fountain pen

by Tony Thomas I'm always on the lookout for interesting fountain pens. When I saw the Jinhao 8812 , I knew that I wanted it. As someone who loves objects made out of wood, I found its rosewood body especially attractive. And at less than $8 on eBay, the price was right. Here are some vital statistics: Length (capped): 136mm Length (uncapped): 119mm Width: 13mm Weight: 45 grams Nib: #5 medium The pen is a bit hefty and is solidly built.  Jinhao is usually pretty good in the QC department which is amazing considering the low price of their pens.  The 8812 is also a smooth writer (as most Jinhao pens are).  You can post it, but I found it to be too back-heavy when posted and too long (160mm).   It comes with an Jinhao converter and it can also take international standard ink cartridges. This is a great pen for the money that will turn a few heads.

by Tony Thomas In my search for inexpensive fountain pens on eBay, I came across numerous listings for the Hero 529 fine point pen.  The price?  Less than $3.00 including shipping from China!  Amazing! Having previously bought the Hero 9296 Accounting Pen with an EF nib, I thought I would give the 529 a shot. Like the 9296, the 529 is a converter filler with a hooded nib.  It is reminiscent of the Hero 616 sans aerometric converter.  It is a pretty plain looking pen with a few small but noticeable blemishes, however, you really can't complain much for a pen that costs so little. How does it write?  Nicely.  It has a very smooth nib that lays down a nice fine line. The Hero 529 is a great little knock-about pen for throwing in your pocket or purse and leaving on your desk at the office.  Very nice for jotting down quick notes.  I plan to load mine with some archival iron gall ink for writing on cheap paper when the need arises. A nice pen at a...