Tell us about your most exciting pen in 2016

[jar]

Maybe the Kikyo Portable Nakaya. I am always amazed by the depth of color in Nakaya's Kikyo Blue pens.

[Waski_the_Squirrel]

As soon as I saw the title to this thread, I knew the answer. It's my Centropen 100820. It's a vintage fountain pen from early 1960s Czechoslovakia. It's a gorgeous celluloid material, a unique case very evocative of the time and place, and even has a companion pencil. It is also by far the most flexible nib I've ever handled.




This isn't my best writing sample. But, I wrote it on a receipt to show the outstanding flexibility of the nib. It is supposed to vary between "fine" and "triple broad". As far as I can tell, it does. The pen flexes and writes a good line with very little railroading or trouble of any kind. In truth, writing with this pen feels like I'm using a brush. It's that flexible. It's stunning. I thought I had a light touch with fountain pens, but I really had to relearn that with this pen.



And here is the nib in question.





The pen is remarkable. I knew very little about Centropen before I purchased this one. And now, I'll be on the lookout for more. It truly is a special pen.

Check out the video at 3:20 for a closeup, in slow motion, of the nib in action.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dgycZr6r7cY

[Scooby921]

My favorite pen of 2016 has to be my Nakaya Neo Standard. It was a custom order, so it's personalized and meaningful. It was also a long wait, so I was excessively excited when it arrived. It's been inked up and in my pen case every day since I received it.

That is gorgeous! My sincere compliments!

Can you tell us where you acquired it from?

Thank you! I ordered it through Classic Fountain Pens (nibs.com). I gave them the specs of what I wanted. They handled placing the order directly with Nakaya. I could have ordered directly through Nakaya's website, but I was a little more comfortable having a middle-man as CFP is a Nakaya vendor and is certainly familiar with processes and definitely names and phone numbers at Nakaya to make sure everything goes smoothly.

As soon as I saw the title to this thread, I knew the answer. It's my Centropen 100820. It's a vintage fountain pen from early 1960s Czechoslovakia. It's a gorgeous celluloid material, a unique case very evocative of the time and place, and even has a companion pencil. It is also by far the most flexible nib I've ever handled.

This isn't my best writing sample. But, I wrote it on a receipt to show the outstanding flexibility of the nib. It is supposed to vary between "fine" and "triple broad". As far as I can tell, it does. The pen flexes and writes a good line with very little railroading or trouble of any kind. In truth, writing with this pen feels like I'm using a brush. It's that flexible. It's stunning. I thought I had a light touch with fountain pens, but I really had to relearn that with this pen.

And here is the nib in question.



The pen is remarkable. I knew very little about Centropen before I purchased this one. And now, I'll be on the lookout for more. It truly is a special pen.

That's pretty cool! I like the generous ink view window. I've seen too many where it's just a tiny band. It's nice being able to see the ink clearly, and also to know when you're running low.

[Robert]

Bisquitlips wrote:

"A friend of mine at work just acquired a Bulkfiller. The titanium furniture and nib is lovely and it is as smooth a nib as I have written with. They really are a custom pen in every regard and the filling mechanism is radically cool."

And I should have mentioned the excellent service after sale: I had a couple of questions, which were answered promptly and in detail - - along with the offer to set up a Skype conference if I needed further help. Superb!

[VertOlive]

I was allowed to choose a gift so this is the only pen for 2016: Sheaffer Balance in the most incredible green acrylic (celluloid?) from member blopplop's collection. The picture below barely comes close to exhibiting the beauty of this pen. Excited about its good looks, and the fact someone would grant me such a fine gift; it is not something I could have bought for myself this year.

[Bisquitlips]

Attachment 28826

Sailor King of Pen Green Mozaique, Broad nib.

This is special for me for 2016 as I had no intention of purchasing any Sailor pen . . . until this came up for sale and I was smitten. The nib is incredibly smooth and writes like the perfect (for me) medium.

Close second was another impulse buy, an LE Conway Stewart Wellington White Swirl in medium.

But then again, I only started on this collection journey this year so I guess all my pens are special in one way or another

Well.... I would have impulsed on both of those also and it is always good that an unplanned purchase works out so well. Congratulations!

[kevmid]

Nothing amazing in pens but my special pen this year is my 1977 Pilot murex stainless steel pen with integrated nib. Only recently having come across vintage pilots I am blown away by the simplicity and elegance of the designs. It writes like a dream and is so strong and light. For me it is the "Great White" of my pens as the ribbed section, streamlined body and curve of the nib remind me of the body, gills and jaw line of the shark!

[IMG][/IMG]

[Empty_of_Clouds]

VertOlive, you are the fortunate benefactor of an unexpected roofing repair on my house. That pen would have been coming to me but for that. Enjoy!

[penwash]

Let's keep the ball rolling. There's one full week until the end of 2016.

[frmamede]

I would have to say my MontBlanc 147! Since I just started the hobby, I only have low-end pens, except for that MB, wich belonged to my father and was gifted to me as soon as he found out my interest for FP's. I actually don't care much for the "cartridge-only" filling mechanism, and cleaning it sucks, but it has one of the most gorgeous nibs I've seen and it writes like butter, no to say the sentimental value!

IMG_20161226_154726377_HDR.jpg

[FredRydr]

My most exciting pen for 2016 remains a pen that still has my best nib, an early Sheaffer Balance long oversize with an EF flex nib. But the most interesting pen that came into my collection during 2016 is a vintage Osmia in silver-ray celluloid with a 14k Supra F nib. I was dubious about the different pattern of the cap and barrel, but Osman tells me it's correct. I have yet to write with it, so that'll wait until 2017. :-)

IMG_6338 2.JPG

Fred

[Jon Szanto]

Let's keep the ball rolling. There's one full week until the end of 2016.

I'm thinking...

[christof]

I can't decide if it's this:



a mint Duofold Senior in Jade.... or this:



a very scarce Swiss made ASKA from the 1930's.

C.

PS: and there is also this:



a Swiss made Dimmler Monte Rosa set in blue ray celluloid.

can't decide....

[Kaputnik]

I don't know if "exciting" is quite the right word. But then, I'm not very excitable.

But this Mabie Todd Swan 3150 is winning me over. I've had it for a couple of years, and didn't care for the way the nib was worn. So this year I decided to splurge and send it out to John Mottishaw to see what he could do with it. Got it back a bit earlier than expected. I have a note on my calendar that he had promised it in February of next year, but I actually received it in early November.

It's now something I want to write with all the time. The best indication of that is that it hasn't been empty a full day since I got it, either four or five fills. I did rinse it out once, to change the Akkerman's ink referenced in the picture to Pilot Blue-Black. And I just filled it again about an hour ago. The nib is not some special grind, either, just a normal symmetrical medium nib. But the way it feels when I write is special.

[Jon Szanto]

a very scarce Swiss made ASKA from the 1930's.

I'm pretty certain that is your most exciting pen this year. To be sure, I'll have to examine it at length to have a better idea. Please package securely and send it to ...

[FredRydr]

PS: and there is also this:

a Swiss made Dimmler Monte Rosa set in blue ray celluloid.

Christof,

Now that's cruel! ;-) But exciting.

Fred

[penwash]

I don't know if "exciting" is quite the right word. But then, I'm not very excitable.

But this Mabie Todd Swan 3150 is winning me over....
It's now something I want to write with all the time....
The best indication of that is that it hasn't been empty a full day since I got it....
And I just filled it again about an hour ago....
The nib is not some special grind, either, just a normal symmetrical medium nib.
But the way it feels when I write is special....

Yep, I'd say you're pretty excited about this pen

[christof]

[QUOTE=FredRydr;193121]

Now that's cruel! ;-)

I know Fred.
...and the bad news is that the Museum of Desing of Zurich is interested in.
But negotiations have not finished yet...so lets think about.
C.

[FredRydr]

...the Museum of Desing of Zurich is interested....

Wow! That is good news! Congratulations!

Is that a two-piece set with two photos of the pen?

Fred

[christof]

Yes.