Posts filed under Pen Reviews

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.

Pilot Birdy Switch Multi Pen(cil) Review

(Jeff Abbott is a regular contributor at The Pen Addict. You can find more from Jeff online at Draft Evolution and Twitter.)

Over the past few months, I've been trying out a collection of extremely small mechanical pencils. Earlier this year, I started this experiment with the adorable Zebra Techo TS-3, and was mostly happy with it as long as I threw in a couple of (pretty large) caveats:

Ultimately, I still like the Zebra Techo TS-3 strictly as a backup utilitarian option. It's not the first thing you reach for, and possibly not the second. But when all other options have failed or aren't nearby, it gets the job done.

When I started using the Pilot Birdy Switch, my opinion was almost identical, but the added length of the Pilot, along with the additional hidden ballpoint pen, push it further down the line of utility. The Pilot Birdy is about the same diameter as the Zebra, which means it's not comfortable for long writing stints. This is certainly still in the "backup/last resort" category of writing instrument, but it's marginally more comfortable to use given the extra length.

But, the slim profile and relative short length still give it some major advantages in terms of where you can store it. Sliding this pen into between two pages of a notebook is easy and allows the notebook to still close without much of a bump or gap. And, the aluminum construction make it resilient enough to be stuffed and crammed into tight spaces that may exert a lot of pressure on the pencil. It handles these situations with ease. Like the Fisher Bullet, it just takes whatever you throw at it. Unlike the Fisher, the Pilot can definitely get a little stabby in your pocket if it is oriented the wrong way, so beware.

The main function of the Pilot Birdy Switch is a 0.5mm mechanical pencil. The pencil works great, and I haven't had any issues with it. I'm guessing it's the same mechanism that Pilot uses in their other multi pens, and I've always been happy with those. This one is just wrapped in a thin aluminum shell that makes it seem like you're writing with a long, bare multi pen refill instead of a real pen. But, that's what affords it the transport and utility points. To extend lead, click the cap. To retract it, hold down the cap and push the lead back into the tip. Unlike a lot of mechanical pencils, this one does not sport a tiny eraser or lead clog remover.

Instead, removing the cap reveals a tiny ballpoint pen. Honestly, I picked this pencil up in a JetPens order without fully reading the description. I just bought it because I was on a mini mechanical pencil kick, and all I needed to know was that it was a mechanical pencil. It wasn't until I got the pen, used it for a while, and then became curious how much lead was in the reservoir that I actually removed the cap. I was stunned to find the ballpoint tip! What a pleasant surprise. Of course, I tried writing with it and discovered that it's pretty smooth. I don't know for sure if it uses the same ink formula, but it feels a lot like the Pilot Acroball 0.7mm refill. This thing is tiny! Unfortunately, it only comes in black, but you can at least pick up refills.

Even more, I realized that the cap can post on top of the mechanical pencil component. When using the pen, the only thing that looks odd is the clip on the wrong end. This is such a simple and clever design. If you've ever written with a Vanishing Point, then you know whether or not you can comfortably use a pen with a clip next to your fingers, but the Birdy is obviously less comfortable given the size.

Still, having a pen of this size with both a pencil and a ballpoint pen is a great tool to have when you're in a pinch. The size makes it great for squeezing into a checkbook, wallet, purse, bag, notebook, and other small spaces. Like I said in the Zebra Techo TS-3 review, it's definitely not a workhorse writing instrument, but it's a great backup option. And at just $8.25, the Pilot Birdy Switch won't break the bank either.

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

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Posted on October 2, 2019 by Jeff Abbott and filed under Pilot, Ballpoint, Mechanical Pencil, 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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