Pen Review: Tibaldi Bononia Vintage Fountain Pen (Oblique Medium Nib)

April 15, 2023

Funny story - I was initially drawn to this particular pen at the Arkansas Pen Show, having been “forced” to sit next to the Vanness Pens table and eye these two Tibaldi Bononia vintage fountain pens all day on Saturday and most of the day on Sunday. Specifically, I kept eyeing the “Pomegranate” version, with its wine-colored crushed ice/stone acrylic, but I couldn’t get past a perceived problem with the nib. At least three different vendors looked at the tipping, and all of us concluded that while it wrote “OK,” the tipping on the nib was lopsided. Deflated, I walked back to the table and put the pen back in the box, at which point I noticed the large “OM” (Oblique Medium) on the price tag. (It also appeared on the nib, but none of us noticed that either.) I dipped the pen, angled the nib as intended with an oblique, and the pen wrote perfectly.

The two materials shown here are “Pomegranate” (left) and “Honeycomb” (right).

Self-deprecating humor about us “pen experts” notwithstanding, this story is also revealing simply because it never occurred to me that a modern company, much less Tibaldi, would release a pen with an oblique medium nib. Once fairly common stock nib options, but increasingly rare, oblique nibs are useful for those who angle their pens as they write. This particular nib is a “right-footed” oblique, with the nib tipping angled on the right side (like a right foot) to accommodate someone who rolls the pen to the right as they scribble away.

The Tibaldi Bononia Vintage is available in stock oblique medium nibs (shown at left) and a factory stub, which I believe is 1.1mm (shown at right). You can see how the tipping material on the oblique is slightly angled.

It’s a fun lead-in to a review of an excellent pen with well-executed vintage styling. Italian penmaker Tibaldi has a long history, and in recent years has mounted something of a comeback, reissuing modern versions of pens from its archive such as the “Bononia” model. (“Bononia” is the Latin form for “Bologna”, though Tibaldi is not headquartered there, was founded in Florence, and is now headquartered in Bassano del Grappa near Montegrappa, with which the company shares common ownership.)

I love the low threads on the section, which make it easier to grip the pen comfortably. These threads are also short, and allow you to cap/uncap the pen quickly.

Of all the pens in the Tibaldi lineup, the Bononia holds the most visual appeal for me personally, but with relatively sparse distribution in the U.S., I’ve never had the opportunity to see one in person. I ended up borrowing two of the limited edition “Bononia Vintage” models from Vanness for review, mainly because there’s an open spot in my own collection for a streamlined/torpedo-shaped pen that hasn’t yet been filled, and I like the size of this particular pen more than something like an Oldwin, which while gorgeous, is probably too big for me to use regularly.

What I love about this design:

The short barrel threads are located at the end of the grip section, down near the nib. Not only is the pen quick to cap/uncap (1-1.5 turns!?), but there’s little to no contact with your fingers as you write, unless you grip the pen VERY close to the nib.
The piston-filling system feels high quality and holds an adequate amount of ink. I’ve been writing regularly with this pen for the last week or so, and it still writes a wet line with no sign of slowing down. I’d estimate it holds 1-1.5ml of ink in the barrel.
The Bononia posts deeply and sits well in the hand posted or unposted. The acrylic is gorgeous, with a lot of depth. Despite some added heft from the piston system, which feels like brass, the pen is well-balanced even when posted.

Back to the nib: One complaint I’ve heard about modern Tibaldi is that the nibs tend to dry out, and write on the drier side in general. This was my experience with the steel nib N.60 I reviewed a couple of years ago. I had no such issues with the oblique nib on the Bononia Vintage, which is 18k gold and is paired with a plastic feed that delivers steady ink flow. I’ve written with this particular nib on multiple papers using Caran d’Ache ink, and had no problems - the nib lays down a wet line, generally smooth with just a touch of tactile feedback. (Note: I also wrote with the stock stub, and found it a less appealing drier writing experience, though stock stubs can be temperamental with my handwriting, especially if I’m trying to write fast.)

I love the line this nib writes. The writing sample shown here is done in Caran d’Ache Klein Blue (limited edition) Ultramarine, which is no longer available. I’ll be writing more on Caran d’Ache bottled inks soon, as we intend to add them to the shop. The paper is a Midori MD Cotton notebook, which has become my preferred paper for ink testing, if not for writing in general.

Takeaways and Where to Buy

The Tibaldi Bononia Vintage is currently still available from select retailers, including our friends at Vanness Pens. Priced at $695 MSRP / ~ $495 retail, this isn’t an inexpensive pen by any means, but at the same time the price isn’t outrageous for a piston filler with an 18k nib. Personally, I’m torn on whether to go ahead and purchase this pen. It’s a gorgeous piece, and I’ve long wanted a medium oblique nib in my collection, but at the same time I’ve bought a TON of pens lately, and I’m somewhat drowning under the weight of my current collection, bothered by the fact that exceptionally good pens simply aren’t getting used. That doesn’t change the fact that I love what Tibaldi has created with the Bononia Vintage, and look forward to seeing more higher-end pens from this manufacturer that draw on their rich archive of classic designs.

The Tibaldi Bononia Vintage (left) compared against a Pilot Custom 74 (center) and a Lamy 2000 (right), two commonly available fountain pens for size reference. Also, you may notice that I’m writing with a Midori MD Cotton Notebook inside a MD A4 Paper Cover. The F3 size fits the A4 cover - at least the paper one.

This pen was loaned to me by my friends at Vanness Pens for review purposes, at no charge. I have not otherwise been compensated for this review. The Gentleman Stationer is currently supported entirely by purchases from The T.G.S. Curated Shop and pledges via the T.G.S. Patreon Program. If you enjoy our content and wish to support us, please help us stay ad and affiliate free by shopping with us or becoming a member.

Introducing T.G.S. "Currently Inked!" Let's Start Off with the Pilot Custom 823 and Parker 51

April 3, 2023

I’ve been wanting to introduce some additional video content to the site and related channels for some time now, so this morning I filmed a short video in which I ink up two new pens for the week: My Amber Pilot Custom 823, and my newly acquired Parker 51 that I picked up at the Arkansas Pen Show a couple of weeks ago. Both of these pens have interesting filling systems, and I actually get a lot of questions about how the Custom 823’s vacuum-filling system works. Check out the video here over at the T.G.S. Youtube Channel. (Yes, we have one!)

This particular video contains bonus content in which I spill ink on myself. Yes, it still happens, even after all these years!

Disclaimer: The Gentleman Stationer is now an authorized retailer of Pilot Pens and Inks.

Pen Show Adventures: Dipping Back into Vintage, or Pursuing Vintage-Style Modern Pens?

March 25, 2023

Up front, I will admit that I’m neither a vintage collector nor even a vintage pen enthusiast, and my knowledge of most brands and specific models pale in comparison to others in this community. So take whatever I say regarding vintage pens and the vintage market with a (very) large grain of salt. That said, I attended both the Baltimore and Arkansas pen shows - and particularly Arkansas - looking to pick up a few vintage pens for my collection, mainly to replace certain models I wish I hadn’t let go during “catch and release” phases over the years.

Smaller shows like the Arkansas Pen Show make excellent opportunities to shop for vintage pens. Larger shows like D.C. can feel overwhelming, and because the shows are both crowded and geared towards higher-end collectors and sales between dealers, they can be difficult for the newbie or the casual buyer to navigate. Pens also tend to be more expensive because they are either more pristine collectors pieces, or outright overpriced. (I also advise people to adopt a “buyer beware” attitude at these larger shows. In my early days of collecting, I had more than one experience at D.C. where I purchased a vintage pen that later turned out to be “not as advertised,” to put it politely. More on this later, as I plan to update my vintage pen resources.)

My two vintage Parker 51 fountain pens, one of which includes a stub nib.

Vintage Pens Parker 51 Aurora 88 — I enjoy interesting vintage pens that I can still use on a daily basis, including both the Parker 51 and the Aurora 88.

Smaller shows - particularly shows run by a local pen club - are friendlier, with many of the “dealers” being club participants and collectors selling for “show money”, to rotate pens out of their own collection, and/or to help grow the hobby. Many are happy to talk with new enthusiasts, and will give you honest appraisals of pens, flaws and all. If you have to deal with the same show attendees and club members year after year, reputation matters. At the Arkansas Pen Show, I purchased two Parker 51s from Danny Fudge (aka “The Write Pen”), both of which are excellent “user grade” pens, expertly restored, with character. One had a broader nib that I had Matthew Chen shape to a semi-Naginata, and the other sports a hammered gold fill finish (“possibly by Ariel Kulloch”) with an excellent stub nib. The first pen cost me $100, and the second $175, which I consider to be very fair pricing for functional vintage pens restored by a reputable dealer.

The Tibaldi Bononia Vintage in Pomegranate (top) and Honeycomb (bottom). These are piston fillers with 18k gold nibs. The top is an oblique medium and the bottom a 1.1mm stub. Not sure if these two are going back to Vanness….

If You Don’t Want to Fiddle with Actual Vintage pens, the Current Market Has a TON of Vintage-Style Options

While vintage pens like the Parker 51 are fairly durable, easy to repair, and timeless, other models don’t translate as well to the experience sought by many modern users. For example, I’ve always admired the oversized Sheaffer Balance fountain pens, and have even owned a few over the years, but found the material prone to cracking and I’m not a huge fan of lever-fillers. Fortunately, these days you have a wide range of modern options in a similar “vintage” style, and I spent many hours next to the Vanness Pens table eyeing (1) the Tibaldi Bononia Limited Editions; (2) the modern Conway Stewart lineup in their classic materials; and (3) both the modern Onoto Magna and Scholar fountain pens, which have garnered rave reviews and which I’m in the process of reviewing. If you appreciate vintage design, but perhaps not the “adventurous” nature of writing with an actual vintage pen, you have plenty of options!

From left, the Tibaldi Bononia in Pomegranate, the Onoto Scholar in Mandarin, and the Tibaldi Bononia in Honeycomb

Lately, this trend has even started to extend beyond fountain pens. I wrote the entire first draft of this review on a series of airplane flights and in the back row at a work conference using an Anterique “Mach Ball” click pen. I love the aesthetics of vintage Bic Clic-style ballpoints, but generally can’t stand the refill. Anterique uses a .5mm low-viscosity hybrid gel-ballpoint ink refill that even fits some actual vintage ballpoints.

Stay tuned, because Anterique is doing some really fun stuff, and I just received a big box in the mail….

If you’re not a purist, you can sometimes find the best of both worlds: vintage-style design without the unpredictability of finicky filling systems or refills. As a user of fountain pens and other writing instruments, as opposed to a collector, I’m equally drawn to both vintage writing instruments and quality modern alternatives. It certainly offers a wider range of options to enjoy everyday writing!

This post does not contain paid third-party affiliate links or advertising. Vanness Pens did loan me certain of the pens pictured in this review. I am not being compensated for content, and The Gentleman Stationer is supported entirely by purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop and pledges via the T.G.S. Patreon Program.

Triangular Grip Pens: Love 'em or Leave 'em?

February 25, 2023

In the world of pens, there are a handful of highly polarizing products, and I’d place “molded grip” or “triangular grip” pens in the top five. The most well-known, of course, is the iconic Lamy Safari, with the Lamy AL-Star, TWSBI ECO-T, Kaweco Perkeo and others falling into this category. So why do pen companies opt for this type of design? How big of a “real world” issue is it? And how has it affected my own ability to use these pens?

The Lamy Safari’s grip gives rise to strong opinions.

Triangular Grip Pens: Origins and Purpose

Before they went hipster mainstream (j/k), pens like the Lamy Safari were intended for students - particularly students learning to write with a fountain pen for the first time. Most molded grip sections are shaped similarly to those slide-on pencil grips that teachers in the 1980s would force on those of us who refused to hold our pencils “correctly,” in order to guide our hands into the “proper” position. These days, Lamy markets the Safari/AL-Star pens to a market beyond students, billing the section as an “[e]rgonomically shaped grip area to enable writing for long periods of time without tiring,” but as with most things ergonomic, these pens don’t work for everyone. While I’ve not done any sort of survey, anecdotally, lefties tend to have more issues with the grip, since they’re designed with the right-handed majority in mind. And even those righties with nontraditional finger placement can have a difficult time with a shaped section.

The Lamy AL-Star grip section, left, vs. the TWSBI ECO-T. The AL-Star features a grip similar to the Safari, but due to the difference in materials doesn’t feel quite as sharp, at least to me. The TWSBI ECO-T has a subtly triangular shape that I don’t really notice much at all, though it is there.

My Own Personal Handwriting Struggles and Preferences

I have a history of handwriting struggles. Until I entered college, I used what could charitably be described as an “unusual” pencil grip. Nobody could understand how it worked, how I learned it, and why I continued to write that way. Despite the fact that I was generally a good student, with visually excellent script, I regularly received a “C” or “D” in “handwriting” on my report card, solely due to how I held my pencil. I had one elementary school teacher dub my grip “The Claw”, and made it their personal mission in life to change it. They failed.

I had another teacher in high school “jokingly” offer to break my right hand so that I could relearn how to write as a lefty. (I went to an all-boys high school. It was a different time.) Honestly, I’m really not sure how I ever wrote like this, much less for hours at a time. I certainly would never have been able to use a fountain pen like this.

At some point The Claw became a matter of personal pride, not to mention practicality. If you grip your pen or pencil a certain way for years, you reach a point in high school where you can’t change it because to do so would sacrifice speed. (To add some context, I graduated from high school in 1998, which dates me but it’s necessary here. I was probably one of the last classes where e-mail and internet access was available to us, but not required, and all of our examinations and most of our homework, including research papers, had to be handwritten as opposed to typed. Handwriting speed was therefore a factor. I understand that this changed at my school a couple of years after I graduated.) It wasn’t until late college/early law school, when I started transcribing most of my lecture notes on a laptop, that I was able to change my grip because I had the luxury of slowing down.

So why did I change? RSI issues in my hand and wrist, as well as a semi-deformed right ring finger that had a huge, painful callous that only completely disappeared three or four years ago - nearly 20 years after I changed my handwriting style. While my current grip isn’t “textbook,” it’s closer to what’s contemplated by most molded-grip pens, and if I’m honest, probably could have saved me a lot of trouble over the long-term if I hadn’t been so stubborn.

My new grip works fairly well with the Safari and most other molded-grip pens.

How to Use a Triangular or Molded-Grip Pen

Unfortunately, the truth is that unless you’re willing to change your grip, these pens either work for you or they don’t. Some pens, like the TWSBI ECO-T and the Kaweco Perkeo, feature a “softer” triangular grip that’s much more forgiving. The sharper edges of the Safari and AL-Star tend to cause more problems for people. While the Lamy pens aren’t a perfect fit, and for this reason have never become “favorite” everyday writers, they’re not incompatible with my current grip because I can rest my index finger on the top ridge, similar to how I’m able to rest my finger atop the clip of a Pilot Vanishing Point and Decimo. The good thing is that these pens are relatively inexpensive to test out, coming in at $35 or less. If you’re considering a more expensive pen like one of the retractable nib Pilot pens, I’ve found that how one’s hand holds the Safari approximates how you would have to grip a Vanishing Point or Decimo, so if you can’t get to a pen show and try one of these in person, picking up a less expensive pen with a triangular grip might save you from a more costly mistake.

A shot of the TWSBI ECO-T (right) vs. the standard TWSBI ECO (left). You can barely make out a ridge (more like a ripple) on the ECO-T, which shows you how subtle the shape is. Honestly, I might prefer the ECO-T to the ECO, but again that’s personal preference.

I’m interested in hearing: How many of you can’t use these types of pens at all? Also, I rarely hear from anyone who purchases a pen with a shaped grip specifically for that section, but does anyone particularly enjoy this feature? Personally, I’ve really been enjoying the the ECO-T, which has a much more subtle grip shape, and I have plans to get my hands on another Kaweco Perkeo soon.

The Gentleman Stationer is supported entirely by purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop, and pledges via the T.G.S. Patreon Program. While this post does not contain third-party affiliate links or paid advertising, the Gentleman Stationer is an authorized retailer of certain brands discussed in this article. Please view the shop for the full range of brands sold, which is subject to change.

From left, the Uniball Jetstream, Traveler’s Company Brass Ballpoint, Mark’s “Tous Les Jours,” Penco Perfection, Penco Perfection Light, and Mark’s x Anterique “Days” Click Pen.

Workhorse Pens: Low-Viscosity Ballpoint Pens

February 18, 2023

Let’s face it: When it comes to actually getting work done, a fountain pen is never the most practical option. For me, it’s not so much the messiness, but more the added mental load and distraction. In addition to the work itself, you have to consider the nib, ink, paper, and how all three of these factors interact with one another. If any single thing goes wrong, it will break your focus, and while I’ve been in this long enough to have a pretty good instinct about what combinations do well enough to allow me to “just work”, lately half of my everyday writing has been with a ballpoint. But not just any ballpoint….

“Low-Viscosity” Ballpoints: An Excellent All-Around Workhorse Option

By now, you’ve likely heard the term “low-viscosity” ballpoint and wondered what the heck that means. I won’t get too deep into the science here, but it seems to be the new marketing term for what I’ve always referred to as “hybrid gel” ballpoint pens such as the Uniball Jetstream and the Pilot Acroball. Pen companies have modified their traditional oil-based ballpoint ink formulations to make them less “sticky,” which allows the pen to write darker, crisper lines, and results in quicker dry times with less smearing. As a result, today it’s actually fairly easy to find ballpoint pens in the .5mm (and even .38mm) tip sizes, which is difficult to pull off in a more traditional ballpoint ink formulations without clogging and skipping.

Lately I’ve been using a lot of needle-tip ballpoints. Low-viscosity ink allows you to have a very fine ballpoint line without running into problems with skipping. From left, the Mark’style Tous Les Jours ballpoint, the Traveler’s Company Brass Ballpoint, and my ever-reliable Lamy 2000 multipen with a Penco Needle-tip refill.

Five Excellent Low-Viscosity Ballpoint Pens

Unsurprisingly, Japanese companies dominate this product category. The Uniball Jetstream and Pilot Acroball tend to be the “gold standard” pens/refills, though there are boutique options available that, in my opinion, offer even crisper and finer ballpoint lines, including in needle-tip formats. Here are five to consider:

Uniball Jetstream and Pilot Acroball. Though they’re not necessarily exciting, these remain exceptionally good pens and excellent low-cost options. If I were stocking a workplace or office supply closet, this is where I would start. Uniball actually makes a Parker-style cartridge called the Jetstream SXR-600, which I have used to convert many of my rollerball pens like my Grey Caran d’Ache 849.
Traveler’s Company Ballpoint Pen and Needle-Tip Refill. A favorite for years, I own three of these pens. One is permanently clipped to my Plotter Mini-5, and the other two live in the breast pockets of my two winter coats, so they’re always available. I’ve found the needle-tips reliable, and despite the small size, the refills last for a very long time and are cheap to replace.
Mark’style “Tous Les Jours” Ballpoint with Ohto Needle-Tip Refill. If you don’t enjoy the format of the Traveler’s Company Ballpoint, and want something longer for better balance, these hexagonal wooden click pens from Mark’s Inc. contain an Ohto needle-tip ballpoint refill and feel like you’re writing with a woodcase pencil. The “Tous Les Jours” series from Mark’s is insanely popular, with what might be the finest needle tip on a ballpoint I have ever seen.
Penco “Perfection” Pocket Ballpoints and Pocket Drafting Ballpoint. I suspect that Penco uses a .7mm version of the Jetstream D1 refill (or something very similar) for it’s “Perfection” line of pocket ballpoints, and the pocket-sized “Drafting” Ballpoint uses a D1 needle-tip ballpoint refill that is an excellent option for other D1-compatible pens like the Lamy 2000 Multipen. I feel like both refills write a finer line than their respective .7mm and .5mm designation.
Mark’style x Anterique “Mach” Ballpoint. A new addition to the Curated Shop - one which I plan to continue to stock in additional formats - I discovered the “Mach” ballpoint refill by Japanese stationer Anterique during my trade show travels earlier this month. The .5mm, super-sharp ballpoint refill leaves a clean line, and as discussed below, is sold separately from the pen body and can be used to jazz up your collection of vintage Bic Clics.

Pen Hacks: Saving the Classic Mid-Century “Click” Pen

I don’t write about “refill hacks” very often, but when I discovered the Mark’s/Anterique pens earlier this month, and learned that the refill was sold separately, it got me wondering. I have a rather large personal collection of vintage and vintage-inspired “clic” ballpoints, which is ironic in the sense that while I love the format of this pen, I’ve grown to despise the standard refill. In my experience, these pens write much more inconsistently than the Bic Cristal, and I find the refills almost always skippy and too light. It begs the question: Can you use the Anterique “Mach” refill to upgrade your classic click pens? Maybe.

The fit isn’t perfect. The standard Bic Clic has thinner plastic around the opening. As a result, even with the upgraded refill you will have tip wiggle and rattling. Then again, it’s <$2. I still love it.

One odd thing I’ve noticed is that while the external design of the “Bic Clic”-style ballpoint hasn’t changed much over the years, these pens are far from identical on the inside. Some (frustratingly) use refills that are slightly longer and/or thicker than others, and there’s no real way to know which pens contain which parts other than to disassemble them. For pens designed to take the longer refills, there is an easy hack/fix that you can use to get the Anterique refill to fit. My notes below:

Field Notes Clic Pens and Pen Addict “Loaner” Pens are based on a version of the Bic Clic ballpoint that should take the Anterique refill without modification. (I say “should” because all that I can be certain of is that the Anterique refills fit the specific pens in my possession. It’s possible there isn’t refill or manufacturing consistency across product lines with these sorts of ballpoints, so YMMV.)
“Higher-end” Clic-style pens may need modification. I have a handful of “demonstrator” Bic Clics and some “fancy” Clic-style Kikkerland pens that required mild hacking to get them to work. Specifically, the Anterique refill was too short, but I was mostly able to fix the problem by wrapping a small piece of washi tape around the end of the refill to lengthen it. I was never able to get the Kikkerland pens to work 100% consistently, so if you don’t already own these I wouldn’t buy them for the purpose of modification.

You can adjust the length of the refill by wrapping a piece of tape around the end. Alternatively, if a refill is too long, you can trim the plastic a bit.

Of course, if you want to save yourself the trouble of refill hacking, or you don’t already have a large collection of vintage ballpoints, the Mark’s/Anterique pen bodies are a nice upgrade. The plastic is thicker, especially around the tip/opening, and as a result there is zero wiggle or annoying rattling when you write with them. (While Anterique pens are designed to mimic the vintage “disposable” pens in design, they’re actually intended to serve as nicer refillable pens. Stay tuned for a bunch of different colors and body styles that I have on the way, in addition to the Mark’s versions currently in stock.)