Fountain Pens?

I've got five or six fountains, and agree with all the folks who really like their Pelikans. The Waterman Phileas is cheap and feels it, once you've handled some nicer ones. I think my favorite is a Shaeffer Prelude, because it has a flats near the nib that give your fingers a nice couple of landmarks. My favorite ink has also been Shaeffer, but I don't know if they still make it. Bic bought them a few years ago and shipped all the manufacturing out of Fort Madison Iowa, where they'd been a good employer for decades. So I haven't shopped for Shaeffer stuff lately, but it was good.

Since I edit I've always used fine points, but have been tempted by Sailor's music nib.

Another good supplier is Levenger.com. They've sold an in-house model for years, their "True Writer," and now they offer multiple nibs you can try out on the same barrel. That'll save you a heap of money if you want to explore nibs.

There's another good supplier, focused exclusively on fountain pens, called Pendemonium. They're in Fort Madison and have a good web site.

Have fun.

And look out. The first one only hooks you into a collection habit.

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Originally Posted by globetrotterjon

Like I have found with straight razors, this "green" hobby can become very very addictive. I've been using fountain pens for nearly 25 years and it's impossible to stop at just one!

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Yes, a whole new set of AD's. I have as many pens as I do razors.

I feel I may have stumbled upon a large void... oh dear.

haha your newest addiction perhaps?

Too soon to tell. I just realized that I already own one, it's a Fountain and Ball Point pair of pens from Parker I got as a gift many moons ago. I didn't use it or understand it much, but now that I'm a straight shave man I might try again. It looks like a plunger type, so I just need to buy some ink?

edit: Jumped right in. Bought some Noodler’s Manjirō Nakahama Whaler’s Sepia Brown. *fingers crossed*

Great thread guys...and just in a nick of time. I have a new found interest in Fountain pens. I was in Walgreens the other day, (don't laugh, you have to start somewhere) and I picked up a set of pens, which included a Fountain pen, cartridge type. I have to say, I love that pen, the ink flow is flawless, and I love the way it writes, I immediately started researching fountain pens and found out quickly that they are pricey...

Lot's of good info in the thread...

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Originally Posted by zib

Great thread guys...and just in a nick of time. I have a new found interest in Fountain pens. I was in Walgreens the other day, (don't laugh, you have to start somewhere) and I picked up a set of pens, which included a Fountain pen, cartridge type. I have to say, I love that pen, the ink flow is flawless, and I love the way it writes, I immediately started researching fountain pens and found out quickly that they are pricey...

Lot's of good info in the thread...

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I agree they can be very pricey.

I'm planing on getting one more pen and that's the end of my collection.

My current pen is not a fountain. Its a Smith and Wesson black tactical with a Parker space pen refill installed.

Do you guys know of a good starter piston fountain pen that won't break the bank???
:beer2:

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Originally Posted by basil

I'm planing on getting one more pen and that's the end of my collection.

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I said that once, too, 3 or 4 pens ago. :)

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Originally Posted by jeffegg2

My current pen is not a fountain. Its a Smith and Wesson black tactical with a Parker space pen refill installed.

Do you guys know of a good starter piston fountain pen that won't break the bank???
:beer2:

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Try Levenger.com. Their in-house brand are the cheapest nice fountain pens I've seen. I think they come with a piston converter, but if they don't you can get an aftermarket one.