Is anyone else into fountain pens? Similar price range as str8s, and have as much messing around to keep it fun. If you don't mind an occasional ink stain on your fingers, you can learn to write really well with them.
Printable View
Is anyone else into fountain pens? Similar price range as str8s, and have as much messing around to keep it fun. If you don't mind an occasional ink stain on your fingers, you can learn to write really well with them.
I've been using fountain pens for as long as I can remember -- not many fancy ones tho , I have Wasterman's , Scheafers, Rotring ..Tombow and some from 'Anything Left handed ' with left handed nibs ..
The Fountain Pen Hospital normally has a remarkable selection
Denis the new guy (see general section of forum) traded a pen for a str8. So I guess there's at least a couple more around here interested in pens. :shrug:
I went from pens to watches to straight razors. Crazy, I know. I have an assorted inventory of pens from Mont Blancs to Pelikans to Watermans, recent, vintage, and Limited Editions. All sitting in a box not doing what they're intended to do.
Writing with a fountain pen is a really neat thing.
Jeff
Chuck,
I've been bit by the pen bug as well. I've picked up a Waterman Phileas, a Rotring Core and a couple of other Waterman Phileas demonstrators that were never sold here in the US. I'm eyeing a few others, but I 've got to get past the daughter's wedding first. There is a lengthy thread that I started over at SMF in the off-topic forum. Also, check out Denis' forum, The Fountain Pen Network.
RT
But I'm so darn busy here at work. I'll take a look tonight. Is there a buy/sell forum there?
Jeff
Yes, there is a buy/sell forum. Also a thread on wetshaving in the Chatter forum...which is how Denis wound up here. Other than breathing, I've got to find a hobby that doesn't cost me something everytime I turn around! :eek:Quote:
Originally Posted by str8rzrshvr
RT
I'm with you on that. I often think of what the return on what I've spent on my "hobbies" would have been had I "invested" in something else...something a little more liquid. When I do I end up like this :eek: and this :cry:
As my daughter would say, 'My daddy is just a bit unusual'
I actually USE my fountain pens. I now own 5 of them (since trading my Hen and Rooster to Denis) and although 2 would be considered collectable, I look at them the same as I do straights...they're tools, and pretty cool and useful tools at that. It would be a shame not to use them. :rant:
My 2 cents,
Ed
Quote:
Originally Posted by rtaylor61
But you do... :rolleyes: Writing and Shaving are the hobbies. :D The rest, the money we spend on it is just a way to find the ultimate shave or penmanship. We're just a bunch of lazy people who buy pens and shavers thinking that it will improve our skills. But boy is it fun :)
Denis... who is NOT a shrink
To stay on topic though, FP user here. Used them since 1st grade where it was mandatory and cheated on them only one or two years during grad school when I used felt pens. I could never get used to the barbaric ballpoints though. O the torture.
Denis,
One of my problems is that I haunt 4 shaving forums, moderate at two of them, and now I have FPN to contend with. Oh, BTW, nice thing you started there! At some point, I've got to find time to work!
RT
I love fountain pens and do have a few and still use them. But the truth is that I have very poor script and tend to print everything except my signiture. I do think that fountain pens parrallel the straight razor in many ways. I am a traditionalist and that is one of the reasons that I use both the straight and the fountain. This traditionalist attitude extends to many aspects of my life.
Okay. Like Denis, I came here from the Fountain Pen Network. Someone started talking about shaving over there and it awakened my curiosity about straight razors. I suppose I am somewhat of a preservationist of all that was good from the good old days. There is something that fine pens and straight razors have in common. It is that both have been replaced (in the mainstream) with cheap, disposable and inferior products. BIC seems to have the corner on that market. I feel happy to be part of both the fountain pen using and straight razor shaving community.
You know I haven't used a fountain pen since 7th grade ( a long time ago). Can anyone recommend a starter pen?
If you can find it, the Parker Frontier is excellent starter pen, and a looker too...
Do you want that in a 5/8 or 6/8? I bought a Waterman Phileas and a Rotring Core. The Waterman is a gorgeous pen, but maybe just a bit on the light side. I enjoy writing with both of these pens, but the Rotring is one strange looking bird.Quote:
Originally Posted by RichZ
Denis and Oso will probably have much better advice since.
RT
Sorry for my ignorance but I don't know the difference in pens. But then my wife sames that's true about everything :D
Mr.Taylor was leg pulling big time Rich. :DQuote:
Originally Posted by RichZ
It depends what you want in a starter pen. You can get a good performing pen for $20-$30 (Waterman Phileas for example) that will let you decide if you want to go further, or go straight to a more substancial one with gold nib and extra looks ($60-$100).
I realized after I posted. The smart ass had got me looking. :cry: Oh well thanks for the advice.
Rich,
Like shaving with a straight razor, people have good and bad experiences with fountain pens and fountain pen purchasing. You can get good and bad deals on Ebay. The best thing to do is read up on the subject and know what you want, what is available and sometimes what to avoid. There are several different types of filling mechanisms. Some pens only use ink from bottles, others can use prefilled cartridges (they also have converters available to use bottled ink). Then there is nib choice. Do you want new or vintage? There are many used pens that are bargains on some of the forums. Like shaving, there are a lot of different things that come down to personal preference. One thing not being better than the other, just what the individual prefers. My advice is read up on the topic before spending the money. Below are some links that have good sound information.
Richard Binder's site has a reference page with good information. He also sells pens at a good price that are guaranteed to work right.
http://www.richardspens.com
The Fountain Pen Network has a lot of information ranging from penmanship, ink and pen reviews, photos, pen market (pens for sale by members).
http://www.fountainpennetwork.com
:D :shrug: :rant:Quote:
Originally Posted by RichZ
Sorry!
RT
Randy,
That was me not paying attention. Good one. You got me.:D :D
I love and use my fountain pens as well. I know that they are not true fountain pens in the literal sense, but I use dip pens alot. I have collected approx. 5000 nibs. In fact, I make the ink that I use for the dip pens from scratch, along with sealing wax for a seal I made. My wonderful gal calls me a "God D**n Nerd." But then she says that is what she likes about me...
I like to use a particular fountain pen on my exams; my hand tends to not cramp as much... I have had her for almost 14 years. I asked my gal to bury me with the pen... hehehe
Mark.