Sometimes, I get a little bored. This was one of those times. I decided to take inventory on my fountain pens, and figured that if I have photos of all of them, all at the same scale, they could really help people see how big or small one pen is compared to another. Now, this isn’t nearly as perfect a tool as Goulet Pen’s Pen Plaza, but most of the fountain pens I’ve reviewed here on my site can be seen below. Please let me know if there is anything I could do to make this more useful! Admittedly, I left a few pens at work while I did this little weekend project, but I plan on adding them in here soon, as well as any new additions to the collection.
All of the following photos were taken with a Rhodia pad as the background, the grids are 5mm by 5mm.
Eversharp Symphony 713 with 14k Flex NibEversharp Symphony 713 with 14k Flex NibFranklin Christoph Collegia No. 27 in Dove GreyJ. Herbin Dip PenKaweco AL-Sport in GraphiteKaweco Allrounder in Blue AluminumKaweco ART-Sport in Amber AcrylicKaweco Liliput in Black AluminumKaweco Special Pencil in 2.0mmLamy 2000Lamy Accent in Matte Black / PalladiumLamy AL-Star LE in Coffee BrownLamy AL-Star in GraphiteLamy AL-Star LE in Matte BlackLamy Safari in Charcoal GreyLamy Safari LE in AquamarineLamy Safari LE in Apple GreenLamy Safari in RedLamy Vista Demonstrator1990’s Montblanc Meisterstuck No. 1491980’s Montblanc NoblesseNoodler’s Ahab in Medieval LapisParker 45 BallpointParker 45 Fountain Pen in Vista Blue
Parker Sonnet Cisele in Sterling / Gold1940’s Parker Vacumatic Major in GreyBulow (Jinhao X750)Pilot Fude-Makase Color Brush Pen – Extra Fine – RedMorning Glory Mach II Liquid Ink Pen – 0.4 mm – BluePilot Hi-Tec-C – 0.4mm – BlackPilot Parallel Calligraphy Pen – 3.8 mmPilot Penmanship in Black/RedPilot Vanishing Point in Matte BlackRotring Rapidpro Ballpoint1998 Sailor Magellan DemonstratorSailor Professional Gear Imperial Black EditionSailor Sapporo Fountain PenSakura Pigma Micron1950’s Sheaffer Snorkel1950’s Sheaffer Snorkel1980’s Sheaffer TargaTWSBI Diamond 540Uni Signo DX – 0.4mmUni Jetstream BallpointZebra Disposable Brush Pen – FineZebra Surari Ballpoint
Ed, it’s driving me crazy that the Kawecos and the Zebras are pointing a different way from the majority of the other pens. It’s the pen equivalent of bad kerning. I’m guessing you did that because the lettering would be upside-down if they were all facing the same direction?
Oh boy, now it’s going to drive me crazy. The Kawecos were definitely so the text is not upside down. I was going to keep the clip to the left, and facing downward on all of them but I think I just straight up goofed on the Sarasa Gel. I’m going to get that one out of there…
I thought about doing that, but in order for everything to be uniform, I’d have to use the same ink on the same paper. In order to get everything under the same exact camera conditions, that would take a TON of inking, dipping, and worst, cleaning, of pens. Another problem is that a lot of them have interchangeable nibs, and it wouldn’t be representative of the pen. It’s a ton of work, that Goulet Pens has already done with their Nib Nook, check it out if you haven’t, it’s great!
However, I do make it a point to post the handwritten review of each pen in with the review. These pictures are huge files, and can be seen at their full resolution. I’ll add links to the pens I’ve reviewed on the inventory page for easy access to the review.
WOW! Very nice choice. I have the same color in the Long and carry it inked everyday. No safe queen for me, though admittedly I don’t write with it everyday.
Thank you! I plan on carrying it as well, it fits perfectly in the One Star Leather large pen sleeve, so it’s been living in there.
I’m a firm believer of using everything I have, so it won’t be squirreled away in storage.
Very nice post. MB Noblesse: “how do you like me now?”
Ok, so two things, 1) nice collection! I’m a little green over here…. and 2) this was surprisingly informative! What a great idea. I had no idea how the size of some of these pens compare (the liliput is that small???).
edjelley.com - Fountain Pen, Ink, and Stationery Reviews 
Ed, it’s driving me crazy that the Kawecos and the Zebras are pointing a different way from the majority of the other pens. It’s the pen equivalent of bad kerning. I’m guessing you did that because the lettering would be upside-down if they were all facing the same direction?
Oh boy, now it’s going to drive me crazy. The Kawecos were definitely so the text is not upside down. I was going to keep the clip to the left, and facing downward on all of them but I think I just straight up goofed on the Sarasa Gel. I’m going to get that one out of there…
Also, that “Bulow (?)” is a rebranded Jinhao X450.
Azizah at Gourmet Pens sent this one to me, and admittedly I haven’t taken that good of a look at it yet. I’ll add the info in there.
They take the Goulet/JoWo nibs easily and perfectly.
How about a similar-sized writing sample in each picture?
I thought about doing that, but in order for everything to be uniform, I’d have to use the same ink on the same paper. In order to get everything under the same exact camera conditions, that would take a TON of inking, dipping, and worst, cleaning, of pens. Another problem is that a lot of them have interchangeable nibs, and it wouldn’t be representative of the pen. It’s a ton of work, that Goulet Pens has already done with their Nib Nook, check it out if you haven’t, it’s great!
However, I do make it a point to post the handwritten review of each pen in with the review. These pictures are huge files, and can be seen at their full resolution. I’ll add links to the pens I’ve reviewed on the inventory page for easy access to the review.
Ed, you blew my mind with this idea man. Good show dude.
Thank you sir!
I still have a bunch of pens I left out, and honestly, it’s more for me to make sure I don’t lose anything in my upcoming move.
Figured it could make a cool page too.
Ed – A birdie named Brad said you pulled the trigger on a Nakaya, when do we get to see it? Review? Instagram?
It did sneak out on Instagram a few days back – I believe Brad put the link to the photo in the show notes for the last podcast.
Also, here’s this…shhhhhhhh http://www.flickr.com/photos/edjelley/sets/72157639966615796/
WOW! Very nice choice. I have the same color in the Long and carry it inked everyday. No safe queen for me, though admittedly I don’t write with it everyday.
Thank you! I plan on carrying it as well, it fits perfectly in the One Star Leather large pen sleeve, so it’s been living in there.
I’m a firm believer of using everything I have, so it won’t be squirreled away in storage.
Very nice post. MB Noblesse: “how do you like me now?”
Ok, so two things, 1) nice collection! I’m a little green over here…. and 2) this was surprisingly informative! What a great idea. I had no idea how the size of some of these pens compare (the liliput is that small???).
Ed, what happened to your TWSBI Diamond? Did you drop it?
Nope! Just stress cracks from normal use. Poor quality in my opinion.