[OT] Pens (ballpoint, rollerball, fountain)

[NYCfixie]

***** Renamed the thread hoping it grows legs and ends up being a good resource for those interested and in the know about pens of all kinds *****

Need suggestions for something nice I can use at work (and will be locked up or taken home at night):

• New (not dealing with used stuff on eBay)
• Under $100
• Does not need to fit in pocket so full size pens are fine
• Metal, Resin, plastic, whatever
• Must be professional looking
• I prefer thick over thin barrels (not super wide but not thin or super thin)
• Must use Parker size gel ballpoint refill
• Bonus points if it can also use Parker sized rollerball refills (I have heard that there might be a few roller pens that can actually use either roller or ballpoint parker refill)
• Will be used for taking notes (yes, I am a technologist who likes to use pen and paper for notes when in meetings)

What do you suggest?

[echappist]

all indications would point to the Jotter, but appears you want something fancier?

I've bought four Jotter pens, and right now can't find 3 of them.

[Ozz]

Check out the Retro 51 pens: http://www.retro51.com/

Not sure if they use the Parker refills you require, but they are really nice pens, nice writing (I like their rollerball better than my Montblanc rollerball), and have lots of fun designs.

They are also at a great price point ($20 to $75)

Cheers.

[cadence90]

Aurora Ipsilon or Ipsilon Deluxe.

Very nice stuff; resin; elegant standards + colors; completely classic without being ott ostentatious imo.
.

[NYCfixie]

Originally Posted by echappist

all indications would point to the Jotter, but appears you want something fancier?

I've bought four Jotter pens, and right now can't find 3 of them.

The Jotter takes "ballpoint" or "ballpoint gel" refills but I do not think it takes the "rollerball" refills. And, I may be chasing a unicorn trying to get a pen that can use both.

I do not consider myself fancy, but do like nice things that I take care of and use forever.

Thanks for the suggestion!

[NYCfixie]

Originally Posted by Ozz

Check out the Retro 51 pens: http://www.retro51.com/

Not sure if they use the Parker refills you require, but they are really nice pens, nice writing (I like their rollerball better than my Montblanc rollerball), and have lots of fun designs.

They are also at a great price point ($20 to $75)

Cheers.

Wow, you may have found the Unicorn (that was fast). Apparently the Retro51 Tornado pens can use a "Parker Style" ballpoint, ballpoint-Gel, or "capless rollerball" refill.



Via Colorado Pen's website:
Retro 1951 Tornado rollerball pens use a capless rollerball refill, just like the pen had when originally purchased. The Schmidt P8126 refill, our searchable item number is R4612, fits perfectly and writes just like the original Retro refill; it is the original as Schmidt makes the Retro branded refills.

Retro designs their pens to accept a ‘Parker-Style’ ballpoint. Options abound!


Via Retro51's website:

[November Dave]

I know - ZERO - about pens but this guy is a bike racer and sponsors bike races with his pen company when he's too busy to race bikes: https://www.schondsgn.com

[Gsinill]

Rotring Multipen Executive in Chrome:



Nothing beats having 2 different color ball points, highlighter and pencil in one pen when taking notes in meetings.

Kind of a hard to find though and it does not use Parker refills.
You'll need to have patience to find one on eBay if $100 is a hard limit.

[NYCfixie]

Originally Posted by November Dave

I know - ZERO - about pens but this guy is a bike racer and sponsors bike races with his pen company when he's too busy to race bikes: https://www.schondsgn.com

His stuff is nice and occasionally he does a special edition "titanium" model. It uses the Fisher "space pen" refill which is amazing but it is the only kind you can use. Unfortunately, I have not found anyone in the Boston area (the stockists from his website) who actually has one in stock that I can try.

If you want to seem some really cool stuff, check out the schon watches he is now doing.

[Ozz]

Originally Posted by NYCfixie

Wow, you may have found the Unicorn (that was fast).

Happy to help!

Cheers.

[tuxbailey]

Originally Posted by Ozz

Check out the Retro 51 pens: http://www.retro51.com/

Not sure if they use the Parker refills you require, but they are really nice pens, nice writing (I like their rollerball better than my Montblanc rollerball), and have lots of fun designs.

They are also at a great price point ($20 to $75)

Cheers.

Oooh. These are nice. I need to get one. They are not even that expensive, I shall request this for father's day gift

[speedevil]

Within your budget and pretty hard to beat for quality.

https://www.spacepen.com/originalastronautmodels.aspx

[NYCfixie]

Originally Posted by tuxbailey

Oooh. These are nice. I need to get one. They are not even that expensive, I shall request this for father's day gift

Go for the Tornado Big Shot "Titanium" model

[AngryScientist]

i actually have one of those Retro-51 pens, pretty nice.

our old pal who is no longer here on the forum, fuzzalow turned me onto this shop in FiDi

https://www.fountainpenhospital.com/

Fountain Pen Hospital.

what a store for a pen geek!

i'm much more of a mechanical pencil person myself and have several good ones now that i use daily.

if you have a need to write on a regular basis, you owe it to yourself to get something decent. it's worth it.

good paper helps tremendously also.

i recommend you find a good shop and try a few pens in-hand. it's a better way to decide what you like most.

have fun, i love pens/pencils.

[AngryScientist]

damn you NYCfixie!

now i want this. i'm stopping there next week.