Pen Review: Esterbrook Phaeton 300R Fountain Pen

July 13, 2019

Since Esterbrook’s “reboot", most of the attention has focused on the Estie, the Company’s first release following its acquisition by Kenro. Currently, Esterbrook only has two pens on the market: the Estie (which comes in standard and oversize versions) and the Phaeton, which I’ll look at today. In my opinion, this somewhat singular focus has served Esterbrook well, and the Estie, which I consider a well-designed, appropriately priced “daily workhorse”-type pen, has received largely positive reviews. Kudos to Esterbrook for pacing themselves and letting their reputation build around the Estie and expanding their offerings by gradually releasing new versions of that pen, as opposed to flooding the market with multiple designs and seeing what sticks. It shows confidence in their strategy.

The Esterbrook Phaeton comes in four colors: Signal Red, Mineral Blue, Spruce Green, and Midnight Black. Gold-plated trim only.

Which brings me to the Phaeton (also listed as the “Phaeton 300R”), marketed as a re-release of a vintage hooded-nib Esterbrook, the Phaeton 300, a pen you don’t hear much about save in vintage collector circles. Though I understand Esterbrook’s desire to expand the line across a wider range of price points - particularly the need to offer something in the sub-$100 price bracket - I question whether this current version of the Phaeton was the right move, mainly because this pen faces steep competition from lower-priced alternatives.

I love the practicality of this type of converter - it works better than any Indian-style converter I have used, but man does this thing stink!

For starters, many people have pointed out that the Phaeton bears a striking resemblance to much less expensive offerings sold by Indian fountain pen companies such as Kanwrite. Assuming there is some relationship there, however, I do think that it’s unfair to write the Phaeton off as a pure “rebadge” of a stock pen purchased abroad. There clearly have been some design modifications to the cap and clip, and the nibs and feeds on the Phaetons have plainly undergone more rigorous quality control than you would find on a typical $15 Indian fountain pen. Moreover, it’s no secret that Esterbrook pens are made by contract manufacturers, presumably incorporating stock parts that go into other pens sold by different companies. Esterbrook doesn’t own their own factory, and many other companies do the same thing. The end result for the Phaeton is a good daily writer with a cool vintage vibe, especially if you like hooded-nib fountain pens, as I do. At the end of the day, however, the question is still whether Esterbrook has done enough to this pen to justify the $85 MSRP/$68 street price. That’s where I have my doubts.

I love hooded nibs! Even on relatively inexpensive pens, they seem to write well, and are very practical for those times when you’d prefer to use a pen that doesn’t scream “Fountain Pen!”, such as in a meeting.

Before I talk further about the price-value proposition, a few comments on the Phaeton’s specs and usability. I had no issues whatsoever inking up the Phaeton and getting it writing out of the box. The syringe-filling converter works well, and makes it easy to flush the pen, though you have to deal with the extremely stinky plastic that Indian pen companies use to manufacture these types of converters. (If you’ve ever used a Noodler’s pen, you’ll know exactly what I’m talking about.) The nib writes a standard medium-fine line, which is the only nib size available, and while the pen has some tooth, I found it pleasant to use. In terms of size, the Phaeton will remind you of classic vintage pens such as the Parker 51, Parker Super 21, Aurora 88, and, yes, the original Esterbrook Phaeton. Like those pens, the metal cap is a friction-fit clutch design, which also posts easily. In short, from a pure usability standpoint, the Phaeton is a nice pen that will serve you well as a daily writer.

Overall Takeaways and Where To Buy

The Phaeton offers a retro vibe at a not-objectively-unreasonable price point, especially if you wait for a sale or coupon code. The issue I have with this pen is the increasing level of quality competition at the same or lower price, and I’m not sure that I can recommend the Phaeton at $68 over, say, a TWSBI 580 at the same price, a PenBBS 456 vacuum filler priced around $40, or a PenBBS 308 cartridge converter filler or 309 piston filler at an even lower price point. If you want a hooded nib pen, the KACO Retro costs less than $20.

I am glad to see Esterbrook experimenting with lower priced offerings than the $150+ Estie. That said, I don’t necessarily see the Phaeton gaining as much traction, given the relatively high price point as compared to pens of similar - and some would say better - quality. One reason why you may still want to consider the Phaeton, though, is the widespread availability at retail in the U.S. If you’re uncomfortable purchasing pens from eBay or Amazon sellers - a mainstay at this price point - the Phaeton can be acquired from pen retailers such as Pen Chalet or Vanness Pens, both of whom will certainly stand behind the product if you have a problem (as will Esterbrook).

Disclaimer: I received the Esterbrook Phaeton featured in this review from Esterbrook, free of charge, for review purposes. Many thanks to Esterbrook for making this review possible! This post contains affiliate links.

Closing the Circle: The Lamy 2000 Rollerball Joins the Family

June 19, 2019

There are fewer pen designs that I love more than the Lamy 2000. I promised myself that I wouldn’t write yet another piece harping on the Bauhaus-inspired, truly minimalist brushed Makrolon construction (but if you want that, go ahead and read my other reviews of the pens from this line, links at the bottom). Notwithstanding my love for the fountain, ballpoint, and multi pens, it’s taken me quite some time to add the Lamy 2000 rollerball to my arsenal. I finally did so earlier this year, as I was in the midst of rediscovering my love for the smooth writing experience that quality rollerballs have to offer.

The rollerball version of the Lamy 2K features the same brushed stainless steel on the section, and even the same little metal “wings” on the pen that secure the cap.

Fans of the Lamy 2000 fountain pen won’t notice much difference between the fountain pen and the rollerball pen bodies. The first thing you will notice is that it appears to be the exact same body, including the piston knob, which on the rollerball unscrews to allow you to change the refill. Sure, the section is different, but given that the fountain pen features a hooded nib, the overall appearance of the pen doesn’t vary that much between the fountain pen and rollerball versions. The cap and clip remain the same, as does the brushed stainless steel grip section. The balance of the two pens is also quite similar, though the rollerball weighs a bit more, curiously, despite the absence of the fountain pen piston mechanism.

Swapping out the rollerball cartridge is pretty simple: just unscrew the back end of the pen and drop in the refill.

Which brings me to the refill. The standard Lamy rollerball refill is a Schmidt-sourced standard .7mm rollerball cartridge, dubbed the M63, which is certainly smooth but a touch broad for my personal taste. to get a finer tip size, you can either purchase a Schmidt fine-tip rollerball refill, or “upgrade” to my personal favorite, the Montblanc rollerball refill, which writes one of the finer rollerball lines out there and can be made to fit the Lamy 2000 by adding a small spacer - I used a folded up piece of Post-it Note - to the inside of the end cap. Otherwise the refill is too short.

I noticed no discernible difference between the Lamy 2000 rollerball and fountain pen in-hand. It feels like the same pen to me, which is a good thing.

Takeaways and Where to Buy

The Lamy 2000 Rollerball doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but rather builds on an already great design platform to offer what many people will consider a much more accessible and practical writing instrument. The ability to use high-quality Schmidt or Montblanc rollerball refills is an added bonus. To me, the Lamy 2000 in all its various forms represents the pinnacle of understated, functional design and durability. You simply can’t go wrong with any of them no matter what type of pen you are looking for, be it a fountain pen, ballpoint, multi pen, or rollerball. Now all I need to do is try out the mechanical pencil….

2023 Update: Over the years, I became frustrated that not many retailers were carrying the Lamy 2000 ballpoints and rollerballs 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 rollerball, directly from T.G.S. in the Curated Shop.

A Lamy 2000 Family Portrait: From left, the fountain pen, rollerball, 4 Color Ballpoint/multi pen, and standard ballpoint. The ultimate daily carry?

If you’re interested in reading further on my other reviews of pens in the Lamy 2000 family, check out my reviews of the Lamy 2000 fountain pen, the 4 Color Ballpoint (multi pen), and the standard ballpoint. I highly recommend all of them.

Disclaimer: I purchased the pen featured in this review with my own funds, for my own collection.

Pen Review: PenBBS 469 Double-Nibbed Fountain Pen

June 16, 2019

Alright, here’s the last PenBBS review for a while, or at least until I place another order for more of these excellent, reasonably priced workhorses. Up today is the PenBBS 469 “double-sided” or “double-ended” (i.e., two-nibbed) fountain pen. Pens with two nibs have gotten a lot of attention from time to time over the years. The first time I recall seeing one was when my friend Thomas commissioned a custom double-ended Edison Pearl from Brian Gray of Edison Pen Company. Other custom pen makers have produced their own versions, but custom pens are expensive and run in the hundreds of dollars. Until now, I have not seen a double-ended pen at the sub $50 price point, which is where this one sits.

Two nibs, two reservoirs. It’s almost as though two pocket eyedroppers are fused together.

The key selling point of a double-ended pen is to allow you to have two nibs: one with a broad tip for general writing or highlighting, and another fine tip for annotations and notetaking. The two nibs on the PenBBS 469 don’t really deviate from the norm, but the fine nib on this pen does have the same slightly upturned tipping that you find on other PenBBS pens, while the broad nib has a more traditional round shape. In my recent reviews of the PenBBS 456 (vacuum-filler) and the PenBBS 355 (syringe-filler “bulkfiller”), I remarked on how much I enjoy the upturned nib, which makes for a smooth writing experience with some line variation.

When you uncap one end for writing, the PenBBS 456 is a very well-balanced pen.

So how the heck do you fill a double reservoir pen? Obviously, it would be extremely difficult (but maybe not impossible?) to use two converters without making the pen unwieldy and huge. Therefore, most are eyedroppers, like this one, which actually comes supplied with a glass dropper in the box. No silicone grease is necessary, because the sections are fitted with o-rings I’ve had zero leakage, despite the pens jostling around in my work bag all week, and have experienced only a minimal amount of ink burping into the cap, even with one of the nibs needing to be inverted at all times.

The broad tip is rounder than your typical PenBBS nib.

Each of the two reservoirs holds a fair bit of ink. I’ve been using this pen for the better part of two weeks, and there’s still plenty of ink left. If you’re someone who needs (or simply likes) to switch colors for annotation or notetaking purposes, the PenBBS 469 could easily be your one-pen workhorse.

The slightly upturned fine tip on the PenBBS 469.

Takeaways and Where to Buy

I have yet to be disappointed by a PenBBS pen, and I’ve frankly been stunned at the level of quality they manage to produce at their current price point. The PenBBS 469 is no exception, offering a unique writing experience for less than $50, where you otherwise would have to pay $200+ for a custom pen. I just want them to make more of their pens available in this red material.

PLEASE make a Model 456 in this material!

The two primary ways to purchase PenBBS pens are via the PenBBS Etsy Store, which usually snags you the best price, or via eBay, where certain sellers may have more variety. (As I’ve noted before, for some reason PenBBS carries less diverse stock in their own store, probably to focus on limited or special edition materials while pushing most of their standard stock to their retailers.) Here, the PenBBS 469 costs $29.99 in the Etsy store, while the transparent/red-webbed pen featured in this review runs just under $40 from most eBay Sellers, and can include an optional rollerball attachment if you don’t want to use two fountain pen nibs. I’ve not tested out the rollerball, but Susan over at the Pen Addict has had a positive experience. Check out her review here.

Pen Review: PenBBS 355 (Syringe Filler)

June 13, 2019

One pen that receives a lot of press these days is the Conid Bulkfiller, which packs a nearly obscene level of engineering technology into a very expensive semi-custom fountain pen. Pricing on the Conids range from roughly $350 to nearly $1000, depending on the exchange rate, specific model, and options chosen. What most people love about these pens is their ink capacity - using a syringe-filling system that Conid calls the “bulkfiller,” you can fill the barrel to near capacity, something that is almost impossible with a piston or vacuum-filler.

But what if you love the idea of a pen with ginormous ink capacity but don’t have (or merely don’t want to spend) the coin on a Conid? You may not get the flawless engineering and streamlined looks of the Conid, but the PenBBS 355 offers a somewhat similar experience at a small fraction of the price.

Yep, that barrel is 100% full of ink. Sailor Rikyu-Cha to be precise. That’s a lot of writing.

Admittedly, this pen makes me nervous. I’ve owned a Bulkfiller Minimalistica in the past, and even that pen, with its extremely well-designed and well-built filling system, made me a bit uneasy when filling the pen and moving that much ink. How a syringe-filler mechanism works is a bit difficult to explain - essentially it uses a rod and piston to draw ink into the barrel, like a syringe, with the pen filling on the upstroke, and when the rod is fully extended you unscrew it to disengage from the piston and slide it back into the barrel. There are a lot of moving parts, and Chris does a great job showing how to fill this pen in one of his “Pen Talk” YouTube videos (the filling demonstration starts at 12:51). Overall, I didn’t have much trouble with the PenBBS 355, though I did find it somewhat tricky to disengage the rod from the piston after filling the pen, and a few drops of ink came out of the nib when I slid the rod back into the barrel. At the end of the day, the filling mechanism on the 355 is cool, but I probably prefer the “simplicity” of relatively no-fuss piston fillers and vacuum fillers.

I held the pen against the light to get a shot of the translucent green-swirl acrylic. It’s difficult to see the detail when the pen is full.

The acrylic on this particular pen was referred to in the listing as “Aurora Polaris" (presumably intended to be a reference to the Aurora Borealis). I would best describe this as a clear acrylic with streaks of green, brown, and white, with a heavy emphasis on green. It’s a beautiful material that underscores the staggering level of variety PenBBS offers. I currently have this pen inked with Sailor Rikyu-Cha, but in the future I think I might choose a brighter option as the Rikyu-Cha is pretty dark and hides the swirls on the transparent barrel.

The nib is the same as on the PenBBS 456. If I had to choose, I would say that the nibs on the 456 wrote smoother out of the box, but after a quick alignment of the nib tines the 355 was just as good, with this particular nib even providing slight architect-like line variation. In terms of comfort, the 355 feels good in the hand, but at the end of the day I again prefer the PenBBS 456, which has better balance and postability.

You can post the PenBBS 355, but it’s long. You’ll also note that there are no metal threads, which some might prefer but I miss because they front-weight the pen and, in my opinion, give better balance and a feeling of more control over the nib. I … — You can post the PenBBS 355, but it’s long. You’ll also note that there are no metal threads, which some might prefer but I miss because they front-weight the pen and, in my opinion, give better balance and a feeling of more control over the nib. I use this pen with the blind cap slightly open, to ensure a steady flow of ink from the reservoir to the nib.

Takeaways and Where to Buy

Though the PenBBS 456 is still my preference, the PenBBS 355 is also a great option, especially if you’re looking to purchase an inexpensive “ink tank.” Seriously, this thing drained nearly half the ink in my Pineider traveling ink pot when I filled it. My main concern here is the complexity of the mechanism and its durability over time. Given the number of moving parts in this sort of filling system, I’m interested to see whether it still works well a year or two from now.

As with most PenBBS pens, you can purchase directly from PenBBS via their Etsy store, or you can purchase from various eBay sellers, which is where I picked up the “Aurora Polaris” acrylic version here. Pricing on the PenBBS 355 currently ranges from $30-60, depending on the material and location of the Seller. The best pricing (albeit with a very limited selection) can be found in the PenBBS Etsy Store. The Company also recently released what appears to be a slimmer version of the 355 (the PenBBS 352) at around the $25 price point. (Correction: the 352 looks similar but does not have the same filling system - it apparently is a cartridge-converter pen. Apologies for any confusion.)

Disclaimer: I purchased the pen featured in this review with my own funds, for my own use.

Pen Review: PenBBS 456 (Vacuum-Filler) Fountain Pen

June 8, 2019

I’ve done a complete 180 on Chinese pens* over the past year. My attitude towards these pens has been a bit stuck in the past, back when “Chinese pen” evoked the so-called “$1.99 eBay pens” from brands like Jinhao and Baoer that everyone in the fountain pen hobby tried at least once. Personally, I had several bad experiences, and ultimately concluded that these pens weren’t worth the trouble even at the low price point, given persistently finicky nibs, chipping finishes, and overall inconsistent quality. Therefore, I’ve been later to the party than some in terms of trying out brands such as PenBBS, Moonman, KACO, and LiveInYou.

*Just to clarify, when I use the term “Chinese pen,” I’m not referring to pens manufactured in China, which would include pens sold by many American and European brands. I’m referring to pens branded and sold under the name of a Chinese company, both in China and abroad.

On the left are two PenBBS 456 Vacuum Fillers, and on the right is the PenBBS 355 “Bulkfiller”. Look for a review of the 355 soon.

Over the past two years, the topic of Chinese pens has become the subject of renewed attention, mainly because many new brands have emerged, nearly all of which have abandoned the “$1 pen” price point and introduced products that directly compete with entry and mid-level offerings from long-established brands such as TWSBI, Pilot, Lamy, and Monteverde. One such brand is PenBBS, which is based in Shanghai and grew out of an internet fountain pen forum akin to Fountain Pen Network or FPGeeks. As the brand has grown, PenBBS has released dozens of inks and pens, with increasingly complex filling systems and some stunning materials.

As I mentioned, since I’ve been burned in the past ordering pens via eBay from unfamiliar sellers and brands, I’ve hesitated on trying out these more expensive pens. Investing $20 in a Moonman M2 or a KACO Edge is one thing; investing $55 in a PenBBS 456 Vacuum Filler or 355 Bulkfiller, much less a $80 pen from LiveInYou, is another thing entirely. But after doing my homework, and specifically after reading some online reviews from Frank (whose blog FrankUnderwater is your best source for all things Chinese-pen-related, particularly new releases) and watching Chris’s Pen Talk videos on YouTube, I decided the risk was relatively low and picked up a handful of higher-end pens from PenBBS and LiveInYou. The first ones I received were the PenBBS 456 Vacuum Fillers, and I must say, these are exceptional pens for the money. Any concern or hesitation I had was completely unwarranted.

The two-toned PenBBS nib is also Chinese-made, to the best of my knowledge, and came perfectly tuned. Here is a shot of the engraving.

What do I like about the PenBBS 456? Pretty much everything:

Aesthetics and Build Quality. Let me start with the clear demonstrator, because it’s by far my favorite. The fit and finish on this pen is nearly perfect - it’s well-polished to the point where the transparent barrel is as clear as glass. There are no visible tool marks and scratches, the clip is solid as opposed to cheap folded metal, and the overall assembly is very tight with no loose or rattling parts. While the transparent demonstrator is my favorite, the translucent green/red acrylic is also stunning, though I struggled a bit with what ink to fill it with, finally settling on 3 Oysters Black Moss, which isn’t the best match for this pen color-wise but I still love the ink.
Filling System. The PenBBS 456 is a vacuum-filler, like the more expensive TWSBI Vac 700 and the much more expensive Pilot Custom 823. To fill the pen, you unscrew the blind cap at the end, extend the plunger, place the nib into an inkwell or ink bottle, and press down. The negative pressure will suck ink into the barrel, and you can repeat once or twice more to increase capacity. Even with one fill, however, this pen will write for quite a while.
Writing Comfort. The PenBBS 456 feels exceptionally well-balanced, posted or unposted. Unlike the TWSBI Vac 700, the end of the 456 is tapered, allowing the cap to post deeply. I love vacuum-fill mechanisms, but the lack of postability doomed the Vac 700 for me, before I even had to deal with the finicky nib issues. Though the 456 has metal threads, the longer section provides plenty of room for a comfortable grip, and you would have to grip your pen pretty high on the barrel before the threads gave you any trouble.
Smooth, Slightly Upturned Nib. I’ve heard the standard PenBBS nib described as a “mini-fude”, but what jumped to mind for me was Sheaffer’s nibs on certain pens from the 1960s. The slight upturn at the end of the nib makes for a very smooth writer. Most PenBBS pens are sold with only one nib option, which lays down a relatively wet fine-medium line, and while I’ve heard reports of PenBBS nibs being on the drier side, both of my 456 pens have no such issues.

The only downside to these pens, so far, is availability. Though some retailers, such as Vanness Pens, carry a limited stock of PenBBS products, the complete lineup is only available overseas. Shipping can take as long as six weeks from the time you place your order.

I would peg this nib as a “fine-medium.”

Takeaways and Where to Buy

It’s extremely likely that the PenBBS 456 is going to work its way onto my “Best Pens” list in the future, probably in the $50-$100 price bracket. I would easily recommend this pen over the TWSBI Vac 700, and while I love the TWSBI Diamond 580 at around the same price point, I think I prefer the nib on the PenBBS 456. I’ve enjoyed the transparent pen so much that it’s now on its second fill of Iroshizuku Kon Peki - a stunning ink in any clear demonstrator, and especially in one that’s as well-polished as this pen.

I purchased the two pens featured in this review from different sellers, and both took about three weeks to arrive, with most of that shipment time eaten up by customs. The Clear Acrylic is my favorite, but the Translucent Green/Red pen is also quite nice looking. As another purchasing option, PenBBS runs an Etsy storefront, which is relatively well-stocked but doesn’t always have the same variety as other sellers. I think PenBBS focuses on pushing product to their retailers before stocking their own shop.

I paid around $55 per pen, plus a few dollars for shipping. One thing to note is that the price of PenBBS pens can vary by retailer and by material, depending on the popularity of the specific pen or material. Ordering direct from China, as opposed to ordering from sellers based in the U.S. or the U.K, will also get you a better price in most instance. Note that the PenBBS Etsy store is currently selling some variations of the 456 for as little as $32, though not either of the two pens featured in this review.