Ink Dips: Lamy Black Ink

Laura4 Comments

DSC_1436

Ink Dips is a more casual, laid-back ink evaluation than is normal here at Fountain Pen Follies. Instead of carefully evaluating an ink I’m interested in, the point of Ink Dips is to blindly pick an ink sample from a box of the set-aside  or soporific. Then I fill that sample in one pen and see what I think. It’s an inky experiment that’s a bit dippy.

Lamy Black. This was a surprising black ink, very dark, very lubricated and wet-writing. It’s a boldface black ink. It may be a good choice for those who seek “the blackest black” but also want to use a low-maintenance brand of ink.

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Happy International Women’s Day

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Yeah, no real post today, I’m on strike. It’s International Women’s Day.

Ha. I wish. What mother could ever go on strike? Although I’ll note that Classic Fountain Pens is closed today “in respect for the work women do here and around the world.” Nice! Shout-out to them.

Whatever International Women’s Day is, I’m for it, even without a strike. On the website, it says the idea is “to help forge a better working world
 — a more inclusive, gender equal world.” That’s nice.

I think “gender equal” isn’t necessarily a concept that really applies to fountain pens and ink, but I think the fountain pen world is a pretty inclusive place. So three cheers for fountain pens and inks, and the people who work in, and enjoy, fountain pens and inks.

Pen of the Day: Lamy Safari Aquamarine with Robert Oster Bondi Blue

Laura11 Comments

Robert Oster Bondi Blue writing sample

Lamy Safari Aquamarine with medium nib. I am perfectly aware that this colorful and fun plastic fountain pen made for middle schoolers is the pen that fountain pen collectors can’t abide, and can’t resist dissing. Because most of my pen friends are that way. To my face.

But I magnanimously forgive them, because they know not what they do. (Or, I secretly think, “pen snobs.” Guess which.)

Nonetheless the humble Safari is one of my favorite pen designs ever, and I think it’s one of the best pen designs ever. I use my many Safaris (and Al-Stars and Vistas) all the time, and while they aren’t perfect, they are pretty awesome to me.

Now, sadly, the Aquamarine limited edition came out in 2011, and is long sold out. This color has been so popular on the secondary market that it has been counterfeited and sells for crazy prices. So I suggest you not hunt for an Aquamarine. (Except for my Safari Hater friends, whom I urge to drop everything, spend whatever it takes, just get an Aquamarine because it will change your life. You deserve it. Xoxoxo.)

The rest of us should consider this year’s Al-Star in Pacific Blue instead. (It’s bright and attractive and also turquoise.) Or buy a regular Safari in any color. Because I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: paying premium prices for special Safaris makes no sense. Unless they have a ducky on top. Duh.

With the money you save, buy some awesome inks. Here’s one suggestion: Robert Oster Bondi Blue, a sample of which I’m now enjoying thanks to my awesome blog reader and fountain pen pal David.

Robert Oster Bondi Blue writing sample

I really like Bondi Blue. It’s a bright, fun color, with gorgeous shading, and obvious sheen potential. And best of all, for me, it totally rocks in a Safari. I’ve got Bondi Blue in two pens, because I’m going to review it, and it seems like a great Safari ink. It flows well in the Safari, which is not the case for every ink, and it looks its best in a Safari, also not the case for every ink.

Love my Safaris, love my Bondi Blue.

Robert Oster Bondi Blue writing sample

 

Ink Dips: Callifolio Bleu Azur

Laura2 Comments

Callifolio Bleu Azur

Ink Dips is a more laid back, but potentially fraught, ink evaluation than is normal here at Fountain Pen Follies. Instead of carefully choosing an ink I am excited to try, with Ink Dips I just blindly pick from a box of samples I had set aside because I expected them to be dull or disagreeable. It’s a dippy idea, in some ways, but it’s been mostly fun.

Callifolio Bleu Azur. This is a nice blue ink, with excellent behavior. Ink Dips kicks off what we hope will be a happy March with Callifolio Bleu Azur, a bright and sprightly true blue.

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Ink Snippet: KWZ Grapefruit

Laura4 Comments

KWZ Grapefruit swab with orange Lamy Safari

KWZ Grapefruit. Just a tiny Ink Snippet today, because I only started using KWZ Grapefruit two days ago. But it’s such a fun ink that I wanted to share a few photos. KWZ Grapefruit really pops.

KWZ Grapefruit writing sample

As you can see, Grapefruit is a dramatic, saturated orange red (or is that a red orange?). It’s a very wet ink, too, at least in this Safari. There isn’t much shading, and it’s a nice strong color.

KWZ Grapefruit writing sample

I love inks that straddle the red/orange border. I really look forward to using KWZ Grapefruit more, and reviewing it.

Seventies Flashback: An Accidental Lamy Safari Tribute to Howard Johnson’s

Laura9 Comments

Howard Johnson's Tribute Lamy Safaris and Al-Star

If you lived in America in the 1970s, and your family took road trips, you’ll see it, too. HoJo. The ubiquitous roadside motor lodge and restaurant chain, with the appalling but memorable color scheme of orange and aqua.

It was an innocent mistake. Like the start of a horror movie, when a bunch of teens are lost and tired, and the cranky one says, “Oh, let’s just stay in this abandoned house — who’s going to care?”

Uh huh. Exactly what happened here. I had three new inks to try, so I grabbed two Lamy Safaris and an Al-Star. They are favorites and good ink testing pens. And you can color-coordinate pen and ink.

I didn’t think twice. I filled KWZ Grapefruit in an Orange Safari, Robert Oster Bondi Blue in an Aquamarine Safari and KWZ Honey in a Pearl Al-Star. Three excellent inks!

Until I looked at the pens, standing there upright. “It’s coming from inside the house….”

Ink Dips: Rohrer & Klingner Verdura

Laura2 Comments

Rohrer & Klingner Verdura

Ink Dips is a more casual, and potentially moronic, ink evaluation than is normal here at Fountain Pen Follies. Instead of carefully evaluating an ink I’m interested in, the point of Ink Dips is to blindly pick an ink sample from a box of the neglected or nugatory. Then I fill that sample into one pen and see what I think. It’s an exercise that’s a bit dippy.

Rohrer & Klingner Verdura. There’s nothing wrong with Rohrer & Klingner Verdura, but I can’t say that it’s an especially interesting shade of green, either. I found this ink absolutely fine, even cheerful, but probably not the green for me.

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