Thread: Fountain Pens?

I use them. I find it much easier to write with, does not hurt my wrist.

I used to have quite a collection and carried one with me all the time. The problem is unless you are in the minority these days everything is pretty much done on computer and the only time I ever used it was for the rare signature. They would wind up getting clogged and were more of a pain then they were worth. I sold all and now I have just two a vanishing point which is presently clogged because I use it so little and a Pelican that was sold as some high tech docking station piece that never worked very good anyway.

I've have a lamy studio that I love. I've thought about buying other fountain pens but I don't use one enough to justify more.

RearViewMirror,

Sadly, as TheBigSpendur says, the only time I really use a pen of any description is when signing things

As a SysAdmin, I mostly use a propelling pencil at work when I need to scribble something down.

At home I use my wifes' Mont Blanc Classique whenever I can

Have fun !

Best regards

Russ

I never leave the house without a FP. At one time I owned around 5 but then decided that I only used one of them so I PIF and gave them to people (all but one use them on a daily basis). I kept the Noodler's pen, it's made by the same people that make the ink, it only runs about $10 but I love it.

Originally Posted by rearviewmirror

I've recently started using a FP again, and just purchased a Limited Edition ink from 'that other shaving forum', and then today noticed Obie selling a straight razor and in the picture was a BEAUTIFUL pen.

So Obie if you see this, is your collection and taste in pens as exquist and....costly.... as it is in razors and soaps/creams?

Anybody else use them? I'm currently going through a pleothra of cheap chinese FP's trying out nibs and trying to find a style I like before I go and spend more then $30 on a pen.

Hello, rearviewmirror:

How good of you to write about fountain pens. I grew with fountain pens, and have always loved writing with them. When I was a boy and living in Tehran, Iran, a German representative of the Pelikan Fountain Pen Company lived on our block. I still think the Pelikan is the finest fountain made. Anyway, this man used to pass out Pelikan ink blots to all the kids. He also made the most exquisite cookies I've ever had. Of course, the poor guy had to put up the mischief all the kids caused.

Years later I bought a Pelikan, in the green and black combination, which I think is class all the way. My modest collection currently includes Waterman (pictured in my SRP ad), Mont Blanc, two Parkers. and the Pelian. I had several others through the years, but no longer do so. By the way, the Mont Blanc is a lovely pen, but I have found it mediocre mechanically.

I use Parker ink, black, from the bottle for all the pens — a gentleman would not think of sticking cartridges in his fountain pen. I have seen letters from executive signed in blue ink. For heaven's sake. A gentleman always uses black ink.

I still use my pens, rotating them as I would my straight razors. When working on fiction, I always write the first draft with fountain pen and switch to the laptop for the subsequent drafts. Magazine and newspaper article, especially on tight deadlines, always go on the laptop from the start. When writing on the laptop, if I have a problem with a paragraph or a line, I work it out with the fountain pen. I think better with the fountain pen.

Ball point pens I avoid like boring people. I do have one Parker roller ball and I use it on assignments, or wherever and whenever I need to work fast. Finally, under no circumstances do I allow anyone to use my fountain pens or the roller ball. Most people couldn't tell a fountain pen from a screwdriver.

Ah, yes, there's no better writing instrument than a beautiful fountain pen.

Regards,

Obie

Originally Posted by Obie

Hello, rearviewmirror:

How good of you to write about fountain pens. I grew with fountain pens, and have always loved writing with them. When I was a boy and living in Tehran, Iran, a German representative of the Pelikan Fountain Pen Company lived on our block. I still think the Pelikan is the finest fountain made. Anyway, this man used to pass out Pelikan ink blots to all the kids. He also made the most exquisite cookies I've ever had. Of course, the poor guy had to put up the mischief all the kids caused.

Years later I bought a Pelikan, in the green and black combination, which I think is class all the way. My modest collection currently includes Waterman (pictured in my SRP ad), Mont Blanc, two Parkers. and the Pelian. I had several others through the years, but no longer do so. By the way, the Mont Blanc is a lovely pen, but I have found it mediocre mechanically.

I use Parker ink, black, from the bottle for all the pens — a gentleman would not think of sticking cartridges in his fountain pen. I have seen letters from executive signed in blue ink. For heaven's sake. A gentleman always uses black ink.

I still use my pens, rotating them as I would my straight razors. When working on fiction, I always write the first draft with fountain pen and switch to the laptop for the subsequent drafts. Magazine and newspaper article, especially on tight deadlines, always go on the laptop from the start. When writing on the laptop, if I have a problem with a paragraph or a line, I work it out with the fountain pen. I think better with the fountain pen.

Ball point pens I avoid like boring people. I do have one Parker roller ball and I use it on assignments, or wherever and whenever I need to work fast. Finally, under no circumstances do I allow anyone to use my fountain pens or the roller ball. Most people couldn't tell a fountain pen from a screwdriver.

Ah, yes, there's no better writing instrument than a beautiful fountain pen.

Regards,

Obie

Obie,
I can't help but wonder if you have seen the magnificent "Hanging Gardens of Babylon" limited edition Pelikan put out... it tips the scales at over $4k, if I remember correctly, but is a lovely pen and seems like something you would very much appreciate...

Originally Posted by BKratchmer

Obie,
I can't help but wonder if you have seen the magnificent "Hanging Gardens of Babylon" limited edition Pelikan put out... it tips the scales at over $4k, if I remember correctly, but is a lovely pen and seems like something you would very much appreciate...

Hello, Ben:

Yes, yes, I have seen the Pelikan model "Hanging Gardens of Babylon" and shed a few symbolic tears over it. What a gorgeous pen. If I were wealthy instead of a poor writer, I would have made myself a gift of the pen — birthday, Christmas, 4th of July, no matter the holiday, and if one did not exist, I would have made one up as long I could celebrate it with my Pelikan.

The pen has even a greater significance for me because of the historic association in the name. I am a full-blooded Assyrian, as you know — my avatar is the picture of Alaha Ashur (the god Ashur), who is the symbol of the Assyrian nation. Anyway, the "Hanging Gardens of Babylon" were built by the Assyrian King Nebuchadnesser II for his wife (one of them, anyway) Amytis. The name of the Assyrian Queen Semiramis (in the Assyrian language Shamiram) is also associated with the "Hanging Gardens of Babylon."

This is ancient stuff, my good friend. Maybe I'll come into a fortune and buy my Pelikan.

A few years back I also wanted the Pelikan 600 Series, at the time close to $400, but instead I spent the money on the Filarmonica 13.

Did I make the right decision?

I should have bought the pen — where's the handkerchief?

Stay well,

Obie

I still get catalogs from Colorado pen and they have all these limited edition ultra expensive pens. They are really designed as collectors pieces and not working pieces.

My dear thebigspendur:

I would still use it, collector piece or not: medium point, black ink. Somehow I can envision a glow to a sentence written with a Pelikan named "Hanging Gardens of Babylon."

Regards,

Obie