Pen Review: Esterbrook Camden "Composition" Edition

July 8, 2020

In less than two years since acquiring the relaunched brand, Kenro has grown Esterbrook into a fixture of the modern fountain pen scene. Their original release, the “Estie,” is wildly popular, as evidenced by the success of the recently released oversized “Sparkle” edition, made with Diamondcast acrylic, which many retailers already have sold through. Beyond the Estie, the company has begun to get some traction with what I will describe as their secondary model, the Camden, an anodized aluminum pen that originally came in three brushed “satin” finishes: Rose, Silver, and Graphite. Today, I look at a limited edition version: the Camden “Composition” in “Spring Break Fluorescent Green.”

The finish is my favorite aspect of the Camden Composition. The marbling has a nice texture that eliminates any slipperiness inherent in most metal pens.

The inspiration behind this limited edition will be obvious to those of you who have ever attended school in the U.S.: the classic composition book. Esterbrook has taken the Camden and applied a textured marbled finish akin to the traditional covers on these notebooks. Currently, two colors have hit the market: “Back to School Black” and “Spring Break Fluorescent Green,” with “Fall Leaves Burgundy” apparently coming in Fall 2020, per the Esterbrook website.

The Esterbrook Camden features a standard Schmidt nib without the Esterbrook branding found on the Estie. The “Composition” edition uses the same contoured brushed metal section as on the standard version.

As much as I love the finish and the aesthetics on this particular model, the Camden itself is a bit of a mixed bag for me personally. While it’s a well-made pen, and the stainless steel Schmidt nib makes for an excellent daily writer, the proportions of this particular pen feel a bit off. The Camden is already a relatively long pen, and Esterbrook’s cushion-cap system (discussed further below) makes it even longer when posted because the cap doesn’t rest deeply on the barrel. As a committed “poster” - especially for daily writer-type pens intended to be used in class or at the office - I’ve found the Camden too back-heavy to use for long writing sessions. Unposted, the balance is much better, but the tapered barrel has has me really wanting to post this pen, and I can’t help but wonder how much I would love the Camden if the cap sat just a bit deeper on the back.

As I mentioned, like the Estie, the Camden features Esterbrook’s spring-loaded “cushion cap” that uncaps with only 3/4 of a turn, allowing for quick deployment. As with the Estie, there may be a bit of a learning curve for those unfamiliar with this sort of closure. In order to engage the cap you will need to gently push the cap down and turn to engage the threads. After you’ve done it once or twice, it’s not a big deal, and the purpose behind the design is similar to Platinum’s “Slip & Seal” system: the inner cap acts as a seal that prevents the nib from drying out even if you leave the pen sitting unused for long periods of time. While systems like these are nice to have, they’re not a huge draw for me personally, since I rarely leave pens sitting inked for weeks at a time (much less months).

Takeaways and Where to Buy

Like the Estie, the Camden is another well-made fountain pen from Esterbrook that will serve you well as a daily writer, but if you post your pens the Estie might be a better choice. Posting the cap on that pen just feels a bit more secure, and the slightly shorter posted length and lighter-weight acrylic makes the Estie more comfortable for me to write with for longer sessions. Price-wise, the Camden and Estie both sit at the $156 retail price point - the current standard for higher-end steel nib pens - so I can’t really argue with Esterbrook’s decision here, even though I might like to see the Camden closer to $130 simply because the Estie feels more “premium.”

The Esterbrook Camden compared against the Estie.

I acquired the pen featured in this review from site sponsor Pen Chalet, which currently has the Camden Composition in stock in both the “Back to School Black” and “Spring Break Fluorescent Green” finishes. Though I’ve not yet seen the pen start to sell out, Esterbrook apparently has limited the run to 250 pens in each color, so eventually this one will go away.

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. The Gentleman Stationer is a participant in the Pen Chalet affiliate program, which allows me to earn store credit for orders placed with Pen Chalet through links on this site. It’s one of many ways I’m able to support the blog and continue to acquire new products for review.

Unsung Heroes: The Waterman Expert Fountain Pen

July 4, 2020

The popularity of some pen brands has ebbed and flowed over the years, as tastes, ownership, and management change. In my mind, no company exemplifies this more than Waterman. Those of us who came of age in the 1980s and the 1990s may fondly recall Waterman as a popular brand that you would regularly see available for sale in brick-and-mortar office supply stores (remember those?), with a quality build and classy design at a lower cost than brands like Montblanc. For a brief history of Waterman pens and the modern company (which is actually a corporate descendant of the original U.S. company’s French subsidiary), check out my review of the Waterman Man 100 Patrician.

This navy blue Waterman Expert ballpoint with gold trim is the oldest pen in my collection. I think I received it when I was twelve.

Though Waterman may be a shadow of its former self, I still have a soft spot for their pens, and over the years have accumulated a micro-collection of sorts. All of my Watermans are either modern or what I would consider “near modern,” pens like the Man 100 that aren’t made anymore but are still modern enough in construction and build that I wouldn’t call them vintage. One of my favorites - and probably the first “nice” pen I’ve ever owned - is an early 1990s Waterman Expert ballpoint that a relative gifted to me for a birthday. I recently had the opportunity to add a sort-of-matching Expert fountain pen, a model I’ve never owned despite the fact that it’s still readily available at retail.

Small details such as the imprint has changed, but most of the design language remains the same over the thirty years that separate these two pens.

Since Waterman has discontinued its true entry-level options such as the Phileas and Kultur - wonderful pens that never should have been allowed to go out of production - the Expert has stood a the lower end of Waterman’s reduced lineup, at least in terms of price. While it appears that the company is introducing a few new entry-level pens that haven’t yet made it to widespread distribution in the United States, for most the Expert is their introduction to the Waterman brand.

The slanted finial is the Expert’s “signature.” I appreciate how it lends a touch of flair to an otherwise standard basic pen design.

The design of this pen has not changed over the years. I would describe the Expert as a moderately sized, streamlined pen with flat ends (though the cap finial is angled in a signature design touch). The pen features a stainless steel nib, a friction fit cap that also “clicks” to post securely, and a cartridge-converter filling system. (The pen does NOT ship with converter - a pet peeve of mine at the $100+ price point). Waterman has clearly designed the Expert to appeal to the maximum range of tastes, not only in terms of design but also size preference. It fits my moderately sized hands perfectly, and I tend to see more Experts in the workplace than any other fountain pen or rollerball, in the hands of both men and women. It’s a great “universal” size for a writing instrument - relatively lightweight and exceptionally well-balanced. The medium nib offers exactly what I expect from Waterman: reliable, moderately wet ink flow and what I consider to be a classic “Western medium” line width. Again - middle of the road, and designed to appeal to as many people as possible. And there is absolutely nothing wrong with that given the market for this pen.

The perfect size for me. I could write with this pen for hours.

Notwithstanding the fact that I still love Waterman, the quality of the modern Expert doesn’t feel quite as good as on my now 30+ year-old ballpoint. That’s not necessarily surprising, since “mainstream” companies like Parker, Waterman, and even Montblanc all seem to have cut some corners in recent years, giving their modern pens a less substantial feel than those you might have picked up as recently as 10 years ago. On the Expert, it’s most noticeable on the finials. The black plastic feels harder and more brittle, whereas on my vintage version they feel more like softer resin, almost rubbery. Only time will tell whether this change in materials affects long-term durability.

Takeaways and Where to Buy

While not as ubiquitous as it used to be, you can still find Waterman fountain pens at most pen retailers. I honestly believe that this storied brand should be getting more attention than it does, especially among those of us who rely on our pens as everyday tools for the office or study and don’t necessarily need something flashy, but rather just want a predictably reliable pen that gets the job done at a reasonable cost. The Expert fountain pen retails for $185 MSRP (which is too high), but you mostly see it priced at less than $150. If you can use a discount code to get the pen down into the $125-130 range, I’d recommend this pen any day of the week.

I acquired the blue Waterman Expert featured here from site sponsor Pen Chalet, which currently has the pen priced at $147.35. There’s always a 10% discount code floating around (such as the current “FREEDOM” Fourth of July promotion), which gets the pen to a very attractive price point. For an extra $15 or so, you can opt for the “Deluxe” version with an engraved metal cap.

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links, which allows me to receive a small commission, payable in store credit, that I use to acquire additional pens to review on the site. It’s one of many ways I support the blog.

Pen Review: Montegrappa Elmo "Fantasy Blooms" Fountain Pen in Iris Yellow

June 24, 2020

Few pen manufacturers have expanded their lineup more than Montegrappa has over the past several years, and what the brand has accomplished is impressive. From landing celebrity collaborations and major licensing deals to releasing more approachable "everyday-writer" type pens, the Italian company has done its part to fill the void left by the collapse of Delta and OMAS.

Inspired by a pen of the same name from the 1920s and 1930s, which was named for one of the original designers and co-founders Heinrich "Elmo" Heim, the Montegrappa Elmo represents an effort to expand further into what I view as the "upper mid-range" segment - pens that retail for $150-200. Pens in this category include those many would consider for a possible everyday writer, and I tried to evaluate the Montegrappa Elmo from this perspective. This particular pen comes from the Elmo "Fantasy Blooms" series, which is identical to the standard Elmo except for the pearlized resin, available in three colors named for flowers: Black Star Calla Lily (a green base with black swirls), Blue Cross Gentian (a blue base with purple swirls), and Iris Yellow (a yellow base with dark purple/reddish swirls).

Montegrappa-Elmo-Engraving-Fantasy-Blooms

It's taken me a while to review the Elmo because I admittedly harbored serious doubts about this pen. Based on looks alone, I found the standard pen boring and overpriced. While I still have reservations about whether the current price point is sustainable (discussed further below), the unique materials that Montegrappa developed for the "Fantasy Blooms" series caught my eye and finally prompted me to pick one up. After a couple of weeks with the Elmo, my initial impressions were at least partially unfair.

The “Iris Yellow” acrylic is difficult to describe, but it’s certainly the major selling point for this pen. The pearlized resin features swirls of purple, dark blue, and some black(?). No two pens are alike.

The Montegrappa Elmo features very good build quality, centered around a well-tuned JoWo stainless steel nib. Honestly, the nib on this pen is one of the better extra-fine steel nibs I've used in some time. It writes a moderately wet line with steady ink flow and without any dryness or scratchiness. As one would expect at the price point, the filling system is cartridge/converter. The pen caps/uncaps smoothly in two turns, and while you can post the pen, I suspect that Montegrappa intended for the Elmo to be used unposted, as it's better balanced that way. Importantly, the pen feels solid, like it will hold up to heavy use over time.

Writing sample done with Sailor Manyo “Kuzu” ink, which is a deep burgundy color.

My primary criticism of this pen from a usability perspective concerns the metal threads on the barrel. They're not necessarily sharp, but I definitely feel the edge of the "step-down" from the barrel to the grip section, which would prevent me from using this pen for very long writing sessions. How much this aspect of the pen's design impacts you, however, will depend on how you grip the pen. If you don’t have an issue with pens like the Pilot Metropolitan (which has a similar step), you’ll probably be ok, though this feels a bit sharper.

Takeaways and Where to Buy

The Montegrappa Elmo "Fantasy Blooms" fountain pen ticks a lot of boxes for a mid-range fountain pen that should appeal to a wide audience. The biggest issue? Pricing, in my opinion. MSRP on the "Fantasy Blooms" pens is $250, with most retailers (such as site sponsor Pen Chalet, where I acquired this pen) selling them for $200. The price point doesn't surprise me - Montegrappa has a reputation for pricing aggressively on the high end, and plenty of companies sell acrylic pens with steel nibs in the same range.

What makes me increasingly uncomfortable is that $150-$200 seems to be emerging as the new "default" price point for pens with pretty basic specs, with many companies (like Montegrappa) testing the upper limits of that bracket. On the consumer side, buyers are being asked to pay more for pens that used to cost $120-$150. While the Elmo sports upgraded components such as a better nib, a nicer converter, and more unique materials, is this pen sufficiently different from a $25 Pilot Metropolitan to justify more than a $220 difference in MSRP? If the price were $130, or even $150, I’d have far fewer qualms about recommending it.

Three Montegrappas in my collection, from left: Elmo “Fantasy Blooms”, “Monte-Grappa”, and the Extra 1930 in Turtle Brown celluloid.

We're moving into uncertain times, and right now I have more questions than answers. Not just about this particular pen but about this segment as a whole. Fountain pen enthusiasts have shown that they will pay a premium for unique designs and materials, but will this hold amid economic uncertainty? Are pens like the Elmo unique enough to get customers to drop $200? If not, will companies like Montegrappa respond by reducing their price point to meet new economic realities, or by reducing or discontinuing their entry-level and mid-range lines to focus on the luxury segment? I’ll be thinking hard on these questions as 2020 slogs on.

Disclaimer: I purchased the pen featured in this review from site sponsor Pen Chalet using store credit generated through the Pen Chalet affiliate program, which is one way I support the blog. This post contains affiliate links.

Platinum’s “Slip & Seal” inner cap, shown here in the 3776 “Oshino” demonstrator.

Platinum Slip & Seal Cap: What Is It and Does It Work?

June 10, 2020

As Platinum pens become increasingly popular outside of Japan, I get more questions regarding this pen company’s sometimes quirky marketing. For example, Platinum emphasizes “Slip & Seal” technology that supposedly prevents ink from evaporating in a pen that sits unused for long periods of time. The claim used to be that the pen would still write after a year of sitting idle, and while Platinum seems to have walked this back to “three to six months,” you still see “Slip & Seal” mentioned everywhere, including in Platinum’s new mid-range Procyon that I reviewed back in January.

Two pens that feature Slip & Seal technology: The Platinum 3776 (shown on the left in the “Oshino” demonstrator model), and the Procyon (right).

How Does Platinum’s Slip & Seal Technology Work?

For a detailed, illustrated explanation, check out the Luxury Brands USA website. (Luxury Brands is Platinum’s U.S. distributor, and their website contains a wealth of information regarding the various Platinum models). The short version is that the Slip & Seal mechanism uses a spring-loaded inner cap that seals against the body when the pen is capped, creating an “airtight” seal. Platinum incorporates the Slip & Seal technology into both the Procyon and the 3776, both of which are screw-cap pens.

Pens from left: Platinum Procyon, Preppy, and Plaisir. Writing samples in this review done on Write Notepads Copper Anniversary Edition Pocket Notebooks.

As I mentioned in my Procyon review, I’ve never paid much attention to the “Slip & Seal” claims. I don’t ink pens and leave them unused for months, at least not intentionally. But I was curious. So I decided to set the Procyon aside for a while and compare any ink evaporation to a Preppy and Plaisir that I keep inked on my desk, neither of which feature the screw-cap Slip & Seal technology. As it turns out, the mechanism definitely works. After six months of non-use, the ink cartridge in the Procyon showed little, if any, evaporation, and the pen wrote perfectly. Compared against the Preppy and Plaisir, the difference was notable.

After 8 months to a year (not sure exactly when I last inked these pens), the Platinum Preppy and Plaisir both showed greater signs of ink evaporation. While these two pens don’t have the exact same mechanism as the 3776 or the Procyon, they still u… — After 8 months to a year (not sure exactly when I last inked these pens), the Platinum Preppy and Plaisir both showed greater signs of ink evaporation. While these two pens don’t have the exact same mechanism as the 3776 or the Procyon, they still utilize an inner cap system that does an excellent job of keeping the pens functional.

The cartridge in the Procyon, on the other hand, had little to no ink evaporation after six months. Nearly all of this ink was spent writing.

All three pens wrote immediately, though the ink in the Preppy and Plaisir was definitely more concentrated from evaporation and had a bit of a “gummy” feel to it.

The Big Question: Does Slip & Seal Add Value?

Who should care about Slip & Seal? Obviously, if you have a pen that you only use infrequently, such as a music nib used for signatures on documents, or a ultra-extra-fine (UEF) nib that you use to make very small annotations and takes forever to go through ink, something like this could be quite helpful. Also, if you use iron gall and pigmented inks, which can clog and even corrode nibs and feeds if left in pens for long periods of time, you want to minimize the potential for evaporation that would cause these inks to become overly concentrated. (Note: Platinum sells both iron gall and pigmented inks in their lineup. I have no idea whether this had anything to do with the development of Slip & Seal, but it’s a fair question.) One thing I don’t know is whether the Slip & Seal technology is equally as effective with converters as it is with Platinum’s cartridges. While the cartridge is a solid piece of plastic, the converter is not, and creates multiple opportunities for air to enter and accelerate evaporation.

Overall, I’m not sure whether Slip & Seal adds value to the pen for the majority of people, but given how it performed in my Procyon, I’m glad it’s there. While Platinum has long marketed the Slip & Seal technology with their flagship 3776 line, I personally find it most useful in a less expensive pen like the Procyon, which I would be more inclined to ink with a cartridge and leave at the office or in a place where I might need to make quick notes from time to time and not use on a daily basis. At the end of the day, Slip-and-Seal may not be a feature that would specifically draw me to Platinum and cause me to purchase a 3776 or Procyon over a pen from another brand, but I do like having the feature and would characterize it as a “plus.”

All Platinum Pens pictured in this review can be purchased at most Platinum retailers, including site sponsors Pen Chalet, Vanness Pens, and Goldspot.

First Impressions: Montblanc 149 Fountain Pen

May 31, 2020

I debated whether to frame this post as a “First Impressions” piece or a full review. In the end, I went with “First Impressions,” because the Montblanc 149 is such an iconic pen that I inevitably will revisit it at some point in the future. I’ve used a Montblanc 146 for years, and while that pen now maintains a perpetual spot in my rotation as a true “workhorse” fountain pen, my appreciation for it has certainly grown over time.

Initial Impressions

What strikes everyone at first is the size of the Montblanc 149. You ask yourself, “Can I actually use this pen as an everyday writer?” I’ve written with large fountain pens before, but the Montblanc 149 takes things to another level, at least visually. While the size can be intimidating, you’re also struck by the pen’s beautiful design and proportionality. Though large, it doesn’t appear awkward, like many of the giant oversized fountain pens other pen companies have released in recent years. As I’ll discuss in further detail below, it’s actually quite a comfortable writer.

IMHO, the “Snowcap” looks best on the 149’s oversized cap.

Here, I also opted for Montblanc’s rose gold trim, for the first time ever. I’ve recently written on how pens with rose gold hardware (clips, cap bands, and even nibs) are a new thing for me, and this particular pen was the one that started the trend back in January. The rose gold that Montblanc uses has much more of a reddish hue, as opposed to the pinkish tint you often see, and the effect is subtle. In certain lighting you may have a hard time distinguishing this trim from the standard Montblanc gold trim, but the difference is definitely there.

The Nib and Overall Writing Experience

I noted above how some oversized fountain pens are truly sold as nothing more than objets d’art or status symbols, meaning they are so (comically?) large that unless you have Hulk hands, you’re not going to be using them for actual writing. The Montblanc 149 is not one of those pens. Though initially skeptical, I’m now convinced that the 149 may actually be one of the better pens available for longer writing sessions. That doesn’t mean if you’re accustomed to writing with slimmer writing instruments there won’t be an adjustment period.

Don’t knock it ‘til you’ve tried it: the larger nibs on bigger fountain pens like the Montblanc 149, Montegrappa Extra 1930, and from what I’ve heard, the Sailor King of Pen, all offer a uniquely smooth writing experience.

While I haven’t been able to locate confirmation on its exact size, this handmade 18k gold nib appears to be a No. 8 on par with those fitted to larger flagship pens from Pelikan and Montegrappa. It’s a beautiful piece of work. As I noted in a recent article on stubbish stock nibs, I opted for a broad, which I consider effectively a stub. The nib writes a smooth, wet line with plenty of variation, and isn’t so broad that it can’t be used for regular writing. You may not be able to use this nib to write in your calendar, but at least in my experience, it’s glorious for journaling and perfectly adept at notetaking.

First impressions aside, the Montblanc 149 turned out to be surprisingly lightweight for its size. Though the body contains a high-capacity piston filler, the filling system doesn’t add much weight and I can easily use this pen posted or unposted. One thing I’m learning is that after a period of adjustment in which I sometimes have to alter my grip, larger pens are quite comfortable to write with for long periods of time, provided the weight of the pen doesn’t sit too far back. The balance on the 149 is perfect for me, to the point where I can easily post this pen. As you write with it, your (or at least my) hand quickly becomes accustomed to the size, something I’ve struggled with on the larger Pelikan models (M800 and M1000) which incorporate what feels like a heavier piston.

Takeaways and Where to Buy

Though I haven’t owned this pen for longer than a few months, I’m confident the Montblanc 149 will find a place alongside its sibling, the 146, in my core rotation. The 149 is a luxury icon that represents the best of what Montblanc has to offer, if you can afford the steep price. Fortunately, Montblanc pens can be found on the secondary market, often in like new or barely used condition, for a significant discount, and I typically hunt for Montblancs at pen shows, in retailers’ “gently used” sections, or during Fountain Pen Day or “Black Friday” promotions.

I placed an order for this pen during Fontoplumo’s Black Friday sales event, and while the pen took a while to arrive, I’m loving the purchase. Currently, Fontoplumo retails this pen for 810 Euros, which roughly equates to $900 US, though after VAT the European retail price ends up being lower than what you would pay at a Montblanc boutique in the States. Taking advantage of a promotion can knock a bit more off the price, and I’ve seen secondhand 149 fountain pens in very good condition priced as low as $500-600. In any event, I think Montblanc gets a bad rap for its pricing structure, and much of the snide commentary about the brand is better directed at Montblanc’s ubiquitous - and sometimes annoying - lifestyle marketing rather than the value proposition of its pens. Even at full retail, the pricing on the 149 is comparable to that on a Sailor King of Pen and Pelikan M800, and less than the pricing on a Montegrappa Extra 1930 or Pelikan M1000.

Disclaimer: I purchased this pen with my own funds, for my own personal collection. I was not compensated in any way for this post, and did not receive a discount on the pen other than what was available via standard promotions at the time of purchase.