fountain pens

[chobochobo]

Originally Posted by singlechange

Ever since I purchased a basic Pelikan in 1977, I've preferred a fountain pen over any other writing implement. Three years ago I discovered vintage pens, fine ink and paper.
That photo is far far to small! Yes, the red pen is a Nakaya with their soft nib - the Japanese do a nice modern alternative to 'flexible' nibs. The Danitrio's are nice but are a bit boring when it comes to the line they lay down. The gold pen is a Coronet, it has a no 7 adjustable flex nib.

 

[hisroadside]

sorry for the late response i have been away for a while as it was the 14th (bastille day) anyway thank you first of all for all this info, im happy to see these pens are getting some love. some of you brought up some points id like to point out. first off, fountain pens can be great even if cheap. i have a 8EUR waterman wich ive dropped on the nib three times and bent back with a ruler in class and it works even beter now. as for being a lefty, i happen to be a lefty and i never really get any ink on my hands, I think its more about the paper though. the mont blanc ink is great and cheap, and you can get nifty eraseable ink that works with an chemical eraser pen that really works wonders its a french school boy's trick. I have a piston or cartiridge meisterstuck and i dont service or fill it everyday and it works fine so Im not sure about the salespersons advice on servicing your pen every day. and Finally someone mentioned tradition which is very important in who we are and giving importance to what we write which is a feeling I truly share and so Im very happy to hear that others have the same feeling. thank you all guys, it seems stupid but its really a pleasure to discuss these things.

 

[edinatlanta]

mydad got me this meisterstueck mont blanc for my bday!

 

[GradSchooler]

My grandparents, before they died, owned one of the few remaining pen shops in Western Canada (it's the Vancouver Pen Shop, for those who are interested). I've been around fountain pens my whole life. I think my very first was a Lamy Safari when I was about 7 years old. Now I use a Waterman Hemisphere as a day-to-day beater pen and a Mont Blanc Starwalker at home which my grandmother gave to me as a graduation present when I finished my B.A..

My students (who are now of the digital generation who never existed in a home without a computer) always give me queer looks when I whip out a fountain pen during class.

 

[aravenel]

Originally Posted by GradSchooler

I think my very first was a Lamy Safari when I was about 7 years old.

I actually use one of those every day. Great pen. Would go to something nicer, but I know that as soon as I do, I'll lose it...

 

[youngScholar]

I first got started on fountain pens when an older classmate sold me one of German make for about $8.

Since then I've collected about five. The ones which have gotten the most use are a Chinese Hero brand pen given to me by my mother (it had sat in a drawer for years) and a Parker 51 I found in a cabinet drawer belonging to my grandmother. The latter pen has my great-grandfather's name etched into it, and as proven to be immensely durable over the years.

I also bought a Parker 61 - the one with the capillary filling system - at an antique store a while back, but have yet to get it refurbished.

 

[PandArts]

Originally Posted by GradSchooler

My grandparents, before they died, owned one of the few remaining pen shops in Western Canada (it's the Vancouver Pen Shop, for those who are interested). I've been around fountain pens my whole life. I think my very first was a Lamy Safari when I was about 7 years old. Now I use a Waterman Hemisphere as a day-to-day beater pen and a Mont Blanc Starwalker at home which my grandmother gave to me as a graduation present when I finished my B.A..

My students (who are now of the digital generation who never existed in a home without a computer) always give me queer looks when I whip out a fountain pen during class.

I love fountain pens. It's the only type of pen I use though I don't have any that are particularily fancy or nice. Just a standard Mont Blanc, a vintage (c. 1950) Parker "51" and a one-off handmade one. Where I work, my boss, uses nothing but fountain pens when sketching...it's pretty cool to watch.

 

[JayJay]

^^^I also only use fountain pens. I carry at least two with me daily.

 

[deandbn]

I think Conway Stewart pens are awesome.

 

[entrero]

I usually associate fountain pens with good penmanship. Sadly it's an exception rather the norm.

 

[GradSchooler]

Originally Posted by aravenel

I actually use one of those every day. Great pen. Would go to something nicer, but I know that as soon as I do, I'll lose it...

They are great pens. Especially for the price. I always recommend anyone getting into fountain pens make a Safari their first purchase before they jump in with both feet and get something fancier (which oftentimes can be inferior).

 

[GradSchooler]

Originally Posted by PandArts

I love fountain pens. It's the only type of pen I use though I don't have any that are particularily fancy or nice. Just a standard Mont Blanc, a vintage (c. 1950) Parker "51" and a one-off handmade one. Where I work, my boss, uses nothing but fountain pens when sketching...it's pretty cool to watch.

Don't sell your collection short. That vintage '51 is worth a small fortune to a collector if it's in good condition.

 

[PandArts]

Originally Posted by GradSchooler

Don't sell your collection short. That vintage '51 is worth a small fortune to a collector if it's in good condition.

I've been told that. Mine came as part of a set, the fountain pen and mechanical pencil in a case (all of which I still have) along with the plastic wrap that sealed them. The pen uses the pump/bladder system for loading and storing the ink.

 

[entrero]

FP loving humor

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[zanderman]

I write with a fountain pen, one from back in the 40's. The calligrapher from whom I bought it tells me that old nibs are the way to go, because now pen companies are stingy with ink flow and flex because people have forgotten how to write. I like a pen like a wet noodle. Thoughts?