My Top 5 modern fountain pens that will go vintage

[@arcfide]

Really fun idea. I think what I immediately think of when I think of "vintage" are the pens that weren't quite good enough to dominate the marketplace long term. The MB14*, Pelikan M*, and Lamy 2K, have all been so dominant in the market that they essentially didn't get the chance to go vintage when their peers did, simply because they were too good, so they kept being made. On the other hand, a lot of Waterman, Parker, Sheaffer, Pilot, Sailor, Platinum, Aurora, Omas, Ancora, and other brands all had models that simply didn't stand up to the test of time as sufficiently long-lived and "enduring" to warrant their continued production over their entire history, and so they've gone more vintage. But who knows what the future holds for such things?

[@TheresaRobertsonLROL]

“It was just TOO MUCH AWESOME!!!” I love you're channel. 😂

[@arlenealennox3136]

Very interesting. The Pilot 823 is the first one that sprang to my mind. (And Lamy2k started in 1966.) I have all you mentioned except Mont Blanc and Visconti. My Pelikan is a 400 but I expect 600 or 800 would be more desired. Since I’m an old lady I should probably point these out to my children as the pens to hang onto!

[@6507bankston]

Somebody already mentioned the Lamy 2000 was introduced in '66, a Gerd Mueller design. Also I should add that the section and clip on the original Makrilon edition are stainless steel, not aluminum. I've heard mention that Makrilon is fiber glass. It isn't; rather it's a form of polycarbonate plastic (proprietary to Bayer). Parker 51s introduced bodies made of Dupont Lucite in the '50s, essentially the same stuff. Much more durable than injection-molded cheapie plastics. I'm really tempted to get the Pilot 823 now that you give it such a high rating. Nice array of future "classics"!

[@jpa1214]

Fun video. I'd add Karas Kustoms Ink & OPUS 88 Demonstrator.

[@dennismanning3964]

I hope to purchase a Pilot Custom 823 in the future

[@TeamFish15]

Great list Kerry. My top 5, in no particular order: 1. Pilot Custom 823 2. LAMY 2k 3. Pilot Vanishing Point 4. Pilot E95s 5. Pelikan Souveran M805 Stresemann

[@jamesfahey7188]

I really love this list and agree!

[@lmartinezr1]

Left in the list the Lamy Safari and the Vanishing Point, the first I hear is the most selled fountain pen in the world, and the Pilot with its retractable system is an instant classic

[@klt479]

Thank you for another great video! I certainly respect your opinions. I agree with your Pilot Custom 823, Lamy 2000, and Visconti Homo Sapians choices for your list. However, I believe the rest may be a stretch. I believe Montlanc's FP's made today no longer belong on such listd due to lesser build quality (cheeper materials such as plastic vs. brass filling systems), lesser writing experience, and lack of consitent quality. I'd also add both the Pelikan m800 and m1000 (or at least one of them). The build quality, writing experience, and consitent quality of the Pelikans definitely exceeds that of the Montblanc in your list in my opinion. Thanks again for another great vidio. CHEERS!

[@kylehazachode]

Narwhal Nautilus, Schondsgn Pocket Six, Kaweco Luxe Sport (already hard to find), TWSBI Eco rose gold, any of the YSTUDIO pens

[@toniogt]

Yes! One video like this with only steel nibs would be great!!

[@franciscooolopez123]

I agree with pretty much everything you said! I can see them as vintage in the future.

[@tiantuatara]

I definitely would like to see the list you have for steel nibs. I agree with your choices for gold nibs, although the only one I have is the 2K.

[@stef1196]

I own so far two lamy 2K (BB and OBB) and one PLATINUM President coarse nib.

[@wendyyap3665]

Thanks for the video. I think maybe the M600 for the special editions and it's the best size for most ppl.

[@stargazer1359]

* The Wolverine Claw. 🖋🖋🖋😸 💎🙌

[@crouserm]

As I'm a generation older than you, for me the question is less "vintage" and more what do I want to be sure to leave my son? Definitely my m805 Stresemann, for the craftmanship, materials, and gravitas. (m1000s, sure!) Visconti Midnight Voyager -- already vintage. Platinum Make-e with an 18k nib -- comparatively inexpensive, but beautiful. And, love the feedback! For fabulous writing (bounce and feedback) I'd say the Hongdian 885 14k, if it doesn't deteriorate. Same with my Jinhao Centennial 14k -- yes, un hommage à Parker, but what a writer. The "ivory" celluloid looks fabulous too. ... And, hang on to that BENU Euphoria Bourbon! I have one too! Love it! If there is in 75 years a civilization that makes paper and ink, they might love bling like we admire William Morris wallpaper. Who knows?

[@maxwells789]

Really liked this video idea. I pretty much agree with your list. My list would be Pilot Custom 823, Pilot VP, Pelikan 600 (I like the slightly smaller size over the 800), Lamy 2k, MB 146, & Visconti HS Bronze Age (palladium not gold nib). I know it’s 6 and not 5 on the list but I couldn’t drop one. 🤷🏻‍♀️

[@Thedoctorkirby]

I think the sales associate that you deal with at montblanc can be the make or break factor with warranty issues.

[@rangeldi]

I absolutely agree with your list. Maybe, I would have picked the Montblanc Meisterstück 149 instead of the 146. But, apart from that, I think you were spot on. BTW, I would go for the Pelikan Souveran M800. Awesome video!!

[@munozrick]

Great list! Of the mainstream pen makers, I probably would have included the Pilot Falcon. There's also the Waterman Carene, which will arguably become vintage because it's already a vintage style. Several of the Leonardo MSG styles could also be candidates for becoming vintage eventually. There are plenty of non-mainstream brands that I believe whose styles will be considered classically unique in the future: Gravitas, Narwhal, Karas, and I'm sure many others.

[@archivist17]

That was an interesting selection. I think there are pens that, although they are still made, have been around for long enough to be classics. In this category, I'd put the Pelikans, Montblancs, Lamy 2000, and, yes, Kaweco Sport. I think there may be two tiers: Collectors will always go for the 149, the M1000 etc, but, in less rarefied circles, some of us prefer more realisable pens for writing. That's why I think you're right about the M80X and the MB146 as the more achievable vintages.

[@arcfide]

I think actually the MB 146 is technically the longer running production pen for MB, in spite of the 149 being their flagship. IIRC, there was a period of time where the 149 stopped being made while the 146 continued, with MB bringing back the 149 later on. I'd have to go dig out sources to verify that claim though.

[@markschultz2304]

Any Onoto Pen will be vintage. They are all so very unique and distinguished.

[@ronruhl2328]

Lamy 2000 was released in 1966

[@TheresaRobertsonLROL]

“Game over! She don’t like it!” 🤣

[@danielroddy8146]

I do disagree on the flash. There will be a market for people collecting different colors/special editions of the pens. Benu, Xezo, Aurora, Pelikan, etc.

[@karidru5272]

Backing you up on this: Benu had to leave their old site in such an all fired hurry, that while they started up again right away and new designs are already coming out, I was afraid they wouldn't be able to replicate the one I'd specifically been wanting, so I jumped on the last one I could find.

[@barrettwbenton]

So: You start with the very same 823s I have (Amber w/M, Smoke w/F), and I agree the 823 has "modern classic" written all over it (sorry), and since they replaced a Lamy 2000 I had in the 1990s (introduced in 1966, as several have already mentioned), I give that the nod as well. (The Wolverine bit was cool.) The "Petit" 146 I agree with (partly on account of being a minor fan of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry), even though I'm not a MB fan, *especially* the 149. The Homo Sapiens appeals because it's the pen that helped snap Visconti out of their Irrational Exuberance phase, so there's that. Platinum is "nice", but the deal-killer for me is their insistence on cart/converter-only… *why?* I'm with you on the M800: tried it, the 600, and (briefly, like you) the 1000. Omissions? How about the Vanishing Point? Far from being a one-trick pony, its origins predate the Lamy 2000; I regard it in a way as Japan's answer to Parker's "51." Of course, unless Pilot disappears at some point (and if it does, it likely means we've had bigger things to worry about by then), I rather doubt they'll discontinue the VP anytime soon. (Oh, yeah…Pilot Falcon. Go ahead, say it…I'm a Pilot fanboy.)

[@kimberly3706s]

I think the Benu pens will absolutely be highly desired as a vintage pen, just look at all the 70s fashion being back on trend now, and exaggeratedly oversized cocktail rings, etc. Benu will be hotter than ever in the vintage wave. I don’t own a Benu; but I predict they will be highly sought after by the generations to come.

[@peterpuleo2904]

Visconti Opera Elements might have already reached vintage status.

[@karidru5272]

I think the one you're most right about is the Platinum. The pens I see people seeking out the hardest are the ones that fulfill a particular niche that isn't replicated elsewhere. Like have you met Rotring Artpen people? $15. Not hard to get in its day. Not, imo, the best at anything in particular but unique and gosh darn do people who love it love it.

[@inkandbarrel]

I would say the M80X/M90X would be the Pelikan that I expect to become a vintage pen. The extra size and added slight rarity is a large part of that. Additionally, note that many "special editions" are pretty much already there

[@raigne86]

It's weird to me to hear vintage used this way. Usually it means something that is older than some threshold. Vintage is usually 25-30 years. There are already vintage Pelikans, Lamy 2ks and Montblanc 14*. And the flashier versions of those things are usually highly sought after. Before the m400 was reissued and the pretty colors were reserved for m600+, the vintage brown tortoise M400s were worth the most (cf. to the other vintage m400s). I don't know about still. Likewise, an Esterbrook J with really interesting striping when the material was poured can also attract a higher price. A cracked ice Estie is the most expensive pen you'll likely find among the vintage Esties, and the appearance of the Parker Vacuumatic is one of the things that makes it so popular.

[@arcfide]

I agree with you that the #3776 Century is a criminally under-appreciated pen that serves a niche that most other pens simply ignore. It's also so good at doing what it does that sometimes I think it could even be *too* good, in the sense that it starts to become boring because it's such a reliable pen.

[@korax67]

I dislike all Pelikan Ms I adore Platinum 3776 that's it, I said it. Pilot 823 is going to be my next pen. Thanks for the interesting video.

[@davyj5216]

Can we have some more tea please? :)

[@EELinneman]

Kerry, don't apologize for the Sailor vs. Platinum decision. It's your personal preference. How can anybody tell you that your preference is not right for you???

[@TINGSTARR]

I enjoyed this presentation. It was fun seeing/hearing each of the five as they came up. I have all five, except the 146 (I have the 149 :) ). I have three #3776 pens - music, soft fine, and ultra extra fine. I dig the Platinum feedback. So much so, I have an Izumo and a President - oh and a Nakaya Dorsal Fin 2 - yep, that’s the affiliated company. Again, thanks for the entertainment. Peace

[@ariey.lifshitz6587]

Almost all Pelicans are already vintage. Most of the others mentioned by you shall also be. Thanks for your KZbin channel contribution to us all fountain penthusiasts, 🦁

[@davidbrowning5672]

I would add the Sailor Promenade that could go "vintage." Classic cigar shape, neither stodgy in color (black) nor too flashy (I have the cranberry color with little flakes of gold), AND it is a great writer. Oh, BTW… it has been discontinued by Sailor.

[@peterpuleo2904]

Let us all hope the collecting bubble does not burst.

[@neilpiper9889]

Pilot had to be first on the list. Pen bbs pens will be the future vintage pens with steel nibs

[@VincentDuxD]

Wow, that diet works fast, I should think about trying out those vegetable things 😂

[@albertpuig6273]

Carey!!!!!! How are you doing???????

[@dianewalker9154]

I think Benu pens are highly collectible now, so could very well remain popular as Vintage in the future. Lamy is a big no for me. They are cheap, boring, and don’t write all the well.

[@jyfreeman9210]

The thumbnails on the videos are not as attractive, esp. as they are so repetitive. Just my opinion though.