PDA

View Full Version : Stipula tuscan dreams arrives!



ianmedium
June 7th, 2012, 05:32 PM
And one very happy camper has inked it and loves it!

I will write a review later but thought I would share a few quick photos. light is not good hear today so I will do some better shots later but I wanted to give folks an idea of the workmanship of this pen!

I am not sure if it was Eric or Dan who corrected me on the number of pens in the piston addition but they were spot on, well done guys. It has been advertised that the piston is an edition of 193. It is in fact as the guys said, 351 and mine is #36!

This pen has to be seen in person. pictures will never do it justice. The craftsmanship and quality of sculpting and casting is second to none. I am actually amazed they could do something of this quality for the price!

So, a review later but here are some shots to feast your eyes. I have posted on FPN as well. I think I am right in thinking I am the first one to have this pen on the forums which is a first for me!

Oh yes, the 14k italic 1.1 nib is wonderful!

http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm225/ianmedium/L1010127.jpg
http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm225/ianmedium/L1010097.jpg
http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm225/ianmedium/L1010100.jpg
http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm225/ianmedium/L1010121.jpg
http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm225/ianmedium/L1010124.jpg
http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm225/ianmedium/L1010102.jpg
http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm225/ianmedium/L1010114.jpg

fountainpenkid
June 7th, 2012, 06:14 PM
thats a BIG pen! beatutiful though!

ianmedium
June 7th, 2012, 06:22 PM
Thank you! That is my 149 next to it. It has a lot of real estate but it is very comfortable to write with.

fountainpenkid
June 7th, 2012, 07:23 PM
is the piston higher capacity than a eturia?

ianmedium
June 7th, 2012, 07:36 PM
I am not sure. This is the first Eturia I have owned. Are they normally smaller than this?

PeppWaves03
June 7th, 2012, 08:29 PM
That is a work of art!

ianmedium
June 7th, 2012, 09:12 PM
I edited it as I realized I did no put a close up of the clip! Thank you for your kind thoughts folks.

Bogon07
June 7th, 2012, 09:32 PM
Ianmedium, Congratulations on your new pen.
That really is a substantial clip. There are a lot of details in the clip and band. The barrel and cap have a wonderful petrified wood pattern look to them to goes well with the gold fittings.

Very stylish writing too.

peterpen53
June 8th, 2012, 01:12 AM
I am not sure. This is the first Eturia I have owned. Are they normally smaller than this?

No Ian, this is the shape Etruria's generally come in, though some have a 'trapped converter' (not an expert, just repeating what I hear). I have a 991 LE with a B nib that is a real pleasure to use. The material yours is made of is beautiful, I really like it. I still have some reservations about the clip etc, but as you say, the craftsmanship employed to make it is really exquisite. And I envy you for the 1.1 italic. I'm afraid the T-flex is going to have a hard time competing when it arrives.
I'm sure you will enjoy this one and may it serve you well!

Cheers,
Peter

P.S. This looks to be one of those pens that could really use some Visconti Sepia!

Maja
June 8th, 2012, 02:59 AM
Congratulations, Ian! So let me get this straight....You got the piston-filler with the 14k gold nib (rose gold) and are waiting for the cartridge/converter version (also limited to 351 pens, as I understand it) with a rose T-flex titanium nib?
What nib width will the c/c pen be? Oh, and is the pen back-heavy with the cap posted? (the clip looks heavy, but perhaps it isn't). The material of the cap, barrel and section is stunning.....:cool:

ianmedium
June 8th, 2012, 04:40 PM
Ianmedium, Congratulations on your new pen.
That really is a substantial clip. There are a lot of details in the clip and band. The barrel and cap have a wonderful petrified wood pattern look to them to goes well with the gold fittings.

Very stylish writing too.
Thank you, I can see what you mean about petrified wood!


No Ian, this is the shape Etruria's generally come in, though some have a 'trapped converter' (not an expert, just repeating what I hear). I have a 991 LE with a B nib that is a real pleasure to use. The material yours is made of is beautiful, I really like it. I still have some reservations about the clip etc, but as you say, the craftsmanship employed to make it is really exquisite. And I envy you for the 1.1 italic. I'm afraid the T-flex is going to have a hard time competing when it arrives.
I'm sure you will enjoy this one and may it serve you well!

Cheers,
Peter

P.S. This looks to be one of those pens that could really use some Visconti Sepia!

Darn it! I am now going to have to have a look at the sepia ink!


Congratulations, Ian! So let me get this straight....You got the piston-filler with the 14k gold nib (rose gold) and are waiting for the cartridge/converter version (also limited to 351 pens, as I understand it) with a rose T-flex titanium nib?
What nib width will the c/c pen be? Oh, and is the pen back-heavy with the cap posted? (the clip looks heavy, but perhaps it isn't). The material of the cap, barrel and section is stunning.....:cool:

Yes Maja, they were meant to arrive at the same time but it turns out the Ti nib is back ordered. I must admit I am at the moment thinking I might not bother with it. I can't wait for you to try this nib, it is a bit like the Nakaya I sold to Graham though more flexible and remember the Nakaya has the flex mottishaw nib. I think this is the Juiciest nib I have ever owned. The Aurora black flows like water from it. The rose gold finish is wonderful.

I was so surprised how big this pen is. There is a #7 on the feed, does this mean the nib is a #7 size? So flexible though and the castings and overall finish just make you want to write forever! So happy with this pen!

The pen is so big Maja I am not posting it. It is a little back heavy when done so though as the bronze casting work is not inconsiderable in weight.
The nib of the Ti fascinates me still so I probably won't cancel thinking on it. It is meant to go from extra fine to extra broad and it would be nice to have a Ti nib in my collection.

KrazyIvan
June 8th, 2012, 04:51 PM
While I am not wild about the pen, there is no doubt it is very striking. It is also very large and I like big pens. That nib is also showing some nice variation. Congratulations and use it in good health!

dannzeman
June 8th, 2012, 10:16 PM
Ian, congrats on the pen! That thing is massive! I didn't realize it was so big. And thanks for sharing the writing sample. It looks amazing.

Maja
June 9th, 2012, 01:38 AM
Hi Ian, well, the Ti-nibbed version is about half the price of its gold-nibbed cousin...so I say go for it and do not cancel the order for the Titanium-nibbed pen! I remember how nicely the Nakaya wrote and I'm glad that you have a new pen that manages to exceed that writing experience :D Looking forward to seeing one or both pens at our pen club meeting!

ianmedium
June 9th, 2012, 08:57 AM
Thanks so much Dan, it is a beast of a pen. I know you like large pens, I think you would enjoy this one. The nib is the biggest shock for me though, so flexible the way it writes it acts more like a broad stub than italic to me.

Maja, I decided to keep the order going. I think they are different enough to warrant it, looking forward to you having a go with it!

ianmedium
June 9th, 2012, 02:53 PM
Just some more pictures. My handwriting is not the best but hopefully you will get an idea of the line variation this lovely nib is capable of! Also a shot of the wonderful patterning of the ebonite!
http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm225/ianmedium/L1010136.jpg
http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm225/ianmedium/L1010107.jpg
http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm225/ianmedium/L1010134.jpg

Maja
June 9th, 2012, 05:46 PM
Great photos, Ian! Have you done a side-by-side photo of the pen next to your red & black ebonite Stipula Passaporto?
The material looks very similar.....

peterpen53
June 10th, 2012, 04:32 AM
The nib is the biggest shock for me though, so flexible the way it writes it acts more like a broad stub than italic to me.


Now Ian, you should not have said that. Do not lead me into temptation! :)

ianmedium
June 11th, 2012, 04:37 PM
Peter, if you love juicy flex nibs with lovely line variation and smooth as butter to write with then this nib is for you! It feels more like a paintbrush at times!

Here are some more pictures, still not great but they give a better idea of the grain, texture and depth of the ebonite. I love it, can't wait for the Ti nib version to arrive now!
http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm225/ianmedium/L1010150.jpg
http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm225/ianmedium/L1010146.jpg
http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm225/ianmedium/L1010145.jpg
http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm225/ianmedium/L1010142.jpg

Oh, forgot to do a side by side with the Passaporto. I would say though looking at them the grain is more detailed with the Tuscany one.

Maja
June 12th, 2012, 01:54 AM
Oh, forgot to do a side by side with the Passaporto. I would say though looking at them the grain is more detailed with the Tuscany one.
No worries, Ian! I'll see both Stipulas (Passaporto and Tuscan dreams) at our pen club meeting next week :o
Thanks for the extra photos showing the richness of the ebonite---it is a stunning fountain pen!

peterpen53
June 12th, 2012, 03:04 AM
Hmm, somewhere on my want-list is a red and black ebonite pen. And it seems to be steadily moving upwards. And a 1.1 stub/italic would make it very hard to resist. Uh oh!!

ianmedium
June 12th, 2012, 08:56 AM
Thanks Maja and Peter. I wish you were closer Peter, you would be more than welcome to give my pen a test drive!

peterpen53
June 13th, 2012, 03:29 AM
Thanks Maja and Peter. I wish you were closer Peter, you would be more than welcome to give my pen a test drive!

Thanks for the offer, Ian. But I'm afraid for the bus fare to Vancouver I could get a Tuscan AND a few other dreams! :)

ianmedium
June 13th, 2012, 05:22 PM
That's true Peter!
After your suggestion of the sepia ink I remembered I had a bottle of Diamine Chocolate Brown ink around. I have not used it much as in my other pens it did not look that great. At the time I purchased it I was looking for an ink that would give me a similar effect to very old pen and ink sketches that Michelangelo and others of his time did. They turn in some instances into a nicely shaded brown.

I think the Stipula comes closer to what I want than any other pen I own.
What do you think?

http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm225/ianmedium/L1010154.jpg
http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm225/ianmedium/L1010155.jpg

peterpen53
June 14th, 2012, 03:52 AM
I like it, Ian. I don't know if my monitor is correct but it looks like a very dark brown with an ever so slight reddish air to it. That's what you're looking for with your reference to Michelangelo's sketches, right?
In that case I still think you would like the Sepia. I'm currently using it in a Montblanc with a fine point and in the 1.3 Visconti I got from Eric (you can see a sample in its sales thread). In a Rhodia Webbie it evens out almost entirely with the fine, but with the stub it shades like crazy, if you're into that.

KrazyIvan
June 14th, 2012, 08:22 AM
That Diamine Chocolate Brown looks really good with that pen.

ianmedium
June 20th, 2012, 09:49 PM
it really is lovely with it Ivan, though at the moment it is loaded with Hitchcock ink which again is lovely looking with it!

ianmedium
July 19th, 2012, 08:25 PM
The T-flex version arrived today. I had to wait for my friend to go pick it up from his po box in the States so it sat there for a month. Unfortunately the box looked damaged and when I opened the box the pen had quite a bit of the rose gold plating missing from the clip and cap band and the blind cap at the back is loose. I am hoping Farhneys understands the circumstances of my lateness in getting in touch with them and hopefully they will have another that they can supply, shame as this one was a nice low number!
If it had just been the box I would not have worried about it but the pen is really not good!

Maja
July 20th, 2012, 01:21 PM
So sorry to hear that, Ian. I know you've been waiting a few weeks for it to arrive. :(
I hope that you will be able to get a replacement with no hassle.....

ianmedium
July 20th, 2012, 05:04 PM
Thanks Maja. I phoned farhneys today and the woman I spoke to said their despatch department will have to look at it and confirm then they will replace it. Apparently they inspect everything before it leaves but the packaged box was unmarked, just the stipula box so I can't see how it was damaged en-route. One good thing, they are expecting more in so I will end up with a set hopefully!

Maja
July 20th, 2012, 05:43 PM
Thanks Maja. I phoned farhneys today and the woman I spoke to said their despatch department will have to look at it and confirm then they will replace it. Apparently they inspect everything before it leaves but the packaged box was unmarked, just the stipula box so I can't see how it was damaged en-route. One good thing, they are expecting more in so I will end up with a set hopefully!

I am assuming that the package was insurance for damage and/or theft??

Well, at least they will be getting more in stock; if all the pens were sold out already, that would be very sad. Having said that, you do already have the same pen with a different nib (rose gold vs. Titanium)....but I do understand you wanting to own both. The one I saw (the rose gold-nibbed pen) is a beautiful pen indeed. Keeping fingers crossed! :)

KrazyIvan
July 21st, 2012, 01:26 PM
Awe, that stinks. :( I hope you can get the issue resolved.

ianmedium
July 23rd, 2012, 08:44 AM
thanks KI, It is all packaged up and will be mailed back to them today so hopefully I should hear the outcome later this week. Still. If this is my only problem in the world I am very fortunate eh!

KrazyIvan
July 23rd, 2012, 09:01 AM
I think there is a twitter hash tag for #firstworlproblems that I think applies. :)

fountainpenkid
July 23rd, 2012, 09:51 AM
any explanation? did your friend feel envious of your find and deface it ;) ;)


Will

ianmedium
July 23rd, 2012, 08:55 PM
Yeah KI, that was the phrase I was looking for! fpk, no explanation yet, it was shipped back to them today so hopefully i will hear this week

ianmedium
July 26th, 2012, 03:29 PM
Just an update. Just got of the phone with Farhneys, they are just waiting for some new stock to come in and they will then mail out the replacement! So, the wait continues!

manoeuver
July 26th, 2012, 06:47 PM
whatever will you write with in the meantime?

ianmedium
July 26th, 2012, 07:36 PM
whatever will you write with in the meantime?

Ya know, I have no idea :noidea:

peterpen53
July 31st, 2012, 03:09 PM
Ya know, I have no idea :noidea:

Really?

ianmedium
July 31st, 2012, 07:13 PM
Really?


i am sure I have something that will make do Peter :pound:

ianmedium
August 10th, 2012, 05:35 PM
Ah ha! My Ti should be here within the hour! Fingers crossed this one is fine!

Maja
August 11th, 2012, 02:40 AM
:boink:
Ok..........so did it arrive yet??
We are waiting with bated breath here <LOL>...

ianmedium
August 11th, 2012, 07:21 AM
Hey Maja, yep! It is here! This one in perfect order but you can tell these are not mass made as the metal work is a much more copper colour than the pistons.

The nib is lovely to write with and there is a good amount of difference between normal and full flex though it is not what I would call a flex nib as I can't imagine being able to write cursive with the amount of pressure required to attain that flex. The 14K nib on the piston version though not having the same degree of flex has a much softer nib so as to attain more line variation whilst writing normally, having said that!

I think the Ti nib version is going to get more use as the standard line it produces is perfect for my daily journalling.

I am glad I have both but if I had to choose just one and bearing in mind the special nature of the pen then the 14K would be the one. And having said that, the Ti version is an absolute bargain as you basically get the same look for under half the cost!

But for me they are both keepers, I love that the metalwork is different on each pen, Italian quirkiness and shows the truly hand made nature of the pen!

peterpen53
August 11th, 2012, 07:55 AM
Comparative pictures anyone? And writing samples, of course.

And I'm glad this one is OK. They sure took their sweet (italian) time!:)

KrazyIvan
August 11th, 2012, 09:14 AM
Yes, some side by side pictures for comparison would be really nice. :)

ianmedium
August 11th, 2012, 09:15 AM
Hi Peter.

I have just taken so quick photo's to compare. The size is identical but the metal work is completely different in colour, hopefully these quick shots will convey that, the difference is not subtle! For me though it speaks of the individual nature of the manufacture and I find it charming rather than annoying! Despite the late arrival of the Ti version I still got a low number. The 14k is #36/351 and the Ti is #69/351

Here are so quick shots, better ones to follow once the sun has got higher in the sky!

http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm225/ianmedium/L1010282.jpg
http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm225/ianmedium/L1010283.jpg
http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm225/ianmedium/L1010284.jpg

And writing samples, note the flex on both! Ink is Diamine ASA blue which has become my favourite ink!

http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm225/ianmedium/L1010285.jpg
http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm225/ianmedium/L1010286.jpg

peterpen53
August 11th, 2012, 10:04 AM
Thanks Ian. The pictures certainly convey the difference. It looks to me like the rose in the rose-gold is more prevailing in the Ti version. And do be careful flexing that italic nib!

That Asa blue seems like a nice ink. Is it a true dark blue or is it blue-black?

Cheers,
Peter

ianmedium
August 11th, 2012, 10:09 AM
Peter, yes, I am careful with the nib, though in truth it requires little pressure, certainly no more than normal writing to get that variation where as the Ti needs a great deal more!

The ASA is a lovely colour more of a medium teal blue I would say, a lot lighter than Diamines Majestic blue which also has some purple in it. This one has more of a green/yellow shade (though it is not obvious, more the spectrum of blue)

Maja
August 11th, 2012, 01:42 PM
:tea:
Congratulations on your newest fountain pen, Ian---it's a beauty!

Thanks for the quick reply & photos! If you wouldn't mind bringing both pens to our pen club meeting on Thursday (so I can compare them in person), that would be cool.

KrazyIvan
August 11th, 2012, 02:07 PM
I may have to eat my words. The more I look at the pen the more I start to like it. When I first saw it, it was a bit over the top for me. Now, I am having second thoughts.:crazy_pilot:

ianmedium
August 14th, 2012, 11:21 AM
You know, this really is a pen to see in the flesh, it looks much more balanced than when shown in pictures and I never tire of looking at the castings through a loupe and reveling in the details and craftsmanship.

Bogon07
August 19th, 2012, 05:42 PM
The copper colour metal work looks good especially the nib. It think it gives the pen a nice ambience and could just imagine using these pens to write in Paperblanks Grolier Ornamentali.

1131

ianmedium
August 21st, 2012, 12:11 AM
That would be a great one to use, is the paper good for fountain pens, I can get those journals here and have always liked the looks of them

Carole
August 21st, 2012, 01:16 AM
The copper colour metal work looks good especially the nib. It think it gives the pen a nice ambience and could just imagine using these pens to write in Paperblanks Grolier Ornamentali.

1131


Hello--do you have any problems with your Grolier notebook paper? As in, bleedthrough & feathering issues? I can't use both sides of the paper with any nib but an extra fine, and even then there's a bit of ghosting here and there. Surprising. I love the notebook but it's not FP friendly and that's sad.

Bogon07
August 21st, 2012, 05:40 PM
Ianmedium, like most other journals and notebooks it depends on the ink, nib and how you write (how much pressure you use, speed & if you rest or pause your pen on the paper between strokes).

Carole, I've experienced some bleedthrough or ghosting with some inks in various PaperBlanks journals but no feathering so far. It isn't much of a problem to me as I usually don't write on the reverse of the page. Rhodia and Clairfontaine are supposed to be really good but some ink and nib combinations with go right through the paper too.

I recall seeing a post on FPN which discussed the paper and it appears they may have improved their paper a couple of years ago. The problem is that you really don't know when the journal was made.
http://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php?/topic/222583-paperblanks-journals/

Carole
August 22nd, 2012, 03:22 PM
Ianmedium, like most other journals and notebooks it depends on the ink, nib and how you write (how much pressure you use, speed & if you rest or pause your pen on the paper between strokes).

Carole, I've experienced some bleedthrough or ghosting with some inks in various PaperBlanks journals but no feathering so far. It isn't much of a problem to me as I usually don't write on the reverse of the page. Rhodia and Clairfontaine are supposed to be really good but some ink and nib combinations with go right through the paper too.

I recall seeing a post on FPN which discussed the paper and it appears they may have improved their paper a couple of years ago. The problem is that you really don't know when the journal was made.
http://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php?/topic/222583-paperblanks-journals/

Thanks muchly, Bogon07, for that FPN link, they're describing my experience exactly. I do love the Grolier and my other Paperblanks, and if they're one-side-only pages, so be it.

Ianmedium, if you like I could take some quick photos of the Grolier pages that I've written on, to show you what happens. (Imagine the Stipula on the pages of a Grolier Ornamentali --gorgeous. Great call, Bogon07. )

leomitch
November 17th, 2012, 08:23 AM
Congratulations Ian!! What an exquisite piece of craftsmanship. Thank you for posting this, you may have succeeded in diverting me from Aurora pens. Now I will look closely at Stipula.
Best regards
Leo

fountainpenkid
November 20th, 2012, 05:17 PM
It seems they made a new, beautiful and inexpensive version: see here:http://www.coloradopen.com/product/Stipula-Tuscany-Dreams-Fountain-Pen/Stipula-Tuscany-Dreams

Maja
November 20th, 2012, 09:21 PM
It seems they made a new, beautiful and inexpensive version: see here:http://www.coloradopen.com/product/Stipula-Tuscany-Dreams-Fountain-Pen/Stipula-Tuscany-Dreams

By golly, you're right, FPKid! :jaw:
At first I thought that was just the nib price, but no....it's for the whole pen (with Ti nib!).

j01270
November 21st, 2012, 11:10 AM
Great handwriting...did you practice it? Any pointers to give on improving my sorry one destroyed by so many years of working and writing fast.

Like the pen...I have one Stipula and it is very good.

fountainpenkid
November 21st, 2012, 11:34 AM
By golly, you're right, FPKid! :jaw:
At first I thought that was just the nib price, but no....it's for the whole pen (with Ti nib!).

Yup! I can't wait to hopefully see one at philly! I might just pick one up if they come sealed for eyedropper use...