What's your daily driver? (Pen or Pencil)

Years ago, when I was a police officer, I carried four writing utensils.
Badge side, a set of cross pen/pencil. They were a gift from my mother, when I began college. I carried these everyday I worked for fourteen years as a policeman. The nameplate side held the two pens I used. One was a Parker jotter (all stainless steel), refill replaced to a black ink medium point (special order at that time, from the office supply). This one pen wrote 90% of my work. It was and is a workhorse, although now it's retired, like me. I liked the idea of being tough stainless. It lasted too, a refill usually stayed good for six months or so. I also tried and enjoyed a Parker fountain pen, it was plastic and had removable ink cartridges/ wells. It took a while to get used to, but I feel it helped me write by keeping me a few words ahead in my mind. The pick up and put down, line weight, and bleed, all seemed to help me focus.

 

I bet I still have a set of the cross pen/pencils, NIB.

Those Jotters really were fantastic. The Parker Vector stainless (roller ball or fountain) aren't quite as good, as they're just a sleeve over a plastic section. Mine keeps trying to come loose sometimes - I need to put a couple of drops of superglue on the shaft next time I have it at home.

 

Zebra stainless steel matching pen and pencil, recently. Both are EXCELLENT writing implements, worth way more than they cost. Taking a break from the trusty old Parker 21s.

 

Yeah, it's a felt tip. When I order them they're called flair tips. They're easier to see. I'd like to find a nice pen that takes a felt refill. Do you know of any? Cross etc.?

 

I believe that Pilot makes refillable highlighter/marker/felt tips. You use fountain pen ink in them (yes, they make highlighter ink for fountain pens. They're nice for chisel points - that way when you start getting ink on the tip, you just wipe it off. No contaminating the felt), and when the tip wears down, you put another one in. I bought one for my wife.

I'll try to find a link and edit this post.

@MR41 - it's Platinum, not Pilot. They're called 'sign markers'

https://www.jetpens.com/Platinum-Preppy-Sign-Markers/ct/574

If you don't want to use their cartridges, you can get this adapter
https://www.jetpens.com/Platinum-Cartridge-Adapter/pd/5285

and use standard international cartridges.

Or, you can use this converter, and use bottled ink. A good way to use Noodlers.
https://www.jetpens.com/Platinum-Fountain-Pen-Converter/pd/3463

(I'm pointing to Jetpens, not because I'm a big user of their stuff, but because they have lots of information and options. I haven't heard anything bad about them, and I believe I have bought from them in the past)

 

Oh, I dunno... the good old days when they just beat you until you were right-handed seemed to work pretty well.

 

Due to business constraints, my "daily driver" is one of those cheap gel pens that you can get in bulk from Staples. But, at home, I have a slowly rotating selection of modern and vintage fountain pens.

 

Do you have a 51..ya gotta have a 51. Best pen I ever used is a Zebra ball point I got at the dollar store for $2.60. It's practically fountain pen effortless...

 

Indeed. My 51 (aerometric version) is extra-special in that it was my father's. It needed a new hood, but is otherwise original.

 

There's a good penguin. I have my mother's. Don't use it but it's there...

 

My Mom's 1941 "51" that was an engagement gift from Dad.

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I have a couple of 51's, 21's, and the Hero copy (616, I think?). Even the hero copy works just fine. Aerometric fillers were a nice touch by Parker - those silicone sacs didn't degrade like the old rubber ones.

 

@MR41 - there are also these - https://www.jetpens.com/Pilot-Petit2-Mini-Sign-Pens/ct/1199

Pilot Mini Sign Pens. The refills are a bit more expensive, but you can convert the bottom with an o-ring to an eyedropper, or just refill the cartridges.

 

One more thing - for anyone who is left handed, this looks like a great way to find out what works best for you. No fountain pens, but a sampler of pens that JetPens thinks are really good for lefties.

https://www.jetpens.com/JetPens-Pen-Sampler-for-the-Left-Handed/pd/21609

 

The ones with blue ink are cheaper also. I think they are made in India. I'd give them a shot at those prices.

 

Why does this not surprise me?

 

I agree with @jimjo1031 - much of the 'older' Parker stuff is still made in India. All Parker Vectors, for example. I think the Jotter comes out of India as well. Not sure about the Beta. So, their prices go all over the place because the Rupee is still very low to the dollar.

The _only_ reasons I know about this are 1) Indian customers, and 2) buying fountain pens and supplies from India.

 

Today is an Eboya day.

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Oooh. that's pretty. I haven't seen that brand before.