One interesting aspect of "inspired by"/knockoff pens is they often offer features customers want but can't get in the real deal. For example, the Jinhao 80 (the knockoff of the Lamy 2000 you mentioned) comes in a bunch of colors, because it's not made of the same material. The Mahjohn/Moonman A1 (a knockoff of the Vanishing Point) comes in a clipless version, with just a rollstop. The VP clip is a dealkiller for some folks, so the A1 is a better option for them. There's also the fact that they can be a "try before you buy" for the real deal. The Jinhao X159 will tell you if you're comfortable writing with a pen as big as the Montblanc 149 before you make a very expensive mistake. A friend of mine bought a Mahjohn A1 specifically to test whether she could stand the clip position without risking Vanishing Point money on it. As long as we're talking knockoffs and not counterfeits pretending to be the actual item, I think they have a vital role in the modern fountain pen market, and can even drive sales to the originals. I'm much MORE bothered by faceless corporations buying up classic brand names and pumping out cheap, lower-quality pens while banking on the prestige of the name.
The Majohn Capless inspired pens are where I think "inspired by" isn't just a euphemism -- they have genuinely iterated on it and created options and variations that go beyond "this is cheaper". I love the technical and aesthetic design of the real Pilots, but between the clip and metal body I just don't enjoy using them. If Pilot offered clipless and/or resin models with Pilot build quality (especially with the Majohn converter instead of a CON-40...), I'd consider those worth the prices they'd charge and happily buy the real thing. But Pilot doesn't sell that at any price, so the "Vanishing Point" I use is a PIlot nib unit in a "knockoff" body, while my real VP stays in a pen case.
In creating the Majohn A1 (and A2/A3), they also made a better converter than the CON-40, which works for Pilot pens. They also ship with an extra cartridge and a cartridge stopper so you can carry them on the go. It compliments both the inspired pen and the original. I also think the Jinhao iterations of the 82, which are inspired by the Sailor Pro Gear series are great for those who want to try out that size of pen. They also come in a lot of colors and can be switched with actual Sailor pens. The Jinhao 65 is inspired by the LAMY CP1 and definitely helps you figure out if you want that slim of a pen. I think Jinhao and Majohn start with something that looks very much like the original and then iterates upon it. We got the Jinhao 82 minis and the Majohn A2/A3 series (medium nib soon please), so they aren't just sitting back while using another company's product.
Also, look at the Wingsung 629/630, which started as fairly simply clones of the Montblanc 146/149, but now have flat-ended versions, demonstrators and all kinds of variants.
Yes! Just got a Goulet shipment today and it truly did make my day. (you are so right, Adam.) I like everything about the way you run your business--from how you present what you have to sell to the eco friendly way you package what you send out. And it's great to see and hear from some of the folks who make it all happen. Thank you!
When I write cards for people, I cut a piece of Tomoe River paper, I write my message on that, and I glue the paper into the card, that way the paper is consistent and if someone makes a mistake while writing the message in the card, you can just cut another piece of paper.
2:11 🤣🤣🤣 So glad you were not trying to break any records 😅 The record was Pencast 69 with a duration of 2:43:39 Pencast 130 was 2:41:00 And now Pencast 131 holds the new duration length record with 2:47:42 Congrats! 🙌🥳🪅
People love Pelikan pens but because of the cost, it's a pen that most people either save for, or only buy once a year to commemorate a birthday, etc. So they may not be flying off the shelves, but make no mistake, we're still interested.
Yes! Splurged on a secondhand M205 a year or two ago and it’s great. Not a pen I’d pick up at random for sure because of the price but would recommend them anytime as a next level pen.
@heathergleiser On sale the M200 series for around 100 bucks or less is a good deal. That steel nib is super bouncy for a steel one. I can get good line variation out of it. I have 3 of them 🤣🤣 You can buy an Italic Broad for them too for like 45 bucks. It's Pelikans version of a stub. I bought one and adore it!
@@williamcatalano1762 I think mine was $95 or so, I couldn’t believe no one else bid on it. It’s the olivine pen from years ago and had the original box. It’s still the one small pen aside from the Pro Gear Slim that I’ve loved.
It was excellent to meet Adam! I really appreciate you all going paper but my cat REALLY loves the paper switch. Each Goulet package is a gift for me and him! He spends ages hunting that stuff!
The Monami Olika is a wick pen, the company is Korean. The pen itself may be made in China,; it’s the same model as the Ooly Splendid Pen (which I found in my local grocery store) The cartridges are 3.4mm. It was my work pen for a bit because it could handle carbon paper.
@@Gouletpens the old model of Monami Olika uses the 3.4mm china cartridge. The newer models uses standard international cartridge. Monami is a large stationary company in Korea. They makes all sorts of stationery, ball point, gel pen, markers, highlighters, and the like. Fountain pens they only have this Olika and one other model I don't remember the name. Olika's price is cheaper than preppy. And it's feed has a wick, much like pilot varsity. It's a cheap, great entry pen, much like a pilot varsity, but uses cartridge.
Drew! The more you sound like you're "making fun" of Italian, the more "right" it sounds to the Italian ear... the bounce is a part of the language; it feels weird but it's tried and true. :)
About chihuahuas in the wild: they hunt and eat scorpions. They are also champion jumpers. I had a chihuahua as a child who lived 18 years, she was an amazing companion.
Drew, your Italian pronunciation is really nice and you do a great job of letting that "R" rrroll off your tongue. Don't shy away from pronouncing foreign words the foreign way: as a French speaker, I never get the feeling people using the French pronunciation are mocking mine, on the contrary: it shows a commendable effort and an appreciation for foreign languages which is nice!
Long time listener, first time caller. Thank you for the pen tuning item sale! I really enjoyed the segment where Drew picked some pens from Brian's collection, and we got to hear the story behind them.
I wasn' sure about buying a Pilot Vanishing Point because of the clip position so I got a Moomman A1 to test it. As that felt good I bougt a Decimo and am really happy with it. For that purpose I was thankful that the A1 existed as a cheap way to get an impression of the feeling of these kinds of pens.
Yes please to more interesting pens from Brian's collection! I can see his hoard expanding beyond the cabinets to become The Goulet Fountain Pen Museum. I love the Pencast, keep 'em coming! Also... great dane glitter is also a thing.
You learn alot about paper weights, sizing, gloss / matte coatings when you do Graphic Design for printing magazines, catalogs and packaging. "C1S" would be a designation shown when looking at the paper "stock" a printing company would offer. (I was a print production graphic designer late 90's - early 2000's )
I work in a library. My daily pens are Lamy Safaris and Al-stars. I use these for absolutely everything. I do keep a rollerball in my bag for emergencies, but it almost never gets used.
It was great meeting Adam. Thanks for the efforts in reducing plastics, I really appreciated that and never recieved a damaged item (and I'm ordering overseas). Great job there, recieving it is always a happy moment. I'm always amazed by the fact that living in Europe, being 38 y.o. I always have at least one interest aside from fountain pens with the people in your team (like board games and skyrim and yoga...etc). Knowing about other people's lifes and hobbies helps my brain expand and remember that _my life_ and my friends lifes are not the _normal_ , that there are so many different people in this planet living at the same time. And the fact that I still feel like connecting with them is amazing to me. Thanks for promoting your new products and news of the company in that format, and thank you for the transparency. It makes a difference and it's inspiring.
Clarification point - paper sizing can be both internal (as described by mephistopholes(sp?)) AND external (which is applied atop the paper). You see it for example with watercolor paper, which allows the paint to sit on top the paper and not get instantly sucked in. Paint on sized paper looks bright and vibrant because the light reflects off the paper through the paint. Paint on unsized paper looks dull, blotchy, and sad because it got sucked into the paper. High quality watercolor paper advertises internal and external sizing for more vibrancy. Some paper companies use gelatin for their external sizing. (This can be destroyed by heat/humidity and is the fastest way to make a watercolorist very sad.) 😂
And let's not get into the batch of paper we all got once where the sizing was inconsistently applied on the same sheet... It's like the unfun version of the Colorverse ink swatch cards where the resist reveals a hidden pattern.
Monami is a super famous (big?) Korean stationery company. I have lots of Monami gel pens for colouring but haven't seen their fountain pen. It makes sense they'd make something as they're huge. Korea has great stationery.
Chiming in to say that yes, warehouse management and shipping is deeply meaningful for those of us customers who derive such great joy from our pen and ink purchases. Keep up the great work!
Jamie Cullum has been a favorite of mine for years, I'm so with Adam there! I'm about to walk to the mailbox to enjoy some of the amazing Goulet packaging, I totally appreciate it. And yeeees, the Mythos Mirage Apollo! Mine is right next to me right now and it's amazing.
Most of that coating and side information is on the printer/binder side of things. I used to work in a printshop and I would see those designations all the time as part of the print buying/quote process. It's not usually something you see on the consumer side though.
I am a graphic designer for a book publishing company so I'm used to asking printers for coated 1 side/2 sides. I concur that it is not something most people would see in the retail/consumer side. It's something designated when ordering items to be printed. But yes, Brian was correct that book jackets is one great example of coated 1 side. Postcards are typically coated on the pretty picture side to protect the image and uncoated on the other side so you're able to write your message. :D
Hey Drew… Pelikan nibs units are removable… the units screw out easily and the M20X/M120/M40X/60X nibs are interchangeable. For example I have a 14k m400 nib on my M120 Iconic Blue. I have also picked up Pelikan BB steel nibs and use them in selected M205s. Not being defensive about Pelikan, just sharing info.
The units are easily removable, yes, but getting the nib itself out has always been difficult for me to the point where I don't recommend that it be done. - Drew
I have a couple of Monami Olika pens. As others have commented, Monami is a Korean company. Olika is an entry level pen in the same class as Platinum Preppy. The cartridges have a Lamy format. A Lamy converter will fit in well.
My take on the "inspired by" pens. When I first went fully down the fountain pen rabbithole, I first bought a lot of inexpensive pens including some that were inspired by some of the more expensive flagship pens just so I could try out different nib widths & types as well as different filling mechanisms. Once I figured out what I like & what I don't, I went in to purchase the "real deal" pens, sometimes new, sometimes secondhand or new old stock. This also kind of ties in to the Pelikan conversation as well. Pelikan pens are gorgeous & I thought that would be my "grail pen" but after getting an M200 & a couple vintage ones, I found that I didn't gravitate to them due to the wider line-width found even on their extra fine nibs. I definitely prefer the finer width of the Japanese pen makers. All of that to say that buying cheaper "inspired by" pens doesn't necessarily preclude buying the higher end genuine pens. It's often an effective tool to dial in your preferences before spending a more significant amount of money on a special pen (or pens) that will be loved & used all the time. I also tend to take my less-precious pens when I travel so that I don't risk losing something I love. @Brian I feel your vacuum pain! Years ago, me, my husband & one of my stepsons all had long hair... Vacuuming always ended with me sitting on the floor taking it apart & cutting all of the hair out. We got one of the "pet hair eraser" vacs & my vacuuming was no longer a traumatic experience... Lol
Brian, you do have paper that's coated on one side (although currently waiting for you to re-stock😉). Tomoe River has a right side and a wrong side. On the right side, the ink "stands up" on the paper and dries very slowly (for something important, I set my work aside and let it dry for at least 24 hours). On the wrong side, the ink absorbs into the paper much faster and you cannot achieve the same line-variation on the wrong side as the right side. I use a formal italic nib, so I noticed this right away! Also, to maximize the richness of the ink colour and the shading, you need to use the right side. It's a really interesting feature of this paper: please check this! Drew, thanks for the nice interview with Adam. My default song is: Good King Wenceslas. Especially in the couple of months before Christmas.
While TRP does behave differently on each side, I'm not sure if that is due to an additional coating that is applied only on one side. The physical rollers also have an impact on the smoothness of the paper, and intention (or unintentional) differences between top and bottom rollers can make the two sides behave differently. If you recall controversy over when the original TRP machine was replaced, those differences weren't due to paper formula or chemistry, but minor differences in physical machinery. For a stark contrast, look at hot pressed vs. cold pressed watercolor paper from the same brand -- without any changes in coating, the heated roller version is much more smooth (and better suited for ink, whether fountain pen or other multi-media).
It really is a beautiful material, I have the 800 version which really looks very classy to my eye. I would love to have that M1000 with an EF, maybe an F nib. I have spent so much on pens of late, I need to hold for now, as much as that pains me, Pelikan Pens are really good at holding their value, I buy them because they are such pretty pens and great writers.
@@michaelbradley6488 I own 3 200's in brown marble, clear Demo, and pastel blue with white. I want the newest Copper and rose gold version eventually. (Waiting for them to be on sale later on down the road). I own 2 400's a brown tortoise and a white tortoise. 1 600 in red tortoise, 2 800's in brown and black stripe, and the Renaissance brown. I already have the new 1000 Renaissance with a fine nib put back for me from a seller I go through on my higher end models. This will complete the whole flock for me as I don't have a 1000 yet. I'm excited to say the least. I really want to experience the nib people rave about. I adore all of my Pelikans. The only problem I've had so far was my red tortoise 600 was a bit over polished on the medium nib so it would hard start and skip once and a great while. I fixed that myself though. I'd love to get another 600 in black tortoise or Stresemann finish, but I have other pens I want more as of right now. haha
@@williamcatalano1762 Nice flock. I don't know if there is such a thing as the final or the last bird in the flock. I had the M805 Stresemann, I gifted it to a coworker hoping to help her develop an interest in Fountain Pens, that pen was similar in some aspects to my 815 Metal Stripes and I felt that maybe I could live without it for now, time will tell. I have my M1000 Green Stripe with the translucent barrel, my preference. The nib is a medium which does not write like a medium due to the tipping and the ink flow. I am forced to slow down and really excercise a very light touch on the page or the nib will just open up and flow. I think you made a good choice going with a fine nib and the material is beautiful, I would love to have one, they are likely to sell out quickly. I sold my M800 Brown Black to another coworker and I "need" to buy another, I called that one a Hershey Pen, beautiful brown shades on the cap, piston knob and the barrel. I would love to add the M600 Red Tortoise to my collection. I tend to use anything smaller than an M800 as a pocket pen due to the smaller dimensions. If you do not yet have one of the Toledo models you need at least one more bird. Enjoy yours.
@@michaelbradley6488 Can't believe you got rid of some! I could never part with any of mine! I rotate them out constantly. The only pen that is in constant ink is my Visconti Homo Sapiens with a 23k Palladium nib. It never goes dry. I got lucky and got one of the good Palladium nibs I guess. Yeah, I went with the fine because even people who love juicy nibs found a medium in the 1000 to be overly wet. I want to be able to use it more than just messing around with my signature. Be nice to own a Toledo! I want a vintage 400nn eventually as well. I don't have any vintage ones yet either. I bought an m200 nib from Dan the Nibsmith in a Italic Broad. It's Pelikans version of a stub. I love it on my 200's when I want something different. How would you compare you 1000 medium nib to a Visconti 18k or palladium 23k nib or can you compare? More bouncy than those?
@@williamcatalano1762 I have sold pens to one coworker whom I got into pens. The problem with that is that I bought them because I wanted them for myself, the Stresemann I gave away. I cannot compare the M1000 nib to the 23k Palladium Homo Sapiens because I have not used one, I would love to own one, I have long thought about buying the Homo Sapiens Bronze. I cannot tell you that I am in love with my M1000 nib, I hope that you have a great experience with the fine nib, I am toying with purchasing an EF nib unit because I want to use the pen more often than I do. I wish the nib had more structure, the nib is so soft that it does not really push back very much, try not to push it very hard, the nib material is thin. As it is with the medium nib, it truly is mostly a signature pen, if I increase the size of my writing it is okay, but I don't do that often, I just want to write a pretty line in my normal hand. I believe that you will enjoy the pen and especially in that finish. I just purchased the M800 Red / translucent barrel, I was not sure if I would truly enjoy it. I absolutely love it, it looks amazing and the nib meister tuned Fine Nib is a true dream to write with. Let me know what you think about the new M1000 when you get it.
Laugh so hard i spit my coffee out moment: “that’s Horrifying.” (Drew on packs of chihuahuas in the wild) Side note: Brian playing sax on the tractor is a must. Double side note: been listening to some older pen casts and heard drew talking about a brown ink with blue shimmer, if that ever comes to fruition you should name it “Labradorite”. Just saying my brain went there right away and I would definitely get that ink 😎.
Hearing Drew recap UFC 300 brought a smile to my face. I always love hearing him talk about MMA because we have to be a very small demographic that like both fountain pens and fighting.
I am Very new to pendom but I have been listening to your podcasts and I’ve bought two orders from you so far. I’m seventy one years old and I was born Left handed. In the second grade I was FORCED to use my right . My writing sucked . Now that I’m retired I want to relearn cursive writing again. Who knew your hand will mess up your paper ? Cheers From California 😎
Cover bands have standards too. The bands that go back to songs like "Don't stop believing" or " hungry like the wolf" and various other classic rock. Those could be considered standards. Modern jazz musicians like Harry Connick Jr. And Michael Bluble sing a mix of old jazz standards and their own pieces. I actually love what Connick did with "Star Turtle"....70's funk jazz.....all new music... awesome..... I love this pencast and its tangential topics. Its the reason why i continue to listen and revisit old episodes.
Once I discovered fountain pens, there was no going back. I use my pocket pen in public situations. I'm like a fountain pen missionary to servers at restaurants 😄Tractor Sax video- Yes, please!
I had to pause the video to say Adam has great taste in music. I mean, first I hear Jamie Cullum and I think I haven’t heard that name in a long time. Brings back good memories. Then he says he likes Yes. And Debussy. He sounds like he’d have OPINIONS. He could do deep dives. (And drew, congrats on your ff7 tickets!)
I love my Pelikan Twist and I will never lend it to anyone again. I have been very gentle and kind with it while trying to bring it back from the abuse done to it. There is something different about it even now but at least it writes again and doesn't scratch. This was an excellent visit with Brian and Drew and Adam. Thanks for sharing your knowledge and yourselves with me. It was a restful and fun evening.
Similar to Drew's three pen rule, I ink up only five. And carry a pocket six in copper in my pocket. It's always there with a nice patina after two years of use.
Dear Drew. You mentioned if there are any Pelikan fountain pens that we think you need to try, we should let you know. Last time I was in Germany, I picked up a Pelikan P57 pen for less than $20. This pen write amazingly and can take a standard converter or cartridge. There are no pens in this range (I can even say $50 range) that can compare to this. I have many pens (thanks to you and Goulet Pen Company) more expensive (a lot more) than this but I always reach for this.
Hi guys, I really enjoyed meeting Adam this week I found him so interesting. Not just the passion for his job but his hobbies and musical tastes too. Boy you have such a diverse interesting team. I wish I worked for Goulet Pens, I would be paying you to have me work there 😊 (I'm also from the land down unda and not able to work anyway so no use putting my resume to the top of the pile) P.S. I would love to see more of Brian's collection of pens, I love this segment.
I could almost completely replace all pens with my fountain pens but we use carbon copy at work, so I use a Monteverde Engage at work. The quality isn’t as good as I wish it was for the price, but I LOVE being able to use my fountain pen ink in it.
The only place I have needed to fill in a form recently was at the AA to get the registration card for my vehicle reprinted after it got lost. And then the lady just filled it in for me. Pretty much everything in NZ is digitised. Including renewing/applying for a passport! I've been using fountain pens much more often now, or Zebra Sarasa Nanos. But I've always got a bag with me, so 6 pens come to work every day and one when I'm out of the house in my handbag.
100%. Company founded in 1960 and sells all sorts of mass-market pens, markers, mechanical pencils and other stationery items. Olika seems to use a proprietary cartridge. It is a little fiddly because of the hard plastic it is made from.
Thanks for another record breaking pencast. Can we see pictures of Brian's landscaping/mulch and survivor bushes? Also can we hear the Brian and Doctor Zhivago story? Thanks!
I got those Five Below fountain pen/highlighter combos, the highlighter DOES NOT SMUDGE the fountain pen ink 🤯 The fountain pen is cartridge, the highlighter is a normal wick type.
On the topic of situations I do not use my fountain pens, I work in Pharma and in the clean space we are required to use clean room pens. The ink is designed not to smear on paper if water (WFI) or Isopropyl (IPA) is spilled on documentation. Its a crucial part of what is called Good Documentation Practices (GDP) , as our notes, confirmations, initials, and dates of completion are vital. In this case, we really do not have a choice. The pens themselves look like regular Bic plastic ballpoint pens from Staples, HOWEVER, they are clearly labeled CLEANROOM. It is frowned upon to remove them from the clean space, as once items are wiped down with Isopropyl and are approved to go into clean space, its easy to keep it there. Its much more of a process to get the pens back into clean space, which includes more cleaning with IPA. The fun with those pens is seeing people use them outside of the clean room and pointing it out and seeing their reaction. Stay Awesome! Best, -Luis
When I first got into calligraphy in the 60s and was using speedball nibs with nib holder/pens that’s the way they were always referred to. In fact, I’ve got some old speedball, nibs and holders in my drawer still.
Hey Drew and Brian, So I have a questions that I have never seen before. What can I use to draw straight lines, or curves or angles with a fountain pen Safely. For example Goulet Pens sells a brass ruler, and brass protractor, but it says right on the site this can damage the nib and void the warranty. Is there something I can use that will not damage fountain pens? Plastic rulers and templates? Are other nibs more susceptible to damage from this, for example Steel, vs Stainless Steel vs Rhodium plated. Please help, I can not draw a straight line to save my life with out a straight edge.
@@iterumm Well that's very cool. That something I didn't know I needed, even just to use as a as a backer for lines and guides. Still though I wonder if it is safe and also looking for something for curves and circles. You know like those green plastic circle templates. I just don't know if they will damage the nibs.
@@GuitarJeff I'm interested in their opinion on this. I use plastic square templates to make my comics panels with my fountain pens (usually safaris, but sometimes I've used my Pilot 912 FA without even thinking I might be damaging the nib! 😳
I've taken calligraphy classes from a couple different teachers and they were always called nibs and nib holders. Together they were called a dip pen. :)
About nib/nib holder and pen/pen holder: currently they are used interchangeably by calligraphers today. But in the golden age of penmanship, it was pen and pen holder. But now calligraphers more often use nib/nib holder.
that knockoff vs inspiration bit is really well said, though, I'm also in the hobby that is in highly painful condition that fanmade production of popular media, gets so much scalper and bootlggers attention because the original makers can't sell them, but eventually most of the world outside that country, seems to agree that bootleg is the only way and wouldn't turn their heads to different alternatives, that it gets to be the norm to openly spit to original small makers. In 3D printing community similarly, say, 'where do you get the model for free?!?!', that terrifying lack of consent to community and hobby, where most of the stuffs were made by people, not companies releasing stuffs for free
I have several Jinhao 82s, all are spectacular EDCs. I also have a set of Jinhao 619s (look like Safaris) and they have large embossed letters of Jinhao on the side. They’re all amazing for the price. I thing there is enough difference in these “inspired by” pens to not feel guilty. I just wish they were made in Japan instead of where they’re made now.
I bought a Jinhao 159 which is supposed to be similar/inspired by the Montblanc 149 which is very expensive. I know it is not the same but it is great to test drive a pen of a similar size. It is too large/fat/ girthy for my small hand. If I ever do get a Montblanc, I know I need something thinner than the 149.
@@mickiebudny7731 I really like the Jinhao x159, but I like fat pens As well as smaller ones. I have medium hands and long fingers so most of them work for me. Even the 9019.
Great show again!! Thx a lot! To my best knowledge the number of stars in the visible/observable universe is a much higher one. maybe you meant the number of stars within our milkyway?
About chestnut trees - the house I grew up in, in Massachusetts, was built around 1810 and didn't have a basement and foundation to begin with, it just sat on the ground. Last year I was going over it with a contractor who was going to fix some stuff for us and we were in the basement and I said, "it just occurred to me - how is this house still here and not totally eaten by termites??" and he said, "because the frame is made of chestnut."
On the topic of standards in music: classical and concert band music does indeed have standards; Beethovens 5th Symphony and Holst’s First Suite in Eb. But standards also exist for each instrument in the classical world. For saxophone it would be pieces like Bach’s cello suites and Aria by Eugene Bozza
I hate to step on your fact at the end, but I think that figure is the estimated stars in the Milky Way galaxy. There are an estimated 200 billion trillion stars in the universe! Haha. That's a *little* more than 3 trillion...
Ooh, I love "7" by Prince, but my husband is the real whistler in our house, and for whatever reason he defaults to old winter songs like "Winter Wonderland". The funniest part is that he doesn't realize he's doing it until I laugh about him whistling winter songs in summer or whenever. 😂
Beside quick signing whatever is given to me, I use ballpoints in only one occasion: markings on the target on archery tournaments. Somehow it always seemed logical to me: you just need two short strokes, but the angle of the pen can be weird trying to reach between the arrows, paper can be partially torn and crumbled and the surface beneath it is foam whichis kinda soft And now thinking of it, FP woukd be much much better solution for that scenario. Will try it next time. And, on other question, Pelikan with purple stripes would be insanely cool. Just imagine.
The Modern Fuel pen Kickstarter just launched. A bit pricey for Kickstarter pens, especially for a first fountain pen, but knowing that Brian gave some feedback in it's development has me considering...
I very recently discovered the Pencast, and I am so grateful to have found it and for all the work you are doing to educate and entertain. Thank you. Question: for my job I often have to write very quickly (e.g. capturing what is said during a meeting); I love my fountain pens, but - rightly or wrongly - I have always assumed that they're not best suited to really quick writing, and I use ballpoints or rollerballs at work. Can you recommend any fountain pens that are good for quick notetaking (and which are office appropriate!)? Thank you again for everything you are doing.
To the pen falling situation, there are many pocket organizers on the market in the EDC community that allow for carrying a pen and Field Notes size notebook, among other things. Definitely worth looking into, and then you don't have your pen clips on your pocket lip. GondekEDC and Dickinson Trading Post have been my favorites so far. My default head songs tends to be "Alouette" or a random sea shanty in 3/4 (they rotate)
Monami Olika is an entry level pen made in South Korea. It’s similar to the Pilot Varsity. I picked a couple up from Jet Pens when I bought their Olive Green Sampler. It is a proprietary cartridge.
I own over a dozen fountain pens, two rollerballs(one Retro 51 and one Conklin), and yet I still keep one Uni-ball Signo 151 gel pen on hand. It writes on shipping labels, sewing patterns, and receipts perfectly since it’s a finer point than either rollerball: .38mm. Also good for glossy paper such as greeting cards.
I work in the research-based/innovator pharma industry … patent life is part of the equation. When a generic is available, no one (no one smart! lol) gets the branded drug anymore. Health care payers stop paying for the brand. And that’s just part of the “game.” It’s accepted and known. Just to tickle your debate bone, though … the patent rule is what makes the original branded drugs so expensive. If you have a ticking clock on the time you have to recoup the entire cost of research, development and marketing, you have to charge way high in order to make the profit worth the reward (“high risk, high reward” business). I do try to reward innovators when I can. But I did get the Majohn pen that is “similar to” the Vanishing Point. I must say, the fact that I like that pen so much has increased my interest in getting the actual Vanishing Point. And now I feel like I should definitely do that. Thanks. Not! lol. 😉
Paper coated on one side is mostly used for printing on printing presses. Photos printed on coated paper are sharper. There are various kinds of coatings such as matte, gloss I've seen it mostly used for business cards (and sometimes birthday cards). Coated paper is not usually used as writing paper, especially with fountain pens. Smooth paper for writing on is not coated. The cover for Rhodia notepads is coated but the paper isn't.
I agree (as a Japanese speaker) that effort taken to use the original pronunciation is a much-appreciated sign of respect towards the other culture. (Urushi is “ooo-rushi,” by the way, not “you-rushi” 😉 you were saying it right many many pencasts ago.) The mocking danger has to do with a mocking intention that is usually pretty obvious, so you’re safe there-your Italian pronunciation sounded fantastic!
Drew, if you’re struggling with the feeling of having a pen poking you in your thigh I’ve been basically daily carrying my lilliput for almost a year now and constantly find myself lying on top of it because I forget that it’s clipped into my jeans pocket. I also keep a retro 51 clipped into the pen loop of my travellers notebook passport size that’s always on my person as well. I have also had a very horrifying experience of writing on a greeting card with one of my retros and sending it to someone only to receive a photo from them a few days later of a card with a big black blob of an ink smudge on the card so I now also carry a Fischer Space Pen along side my lilliput in my pocket just as a “just in case” ballpoint for times when I am really unsure
I'm a lawyer who works a lot with indigent parties, and whenever I deal with them I use rollerballs since I got feedback that fountain pens make me look snooty when I'm taking down notes. So I always keep a Pilot Rollerball on me (1.0 mm to make the writing experience acceptable)
WHYYYYY did you have to tell me about that Pelikan Glauco Cambon?! I have no intention of buying it, but now I'm conscious of the pen-shaped hole in my life left by its absence. 😭
I guess I should just admit it. I have six Pelikan pens. The Cambon is unique and so different from the rest. I pre-ordered it and was not disappointed. Literally glows and sparkles. It’s the one pen that I change ink in fairly often as it inspires me. The inner brass core sparkles through the surface colors and finishes. It’s hard to describe, but it is, absolutely beautiful and a perfect size. I cannot wait to see the next one in the series.
Brian and Drew, I'm glad that you are focused again 😃. The videos of the last episodes were always focused on the Goulet Pencast Logo in the background and your faces were slightly blurry. Good ti have you back sharp and crisp 😉
I do a lot of digital drawing on my iPad, and made my own artists gloves from engineers cotton gloves. I have a stack of these from when my uncle used to work in aircraft maintenance. I've never thought to use these with fountain pens. Mercifully I have dry hands but if I think I might leave any hand oil residue, I simply clean them with alcohol based hand sanitizer. (I'm sure we all have a ton of that left over!😂)
The astronomy fact is off. Did Brian mean stars in the Milky Way Galaxy (~100 billion) or perhaps galaxies in the universe (~200-2,000 billion) vs trees on earth (~3,000 billion). For total stars, it's more like 100 billion times 200 billion (lowish bound assuming Milky was is average) or 20,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 stars vs 3,000,000,000,000 trees.
I use a fountain pen for nearly everything I write. The only exception is my workout log. It is fountain pen friendly paper, but I won't risk my fountain pens at the gym. For that, I use a roller ball.
The one time i use ballpoints on a regular basis? Csrbonless copy paper. At work our order form is a 4-copy form, and hazardous waste manifests are a whopping SEVEN copies. I have to press hard enough to make that last copy legible.
haha, I totally pull out my fountain pen for just about anything including receipts (often I have it out already in anticipation, so not too "in your face"). I'll use a roller ball over ball point where fountain pens don't work (suspect papers, carbon copy, like Customs forms) because ball points are awful. Glauco Cambon is AWESOME! and yes, the limited colors of the Pelikans means both that there's less that's new and its easier to find them used. They are awesome pens though and I think the fact that they uncap in less than one twist isn't talked about enough. For a twist cap, they are about as fast draw as you can get. I love my little M405. I think people come to Goulet Pens for the cool out there stuff. Other physical and online stores seem to do more of the traditional styles. I love your distinction between the holistic design and the individual patents. Opening up tech after a patent expires helps fuel competition and keep one company from having a stranglehold on tech while perhaps not moving forward with other design elements.
Would it be feasible to do a recycling program for ink sample vials? I have a ton but I don't toss them out because it feels so wasteful. Idk if it would be a logistic nightmare or something, but I'd be happy to send my empty and cleaned vials back if they can be reused. I have so many, but I really only use 1 or 2 to help with cleaning and stuff.
Since both Drew and Adam mentioned Retro 51, I have a question: Can they please make .5 or .38 rollerball refills, and in more colors than black and blue? Even though my main Retro 51 love is their fountain pens, I do have three rollerballs, and .7 is just too thick for writing (plus it often bleeds through). I have googled and lots of other people wants this. I've seen suggestions of different brand refills that might fit. I bought a few, and they didn't fit. I don't want to have to hack anything, I just want to write finer 😂 Thanks for another fun pencast!
For some reason I just remembered those ballpoint pens from the 80s with the digital clock attached. Apparently some people find those things desirable.
"Seven" is my favorite Prince song! It's the best. My default song is probably "Silent All These Years" by Tori Amos; my primary karaoke song is the Black Crowes' "Hard to Handle," which has a lot of fun implications when the singer is a queer woman (🏳🌈 as I am).
4 месяца назад
Monami is Korean company I think. We have a lot of Monami pens in bookstores in the Philippines. It’s as famous as Pilot. But this fountain pen, I don’t think I’ve seen it. (Also because fountain pens are not as popular.) So the Monami pens sold here are the ballpens and gel pens.
On the topic of feedback: The reason I tried the Schon DSGN Pocket 6 in the first place is because I saw Ian Schon on this very podcast. I admired his passion and thought he seemed like a very nice guy. So glad I now have 2 Schon pocket pens that Goulet has offered. The Pocket 6 "Dark Unicorn" has been a favorite of mine. I finally bit the bullet and got a full sized Schon Pen "Ocean Depths" with a blue Monoc nib. What a beauty! I have never had a hard start with it, no matter how long it sits. It's got nice flow regardless of the ink and the slight bit of feedback from the nib is pleasant to write with. I love all of my Schon Pens........Sean Pens?? :)
Thanks for informing me of one of my favorite pens in my teens. There was a period that I wrote exclusively with Pilot Precision V5, which uses FP ink. That said, it got more expensive, so I went back to Papermate Write Bros, sorry Brian. I was young & dumb.
