Subscribed! I came here for the vintage fountain pens but talking about timing. I just bought a ST Dupont Ligne2 Brown Chinese Lacquer that looks like new from 1979-1981. Found it by pure luck. Since it hasn't been used in probably many years, it had a leak which my neighbor can fix (He runs a ST Dupont Service Center in my country). He was so surprised at how the lighter looks. The lacquer did not fade at all. Looks the same way when he started working on them back in 1980. Bought the lighter so it would match my gold ST Dupont Classique fountain pen and gold dust rollerball from the same decade.
Fantastic to see your collecting journey Kirby! Might I suggest you also explore Conway Stewart. It's very easy to obtain a vintage model but even their modern versions would suit you well. The modern ones decidedly retain their vintage look and sometimes even still have lever fillers. In fact, when I strolled along Jermyn street this December, I wore a Conway Stewart Churchill on my suit jacket along the way.
Although not vintage, the pride of my collection is a Montblanc Andrew Carnegie “Patron of Art” 1995. I use Irish Green ink, and it writes beautifully.
Thank you again Kirby, a joy to watch. The point you made about the flex of the nib is so true. I bought a new fountain pen when I became a university undergraduate a few decades ago and used it throughout my studies and subsequent professional life. The nib has become wonderful with time and in today's world of keyboards and smartphones it's a pleasure to go back to my old faithful fountain pen and I find every excuse to do so.
Enjoyable follow up to your last fountain pen review. After that I went out and purchased a Sheaffer Snorkle and it’s a joy to write with. In terms of the two Parker 51 pens you have - the first using the old filling system (Vacumatic) was the Mark 1 and the other using what we all really think of when we think of Parker 51 is the Mark 2 onwards versions with the Aerometric filling system. I have to say my Montblanc Meisterstuck 12 from approx 1960 is wonderful to write with. There are so many vintage Montblancs to consider. So as a suggestion to add to your collection try a vintage Montblanc and a Meisterstuck version at that. You will not be disappointed.
Correct me if I'm wrong Kirbs, but have you done a video on gentleman hats??? Kind regards from New Zealand 🇳🇿 as always. Great video again. P.s. rather than just discussing, could you give us a video of you actually writing with these beautiful pens and ink accessories??
He doesn’t own a single sheaffer PFM def a new collector. 😂 But I do appreciate that you delve into vintage stuff as it helps you hone your offering. Your handknotted silk scarves outclassed even top english makers (except Drakes) possibly best from a US merchant as I own many of them. Def need some Sulka inspired silk robes as well in ancient madder. 😅 If you look into the past, you will see that US brands have outclassed many European makers in the quality and it is only after the 60s that US brands declined in quality due to European cheap labor.
I recently bought my first vintage fountain pen from Aidan at your recommendation in another of your videos. I bought the Scheaffer Balance, a pen I am really loving.
This video was quite the revelation. I didn't know that Pelikan fountain pens were something special. Sometime around 15 years old a relative gave me a set of a Pelikan Souveran fountain pen, mechanical pencil and rollerball in a leather case. I didn't really care for it at all, used the rollerball for some time during school until the tip broke off when I used it to pry something open and then the whole set vanished in a box. I thought they were just some cheep pens trying to look fancy, they sure didn't feel valuable. Nobody told me that this set must have cost something around 600-800 bucks! 🤯
You hooked me on the Parker Vacumatic, i just bid on one of the black pearl finish from a British seller who seems to be qute reputable. Thank Kirby for adding another layer to my obsession of high end collectables. (hoping this is a blessing and not another disorder, i already have PAD (pipe acquistion disorder) and this may be another PAD. LOL. As always, love your preentations of Craftsmanship, Quality and Tradition.
Lovely collection. I went to a private French school in NYC in the 60s & therefore used only fountain pens from the time I learned to write through high school 🥰 And funny for me, your 80s vintage is the back of my closet💋 Boomer, out💃
Hi Kirby: Thanks for the journey through your fountain pen collection. Now you have got me interested in that very elegant hobby. Your Dupont side flame lighter is a beautiful example of that company's 1980 offerings. I worked at a pipe and cigar store during that decade and Dupont and Dunhill lighters were our featured lighters for those customers that were interested in only the best of the best. I have not carried the Dupont line in my current retail location but was wondering, if they still require the same "one shot" refill that was the norm for their lighters back in the day. Always a pleasure to see your most informative and classy videos. Might we see future videos featuring two of my passions, can fly fishing rods and handmade briarwood pipes?
Hi, Mr. Allison! I like your collection! You have a very beautiful taste in pens. I like the Watermans. The Waterman Elegance is so gorgeous. The Waterman Perspective has a beautiful grip that reminds me of art-deco. The brown and gold Parker Vacumatic is right up my alley too. Those where my favorites, but I quite like the other ones too (sans king sailor). I haven't purchased an expensive fountain pen yet, as I'm more interested in dip pens; but I would like to add fountain pens to my collection one day. This past week I discovered one that I loved so much that I think it will be my first expensive purchase. I hope I will be able to find it as a vintage pen as a vintage patina would look really awesome on it because it's brass. It's called The Travelers Brass. Somehow I think you might like this one too. I also saw a Pilot Elite 95s. It's burgundy, gold, and silver. I don't know if this is available as a vintage pen either, but I think you would like this one as well. Mind you, I say all this not knowing how any of them write. I just love the astehics. Take care! Nicole
Kirby you should try a “Conklin “ fountain pen. I like the fine nib. I also like the lilac fragrance ink . I should tell you I enjoy your presentations. I especially love your topcoat that you had commissioned.my ancestors come from Scotland,Ireland, and Ashford Kent England in 1400’s . We share many interest. Financial not so much.
I love your videos, Allison ! I am not a collector, but I own myself a few foutain pens that are between forty and seventy years old. My Dupont looks like your Dupont lighter.
I think that any good quality pen is amazing to write with. However I would agree that once I wrote with a fountain pen I never used a basic ballpoint again. I use a Cross brand ball point but it’s amazing quality.
Pelikan M120s are great pens. My dad gave me one when I was starting on pens. It's one of my favorites still, and it's what started my love of Pelikans.
By the by, Kirby, I noticed that you have a few Iroshizuku and Sailor inks. Japan makes some of the loveliest inks these days but allow me to offer a gentle reminder that you should avoid them on vintage sac pens as their compositions are unfortunately too aggressive for latex sac pens. No problem though as you have enough modern pens to use those inks on. I do the same in my collection. I keep the safe inks for my vintage pens and the riskier inks on modern converter or piston pens. Cheers!
As it seems like his pens are mostly refurbished, I wouldn't be surprised if they have new, modern ink sacs. Good point though, for those of us who love vintage pens.
Nicely done. My standard work pen for a long time was my classic Mont Blanc 149. I wrote my doctoral dissertation with it in 1980. I graduated to carrying Parkers and enjoyed them; lots of nib variations. Now retired, my kids have my collection and I’m using a gold nib Kaweco. Best wishes from Tucson.
Let's face reality Kirby, you're not going to stop at one pocket lighter. If you really like and enjoy something and can afford it, go for it. 1990's really doesn't classify as a vintage watch, you have to be going back to the 70's and earlier. It's a very classy watch anyway, a great size to wear under a dress shirt cuff.
Stop misinforming, queen Elisabeth wrote with a Parker duofold. I shared this info with you before and you seem to ignore it (and you reacted to that comment). You can find that info everywhere, ask your good friend who is all into royalty stuff.
Queen Elizabeth wrote with a 51. There are multiple photographs of it, and even footage of her as recently as a couple of months before her passing of her using one. Videos posted by the royal family on Instagram often have her signing documents with it. Please do the research before you comment. A lot of Kirby’s research was done in consultation with me. Thanks.
Aidan is a charming young man with excellent taste. We've discussed on IG our mutual admiration for you. As a fully-immersed down-the-rabbit-hole pen nut, my suggestions for future vintage pens are: 1. In Vacumatics, step up to a Maxima or Oversized. Best color: red. 2. A Parker Duofold Senior. Flattop or streamlined, whichever you prefer, with a sympathetic nib. The flattop 'Big Red' is the famous one, but don't be boxed in. 3. An anglophile choice: the long-section 1950s Conway Stewart No. 5 (various confusing model numbers). This pen's long slender shape mimics the eyedroppers of the 1910s, but with 'modern' plastics. The colors are beautiful, and the long smooth sections provide a comfortable grip. A joy to look at, and to write with. Interesting piston filling mechanism. Most have nice flexible two-tone nibs. IG @vintagewriting
