Excellent review, Blake! That pen is stunning! One of the things I consider when making my pen purchase decision, is the pens' "cool factor". This pen certainly "ticks that box"!
I like the YoL Victorians (Viceroy and Grand) very much. I gave my wife a Viceroy Victorian because she wanted a narrower pen; her hands are much smaller than mine, and she doesn't care for my larger pens. The nibs of both are hard, as unyielding as Queen Victoria, but they're both excellent on good paper. And they do look really good. That riveted clip is unchanged over the last however many decades, and I think it suits the character of the pen. Thinking about it, I'm not sure the clips are silver. They're nice and firm, not as soft as I'd expect from sterling. I have a sterling clip on another pen that can only be used as a roll stop; clipping it on a flannel shirt or in a suit pocket will bend it. I've clipped the YoL with no problem. Hmm, I'll have to look it up. If it got bent out of shape, that shape would make it relatively easy to bend back.
Hi James! Thanks for the comment. I suspect it is sterling silver but I would be curious to know for sure. I have a sterling silver money clip from Tiffanys and it's quite firm. When it was new it could hold one or two bills but after putting ten or more in it has loosened over the years.
Hi Blake-I have the YoL Retro Grand and the Barley finish Grand + pocket versions of this pen-(much less cool than the hand-hammered Victorian, of course). I do like these funky, Anglo-throwback design pens, their quirks notwithstanding (squeaks, dryish feeds-check). I must look into why 'Led' vs. 'Lead' some time (I get the 'Yard' part…). Thanks, as always, for this fine review.
Thanks Jack! I appreciate the comment. How do you like the pocket YoL? The size looks more comfortable than the standard. I am not sure why it is "Led". Could just be an older or alternate spelling. I did Google it but didn't find much.
@@BlakesBroadcast Thanks, Blake-I like the pocket YoL right well-its Medium nib/feed is a bit wetter than its two big brothers'…but it really is diminutive. I don’t really see the point of the standard-just a stretched pocket version, really…
I actually end up using primarily wet inks with mine (standard), with wetter inks it's amazing. The feed is even better than some other pens i've used tbh, i can keep it capped for a few days and take it out and it will immediately start writing (as long as it hasn't been long enough that the ink has dried) and this was honestly the first time I managed to actually write full words all the way to the point where the converter was completely empty without a single drop of ink left (like i could depress the plunger all the way, and even fling it around without a single drop of ink coming out, it was that empty)...which IMO was super impressive, most pens i write with i find when it gets to "basically empty but there's definitely enough that i don't want to just depress the plunger without being above a sink" i have to refill.
I have this pen. I bought it about 30 years ago, when the price point, both absolute and relative, was much lower than it is now. In fact at that time you could justly have called it underpriced. Some years ago the Yard O Led was taken over by a company who literally doubled the price at one go. It is now IMO overpriced, although I have to give credit to the outstanding workmanship and to the magnificent writing quality. I like to post mine, although I agree that makes it too heavy for long writing sessions. And I guess when you compare it with Montblancs, you are probably getting pretty good value for money. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys fountain pens.
Most luxury pens seem overly expensive because I started with fountain pens over 20 years ago. I've had to try and reset my price expectations which is easier said than done. A pen that maybe had a 150-300% markup on the cost of manufacturing could have a 800% markup now. Louis Vuiton's standard markup is 1,300% (13 times) the cost to manufacture.
@@BlakesBroadcast Yes, I'm pretty sure most good pens are overpriced. Some, as you say, ludicrously overpriced. And although Yard O Led is probably in that category, I know that the workmanship on the Viceroy Victorians in particular is very skilled and very time consuming, so whilst they're probably overpriced it may be better value than many others that cost £1200. At any rate I don't regret having bought mine. It is an immaculate writer and I've never had any issues with it.
Hi William! Thanks for the comment. It is a wonderful pen. You wont regret it. I do tend to give the pen a little bit of a polish each time I put it into rotation but I do like the patina that is building up. I really just try and keep it even.
Have you found that the section gets scratched as a result of capping/uncapping this pen? I’ve seen this happen with my Waterman Edsons, so it’s a concern for me….thanks……
i have the same in a standard size with a B nib. The design on mine is a bit more subdued than the one on yours (part of the cool thing about YoL pens, each pen will be different as the pattern is hand made). I love the size of mine tbh, it's a bit thicker than a pencil, i'd say, and about 31g (little less without the cap, iirc, since you don't post while writing). It is BY FAR my favorite pen. The nib is absolutely... *chefs kiss*, i use inks that are on the wet side and it is SMOOTH AS GLASS (used with inks a little drier you can get some feedback if you like, but i like smooth as possible). The feed, at least in my experience, is top notch: notwithstanding times I let the ink dry due to disuse, i can pick it up even after a few days of rest and expect it to write immediately and i've generally been able to write without much issue even till the point where there is absolutely no ink left in the converter (with most other pens i end up wanting to refill at the point where it's empty, but not empty enough that i'd feel safe pushing the plunger or shaking it around outside of a sink). And ofc, the stunning design, all silver, and the fact that it is hand made - while these facts don't directly affect writing experience, it certainly adds to my enjoyment of the pen. It makes me want to write more, as much as possible, and every time i take it out it makes me smile cuz it's just SO COOL! Note: I write small but chose the 'B' nib because I did find it to be far less feedbacky than even the M nib.
Thanks for the comment TJ! These are truly special pens and I wasn't expecting to like mine quite as much as I did. I was between the broad and fine when I got mine. I would definitely like to add another YOL to my collection. I've been eyeing the pocket model and standard models.
@@BlakesBroadcast I was eyeing the pocket too, it's diminutive size means the beauty is more concentrated, if that makes sense... However the pocket won't take a converter, having used pens too small for converters before that was a deal breaker to me
@@TjPhysicist Ah, that is good to know. I didn't realize. I don't mind cartridges but I get that some people love inks that only come bottled and don't want the hassle of refilling cartridge with a syringe.
Stunning pen indeed. If cared for, it will last generations. I think it's not meant to be used for daily writing, suitable for ocassional writing and signing documents. 😁
Great video! The squeaks on the threads can easily be stopped by applying some silicon grease. Also, your model is a 2020 version. This is what the letter ‘v’ stands for. See theassayoffice.com/date-letters. The chasing finish appears to be undertaken by Alex Roden at YoL.
Thank you so much for this information! I really appreciate it. I do have silicon grease which I use on some of my eyedropper pens. It wont harm the sterling silver?
@@BlakesBroadcast Not at all. Just use a little amount and apply on the threads of the section (i.e. next to the area for the cartridge). That should stop the squeaking.
this to me is the best part about the YoL pens, anyone who knows and with an eye can just look at the way the design is on the pen and tell you who made it. I have this in a standard size and had bent the nib so had to get it repaired. Well, long story short - I actually ended up doing an email exchange with Alex who informed me almost immediately that it was Aimee who did mine (2018 model, so a little bit ago, much more subdued less flourishy pattern). Now, obviously I don't know Aimee, and maybe i'll never get to meet her - but it is nice to know that the pen was made by people who are individuals and not just a faceless corporation and a bunch of machines.
The price is high, but you actually get precious metal. Other pens are close in price and you get high tech plastic. This pen is high priced, but many of the others are OVER priced, I think.
One thing I really appreciate about YOL pens is that the bodies and caps are all 100% sterling silver. Many other manufacturers, even ones I really like, like Aurora and Waldmann are only partially sterling. So often the clips, the cap rings and sections are a different material.
I like silver pens - I have a Yard-O-Led Grand Victorian, a Wadmann, a silver Waterman, a couple of silver Parkers, a 98 gram mostly silver Omas - but the scrap value of the silver is low; even for the Omas, it's under $60. For the YoL, it's under $40. The money isn't in the metal, but in the engraving, in the craftsmanship. I have an Onoto with an acrylic body and cap, but that acrylic was created with a great deal of precision and then engraved, the fittings are all hand-made and hallmarked silver, and it was very expensive. It's the craftsmanship. I suspect there's considerably less craftsmanship that goes into crafting the barrel of a MB 149, but there is a great deal of precision work in the pen, and mine has been working flawlessly for a lot of years, so while a lot of the price is the name, it's definitely more pen than your typical TWSBI Eco. Given that the metal value for any silver pen is a small fraction of the final price, I only like silver pens because I think they're often beautiful and because I'm less likely to damage a silver pen when I drop it than a resin pen, not because they're intrinsically worth more than resin or acrylic pens. The materials are only worth $30-$50 more, not enough of the sale price of a $500+ pen to make their value worth considering.
@@jamespicht1128 Thank you for the comment. You are obviously a refined collector and you take the pursuit seriously. In retrospect, I often think I should have bought fewer pens of better quality rather than more pens of lesser quality.
@@peterpuleo2904 I take the pursuit of pens seriously, but I'm not yet a particularly refined collector. I'm a pretty good economist, though. When I look at pens, I think of story I tell my economics students: A woman runs into an atelier and cries, "Henri! I must have a hat for that dress I bought yesterday. Do you have anything at all?" He thinks a minute, then cuts a long strip of golden ribbon from a roll. He begins to knot it, weave it, and in a few minutes he holds a golden hat in his hands. The woman is thrilled. "Henri, it's perfect! How much?" "$1,000, madam." "A thousand dollars?! For a length of ribbon?!" Henri slowly unweaves the hat and hands her the length of ribbon. "No, madam. The ribbon is free."
@@jamespicht1128 A wonderful and educational story. I will remember it and pass it on, it says a great deal and conveys wisdom. Many people have simplistic views of economics. I am a retired teacher. Do you teach high school or college?
That's a beautiful pen! Definitely far above my budget but it's cool to see unusual and interesting pens like this.
It is a beautiful pen.
Excellent review, Blake! That pen is stunning! One of the things I consider when making my pen purchase decision, is the pens' "cool factor". This pen certainly "ticks that box"!
Thanks Jack! I do think it is one of the coolest pens in my collection.
I like the YoL Victorians (Viceroy and Grand) very much. I gave my wife a Viceroy Victorian because she wanted a narrower pen; her hands are much smaller than mine, and she doesn't care for my larger pens. The nibs of both are hard, as unyielding as Queen Victoria, but they're both excellent on good paper. And they do look really good. That riveted clip is unchanged over the last however many decades, and I think it suits the character of the pen. Thinking about it, I'm not sure the clips are silver. They're nice and firm, not as soft as I'd expect from sterling. I have a sterling clip on another pen that can only be used as a roll stop; clipping it on a flannel shirt or in a suit pocket will bend it. I've clipped the YoL with no problem. Hmm, I'll have to look it up. If it got bent out of shape, that shape would make it relatively easy to bend back.
Hi James! Thanks for the comment. I suspect it is sterling silver but I would be curious to know for sure. I have a sterling silver money clip from Tiffanys and it's quite firm. When it was new it could hold one or two bills but after putting ten or more in it has loosened over the years.
Greatly appreciate the video quality!
💯/💯
A stunning pen and fitting review! Keep up the great work 🖋️🖋️😊
Much appreciated!
Just learned about this pen from you, it is gorgeous.
It's a stunner. If you want a sterling pen I think Yard O Led is the best choice.
A beautiful pen proudly made in my home city of Birmingham, England. I expect nothing less from Yard O Led. 🇬🇧
As far as sterling silver pens go, they are tops.
Great video quality, like the commentary as well. Thinking of picking up a Diplomat propelling pencil , I like the heritage of the brand.
Thanks JJ! I appreciate it. I also want to add a YOL propelling pencil to my collection. They such nice pens.
Hi Blake-I have the YoL Retro Grand and the Barley finish Grand + pocket versions of this pen-(much less cool than the hand-hammered Victorian, of course). I do like these funky, Anglo-throwback design pens, their quirks notwithstanding (squeaks, dryish feeds-check). I must look into why 'Led' vs. 'Lead' some time (I get the 'Yard' part…). Thanks, as always, for this fine review.
Thanks Jack! I appreciate the comment. How do you like the pocket YoL? The size looks more comfortable than the standard. I am not sure why it is "Led". Could just be an older or alternate spelling. I did Google it but didn't find much.
@@BlakesBroadcast Thanks, Blake-I like the pocket YoL right well-its Medium nib/feed is a bit wetter than its two big brothers'…but it really is diminutive. I don’t really see the point of the standard-just a stretched pocket version, really…
I actually end up using primarily wet inks with mine (standard), with wetter inks it's amazing. The feed is even better than some other pens i've used tbh, i can keep it capped for a few days and take it out and it will immediately start writing (as long as it hasn't been long enough that the ink has dried) and this was honestly the first time I managed to actually write full words all the way to the point where the converter was completely empty without a single drop of ink left (like i could depress the plunger all the way, and even fling it around without a single drop of ink coming out, it was that empty)...which IMO was super impressive, most pens i write with i find when it gets to "basically empty but there's definitely enough that i don't want to just depress the plunger without being above a sink" i have to refill.
I do have the Viceroy. While it is a sight to behold, the weight keeps me from using it as much as I really want to.
It is a heavier pen for sure.
I have this pen. I bought it about 30 years ago, when the price point, both absolute and relative, was much lower than it is now. In fact at that time you could justly have called it underpriced. Some years ago the Yard O Led was taken over by a company who literally doubled the price at one go. It is now IMO overpriced, although I have to give credit to the outstanding workmanship and to the magnificent writing quality. I like to post mine, although I agree that makes it too heavy for long writing sessions. And I guess when you compare it with Montblancs, you are probably getting pretty good value for money. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys fountain pens.
Most luxury pens seem overly expensive because I started with fountain pens over 20 years ago. I've had to try and reset my price expectations which is easier said than done. A pen that maybe had a 150-300% markup on the cost of manufacturing could have a 800% markup now. Louis Vuiton's standard markup is 1,300% (13 times) the cost to manufacture.
@@BlakesBroadcast Yes, I'm pretty sure most good pens are overpriced. Some, as you say, ludicrously overpriced. And although Yard O Led is probably in that category, I know that the workmanship on the Viceroy Victorians in particular is very skilled and very time consuming, so whilst they're probably overpriced it may be better value than many others that cost £1200. At any rate I don't regret having bought mine. It is an immaculate writer and I've never had any issues with it.
Im ordering one after watching your video!
Do you constantly clean the pen (due to tarnish)?
Hi William! Thanks for the comment. It is a wonderful pen. You wont regret it. I do tend to give the pen a little bit of a polish each time I put it into rotation but I do like the patina that is building up. I really just try and keep it even.
@@BlakesBroadcast Thanks for taking time to answer my question.
Best wishes for you and your channel!
Cheers
Dear Friend. Is the nib of this pen flexible or stiffer. Thank you
The nib is stiff. No flexibility.
My grail pen!! It's amazing 😍
It is a special pen. There is nothing else like it on the market.
Have you found that the section gets scratched as a result of capping/uncapping this pen? I’ve seen this happen with my Waterman Edsons, so it’s a concern for me….thanks……
Unfortunately yes, I do get scratches on the section.
@@BlakesBroadcast thanks for the reply. I feared as much.
I couldn’t resist and got one anyway, in the barley finish. Terrific pen!
@@richardcapellini5269 Congrats! I think they are awesome pens. You will enjoy it.
i have the same in a standard size with a B nib. The design on mine is a bit more subdued than the one on yours (part of the cool thing about YoL pens, each pen will be different as the pattern is hand made). I love the size of mine tbh, it's a bit thicker than a pencil, i'd say, and about 31g (little less without the cap, iirc, since you don't post while writing). It is BY FAR my favorite pen. The nib is absolutely... *chefs kiss*, i use inks that are on the wet side and it is SMOOTH AS GLASS (used with inks a little drier you can get some feedback if you like, but i like smooth as possible). The feed, at least in my experience, is top notch: notwithstanding times I let the ink dry due to disuse, i can pick it up even after a few days of rest and expect it to write immediately and i've generally been able to write without much issue even till the point where there is absolutely no ink left in the converter (with most other pens i end up wanting to refill at the point where it's empty, but not empty enough that i'd feel safe pushing the plunger or shaking it around outside of a sink). And ofc, the stunning design, all silver, and the fact that it is hand made - while these facts don't directly affect writing experience, it certainly adds to my enjoyment of the pen. It makes me want to write more, as much as possible, and every time i take it out it makes me smile cuz it's just SO COOL!
Note: I write small but chose the 'B' nib because I did find it to be far less feedbacky than even the M nib.
Thanks for the comment TJ! These are truly special pens and I wasn't expecting to like mine quite as much as I did. I was between the broad and fine when I got mine. I would definitely like to add another YOL to my collection. I've been eyeing the pocket model and standard models.
@@BlakesBroadcast I was eyeing the pocket too, it's diminutive size means the beauty is more concentrated, if that makes sense... However the pocket won't take a converter, having used pens too small for converters before that was a deal breaker to me
@@TjPhysicist Ah, that is good to know. I didn't realize. I don't mind cartridges but I get that some people love inks that only come bottled and don't want the hassle of refilling cartridge with a syringe.
If you get the opportunity for these, please review pens from Namisu / Ensso / Blackwing! They make some stunning pens as well IMHO.
Thanks for the comment Deb! I have not heard of Namisu and Ensso before. The titanium Namisu pens look very intriguing.
It’s big, heavy but still that is one gorgeous pen.
I love it despite the weight.
If there's a skipping problem, maybe you can just sent back to the YOL .and because of the lifetime warranty you can get a new one .
It writes great for me.
Wow! That is a pen!
Yep it is a doozy.
Stunning pen indeed. If cared for, it will last generations. I think it's not meant to be used for daily writing, suitable for ocassional writing and signing documents. 😁
Hi Dash, thanks for the comment! Why do you think it is not meant to be used daily?
@@BlakesBroadcast It's too heavy. Unless you have big hands, it's difficult to write longer sessions. 😁
Certainly an heirloom pen.
I agree!
Great video! The squeaks on the threads can easily be stopped by applying some silicon grease. Also, your model is a 2020 version. This is what the letter ‘v’ stands for. See theassayoffice.com/date-letters. The chasing finish appears to be undertaken by Alex Roden at YoL.
Thank you so much for this information! I really appreciate it. I do have silicon grease which I use on some of my eyedropper pens. It wont harm the sterling silver?
@@BlakesBroadcast Not at all. Just use a little amount and apply on the threads of the section (i.e. next to the area for the cartridge). That should stop the squeaking.
this to me is the best part about the YoL pens, anyone who knows and with an eye can just look at the way the design is on the pen and tell you who made it. I have this in a standard size and had bent the nib so had to get it repaired. Well, long story short - I actually ended up doing an email exchange with Alex who informed me almost immediately that it was Aimee who did mine (2018 model, so a little bit ago, much more subdued less flourishy pattern). Now, obviously I don't know Aimee, and maybe i'll never get to meet her - but it is nice to know that the pen was made by people who are individuals and not just a faceless corporation and a bunch of machines.
The price is high, but you actually get precious metal. Other pens are close in price and you get high tech plastic. This pen is high priced, but many of the others are OVER priced, I think.
One thing I really appreciate about YOL pens is that the bodies and caps are all 100% sterling silver. Many other manufacturers, even ones I really like, like Aurora and Waldmann are only partially sterling. So often the clips, the cap rings and sections are a different material.
I like silver pens - I have a Yard-O-Led Grand Victorian, a Wadmann, a silver Waterman, a couple of silver Parkers, a 98 gram mostly silver Omas - but the scrap value of the silver is low; even for the Omas, it's under $60. For the YoL, it's under $40. The money isn't in the metal, but in the engraving, in the craftsmanship. I have an Onoto with an acrylic body and cap, but that acrylic was created with a great deal of precision and then engraved, the fittings are all hand-made and hallmarked silver, and it was very expensive. It's the craftsmanship. I suspect there's considerably less craftsmanship that goes into crafting the barrel of a MB 149, but there is a great deal of precision work in the pen, and mine has been working flawlessly for a lot of years, so while a lot of the price is the name, it's definitely more pen than your typical TWSBI Eco.
Given that the metal value for any silver pen is a small fraction of the final price, I only like silver pens because I think they're often beautiful and because I'm less likely to damage a silver pen when I drop it than a resin pen, not because they're intrinsically worth more than resin or acrylic pens. The materials are only worth $30-$50 more, not enough of the sale price of a $500+ pen to make their value worth considering.
@@jamespicht1128 Thank you for the comment. You are obviously a refined collector and you take the pursuit seriously. In retrospect, I often think I should have bought fewer pens of better quality rather than more pens of lesser quality.
@@peterpuleo2904 I take the pursuit of pens seriously, but I'm not yet a particularly refined collector. I'm a pretty good economist, though. When I look at pens, I think of story I tell my economics students:
A woman runs into an atelier and cries, "Henri! I must have a hat for that dress I bought yesterday. Do you have anything at all?" He thinks a minute, then cuts a long strip of golden ribbon from a roll. He begins to knot it, weave it, and in a few minutes he holds a golden hat in his hands. The woman is thrilled. "Henri, it's perfect! How much?" "$1,000, madam." "A thousand dollars?! For a length of ribbon?!" Henri slowly unweaves the hat and hands her the length of ribbon. "No, madam. The ribbon is free."
@@jamespicht1128 A wonderful and educational story. I will remember it and pass it on, it says a great deal and conveys wisdom. Many people have simplistic views of economics. I am a retired teacher. Do you teach high school or college?