Ebonite Pen Recommendation

[thagbert]

I am looking to get my first ebonite pen. I am looking for something moderately priced. Would love a Nakaya but unfortunately they don't grow on trees.

Would much prefer new but won't rule out vintage.

Any suggestions?

[Laura N]

I don't know what qualifies as moderately priced, but I have two custom Edisons in ebonite and couldn't be happier.

[6of1]

I have a Deccan Ambassador that I like. A lot of nice ebonite pens are manufactured in India.

[thagbert]

I have a Deccan Ambassador that I like. A lot of nice ebonite pens are manufactured in India.

I've noticed that. A lot of Rangas.

[cwent2]

I have a Konrad Sahara Olive/Black Ripple - I have no complaints about - cept they are not in good supply.

[6of1]

I've noticed that. A lot of Rangas.

I like the Bamboo. I don't own one yet, but this year, maybe.

[anaximander]

For modern ebonite, your best bet is probably Edison. You could get an ebonite Pearlette for $225.

For vintage, I often see ebonite pens for sale on FPN in the <$150 range. I recently got a Mabie Todd Blackbird for $95. Remember that in vintage-speak, ebonite is usually called "hard rubber," often abbreviated as B[C]HR (black [chased] hard rubber) or RHR (red hard rubber).

[Uncle Red]

There are lots of Modern ebonite pens. Since the OP did not give us a price range...

Laban Ebonite Fountain Pen in Blue Denim or Strawberry, check them out at ISellPens.com


Stipula Davinci Battaglia Di Anghiarti Fountain Pen and Fahrneys Exclusive Stipula Passaporto Yellow Ebonite Fountain Pen, check them out at fahrneyspens.om

The Ebonite Series Fountain Pen from Cleo Skribent (I just got a Classic and love it), Check them out at papierplume.com

[fountainpenkid]

If you're willing to pay over $300, you might want to check out the ebonite Cleo Skribent series...awesome looks and piston fillers.

[gwgtaylor]

Sailor King of Pen! Bonus! -it's cartridge / converter! Size of a Mont Blanc 149 with a flexible replaceable filling system! Emphasis much?!

[gwgtaylor]

Sorry. That pen excites me.

[KrazyIvan]

I own two Edison Ebonite pens and one Indian Eyedropper. Love them all.

[stevekolt]

One of my favorite pens is my Edison Beaumont Pneumatic in Briar Swirl Ebonite. Check 'em out!

[thagbert]

One of my favorite pens is my Edison Beaumont Pneumatic in Briar Swirl Ebonite. Check 'em out!

The Edison's are high on my list!

[jor412]

Right now, peytonstreetpens.com has Rangas with Sheaffer nib options. Some are no nonsense nibs. But here's the one I find interesting -- a Ranga with a steel inlaid nib for only $68:

http://www.peytonstreetpens.com/othe...cartridge.html

[terim]

Thanks for mentioning us in this context.

The pens with Imperial nibs have turned out extremely well. In addition to the steel inlaid nibs, we can put 14k nibs on these pens for another $45. We're working on some custom ground subtle italic nibs as well. We'll also be offering this pen in acrylic in a few weeks.

We've got some of the Ranga Cruiser models with aerometric filling systems, and we've installed Eversharp 14k flex nibs on those.

http://www.peytonstreetpens.com/othe...s-new-nos.html

We've also got two models that have been fitted with JoWo nibs and converters .... the Duofold-like Model 3 (see here, priced at $80), and the rounded Model 4C (see here, also priced at $80.)

In a week or two we'll have the Bamboo model with JoWo nibs and converters.

We love the quality of these pens, and with upgraded nibs they can't be beat for value and performance!

TERI

[oldstoat]

I see that some of the modern ebonite pens, like the Varunas from India nd the Laban from Isellpens.com are pretty sizeable objects. Is this because of some inherent property of ebonite(rigidity, brittleness etc.) that makes it difficult to make them slimmer or is this simply a fashion statement?

[terim]

I think it has to do with the makers' perceptions of modern preferences, as well as the ebonite rods' size. We like a slimmer pen, especially if it is to be fitted with vintage nibs.

Oh, and FYI? Varuna = Ranga more or less.

[Strombomboli]

I see that some of the modern ebonite pens, like the Varunas from India nd the Laban from Isellpens.com are pretty sizeable objects. Is this because of some inherent property of ebonite(rigidity, brittleness etc.) that makes it difficult to make them slimmer or is this simply a fashion statement?

I am using three pens from Ratnamson. The two bigger ones are slender pens, and the smallest one is called Super Small and measure 9 cm capped (1 inch = 2.54 cm). So these enormous sizes don't have anything to do with the material. I find them astonishing, too.

[Alex2014]

I love Nakaya and Danitrio, but sometimes I need something new. So I got a Varuna Gajendra, a hand-made Indian FP. It comes just today, in red/blue/white. It is a huge FP (175 mm capped), with a German (JoWo) SS Fine nib duo-tone. The nib is very, very smooth. The FP uses cartdrige/converter being an ED as well. The design is very traditional: cigar without clip. Very pleasant to the touch, very comfortable to write with, despite its size (well, I like huge FP's). In the second photo, you could compare Gajendra with Dantrio Genkai and MB 149.