Naughty and Nice Pens List - The Write Stuff ep. 21
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- Опубликовано: 15 июл 2024
- In this episode, Tom puts on the metaphorical Santa hat, writing out a short list of pens and brands that he feels belong on the nice list or the naughty list. This list is for entertainment purposes only and the viewpoints Tom expresses are his own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Goldspot Pens or any associated organizations.
Leave a comment with your burning pen questions to be answered in a future video.
(0:00) Intro
(0:57) Leonardo Pens
(2:50) Endless Creator
(6:05) Pelikan Pens
(8:43) Pilot Vanishing Point Kanreki
(10:43) Benu Pens
(13:19) Lamy Safari 2023 Special Edition Pens
(15:02) You, Pen Pals!
(15:41) Visconti's QC
(17:33) Retro 51
(18:24) QOTW
(22:18) Giveaway and Recap
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Wow, negative comments from a retailer! You guys get a gold star!
I love Tom's pure honesty. This is the best advice on collecting pens.
Tom’s list of naughty and nice pens is [gold] spot on. Retailers who are honest about the strengths and weaknesses of their products build strong relationships with their customers. Thanks, Tom!
Thanks for being so honest as a retailer, with regards to that 2023 Pilot Vanishing Point Kanreki special edition
I'm glad that you see past their pure marketing ploy! At least half a dozen youtube pen influencers have bought this pen, and they are all singing its glory. It's akin to the "King's Clothes" metaphor. I'm not buying a $400 pen that doesn't look too special
Well, I love mine. It doesn't hurt that it's the same color as my car, which I also love. Wasn't aware of the 2015 VP, but I wasn't buying fountain pens in 2015, nor would I have spent $160 for ANY pen back then.
I brought up the Visconti QC issues on my show a few days back and people were surprised. Thanks for speaking about this. I am not hanging out there alone!
The only pen I had to send back (due to a crack in the barrel luckily under warranty) was a Visconti. That long after swapping out the feed for a 3rd party wet feed because it suffered hard starts and skips out of the box. Sigh.
I'll back you up, Hemingway.
I appreciate it! @@GoldspotPens
Tom you've touched up a topic to central to my folks and now me. I come from a family of collectors and perfectly conscious of both the joy and hassle of constant purchases. Now when coming to pens I buy high end but carefully consider the reason to do so. My criteria would be quality of writing plus appearance, after sales service, and whether it satisfies some profound ingrained need and aesthetic. I decided to allow my collection grow but not out of hand so that I give each its due.
Very unique video. Really enjoyed this one!
Tom, great review. One thing I have always appreciated about your reviews and advice is that it is honest. As an example I had always wanted a Visconti Homo Sapiens Fountain Pen in Lava either Bronze or Skylight as a grail pen. Noticed the Waldmann Titan Fountain Pen in Titanium on Goldspot's website. Asked Tom for his recommendation between the two. Tom recommended the Waldmann Titan. I got to say Tom's recommendation was spot on. The Waldmann Titan is a great pen, even grail worthy. Tom thanks for all you do.
You're the best, Tom. Thanks.
Agree with others about this video. Appreciated the candor. Great job!
Hey Kieran it’s Larry from the old Jersey Pen Club don’t fire Tom he’s a great I think you should give him a raise for all the great work he does.
Visconti prices are much too high for the inconsistency I hear about on the web. I would be beside myself if I spent 500+ dollars on a pen to have a fall apart on me out of the box. I don’t have the willpower to save up that much money for a single pen but if I do, I’ll stick with pelican thank you very much.
The sad thing about the pilot vanishing point limited edition is that they were celebrating something significant (that I can't remember) and this is what we got. Something just kind of "blah"
I do like the ugly sweater though
For me collecting isn’t for the creation of “a collection” but for the different nib experiences. Love these video’s.
My question is:
What is the purpose/ point of your FP collection?
That is deep. Great question!
#FireTom LOLOL! I always enjoy these videos. You do a great job, Tom!
Great shirt Tom.
Good choices
I love my Benu Tiger Eye. I know Benu is a little garish for some people, but no one can say Benu pens are boring.
Love your honesty about the naughty and nice list. My question…. For a fountain pen newbie, what are some good inks to try out, both using a converter or cartridge? 🖋️
Great video! Appreciate your honesty about pens.
This was great. I love the honesty behind the Naughty-Nice list!
My question this time is: What is your perfect frankenpen? If you could take, from any brand, any nib, and body, any color, any mechanism, and combine all these features into one pen, what would it be?
I love the tropical Benu with the flamingo. However I think the graphic that came up was for the Sakura or cherry blossom pen, which I am glad to say I own. They have very similar colors but mine does not have the flamingo.
You're right, good catch! Kris overlaid the photo of the Sakura when Tom was describing the Flamingo.
Question for the pen giveaway is: Sometimes when I've been looking at too many pens I glaze over and only see a mash of different varieties of colors with plastics, resins, metal, parts and nibs. In the end that's all it is until it all magically comes together in a great or not so great design and build combo. Break it all down for me Tom! What makes a pen worth the money or makes it less than? Certain materials and its strengths, weights, design etc. I want to hear all about the differences between plastics, acrylics, resins, and types of metal--yadda yadda.
Great video - very refreshing! I would add Kaweco to the list - they brought out 4 new Art Sport models - and while two of them are essentially repeats, two of them are really lovely. I really like Kaweco Sports but find the regular ones to be very cheap feeling. I’m not a fan of metal pens generally, so the acrylic Art Sports are the sweet spot for me.
Well done Tom! Your naughty list was kind and well curated. I'm in agreement that pens should be used. If they are uncomfortable, or they break, or they look like another pen in your collection then the likely chance of using that pen is low. Naughty list indeed!
Question: what is your favorite pen color?
Along the lines of your commentary on the staleness of Lamy's SE Safaris this year, I would love to see some special edition Lamy Vistas with colored translucence. Imagine a blue or turquoise translucent vista! Or a fire red translucent vista?
That would be really neat and different!
I definitely don't like the Endless Creator as much as the Platinum Curidas or Lamy Dialog 3 (I have never tried the Pilot VP) but I still think it's a good buy for the low price. Most of the issues I have with it have to do with it feeling cheap, which is understandable given the price. I do have some drying issues with it though.
That Pelikan on your right must be a bear to write with!
I find that the most collectible pens are the ones that stand the test of time. Take the original Homo Sapiens. It was dramatic, new material for the body and nib and has stood the rest of time with it still being produced, albeit the nib construction has changed.
I absolutely love the Pelikan with the unique resin and the guilloche pattern. It is different, almost radical for the company.
My question for you would be what would you consider for a pen that would make it a future classic? What material should the body be made from, what kind of nib (material, shape, characteristics, etc.), what features (extra large converter, easy to clean and maintain as examples) and at what price point?
Good comments, Tom. I admire your willingness to (very nicely, of course) stick it to brands that are dealing badly with the distributors, the retailers, and the users. Recently I've been on a pen splurge/gorge/mania and one that is my first of the model is Euphoria. Wow! Like the other Benu pens I own, this is flashy, nicely built and finished, pleasant in the hand, and doesn't take itself too seriously. This is in sharp contrast to other brands that exceed three figures, but whose products can be hard to write with (looking at you, MB). My question is what makes a pen worth a particular price? What differentiates a hand-turned resin pen that has a good quality nib from an injection-molded pen that might be semi-translucent, has a good quality nib, but costs ten times as much? (I think "limited edition" is an insult to buyers, collectors, and manufacturers, unless the materials or workmanship is too limited or difficult or time-consuming for big runs, but I'm prejudiced).
Thanks for your Naughty and Nice List! You have used a LOT of pens! Which is your favorite and why?
If you could make a Franken-pen, using individual features from all of your favorites, what might it look like? The Goldspot exclusive Opus 88 with the whales is my absolute favorite pen that I own looks-wise, but if I could have it with the flow of a broad tip Diplomat, but the ease of the filling mechanism of a TWISBI.... Maybe with the satisfying posting of a Kaweco sport.... Ooh, there's so many options! Feasibility aside, what might yours look like? :)
What are your choices for fountain pen inks that best exemplify the classic Christmas red and green colors?
Fire Tom!!! LOL.
What's your opinion on when a re-release of a special edition is justified, if ever?
I had the same opinion of last year's Safari colors as well, but the re-release of the original Green and Orange from 1990 were exactly what I wanted.
Also, I think something like a Petrol & Dark Lilac (both pens and ink) as a regular color edition could be profitable given their popularity.
What are some modern fountain pens that you consider timeless?
What market, or who, is the Limited or Special Edition pens aimed at and are they worth the cost?
A Question! What is Tom's favorite limited or special edition from the past 10 years?
Liked your take on the Special Editions from Pilot and Lamy this year. Can agree that I was surprised the Kanreki was "just" red, but it is very pretty in person. As you said, value is up to the purchaser, but it is a very special pen to the Japanese side of Pilot because of the Kanreki association (which I also appreciate you mentioning that the designs for each SE may be from Pilot offices around the world!). Looking back through the VP specials from the past 10+ years, I don't see the 2014 copper being anywhere near this color. Closest was maybe 2009 Vivid Red (which doesn't have the black sparkle element) or last year's Coral.... Pilot clearly likes Red, but i would say this is at least a unique one.
Pilot is for some reason generally very conservative for their good nib pens. They did such a good job with Kakunos, even with the Pokemon limited editions. Yet for some reason we can't even get a #15 pen with Rhodium trim.
Excellent point. 823? Two colors (both dark). 912 - hope you like black. 743? two colors. E95, 2 colors... 845... now that you mention it, the 74 is like the only one with options, and they're all translucent.... (I'm naturally excluding Maki-e and Raden, because they're a whole 'nother level).
The fact that there is a red VP is actually rare for Pilot! Most would agree the Vermilion on the 845 and the Custom Urushi is completely different (and urushi lacquer)
What Tomoe River alternative do you recommend?
I've been wondering how many companies have prototypes out there, and do you think the possibility of owning one draws more people to the brand, or just frustrates the ones who want them but can't find them?
I just ordered my first fountain Lamy Safari, I’m nervous since I sometimes find it hard to get myself to practice my fancy writing aka calligraphy. Some days my finger joints are aching badly in my 32 yo body. Any tips on motivating thyself to get going even though your writing is very frankeweiny font that day? And any suggestions on ergonomic pens that are balanced and styled for those with finger/hand/joint problems?
My question for your Retro 51 giveaway: Why are so many pen makers using metal (slippery) grip sections??? Don’t they know that many of their customers are older and despise slippery grip sections??? Also, can you please give your opinion of the Retro 51 "fountain pens."
Thanks for this video.which is your favourite pen
How and when did you get started using fountain pens? And what was your first one?
It was about 16 years ago when I (Tom) first started working for Goldspot. I was always into writing but never used fountain pens exclusively until I had a great selection of them and educated myself on all the different types. My first pen (that I still have) was a Lamy Safari with an EF nib.
Goldspot has offered a number of exclusive Retro 51 rollerball pens. Retro 51s come standard with a nice, juicy, and dark refill. In keeping with the seasons, I want to find the best source for Retro 51 rollerballs in various colors, but they need to be just as juicy. Bright blue, green, Christmas red, etc. What brand and what source for those sorts of Retro 51 re-fills?
This year, Retro added a green, red, and purple version of their juicy capless rollerball refill. You can find the green here and use the swatch images to find the other colors on the product page - goldspot.com/products/retro-51-retractable-rollerball-refill-in-green-for-tornado-pens
@@GoldspotPensSuh-weet! Thanks!
Where is Pen Boy Roy?
The thing I don’t like about the Vanishing Point and the Decimo, you are very frequently refilling the ink. It’s annoying.