Click to view our Accessibility Statement or contact us with accessibility-related questions
Showing 1 of 43 conversations about:
writerstephen
480
Jun 21, 2017
bookmark_border
Caveat emptor ... while this is a very handsome pen model with a very nice smooth nib, it does have one design flaw (in my opinion; also noted below in the discussion): There is a VERY large breather hole in the cap that causes the nib to dry out within a matter of hours of disuse. It also causes ink to evaporate from the converter. This might not be enough to dissuade some purchasers, but it is worth noting. You can see the breather hole under the clip in the picture of the orange premium model in this drop.
Jun 21, 2017
jsolar
71
Jun 22, 2017
bookmark_border
writerstephenThink theres anyway to fill the hole? To make it more useable. Maybe theres a way to unscrew the top finial, remove the clip, and deal with it. Maybe a plug could be fashoned or something on the inside that wouldnt be unsightly.
Jun 22, 2017
writerstephen
480
Jun 22, 2017
bookmark_border
jsolarMaybe, but for this price it hardly seems worth it. Go get an old-design urban or IM from amazon, or go to colibri.com and pick up an equinox or Ascari for just a little more. The nib is worlds better, and they accept standard cartridge/converter. Or get a TWSBI from Gouletpens.com.
Jun 22, 2017
jsolar
71
Jun 22, 2017
bookmark_border
writerstephenYeah. Imo i liked the older style in urban brown or whatever they called it. Kinda had some contemporary styling with the lines. Also have three twsbi's ( Vac700, 580 Blue AL, and White Eco).
Jun 22, 2017
jsolar
71
Jun 22, 2017
bookmark_border
jsolarMetalic brown. Had to go look it up on amazon.
Jun 22, 2017
skrooks
89
Jun 22, 2017
bookmark_border
jsolarLooks like the cap innards are riveted together.
search
Jun 22, 2017
MC_Freelancer
27
Jun 27, 2017
bookmark_border
writerstephenI would agree - the cost of ink seems to be increasing, and to loose as much to evaporation as this pen allows is rather disappointing. Based on my own personal use I cannot recommend this pen over other selections which I have purchased. The nib performance is no better than a pilot metropolitan and of the 2 I purchased would not state that the writing experience is worth the cost. As noted a Lamy AL-STAR would be a better option.
If ink evaporation is a concern I would highly recommend any TWSBI product - yes made of plastic, but I have pens which have been inked for months that start immediately and do not demonstrate any noticeable evaporation. I would also note that for $30 more you could get a gold nib Platinum 3776 from Amazon which also has excellent evaporation protection.
Jun 27, 2017
ShahrinCamille
29
Jun 28, 2017
bookmark_border
writerstephenEven the older version of the Urban seems to have the same ink evaporation problem.
I did not use mine when it was about 80% filled, and 3 weeks later the ink in the converter had gone down to less than 10%. And of course, the pen would not start and I had to totally clean out the pen before refilling it again in order to get it to write.
My Urban, however, is of sentimental value as it was gifted to me for my birthday by my first-born, who bought it using his first ever paycheck when he started working.
Jun 28, 2017
dolljoints
155
Oct 8, 2017
bookmark_border
writerstepheni was about to say that this drop should definitely include a converter for this reason – then at least you can squirt it back into the bottle when you're done to save it. either way it seems like this wouldn't be an everyday pen tho, if you have to fill it before each use and all.
Oct 8, 2017
skrooks
89
May 17, 2018
bookmark_border
writerstephenI found out there's an ISO standard dealing with holes in caps. ISO 11540:2014 Writing and marking instruments -- Specification for caps to reduce the risk of asphyxiation
May 17, 2018
writerstephen
480
May 17, 2018
bookmark_border
skrooksOk, but why don’t all fountain pen caps have such a breather hole?
May 17, 2018
skrooks
89
May 18, 2018
bookmark_border
writerstephenThere are probably a variety of reasons. First, a couple points from the ISO 11540 document preview that you can get without shelling out nearly $70... "It relates to such instruments which in normal or foreseeable circumstances are likely to be used by children up to the age of 14 years." "It is, however, acknowledged that certain products (i.e. writing and marking instruments which are designed or only intended for use by adults, e.g. jewellery pens, expensive fountain pens, professional technical pens) are not intended for use by children and such items have to be clearly labelled to that effect."
Also, just because there's a standard doesn't necessarily mean that companies are obligated to follow them. Out of all the other fountain pens I have (Pilot, Lamy, TWSBI, Kaweco, Conklin, Monteverde, Noodler's) none of them have a breather hole like the one on the Parker Urban. It would have been nice if Parker could have found a way to have the breather hole a little further down on the cap body so the inner cap could remain intact and properly seal the nib.
May 18, 2018
writerstephen
480
May 18, 2018
bookmark_border
skrooksSo you’re of the opinion that Parker is following this ISO standard and other pen companies are not. Interesting.
Myself, I wish someone would tell Parker engineers that no breather hole is necessary and that ISO standard can go right in the trash. It makes their pens all but unusable for the serious writer. Which is a shame, because I like their nibs and their aesthetics.
May 18, 2018
View Full Discussion