Pen Review: The Scriptorium Balladeer

November 14, 2015

After the Atlanta Pen Show, all the way back in April, I made the tough (for me) decision to liquidate a large number of pens in my collection and invest in a smaller number of more expensive custom pieces. I ended up ordering a Newton Shinobi, a Conid Bulkfiller Minimalistica, and a Scriptorium Balladeer. The most difficult part of ordering a custom pen is that you have to wait for the pen to actually be made, which in some instances can create a lag of three to six months between the time you pay for the pen in full and when you actually have the pen in your hands. It’s worth the wait, though. All three have exceeded my expectations.

While I don’t have a personal favorite—all three pens are well made, and very different—the Balladeer has surprised me the most. While I knew that I wanted to order a pen from Renee at Scriptorium Pens (you can read up on her and her story here), I was torn between several models.

Size

The Balladeer was my favorite from the beginning, but I hesitated because I thought it would be too big. I don't mind a large-diameter pen--I have several--but because I like to post my pens, weight becomes an issue if the cap is too heavy or if the pen posts too high. After some discussion with Renee, she suggested drilling out the barrel to decrease weight (which also has the benefit of increasing the pen's ink capacity when filled as an eyedropper), and tapering the barrel ever-so-slightly to allow the cap to post deeper than it normally would.

Renee conveniently offers pens in a variety of sizes (small, medium, large, and oversize), but keep in mind that even the medium is relatively large. I settled on a medium, after scrutinizing the measurements on the Scriptorium website and comparing them against what I considered the most comfortable pens in my collection. (The site is a pen geek's dream.) The exact degree of variation between sizes will differ depending on the model you order. To give some sense of the scale of the Balladeer, I would compare my *medium* to a slightly slimmer Montblanc 149.

Dartmoor Acrylic

I'm a sucker for celluloids and other materials that *look* like celluloid, such as these Conway Stewart acrylics that Renee and other pen turners scooped up after Conway folded last year. My Balladeer features the "Dartmoor" acrylic, which I'd describe as a dark brown/green/black with veins and flecks of white, gold, and caramel. From what I've seen around the interwebs, Dartmoor and Amber are the two Conway Stewart acrylics that have received the most attention, and photos don't do the Dartmoor justice. To set off the Dartmoor, I opted for end caps made out of Urushi Red acrylic. The end result is a hand turned acrylic pen, made to my specifications, that, at least to me, is practically indistinguishable from a celluloid pen with urushi trim. To purchase the latter--or even to find someone who knows how to make it--would be prohibitively expensive.

Build and Trim

Scriptorium Pens Silver Clip.  I love the minimalist engraving. — Scriptorium Pens Silver Clip. I love the minimalist engraving.

Renee knows her stuff. This pen is hand-turned, and if there are any manufacturing flaws or artifacts, I haven't found them yet. I chose the sterling silver clip and the stainless steel medium JoWo nib, which is the same steel nib used by Edison Pen Co. and Franklin-Christoph. JoWo nibs aren't my favorite, but they are more than serviceable, and the beauty of this pen is what makes it a pleasure to write with.

Value

All models of Scriptorium Pens start at $225, which includes a steel nib with a converter. Some materials, such as ebonite and the Conway acrylics, have an additional charge associated with them. Renee's pricing process is transparent and plainly set out on her site. Between the Dartmoor, the Urushi Red caps, and the sterling silver clip, this pen set me back approximately $275. Value is always a matter of opinion/preference, but I consider that a good deal for a work of art. To the extent any issues ever occur with the pen, I couldn't imagine that Renee's customer service would be anything less than impeccable.

Normal cartridge/converter filling system, but the pen also can be used as an eyedropper.  I just haven't gotten around to testing this out ye! — Normal cartridge/converter filling system, but the pen also can be used as an eyedropper. I just haven't gotten around to testing this out ye!

Overall, I'm extremely happy with my Balladeer, and consider it a great purchase. I've been using it fairly exclusively for the past month or so, given that I find it so comfortable to write with. Renee will work with you to customize your pen to your needs, and I cannot recommend her services enough.

DISCLAIMER: I purchased this pen with my own funds, for my own collection. I have not been compensated in any way for this review. All thoughts expressed here are my own.

The Lamy 2000 Fountain Pen and Ballpoint side-by-side.

Lamy 2000 Ballpoint: My Go-To EDC Option

October 3, 2015

Back at the Atlanta Pen Show, I purchased a ... gasp ... ballpoint pen. First things first, I'm not one of those pen snobs who never uses ballpoints. They have their place, but my primary beef with ballpoints is that I have small handwriting, and most ballpoints come in 1.0mm widths or broader. Plus the ink in the cheaper models tends to blob. That aside, a good ballpoint pen is one of the more useful tools that you can have with you at any given time. They write on more or less any surface, the ink tends to dry quickly and be permanent, and they don't dry out immediately if you leave the cap off the pen.

Other than my Tactile Turn Mover with a Uniball Jetstream refill, the Lamy 2000 is the only ballpoint pen that I use on a regular basis. (The Jetstream I really don't even consider to be a true ballpoint pen--it has more in common with a gel pen, and the .38mm refill is a personal fave.) The Lamy looks great, has perfect proportions for shirt pocket or pants pocket carry, and is reliably built. The ballpoint features the same Macrolon (polycarbonate) material as the fountain pen, and the two look particularly sharp when carried together. My favorite feature of my ballpoint, however, is this:

You read that right: West Germany. I have no idea how old this pen is, but at a minimum I would think it predates German reunification in 1990 (or was manufactured shortly thereafter, before Lamy had a chance to change their mark). A cool piece of history and one of many reasons why you should attend pen shows!

As others have pointed out, the one weakness of the Lamy ballpoint is the refill (or at lease the older Lamy refills that are still out there on the market). I picked up the blue "Fine", which writes an adequately narrow line, but the refill itself tends to fall on the light side for me. I suspect that the refill I purchased at the pen show is simply old, because others who have recently purchased a Lamy ballpoint refill have been pleasantly surprised.

A touch light for me, but it works better on smoother paper, such as the Nock Co. Dot-Dash. The line also tends to get lighter and skip more if I write with this pen for extended periods.

2023 Update: Over the years, I became frustrated that not many retailers were carrying the Lamy 2000 ballpoints and focusing on the non-fountain pen portion of Lamy’s excellent lineup, so I became a retailer! You can now purchase the Lamy 2000 line of pens, including the ballpoint, directly from T.G.S. in the Curated Shop.

While I'm at it, I also have to brag a bit about this, which I just received in the mail from Renee at Scriptorium Pens. I'm inking it up today and can't wait to use it and get my thoughts up on the blog!

A photo posted by Joe C. (@gentlemanstationer) on Oct 3, 2015 at 5:17am PDT

DISCLAIMER: I purchased the pens featured i this review with my own funds, for my own collection. This post also contains affiliate links.

The TWSBI 580AL in orange with its proprietary ink bottle.

Pen Review: The TWSBI 580

September 23, 2015

As a brand, the TWSBI 580 and its predecessors, the 540 and the 530, personify the modern resurgence of fountain pens. The pens themselves appear relatively simple; however, they are anything but, and to me, it’s nothing short of amazing that TWSBI can develop a product this good and sell it at this reasonable of a price point. For this reason, TWSBI pens are prominently featured on my list of Top 5 Fountain Pens under $75 as the first piston-filling pen that I recommend to new enthusiasts.

My TWSBI in its apple-esque white plastic packaging.  I save my TWSBI boxes for pen storage. — My TWSBI in its apple-esque white plastic packaging. I save my TWSBI boxes for pen storage.

TWSBI pens are manufactured by a subsidiary of Ta Shin Precision, a Taiwanese company with operations in both the United States and China. Per the TWSBI website, after years of manufacturing products--including fine writing instruments--on a contract basis, the company decided to create its own line of fountain pens. The design of the TWSBI 530—the first TWSBI pen was heavily influenced by consultation with members of the pen community via the Fountain Pen Network: the first “crowdsourced” fountain pen, you could say.

TWSBI's "iconic" logo.

From my perspective, TWSBI has accomplished its goal of creating an affordable piston-filling fountain pen with a large ink capacity and classic looks. Additionally, I would go so far as to say that the reasonable price, the relatively widespread availability of the pens, and the fact that the nibs are interchangeable make them the spiritual successor to Esterbrook, though, as I’ll discuss further below, an argument can be made that TWSBIs won’t weather the test of time as well as Esties have.

Looks

For this review, I’ve used a TWSBI Diamond 580AL in orange, currently the only TWSBI in my collection. At one time or another, I have owned a Vac 700, a Mini, and a couple colored 540s, but the 580 with the orange aluminum trim (now discontinued) is the pen that has stuck with me. Orange aside, the 580 sports a classic look. It’s a fairly large fountain pen that fits comfortably in the hand without posting. Many users have knocked TWSBI for designing pens with caps that don’t post (guilty!), but TWSBI’s recent designs (the Classic and the Eco) have offered an option for posting the cap, and in all honesty, the 580’s size would makes it uncomfortable to use posted.

The TWSBI 580 is pretty big.  While I like to post caps, the 580 is so long and relatively heavy that posting the cap would likely make it unbalanced/unwieldy. — The TWSBI 580 is pretty big. While I like to post caps, the 580 is so long and relatively heavy that posting the cap would likely make it unbalanced/unwieldy.

A comparison of the TWSBI 580 agains some similarly sized pens in my collection:  from bottom, the Delta Fusion 82, the TWSBI 580 AL, the Montblanc 146, and the Edison Herald. — A comparison of the TWSBI 580 agains some similarly sized pens in my collection: from bottom, the Delta Fusion 82, the TWSBI 580 AL, the Montblanc 146, and the Edison Herald.

Build

TWSBI loses a few points in any discussion of build and manufacturing, simply because rumors of poor quality control have dogged the company from the beginning. Like any reports that come via the internet, they started as valid criticism but, at least in my opinion, have “gone viral” to some degree, resulting in exaggerated claims of poor quality. To its credit, TWSBI has responded well, and I haven’t heard of an example where TWSBI has failed to replace broken pen parts (or the entire pen) where a customer has reported a defect.

The plastic used to manufacture the 530, 540, and the Mini is prone to cracking, particularly at the section, though caps have cracked as well. TWSBI apparently has addressed the issue with the 580 to a degree—reports of cracking aren’t nearly as widespread. With the Eco, however, TWSBI adopted a new round barrel (as opposed to the faceted barrel of the Diamond series), which may indicate that the early manufacturing issues had more to do with the faceted design of the "Diamond" pens than the materials used to make them. Personally, I think a round barrel 580-style pen would be interesting, though the faceted “Diamond” motif has become something of a TWSBI hallmark. The 580AL that I'm reviewing here has a section and certain other parts made of aluminum as opposed to plastic, presumably making that model more durable.

For all the talk of cracking, however, and for all the TWSBI pens I have owned (and used heavily), I’ve only had the plastic crack on me once. My TWSBI mini developed one small hairline in the section threads (probably caused by me over tightening the cap), which didn’t cause me any functional issues. So from personal experience (with Minis, 540s, and 580s), TWSBI’s quality has been good. You also can't lose perspective on what TWSBI has been trying to do: manufacture a reasonably priced, accessible piston-filling fountain pen. This is no easy task, and at the $55 price point you have to expect some sacrifices in the quality department. Is this a tank-like Pelikan M800? No, but it also doesn't cost $400.

Pricing

TWSBI’s current pricing structure ranges from $30 to $75. The ECO is TWSBI’s new entry-level model. Next up is the standard model Diamond 580, the Mini, the TWSBI Classic, the 580AL (featured in this review); and the Vac 700 (a vacuum filling pen). TWSBI’s now-discontinued Micarta pen was priced at $100, making it the most expensive pen TWSBI offered.

Note: the 580AL in orange is no longer offered. The 580AL is, however, available in standard aluminum. I wonder what color they will issue next? The long-rumored "Vac Mini" should also arrive this year. Note: As of April 2021, you can purchase select TWSBI Products, including the TWSBI 580, directly from the T.G.S. Curated Shop.

Nibs

TWSBI nibs are generally of high quality, especially since they switched to custom JoWo nibs a few years back. Apart from a Vac 700 I owned a few years back, none of my pens have required adjustment to the nibs, though I have had some custom-ground to cursive italic and architect's points. Actually, one of my favorite things about TWSBI pens is the ability to swap nibs. You can save a lot of money by purchasing one TWSBI pen with some spare nib units and having those nib units customized--depending on how many spare nibs you carry, it's like four pens in one!

Note that the 580 nibs are interchangeable among all models in the 580 series, and sold separately as spare screw-in “nib units.” You can purchase additional Mini nib units and Vac nib units for those pens as well, though they aren’t interchangeable with other models. While I’ve never done this, I understand that you can swap the nibs on the Classic and the Eco by pulling the friction-fit nib—there’s no “nib unit” that’s sold separately and easily switches out. (Rumor has it you can also "hack" the entire TWSBI line to make them accept all sorts of nibs. Proceed at your own risk here!)

A writing sample using my TWSBI 580AL with a Masuyama-ground Architect's Nib (Medium). The brown ink I'm using for this review is Franklin-Christoph's Dark Chocolate (thanks to Lori at FC for the sample!), which I'm really enjoying.

Accessories

In addition to spare nibs, TWSBI also makes products such as ink bottles and notebooks, both of which I own, but which are beyond the scope of this review because I haven’t used them that much. I will add, however, that the ink bottle has a proprietary nozzle that lets you fill the 580 completely (though you can remove the lid to fill other pens by dipping as you typically would). The notebooks contain fountain-pen friendly paper (probably sugarcane), which appears similar to the paper used in Franklin-Christoph notebooks.

DISCLAIMER: I purchased the items featured in this review with my own funds (except for the FC ink sample).

My new favorite pen for beginners--or maybe for anyone:  the Pilot Kakuno — My new favorite pen for beginners--or maybe for anyone: the Pilot Kakuno

The Pilot Kakuno: Another Excellent Option for Newbies

September 12, 2015

A couple weeks ago, I wrote a piece on the Best Fountain Pens for Beginners, and I included on that list a pen that I’d been resisting for some time: The Pilot Kakuno. I’ve read rave reviews of the Kakuno, but until now I had never been able to bring myself to pick one up. That’s probably because I’d only seen them in person at Kinokuniya in NYC, where they sell for about $17—making it more expensive than your typical impulse purchase.

During my research for my “Best Pens” series of articles, I noticed that Amazon was selling the Kakuno for a little over $12 shipped (Prime Eligible). That brought the pen firmly into the sub-$15 “guilt-free impulse buy” zone so I dropped it into my cart when I was doing my weekly household shopping. It’s been my primary pocket carry pen ever since, smiley-faced nib and all.

The Pilot Kakuno Nib, with the "smiley face" engraving.  That smiley face is a devil to photograph correctly, btw. — The Pilot Kakuno Nib, with the "smiley face" engraving. That smiley face is a devil to photograph correctly, btw.

The Kakuno features what looks like the same nib as the Pilot Metropolitan (plus the signature engraving). I opted for the fine nib, and the nib on my Kakuno is even smoother than the one on my old Metro. The nib has some slight spring to it, but I would still characterize it as fairly stiff (which is fine by me). The pen ships with a cartridge, but I believe most Pilot converters (sold separately) will fit the Kakuno. Pilot’s cartridges are convenient, in that they hold a lot of ink, and the ink is high quality, so I’ll probably just stick with the carts.

Some reviewers have criticized the Kakuno for looking like a child's pen. Other than the smiley, I don’t agree. On the whole, find it much less childlike than other recommended “first pens” such as the Pelikano, the Pelikano Jr., and even the Pelikan Twist or the Platinum Plaisir. Maybe it’s the smiley-face on the nib that sets people off, but the look is relatively understated and not something that most people would notice unless they were staring at the nib of your pen. (I mean, how weird would that be?) Plus, come on people, lighten up. At the end of the day, there are not many pens on the market at $11-12 that write this well, and you need to make work fun when you can.

Bottom line: the Kakuno is an excellent option for someone looking for an inexpensive introduction to fountain pens, or a seasoned fountain pen user who wants a knockaround pen that will write as well as a pen that costs five times as much. That said, if you want to get into bottled ink, or if you work in an ultra-stodgy corporate environment and require “ye olde black pen”, the Metropolitan is probably the better buy because it comes with a converter and certainly won’t turn anyone's heads. It's also selling for around $12 shipped right now. Me? I’m keeping my Kakuno, and using it proudly.

For some other great reviews of the Kakuno, read Brad's review over at the Pen Addict, as well as Maybelline's over at On Fountain Pens.

DISCLAIMER: I purchased the pen used in this review with my own funds, for my own collection. This post does contain affiliate links, through which I may be compensated a small amount if you purchase a pen from any of the sites linked to in this article. While I'd greatly appreciate it if you use these links to purchase a pen you are interested in, you are, of course, under no obligation to do so. Many thanks!

My TWSBI 580AL in orange, which now sports a Masuyama Architect's nib.

Q&A: Top 5 Fountain Pens for Less Than $75

September 1, 2015

After I published my recent post, "Top 5 Fountain Pens for Beginners," I received the inevitable questions about TWSBI, and more specifically, the recently released "Eco" fountain pen. I don't have a TWSBI Eco in my collection, but at the recent D.C. Pen Show I had the opportunity to both handle and write with the pen. I was impressed. If TWSBI has resolved the quality control issues that have plagued them to date, then the Eco could place TWSBI in a position to be the "no-brainer" option for those looking to upgrade from a "beginner" fountain pen to something slightly more complex, such as a piston-filler.

Traditionally, the range of fountain pens priced between $30 and $75 has been tricky to navigate. At the top of that range ($75 or so), you are in a place where you can spend an extra $50 and get an iconic Lamy 2000 with a gold nib. Even at the bottom of that range, you may find yourself asking the question, "why do I need to spend an extra $10 or $20 when my Safari works just fine?" Both of these are valid concerns, and that's why there are only a couple brands that I will go on the record as recommending in this price range. As you might expect, TWSBI features prominently.

TWSBI 580: The TWSBI 580 can be considered TWSBI's flagship pen. It's a large piston-filler, and the cap doesn't post. (Well, you can post a TWSBI, but it's not particularly comfortable.) The biggest upside to investing in a TWSBI, besides the reasonable $55 price tag, is the fact that the nibs are interchangeable. Even as a relatively experienced fountain pen user, I use my TWSBI regularly, fitted with either the stock 1.1mm stub nib or some custom nib units that I had ground at this year's D.C. Pen Show. Don't forget to check out the Aluminum versions; certain colors are being discontinued. Grab 'em while you can.
TWSBI Eco: TWSBI recently released their new "Eco" model to much acclaim. The Eco (short for "economical") is priced right around $30 ($31.99 shipped via Amazon), so it could legitimately threaten to enter the "best first fountain pen" category, but I would still recommend it as a second or third purchase given my preference for recommending cartridge/converter pens to beginners. As the reviews come in, the Eco may displace the 580 as the number one pen on this list. And the cap posts!
TWSBI Mini: For those who want a smaller pen, consider the TWSBI Mini, which also features interchangeable nib units. The Mini is still a piston-filler, so you're not looking at any price difference from the 580. While I sold my Mini a while back (to pay for my Aluminum 580), I'm tempted to buy another, because I love the form factor. It's a great pocket pen, with a cap that posts.
Lamy Studio: I consider the Lamy Studio to be the best cartridge/converter pen falling into this price range. A sturdy, metal pen with a round metal section that comes in a variety of colors, the MSRP on the Studio is around $90, but PenChalet is currently selling them for $71 (or less with a coupon code). The standard pen features a steel nib, but you always have the option of upgrading to gold.
Lamy AL-Star: If you are a fan of the Safari, but want something with a touch more heft, check out the Lamy AL-Star. Priced at $37, it's a modest upcharge from Lamy's entry-level pen but is made of aluminum and uses the same nibs as both the Safari and the Studio, so you can swap the nibs among your growing Lamy collection.

It goes without saying that these recommendations only represent my personal opinion. I'm always looking for new pens to try, so if you think there's a pen I haven't discussed here but should be looking at, give me a shout through the "Contact Me!" link or via Twitter.

DISCLAIMER: This post contains affiliate links, through which I may be compensated a small amount if you purchase a pen from any of the sites linked to in this article. While I'd greatly appreciate it if you use these links to purchase a pen you are interested in, you are, of course, under no obligation to do so. Many thanks!