There's a range to cheap, Pakistan to Japan

There is a range to cheap.  I've not seen a fountain pen within the past decade, that was less than $1.50.  Then there's the to end of cheap, which hovers around $20.  Above that, I have to think a bit and consider quality, writing pleasure, aesthetics, the whole package, more than I would otherwise. Today I'm looking at two recent acquisitions where I spent just about the same. The difference being I spent the same amount on one pen as on ten of the other.   An order of magnitude, and I'd say the same for quality.  

Dollar 717i loaded with Seitz Kreuznach Cinnamon Brown, MoMa MUJI with Manuscript/calligraphy.co.uk blue

 Both brands of pen and ink are new to me.  The Dollar 717i was just under $20 for 10, while the MoMa MUJI pen was about the same with shipping.  The Seitz-Kreuznach had received some excellent reviews, especially for the price-point at just under $9.  The Manuscript blue was a desperate buy from a local art store when I needed a bright blue.  The store had misordered fountain pen ink instead of calligraphy ink, and was on sale for $2, at the latest exchange rate, off-sale it would be about $6.

First the pens:

Dollar 717i

 The Dollar 717i isn't quite a buck, but very close to it.  The general construction, is somewhat better than I would expect for the price, but still, I won't be expecting it to last more than a year or two, and won't care when it finally fails.  Except for the medium-fine nib, it is entirely plastic.  A couple nice bonuses, a clear section that allows for viewing the ink, and a piston fill action.  No leaks whatsoever, and a smooth fill.  I have carried this around all and had no problems at all starting flow, and the nib is fairly smooth.  The cap fits very tightly, almost uncomfortably, since it can take some effort to take off.  This might be something to do with plastic on plastic adhesion.  I can only hope it will become easier after awhile.  I have already handed one of these out to someone who was interested in trying a fountain pen and ball points exacerbate her carpal tunnel due the pressure she has to apply to lay down ink heavily enough.  She has had this a week and hopefully it will work for her.

MoMa MUJI

Here's a company I knew nothing about.  There's a store nearby, that I must see next time I'm in town. MUJI, reading their "About us" section and looking at their aesthetic, I appreciate what they are doing and think that the first paragraph from that about us section is worth reposting here:

MUJI was founded in 1980. Its origin was a thorough rationalization of the manufacturing process with an eye to creating simple, low-cost, good quality products. Specifically, we reexamined products through three lenses: material selection, inspection process and packaging simplification. For instance, if you omit the bleaching process for pulp, the resulting paper is light beige in color. MUJI used this paper for its packaging and labels. The ensuing products are remarkably pure and fresh. In notable contrast to the prevailing over-embellished products in the marketplace, MUJI’s products both won great appreciation and sent shock waves not only through Japan but across the entire world.

I think this pen speaks perfectly to this statement.  It is a simple, very well designed piece, constructed from beautiful, tightly fitting aluminum, and the packaging was a basic sleeve with what appear to be instructions (I do not read Japanese) printed on recycled paper.  My overall impression looking at it for the first time, much more for your money.  This is a pen that would be happy amongst any $40 or $50 pen.  The aluminum is a nice matte finish, with a knurled grip.  It is very difficult on such a simple design to hide joins between the barrel and section, and the cap and section and cap and barrel when posted.  That the join line is minimal speaks to the machining and design.  The weight is noticeable, but not heavy.  It came with one refill.  I ordered an international size converter, but while waiting for it to arrive, used a much older one that I had removed from another pen.  The MUJI pen must have very tight tolerances, or the old converter had warped, since it leaked like crazy.  The new converter fits perfectly, no leakage, and the flow is smooth and even.  The fountain pen being sold now is very similar, but do not know if the MoMa design is still being produced.  Stock is obviously available, but may not be replenished.  Though I cannot for sure say that they are the same innards, I do not see why they would not be.  This is a definite buy recommendation.  As an every day pen, this is great, hell, as an anytime writer, it will be enjoyed.  As testament to this, the ink loaded in it is not my favorite, not saturated and drying time is long, I still find this better than many of my pens.

Now to the inks.  First the not so great, Manuscript blue.  A few years back, I ran out of all my inks, almost simultaneously, and did not know that no local art or office store was carrying fountain pen ink.  I found this on a discount table and decided to give it a whirl.  I have written with this ink using extra fine nibs through medium, in cheap and luxury pens.  It's a nice color.  I like this blue.  Unfortunately, I find that the saturation is weak and no matter the pen, seems to come across as inconsistent, leaving blotches.  Why this happens I've no idea, and it really is the only ink I've seen it to this degree.

For just a few bucks more, you can have the joy of writing with the Seitz-Kreuznach.  Loaded in the Dollar 717i, I suspect the ink is actually adding a great deal to the writing quality of the pen.  It is a consistent, very easy flowing ink, with a moderate dry time.  While I really like the cinnamon color, I've had a few people say it looks like dried blood.  One way or the other, it is a smooth color that reads as a true brown.  So many browns are so dark to basically be black, or so light, it appears weak or washed out, this one is not.  At work, I've used this on a number of different color sticky notes, and even with the background color, it comes across strongly.  Unfortunately for me, I'm well stocked with ink, and should not be buying anymore in the near future, but I would really like to try some more in the Color of Nature series.

I'd love to see more people trying fountain pens as their go to writing instrument, and either of these would push that in the right direction.