Posts filed under Fountain Pens

Sailor Pro Gear Classic Graphite Lighthouse with Zoom Architect Nib: A Review

(Susan M. Pigott is a fountain pen collector, pen and paperholic, photographer, and professor. You can find more from Susan on her blog Scribalishess.)

Long ago I owned a Pelikan M200 with a fine Architect nib (also known as a Hebrew/Arabic Nib). It was a lovely, delicate thing, ground by the great Richard Binder. But, when I originally ordered it I was young and naïve, new to fountain pens, and I didn’t realize that the fine nib would not give me the line variation I craved for Hebrew characters. I eventually sold the pen.

I’ve been itching to try a Sailor Zoom nib with an Architect grind, and I knew exactly which nibmeister I wanted to do it: John Mottishaw at nibs.com. Deciding on a Sailor pen for the nib was extremely hard (so many choices), but I eventually settled on the Sailor Pro Gear Classic Graphite Lighthouse. This surprised me a bit, because why would I want a “boring” gray pen when Sailor has so many bright, cheery colors? I don’t know. I liked the subtle color and the clear finials on both ends, and a more “sober” pen seemed somehow fitting for writing Hebrew.

Even though the Sailor Graphite Lighthouse is a North American exclusive, it comes in a basic Sailor box. The only thing differentiating it from a regular Sailor is a bookmark--woot?

The pen itself is a dark gray color with rhodium trim, which complements the color perfectly.

As stated earlier, the cap and barrel finials are clear, offering a special detail that makes the pen look unique. I just wish it lit up like a real lighthouse!

The Pro Gear Classic is a small to medium-sized pen--small if you don’t post it and medium if you do. It measures 5.1 inches/130mm capped, 4.5 inches/115mm uncapped, and 5.9 inches/150mm posted. It’s a light pen, weighing only 25 grams capped and 16 grams uncapped with the converter filled with ink. I usually like much larger pens, but for some reason I’ve gravitated towards Pro Gear Classics. I own several of them.

The real story with this pen is the nib. All Sailor nibs are gorgeous, with beautiful scroll work and the Sailor anchor inscribed above the gold content.

The Zoom nib is like an extra broad but with a triangular shape and lots of tipping. It’s the perfect choice for an Architect grind.

I asked John to make my Architect “forgiving,” so he smoothed it out more than a traditional Architect grind so I could use it to write cursive.

It’s absolutely perfect--smooth and juicy, but I can also get clean vertical and horizontal strokes for Hebrew and block letters.

Upside down the nib writes extra, extra fine. I’m unlikely to use the nib this way, but it’s a nice option if you want to write marginalia.

I inked the Graphite Lighthouse with Sailor Ink Studio 123, and the two pair together beautifully. I can write in my usual cursive style with this nib, and the pen simply floats over the paper.

I am absolutely thrilled with this pen and the Zoom/Architect nib. Even though the Pro Gear Classic Graphic Lighthouse is mostly sold out, you can, of course, order almost any Sailor with a Zoom nib from nibs.com and request an Architect grind. If you do block printing more than cursive, you’ll definitely want a classic Architect grind. But, if you’re like me and want an Architect that allows you to do cursive as well, just ask John for a more forgiving nib, and he will send you the perfect grind.

(I purchased the Sailor Pro Gear Graphite Lighthouse with my own funds.)

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Posted on October 4, 2019 by Susan Pigott and filed under Sailor, Fountain Pens, Architect Nib, Pen Reviews.

Montegrappa Tulip for Team Fox Fountain Pen Review

One of the guiding principles of my adult life is to give back. I am very fortunate to do what I do for a living, and I make it a point to shine the light on others and give back as much as possible. Whether that is as simple as doing a giveaway for readers, linking to a blog post within the community, or supporting a charity - I'm all for it. So, when Ron from Pen Chalet asked me to share the Montegrappa Tulip for Team Fox and the message behind it, I couldn't say yes fast enough.

The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research is has funded over $800 million in research since 2000. As many of you know, Fox was diagnosed with Parkinson's decades ago, and has been at the forefront of the work to find a cure. In collaboration with Montegrappa, Team Fox helped design a pen whose proceeds support the ongoing research of this debilitating disease.

There are two featured design elements of the Montegrappa Tulip that help tell its story: The color, and the clip. The red and orange barrel are the foundation colors of Team Fox, and paired together in this pen, well, let's just say it is right up my alley. The red is deep, almost brick-like, and the orange is bright, but not overwhelming, making for a wonderful combination.

The star of the show is the Tulip clip. Designed by artist Timothy Johns, a Parkinson's fighter himself, the Red Tulip has long been associated with Parkinson’s awareness. It looks amazing on the red cap and I can’t help but have my eyes drawn to it every time I use this pen.

While this pen has a story to tell, it is also a fantastic writing instrument. I've become a big fan of Montegrappa’s steel nibs since their switch to JoWo, and this extra fine is no exception. It is exactly what I look for: Firm and fine, with clean, crisp lines. The Montegrappa etching on the nib looks great too.

The acrylic barrel has a small added feature that makes a big difference in my mind. The interior of the barrel is fitted with a metal sleeve in the inside back half, giving this pen a more substantial feel in the hand than many other similarly designed pens. In addition, the grip section also has a metal sleeve that the converter screws into. These additions make for a wonderful writing feel.

At $395, this is by no means an inexpensive pen. But what it can provide you in writing experience - along with helping support the fight to end Parkinson’s - is worth it in my mind.

My thanks to Ron at Pen Chalet, Kenro Industries, and Montegrappa for sending this pen to me for review.

(Pen Chalet provided this product at no charge to The Pen Addict for review purposes.)

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Posted on September 30, 2019 by Brad Dowdy and filed under Montegrappa, Fountain Pens, Pen Reviews.

Platinum Kanazawa Leaf Red Mt. Fuji Fountain Pen Review

We each have a style that is unique to us, and that translates into the stationery we use. For me, it’s extra fine nibs, silver trim, and bright colors - among other things - that I enjoy the most in fountain pens. So adding something like a Platinum Kanazawa Leaf fountain pen to my arsenal takes a bit more consideration on my part.

Let’s get this out of the way right up front: These pens are downright stunning. I chose the Red Mt. Fuji model, but I could have picked any of them and been happy with the artwork. Kanazawa Leaf is named after the city in Japan which is known for their long history of gold leaf production and craftsmanship. For example, this pen depicts the golden sunrise around Mt. Fuji, which is surrounded by silver clouds. It’s difficult to not stop in the middle of writing and just take in the artwork.

That’s a little bit of the hangup in purchasing a pen like this to be honest. Not that you shouldn’t stop and appreciate the artwork as often as possible, but rather, you can’t let the artwork stop you from using the pen at all.

It took me many years of using fountain pens to be comfortable with actually using them in any and all situations. This goes back to my original Nakaya purchase. I wanted one badly, but it took me years to come to grips with being comfortable using a piece of art that cost a lot of money. Once I got comfortable with using the pen for what it is actually made for - writing - did the anxiety lift from my life.

While the Platinum Kanazawa Leaf fountain pen costs a fraction of a Nakaya, I struggled with the same thoughts. Will I damage the artwork on the barrel? Will that keep me from using it? Is this pen made to be looked at and not used?

No, no, and resoundingly no.

Part of falling in love with a pen is making it yours. The more you use an urushi-finish Nakaya, the more it changes color. It becomes more a part of you. The same goes for the Kanazawa Leaf finish. It will wear with use, but that is a positive in my book. The artwork will always be a story the pen has, but the inevitable change in the artwork through use will be your story. What did you create with this pen? Whats words did you write? What art did you make?

Creating new stories is why it is important for me to use the products I buy.

Wow, that was a really big digression to tell you I am thoroughly enjoying using this pen. It features a lightweight black plastic barrel and an 18k gold nib. It is lighter and thinner than the base 3776 models, and the nib is more plain. I think those decisions were made to keep the overall price down and focus on the artwork. I’m a bit surprised that it lands under $200 to be honest - I would have guessed a bit higher.

As I alluded to up top, black and gold pens are not normally my thing. But this is much more than a black and gold pen. I even used an ink color I wouldn’t normally, because I thought it would work well with this pen. Platinum Classic Forest Black flows perfectly from the fine nib, and matches the aesthetic perfectly for me.

In the end, I’ve found the Platinum Kanazawa Leaf fountain pen to fall into the every day carry category of pens for me. One with a bit extra, at that.

(JetPens provided this product at no charge to The Pen Addict for review purposes.)

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