Lamy ABC Fountain Pen Review

Quick Overview

In recent years, American schools have stopped teaching kids to write in cursive. Why is that? There are some reasons, from the digital revolution to the pens we use.

Ballpoint pens require constant pressure, which makes it difficult to make the long, flowing strokes required for cursive writing. Even many people who grew up writing in cursive now use block text because it’s just easier to do.

Fountain pens only need a light touch and are perfect for learning cursive. Fortunately, Lamy has developed a fountain pen that’s made for kids.

Lamy ABC Fountain Pen

Lamy is a German fountain pen manufacturer. They’ve been in existence since 1930, and have long been considered the gold standard of fountain pen quality. They also manufacture mechanical pencils, ink, cartridges, nibs, and ballpoint and rollerball pens.

The founder of the company, Josef Lamy, made waves by using molded plastic to manufacture his pens, as opposed to the expensive metal and wood designs of his competitors. After his death, his son, Manfred Lamy ran the company until he retired in 2006.

Lamy nibs, in particular, are wildly popular. Other manufacturers often build their pens to the same specifications so that people can use Lamy nibs.

Who Is This Product For?

This pen is designed specifically for teaching kids how to write. It includes some small labels so that students can label their own pens, making it a good choice if you’re supplying pens for an entire classroom. It’s also not a bad choice for people who use their pens for everyday writing.

It may look like a toy, but it accepts any Lamy nibs and uses Lamy T10 ink cartridges. In theory, you can outfit this pen as well as premium Lamy pens.

Artists and calligraphers will prefer a pen with a better grip, though. There’s just no way to rotate this pen easily, so you’ll have trouble making the fine adjustments you’ll need for doing calligraphy.

What’s Included?

The Lamy ABC Fountain Pen Set ships in a cardboard box with a plastic window. Inside, you’ll find the pen itself, some fun, colorful stickers that kids will love, and a small instruction insert. It also includes an ink cartridge, which is something a lot of fountain pens don’t ship with.

White Glove Reviews did a nice unboxing of this pen, along with a brief review. Here’s the Lamy ABC in action:

White Glove Reviews Lamy ABC Review:

Overview of Features

The Lamy ABC Fountain Pen Set has a fun, playful design that’s made for kids. The grip is shaped like a sextant, with two sides of a triangle and a curved bottom, rather than being flat on all three sides. This is made to teach kids to hold a pen properly but can be inconvenient for people who want to adjust their grip.

The maple wood handle is very durable for the price, and the cartridges are easy to change. Simply unscrew the cap, and swap it out. Make sure to press the cartridge in firmly, or it won’t seat properly.

How to Get the Most Out of It

This pen is designed for beginners. In that spirit, here are a few general tips on how to use a fountain pen properly:

• Hold the pen at a 45-degree angle. This will give you plenty of ink flow, without letting too much come out at once. It’s also important that both tips of the nib rest on the paper, or your pen will not feed the ink properly.
• Use very little pressure. If you generally use a ballpoint pen, you’re probably used to pressing down on the page. Fountain pens require very little pressure. Depending on the nib, you may be able to drag it lightly across the paper easily.
• Keep the cap on. Fountain pen's ink will dry out quickly when exposed to air. This can lead to a plugged nib.
• Clean it regularly. Whenever you change cartridges, clean your pen’s nib with warm water. This will remove any residual ink, and flush out any contaminants.

Alternatives

If you want a Lamy pen, but you also like something that doesn’t look like it belongs in a kindergarten classroom, the Lamy Safari is a good option. It’s well-constructed and is basically the same pen with a more professional look and a true triangular base.

The Safari has all the advantages of the ABC, but it has a proper triangular grip, so calligraphers and artists will have an easier time handling it. Since it only costs a few dollars more, this upgrade won’t burn a hole in your wallet.

Conclusion

The Lamy ABC may be designed for students, but don’t let that fool you; this is a quality pen. It’s good for anyone who wants Lamy quality at the lowest possible price. While you’ll definitely want an upgrade if you use a fountain pen for a living, most people will be delighted with this pen.