Pen Review: Pilot Custom Heritage 912 with PO Nib

July 15, 2020

Three years ago I reviewed the Pilot Custom Heritage 912 with Pilot’s flexible “FA” nib, and decided that while I enjoyed the classic look of the pen, that particular nib wasn’t for me. At the time, I predicted that once I had the chance to try the “PO” (or “Posting”) nib - Pilot’s take on the “ultra extra fine” or “needlepoint” trend - I would end up purchasing a Custom Heritage 912 for myself. It took longer than expected, but I was right.

In certain aspects of my work (i.e. annotating documents and working on very cheap recycled paper) it’s advantageous for me to be able to write extremely small. In addition to standard Japanese extra-fine nibs, my collection features several hand-ground needlepoints and also standard “specialty” nibs like Platinum’s “Ultra-Extra Fine”, which I’ve previously reviewed and which is now increasingly available at retail outside of Japan. I’m just now getting around to exploring what the other Japanese pen companies like Pilot and Sailor have to offer in this regard.

Yes, that’s how the tip’s supposed to look!

The first thing you need to understand about Pilot’s PO nib is that it’s intended for a very specific user, meaning that you shouldn’t purchase this pen without careful consideration. For starters, the Custom Heritage 912 costs around $200 whether you purchase from your domestic U.S. retailer or overseas, so it’s not in the “impulse buy” category. While you used to be able to save money buying on eBay or Amazon, the current pandemic has caused shipping rates to rise, cutting into the “discount.” Second, the PO nib is extremely stiff - firmer than any nib I’ve ever used - so if you’re someone who likes even a little cushion when writing, you’ll probably want to take a hard pass on this pen. Those two things notwithstanding, I can comfortably say that Pilot’s PO nib offers my favorite out-of-the-box “ultra fine” or “needlepoint” writing experience on the market.

This nib was originally intended for writing on cheap postcards, which apparently used to cost much less to send through the Japanese postal system than standard mail. The point of the nib has been turned down to reduce ink flow and to prevent feathering on this less expensive, more fibrous paper. While you may still get some bleedthrough, in my experience this nib makes a fountain pen usable on even the cheapest recycled copy paper.

A writing sample showing how you can write even smaller if you flip the PO nib over and write using the reverse side. — A writing sample showing how you can write ***even smaller*** if you flip the PO nib over and write using the reverse side.

Takeaways and Where To Buy

Dare I say that the Pilot Custom Heritage 912 with a PO nib might be the “ultimate note-taking pen” for those of us that like to cram as much writing as possible onto a page? This workhorse might not be flashy, but it showcases the best of what Pilot has to offer nib-wise. While you can purchase this pen with a couple different standard nib sizes (EF and Soft Fine), most people opt for a specialty nib, including the PO nib featured here, the SU (stub), music, FA (flexible), and Waverly. As you can tell from my review above, I love the PO nib, and just wish it wasn’t so hard to find in the U.S.

Currently, both Pen Chalet and The Nibsmith stock the Pilot Custom Heritage 912, but neither retailer has the PO nib in stock. If your preferred retailer can’t place a special order for you, you’ll have to order direct from Japan, where the PO nib still appears to be available. You may get a slight break on price as well, but these days shipping costs will eat up most of the difference.

Disclaimer: I acquired the pen featured in this review from Dan at The Nibsmith for review purposes, and received a discount. Many thanks to Dan for making this review possible!

The Pilot Custom Heritage 912, shown here compared against a Write Notepads Reporter-style Notebook, available for sale in the TGS Curated Shop.

Pen Review: CW&T Pen Type-B

July 11, 2020

Described by its creators as a "minimal everyday pen, over-engineered to last generations," CW&T’s Pen Type-B is one of those products that I resisted for years. Despite the pen receiving rave reviews, I didn’t feel the need to invest in a high-end housing for Pilot’s Hi-Tec-C gel refill, even though I’ve long been a fan of needle tip gel pens and rollerballs. At times, Pen Type-B even seemed a bit “too popular,” with Kickstarter hype driving a lot of the sales. Was this a pen for me? And would I end up using it enough to justify the relatively high price point?

If there’s a matte-black option, I’m in. Shown here is the black Cerakote-finished titanium model, with an Esterbrook single-pen sleeve (which fits perfectly).

Brooklyn-based design group CW&T (short for Chei-Wei Wang and Taylor Levy, the team behind their ever-expanding range of products) bills Pen Type-B as the “ultimate pen for illustrators, designers, and architects." I'm none of those things, and the marketing initially kept me away. It shouldn’t have. The lore surrounding the Hi-Tec-C has long focused on Pilot’s needle-tip gel pen as the perfect pen for visual-art creatives, but many writers enjoy this refill as well, myself included. Pen Type-B is no different, and for those of us who use the Hi-Tec-C for writing, an upgraded pen body with some heft can make for a much more comfortable writing experience than the standard plastic barrels or some of the less refined machined pen options.

A Truly Minimalist Industrial Aesthetic

Pen Type-B consists of a cylindrical metal pen component inside a machined pneumatic sleeve with zero visible branding anywhere. It’s a very clean look, and the facet on the sleeve allows you to rest the pen on your desk without fear of it rolling away. I rarely use clipless pens these days unless they have some roll-stop function - it may seem like a little thing, but when you work at a desk for a living, the little things are often what differentiate the nice pens that sit in a case and never get used from those that become core workhorses.

To replace the refill, you unscrew the back of Pen Type-B. In addition to the Pilot Hi-Tec-C, Pen Type-B will accept a range of other refills, though you will have to use a spacer. CW&T has posted details on their website.

In terms of writing, whether you find Pen Type-B enjoyable will likely depend on your feelings about the Pilot Hi-Tec-C refill. As we Hi-Tec-C enthusiasts know quite well, it’s one of the more finicky gel pen refills on the market. When it works, it’s absolutely amazing, but you will inevitably get a few duds. If you’re already a Hi-Tec-C devotee, however, there’s nothing to dislike here. In addition to the bulletproof build quality, Pen Type-B offers a genuinely enjoyable writing experience. You can use this pen in two ways: (1) unposted, in which case the cylindrical "pen" component is exceptionally light; or (2) posted, with the sleeve reversed, which adds a fair bit of weight and creates a writing experience I would compare to the Lamy Dialog 3 in terms of weight and balance. I use Pen Type-B both ways, but when at my desk I prefer to use the lightweight titanium insert for longer writing sessions. (Note: On the version with the brass sleeve, the insert is made from stainless steel, which will be heavier than titanium.)

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The "over-engineered" tagline refers to the pneumatic sleeve, which alone will offer you hours of entertainment if you find yourself bored at work (or, more likely these days, at home). The machining is so precise that the sleeve is basically airtight. It makes a popping noise if you pull the pen out quickly, and when you recap, you can watch it slowly slide back into the sleeve like a piston. This also serves a functional purpose: It keeps the refill from drying out.

Posted, the facet on the Pen Type-B creates a comfortable place to rest your grip while writing. (At least for me. YMMV in terms of comfort, depending on how you grip the pen.)

Takeaways and Where to Buy

Is Pen Type-B unnecessary for some (or maybe most) people? Sure. Ever since it launched on Kickstarter, Pen Type-B and it's predecessor, Pen Type-A, have courted controversy on whether these admittedly over-the-top pens are just "too much,” even going so far as to turn it into a bit of a marketing pitch. But if you're a Hi-Tec-C aficionado - clearly the target audience - it doesn't get much better than this. And while I used to balk at the price, which starts at $160 for a brass/stainless steel version and can cost as much as $230 for the black Cerakote titanium pen, other makers in this market segment have started to creep upward to the Pen Type-B's price point, not the other way around. (For example, the most recent line of Tactile Turn pens, for some combinations of materials, break the $300 ceiling and appear to be selling quite well). Given the level of craftsmanship and durability, I'm comfortable recommending, and now selling, these pens at CW&T’s standard pricing, provided that people understand on the front end that this is a pen aimed at a very specific audience.

As I noted above, Pen Type-B and Pen Type-A are the first pens I'm carrying in the TGS Curated Shop as part of my regular retail lineup, with all four finishes in stock and available to ship immediately. The pen featured in this review is the titanium model finished in black Cerakote.

To give you a sense of scale, Pen Type-B is shown here alongside a Write Notepads Reporter Notebook. I wouldn’t call Pen Type-B a pocket pen, but it is relatively portable.

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.