REVIEW: Marlen ALEPH

The Marlen Aleph (the first letter of the Hebrew alphabet) is the result of a collaboration between the Italian pen manufacturer Marlen, and Daniel Greco, the moderator of the fountain pen forum Fountainpen.it.

The result of this collaboration is a Flat Top piston filler with and a nib made from what the advertising blurb describes as "fine harmonic steel" (although I couldn't detect any noise coming from the nib). It's promise suggests modern flex and great writing.

I already have a Limited edition from Fountainpen.it, a Delta Fusion, which was spectacular. So my hopes for this pen were high.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS
Impressive packaging; now let's see inside. Ah-ha. Hmmm.... Interesting. 

Colour a bit dull. Wow, that nib looks different! I wonder how it writes.....
7/10







APPEARANCE AND DESIGN
I was disappointed with the colour. It's a black base with a shimmering acrylic lighter blue (the description gives it more credit than it deserves). Not offensive; just not very exciting.

It's bigger than I expected (longer). The design is simple, a flat top pen with allusions to an earlier time. The blind cap is nicely aligned.

I definitely like the look of the nib (but more on that below).

Mine is #17, but I'm not sure how many of these were made; and I believe they are to be produced in bulk soon enough.

It certainly looks well made. The clip is solid. The side is etched with "Marlen, Italy. Fountainpen.it. Aleph"; and the top of the cap has the Marlen logo in silver and black.

Ideally, the capping and uncapping should really be an action that is so quick you hardly notice it. Unfortunately,

I really noticed it with the Aleph. The number of turns needed to uncap the Aleph is around 5 - too many! And it seems to be around 6 to put the cap back on securely. While not a massive issue, each time I did it, I continued to get annoyed.

6/10

WEIGHT AND DIMENSION
My weight reviews are based entirely on feel (I don't bother with a scale - it's a fountain pen not a bowling ball!). But I can tell you the Aleph feels well-balanced, in the hand posted or unposted.

Capped, my pen measures 14.2cm long and around 1.3cm wide in the body (marginally wider in the cap). Uncapped, I measure 13.3cm from nib tip to base.

Posted the pen measures 17.2cm in length (bloody long!) but comfortable to write with either way.

7/10

NIB AND PERFORMANCE

The nib is a looker! It is a large nib, I love the 'Aleph' symbol etched onto it's steel centre. I love the curves of its taper and volin-like curves to its girth (this may add to its claim of "harmonic" steel). The nib creates anticipation of its performance.

The Aleph's steel nib is a little reminiscent of the Pilot FA, (and therefore promises much). The feed is plastic (hmmm) and transparent (interesting). So when you fill this nib, the feed takes on the hue of your ink. As my first ink was the Marlen brown that came with the pen, guess what? After a clean, it's pretty clear again, but there remains a little browny hue so I'm guessing over time the transparency of the feed may be less revealing.

nib is full here. Note brown hue to feed.

The air-hole in the nib is interesting; as it is quite large and seems to reveal the colour of the ink (novel).

Herbin Violette Pensee inside.

Writing? Certainly smooth out of the box. There is a little flex; but not anything extraordinary.

There is nothing like the flex of a Falcon or even a Noodler's Flex pen. This is very disappointing given the promise of the nib. It doesn't provide much feedback either (another disappointment for me, as I like to feel the nib performing). This pen would be great for someone who is used to a ballpoint and is thinking of getting into fountain pens. It's predictable, but you can coax some line variation out of it. Indeed, if you read the blurb that came with it (after translating it from Italian - which I've done below), that is perhaps what the Aleph is attempting to do. Therefore, not really a fountainpen writer's pen, but a great beginning in a shift from ballpoints.

6/10

FILLING SYSTEMPiston. Works well, holds a reasonable ink supply. I am not a major fan of having a blind cap that covers the piston; for me, that just means more bits to lose. Nevertheless, the piston works well; and there are always extra points for a piston filler.

8/10

COST AND VALUE
At time of purchase, this pen was around US$140. For the price, the Aleph is a reasonable value pen.

7/10

CONCLUSION
The Marlen Aleph was a bit of a disappointment. My last Fountainpen.it pen was so wonderful I anticipated something a lot better than I received. It is not a bad pen. It's just a touch dull.

Maybe the Bet will be Bet - ter!




68/100

0-50 = to be avoided at all costs
51-60 = if it’s cheap and you don’t really care….
61-70 = a nice pen with the makings of something better (just don’t spend too much)
71-80 = A better than average pen with just a few flaws that stop it from being really good
81-90 = A good pen, a keeper only a few minor places off being great
91-95 = Now THIS is a pen! If you can get it: keep it, love it, cherish it, and keep it away from the dog
96-100 = Grail

New Pens arrive: Fountainpen.it Marlen Aleph and Montblanc 90th in Rose Gold (146)

What a day this has been

What a rare mood I'm in
Well it's almost like being in love....

There's a smile on my face
and a Marlen in Place
and a Rose Montblanc now I'm in love
(apologies to Lerner and Lowe)


Yes,  my wonderful post locker has revealed two lovely pens in as many days. The Marlen Aleph (produced for Fountainpen.it); and the Montblanc 146 90th anniversary in rose gold; and I'm a happy little vegemite!

Both very different pens; both have come with ink: the Marlen has a Marlen brown (bottle is unmarked, but it comes out very similar to Diamine Ancient Copper - that's good!); and the Montblanc has a special 90th anniversary permanent grey (haven't tried this yet).

I have only played a little so far, so no reviews; but here are a few pics to start the music playing:

So here is the Aleph. It's a large pen (just under 149 size), a piston filler beneath a blind cap. Mine is Number 17 (not sure how many were made for subscribers; but Marlen may make it more commercially soon to follow). It came in blue/black resin.

This is a different nib. Steel with cut out designs (very falcon-esque?).

 And now the Montblanc:

Montblanc standard boxes usually aren't much, but I like this sleeve design for the 90th anniversary rose gold; and the 90th anniversary ink and pen pouch all from Appelboom - thankyou.

And finally the pen and nib:

Ain't she a beaut?

Competition: Win INK!

I have two bottles of ink - one I have filled one pen with, the other only dipped. Both have their fans; but neither does it for me. So, if you want a bottle of Iroshizuku Kosumosu (one pen filled) or a bottle of Noodler's St. Patty's Eire (a green highlight ink - only dipped),  answer the following question and my favourite answer will win the ink of your choice. Both inks will be prizes.

Here is your question (which must be answered in rhyme):

Celluloid or Ebonite?

Post your answers in the comments section on this blog; all answers will be published unless they breach internet protocols or reasonable politeness.

Competition closes 31 May.

Yours in the fullness of tine,

ECCLECTITBITS

Review: Stipula Etruria facetted OS Celluloid LE

This review comes one and half years AFTER I received this pen. I know, I'm a little slow. Nevertheless, 18 months later this pen remains one of my favourites and therefore definitely in line for a proper review.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS
It's BIG. It's beautiful, it's different. Chatterley Pens has done it again!
 9/10

APPEARANCE AND DESIGN
It's BIG. It's beautiful, it's different!
A limited edition pen, (mine is #12 of 18) that was produced in collaboration between Stipula and Chatterley Pens, this pen delivers the level of individuality and quality you don't always see in so-called limited edition fountain pens.

The green shimmering flecks on the black celluloid base are just wonderful.

Always a fan of facetted pens (no rolling on the desk), the 8 facets on body and lid help the light to create all sort of fun as it refracts on each angle.

The piston Knob is invisible (well, relatively) at the base of the body which allows for the seamlessness of the colour.
But the most unique aspect of this pen lies in the screw-on cap. For a start, the threads for the cap are at the base of the nib rather than at half way down or at the base of the section. This works well, and helps the sustain the fluidity of the design. The next unique feature is the rings ... all 6 of them! Six sterling silver rings wrap around the base of the facetted cap in counterpoint to the silver, Stipula, clip. While there is potential here for garishness or overkill, this really works well - just beautiful.

9/10


WEIGHT AND DIMENSION
This is a big and heavy pen. Both things that I love. If you don't like heavy pens or long pens, l suggest you leave this one alone.
I don't have scales for this, but just trust me, it's a well-balanced, but weighty pen.
Capped, the pen is 15cm long and around 1.5cm wide in the body (marginally wider in the cap). Uncapped, I measure 13cm from nib tip to base.
While the pen can be used posted (and I am generally a poster).
Posted the pen measures 17cm in length (bloody long!) and although not hugely unbalanced, not as comfortable as unposted.


9/10

NIB AND PERFORMANCE

The nib is a good size, 14k Stipula; which, in itself, is a good beginning. When you add to this that this nib was tuned (prior to my receiving it) to Cursive Italic by Mike Matsuyama, then really, nothing more need be said. This nib is a joy and a delight to write with. Smooth, fabulous line variation, that starts first time every time (and has done so for 1 and a half years).

10/10

FILLING SYSTEM
Piston. Works well, holds a good ink supply (which you would expect for a pen this size). My only criticism is that the piston knob is a tiny bit loose (ie. it can move a tiny fraction before it engages) which means that sometimes the facets do not exactly align.

9/10

COST AND VALUE
At time of purchase, this pen was around US$500. So it's not a cheap pen. But on value for money, the fact that I am singing it's praises one and a half years later, suggests that this pen well and truly stands up to the competition. A marvellous pen.

9/10

CONCLUSION
The Stipula Etruria - facetted, oversize, celluloid limited edition fountain pen (whew! what a mouthful) is a fabulous pen!!

92/100
 Click here for original FPGeeks report: fpgeeks.com/2012/10/stipula-and-chatterly-pens-introduce-the-faceted-etruria-oversize-fountain-pen/

0-50 = to be avoided at all costs
51-60 = if it’s cheap and you don’t really care….
61-70 = a nice pen with the makings of something better (just don’t spend too much)
71-80 = A better than average pen with just a few flaws that stop it from being really good
81-90 = A good pen, a keeper only a few minor places off being great
91-95 = Now THIS is a pen! If you can get it: keep it, love it, cherish it, and keep it away from the dog
96-100 = Grail