and they live in a pen cup, so they haven't exactly had rough lives, but they haven't been babied either. If I were to expose them to every day usage, they certainly feel as if they would crack under the pressure of frequent capping/uncapping.

[Tangster]

My Preppy, while always reliable as a writer has had the cap crack. I almost never post pens(except pocket pens) so I suspect it's just a thing with the Preppy having not really been designed for extended use and the fatigue of repeated capping and uncapping.

[wayne.robinson]

Mine has also cracked after only one eye dropper filling. But at $4, it doesn't really bother me.

[Oncdoc]

Mine has also cracked after only one eye dropper filling. But at $4, it doesn't really bother me.

Please share where to buy for that excellent price?

[wayne.robinson]

Mine has also cracked after only one eye dropper filling. But at $4, it doesn't really bother me.

Please share where to buy for that excellent price?

The Goulet's and many others have them at that price: http://www.gouletpens.com/Platinum_Preppy_Fountain_Pen_s/879.htm

[klpeabody]

I have had great luck with the preppies. I've always got one filled up ED style, which usually means that I end up leaving the ink in there for a long period of time; sometimes a few months. Never had an issue. Always starts up right away and writes beautifully. I really like the fine nib for drawing, too.

[Sailor Kenshin]

I don't do eyedroppers, but have had for many years about a half-dozen Preppys in both nib sizes, and none of them have cracked so far, and none are hard starters. Guess they just like me. ;-p

I like them in return: colorful grab-n-go pens.

[rdcalhoon]

I find the eyedropper thing scary. Many is the time one of my Preppies has come unscrewed in my pants pocket. Now I am carrying my pens in my shirt pocket so the danger is less, but even so I would rather carry extra pens than take the risk with a pen I carry. Maybe the fact that I haven't ruined any clothing with a pen for decades means that I am not a true fountain pen user, but ink-stained wretch is not something I want to add to my job description.

[shumanfu]

8869 My daughter modded one of my preppies... It now has a Naginata Concord nib. She's a 2 year nibmeister...

Still writes perfectly!

[cedargirl]

The excellent seal is one of the reasons Nathan Tardiff supplies them with some of his fast drying inks - mine came with my Kung Te Cheng ink.
I'm still on the first fill after 12 months - its an eyedropper and it is nearly empty. Hasn't dried out yet, but it does get periodic use.

I haven't dropped it yet but I have heard they are brittle.

[Flounder]

I wanted to love my Preppy, and several factors made it a real contender for daily carry as a uni knockabout. Transparent enough for at-a-glance ink milage, that spring mounted inner cap, the overall size and weight of the pen, and the cap being light enough to post without bothering me. Ultimately it refused to play ball with my favourite ink, and I tossed it out.

Lately I've noticed you can get an international adapter for the Preppy, but have been advised the barrel is too short to accept long international carts or an international converter. Too bad! I'm not too keen on eyedropper conversions, the Preppy isn't the strongest pen in the world.

[AndyT]

Lately I've noticed you can get an international adapter for the Preppy ...

Indeed. My last one from Cult Pens came with a standard cartridge and said adapter, both of which were promptly tossed into a dark corner. Not too dark, fortunately, because it turns out that a no. 19 needle fits in the adapter opening nicely making flushing the feed with a syringe a doddle. Also, the pen accepted an ordinary Chinese converter with a couple of mm to spare. Add a cable tie cap band and who could ask for more? :)

[discopig]

Preppies are definitely amazing pens for the price. Everyone should have at least 1 or 5 of them.

[Crossinghouses]

I bought a Preppy for fun when I was 15 to try out a fountain pen. I quickly lost interest after a while and left the pen unattended until I became interested in fountain pens again when I realised you could clean one out and fill it with any ink.

I picked up my old Preppy for nostalgia's sake and lo and behold- 7 years and it starts like I inked it yesterday.

How does this even happen.

[Cake]

I love me some Preppies for Noodler's KTC and Bulletproof Black. I use the converters inside as I'm afraid of ED-type pens making a horrid mess. I'm always sure to be careful with those cheapy plastic barrels anyway.

[mhosea]

Well, a modicum of nib responsiveness would be nice, as would a non-cable-tie cap band. Chinese pens seldom have caps that seal all that well, but some of them offer a better writing experience. I'm not that fond of Chinese pens on the whole, either, but after buying 2 at $6.90 each, I bought 10 Wingsung 3203's for $38. A drop of shellac in the bottom of the cap solves their cap sealing issue. A little nib adjustment makes them smooth writers, and the steel nibs are both attractive and responsive (for steel). Only problem, of course, is that a solid titanium-colored pen doesn't tell you what color ink you have in it, so it's not a replacement for a handful of Preppies. And yet, as I said before, I don't like writing with Preppies (don't like the nibs, I guess), so it really doesn't matter how inexpensive they are.

[Avalona]

I've only used the Preppy once - I had it eyedropper-fill converted for me from Goulet Pens. Alas, it didn't work out. It leaked everywhere - I had Diamine Marine showing up all over the place, no matter how I had it laid. I ended up throwing the pen out (which I generally hate to do with any pen, but there was no way to fix the leak). Now, I'm still willing to give them another chance (as I do want some pens to take to university that I don't mind losing, and the Preppies seem to be one of the best for that), but the next time, I'll be just refilling cartridges instead. I do like Platinum - I plan to get at least one more Plaisir, I love how the medium nib writes, and the Preppy and Plaisir share the same nib. I just had a very bad experience with the eyedropper conversion. I don't know if it was the ink itself (doubting it since it works fine in my Plaisir, which has somehow become my turquoise-ink-only pen, and I alternate between Sheaffer Turquoise and Diamine Marine in that one), or if there was a hairline crack somewhere that I didn't notice until after it was filled (more likely). I'll take the safety of having a cartridge instead next time.

[Sailor Kenshin]

They're relatively big-capacity carts with a wide bore you can even fill with an eyedropper. And by that I mean the glass thing with the squeezy bulb. ;)

[Brianrh]

I have only recently received my 0.3mm Preppy and I am still working my way through the cartridge which came with it. After a problem initially getting it to write it starts every time but does seem to be a bit of a dry writer but it's ok. I do enjoy writing with it but look forward to being able to try one of my usual inks with it to see how it compares.

Never having used an ED or converted a pen to an ED it does seem to me dangerous carrying around a pen which relies on the barrel being screwed up firmly to stop ink leaking out. Also as a person who fidgets with pens I'm sure I would be unscrewing it without thinking and have ink everywhere.

I was wondering if the barrel was glued to the section permanently, if it would be possible to remove the nib and feed and fill the ED using a syringe and blunt needle. An additional benefit would be it would strengthen the barrel against cracking.

[TSherbs]

I don't do eyedroppers, but have had for many years about a half-dozen Preppys in both nib sizes, and none of them have cracked so far, and none are hard starters. Guess they just like me. ;-p

I like them in return: colorful grab-n-go pens.
I have had 2 crack of the four that I own. These two remaining are doing well, however, after 12 months of use, and I use them every week (at some point). But at a 50% failure rate (for me), I am glad that they do not cost more (and I have not bought more). I fill them ED. A LOT of ink in there, and it does NOT evaporate.

[Tangster]

I have only recently received my 0.3mm Preppy and I am still working my way through the cartridge which came with it. After a problem initially getting it to write it starts every time but does seem to be a bit of a dry writer but it's ok. I do enjoy writing with it but look forward to being able to try one of my usual inks with it to see how it compares.

Never having used an ED or converted a pen to an ED it does seem to me dangerous carrying around a pen which relies on the barrel being screwed up firmly to stop ink leaking out. Also as a person who fidgets with pens I'm sure I would be unscrewing it without thinking and have ink everywhere.

I was wondering if the barrel was glued to the section permanently, if it would be possible to remove the nib and feed and fill the ED using a syringe and blunt needle. An additional benefit would be it would strengthen the barrel against cracking.
Yes, you can do this. Same method to refill as the Pilot Varsity, you'd fill it through the hole in the collector with a syringe needle.

[Brianrh]

I have only recently received my 0.3mm Preppy and I am still working my way through the cartridge which came with it. After a problem initially getting it to write it starts every time but does seem to be a bit of a dry writer but it's ok. I do enjoy writing with it but look forward to being able to try one of my usual inks with it to see how it compares.

Never having used an ED or converted a pen to an ED it does seem to me dangerous carrying around a pen which relies on the barrel being screwed up firmly to stop ink leaking out. Also as a person who fidgets with pens I'm sure I would be unscrewing it without thinking and have ink everywhere.

I was wondering if the barrel was glued to the section permanently, if it would be possible to remove the nib and feed and fill the ED using a syringe and blunt needle. An additional benefit would be it would strengthen the barrel against cracking.

I've just flushed out my Preppy and refilled with Diamine Midnight Blue ink and it has made the Preppy write wetter and smoother than it had done with the Platinum ink that came with it. Now it is very satisfying to write with more so than some of my other FPs that write smoother than the Preppy. Strange that.

Next step convert to a ED but just a little more writing with it first.

[picautomaton]

I have one Preppy that I received with my Noodlers Heart of Darkness bought form Swishers when they were still in business. I have not cleaned the pen out for years and WOW! it doesn't dry out nor clog up great pen. I wish they made a high end version of this pen.

[Sailor Kenshin]

The Plaisir is a sort-of higher end version of the Preppy. It has a lightweight metal body and the same persistent feed.

[Lady Onogaro]

How do they compare to the Sailor Clear Candy pens which retail for between $10-$16.50? Better? Worse? About the same?

[Sailor Kenshin]

All i can say is: different. I have both. Sailor has more feedback in the fine nib. The Preppy .05 is astonishingly good for a four-dollar pen. Both lightweight. Both good buys...they just feel slightly different in a way I can't really describe well.

[pico]

I love my Preppy pens. The spring loaded inner cap is ingenious and I wish more pens focused on sealing the nib like they do. But, my only gripe is when I use an ink that does dry up, they are not easy to start up again short of a dip in water. Something about the nib design make them particularly hard to start if its a "clumpy" ink. And, I've converted all to ED, but if I ever replace them, I'll probably go to refilling their giant cartridges instead. I find myself worrying about cracks as they age. And, that would be a bit of a mess.

[Sailor Kenshin]

Is it just me or has anyone else detected a slight, pleasant, stubbish quality to the line of the 05/M Preppy? Got mine refilled with Diamine Denim, making story notes right now, and it looks kinda sorta cool!