Platinum Preppy

Saint Klaus · Dec 4, 2024

Have found these to be great fountain pens for the money.

I tend to lose pens so I wanted to find some that were on the cheaper side and heard about these. I love them and they are cheap enough they if I lose one its not the end of the world. They work really well and are available in a number of different nib thicknesses (all are “ball end” nibs; no chisel or calligraphy type points as far as I know); my favorite is “fine” as the Japanese “superfine” is too scratchy for my taste.

The come with and take cartridges but I usually use a converter and bought jars of ink to fill with.

Available on Amazon and elsewhere.

Gaius Marius · Dec 4, 2024

Got one and a converter so I can write using my favorite ink, Vert Empire at work.

I sometimes wonder where did the fountain pens all go? I know that ball point replaced them but they were the standard writing implement for decades and millions upon millions of them were made all over the world. I never see fountain pens at antique stores or thrift stores and im left wondering: with so many made, why aren't they more commonly found nowadays?

Saint Klaus · Dec 4, 2024

Gaius Marius said:
Got one and a converter so I can write using my favorite ink, Vert Empire at work.

I sometimes wonder where did the fountain pens all go? I know that ball point replaced them but they were the standard writing implement for decades and millions upon millions of them were made all over the world. I never seen fountain pens at antique stores or thrift stores and im left wondering: with so many made, why aren't they more commonly found nowadays?

I think the advent of the cheap disposable ballpoint has caused a complete shift in consciousness.The majority of the general public simply equates pens with a disposable product now (and for quite some time too). Couple that with the fact that fountain pens are an increasingly small share of the market and you get a recipe for scarcity.

How many kids and grandkids threw out beautiful old Parkers and what not when the older generation passed just because to them pen=disposable?

That ink looks beautiful btw. I may have to hunt some down.

Gaius Marius · Dec 11, 2024

@Saint Klaus
I have some questions.
Can you please link the fountain pen again?
My order of the pen has disappeared from amazon as if it was never made. Your link in the original post has disappeared too.

Eutychus · Dec 12, 2024

The Platinum Preppy is a great writer. It looks cheap, but makes a great starter fountain pen. If looks matters, you might spend a little more (about $11) for the Prefounte (nicer plastic body) model, and a little more than that (about $18) for the Plasir (nicer metal body) model. But all three models have the same nib unit with a snap cap that does a fabulous job keeping the unit from drying out even if you haven't written with it for a long time. A vendor I like is JetPens that has great prices and free shipping at $35+. They get your order shipped out quickly, too. And they are good about answering questions.