Thread: Any Fountain Pen Users?

The majority of my writing is done in a notebook. The kind that you carry in your pocket. Not the one that needs batteries or a power cord. I take down thoughts that strike me as important. I make notes of things that I aspire to do or change about myself to make me a better person. I write reminders of things I want to research when next I am at the computer with access to the internet. Sadly the cause of the demise of the Encyclopedia Britannica, and at the same time, so much better. I examine feelings and attempt to put them into words that are better than things like, what seems to me a bland statement. Things like, 'Live in the moment' are fine, but do little to express the feeling that you get when you do actually realise that is what you are doing.
I do have plans for a fictional novel based on my own experiences. Whether that ever comes to fruition is another thing. I seem to lack the time, inclination of motivation to get past the outline I've already drafted (in pencil at that time) as I don't see it as going any further than the paper I write it on.
I do tend to have my brain ticking along as much as possible with the motive to think of something worthy of noting down, just to have an excuse to write. The fountain pen only adds to the experience. And Carl described the act of slowing down and thinking about the writing very nicely.


Mick

Originally Posted by Obie

Gentlemen,

Here is the link to a short video I wrote and narrated in which you'll see my sweet Pelikan in action. The video was made in my study. Enjoy, and thanks for watching.

Looking for Lamassu on Vimeo

Those thoughts you expressed in that video could equally apply to my own life and my feelings for Wales (Cymru). Perhaps it isn't quite the same thing, nor with quite the same losses, but nevertheless, that's how your video spoke to me, and on some level, I fully understand where you are coming from. Well done, and thank-you.


Mick

Gentlemen,

Here is the link to my fountain pen essay for Figlo Press, my publisher, that I promised you a week or two ago. The Pelikan in the photo is mine, resting on the first draft of the piece. Thanks for reading.

Figlo Press

I'm really late to this thread, but I've been using fountain pens since the late '60's in middle school starting with Sheaffer school pens (which I've got a bunch of), then collecting and restoring some vintage pens (mostly lever fill Esterbrooks etc)

Lately I've been on a Chinese/Asian pen bender
Top to bottom: Hero 329, Platinum Preppy converted to ink dropper fill, Baoer 388, Jinhao x450, Jinhao 159

First of all, Thank you Obie both for that video and the essay. Very nicely put.

My two Jinhao Lamy knock-off pens arrived this week. (post #288 above) My expectations were quite low considering that they were ridiculously cheap and that since they are obviously pseudo-Lamys, they were obviously going to be compared to the Lamy, which is one of my favourite pens. After assessing my buttocks (please see previously linked post...) and testing them out, the results were mixed but really better than expected.

One of them (Item no. 221450478798) is actually very, very good! I would rate its performance as being just a little below that of the Lamy which form me is high praise indeed. The only minor issue has been that sometimes the first tiny bit of a stroke will not write, but I suspect that's due as much to me getting used to the grip as anything else. Like the Lamy it has a shaped rather than round grip and sometimes I notice I'm holding the nib slightly askew. So I'd chalk that up to user error. I'd rate it 7/10 for build quality, 8/10 for performance, 10/10 for value, 1/10 for respect of intellectual property (at least they don't copy the Lamy nib...)

The other (Item no. 111331502787) has been a little more disappointing. The converter seems a little loose, and the chrome ring between the body and nib section of the pen (I am beginning to realize that I am lacking in the pen vocabulary department!) is loose and likes to fall off when it is opened for filling. That having been said it, too, writes very nicely. And let's be clear: it cost me about $4.50 CDN delivered to my door. 4/10 for build quality, 8/10 for performance, 10/10 for value, and again 1/10 for respect of intellectual property

So for less than ten bucks in total, I have two pretty decent pens that will happily live at the office. They write nicely and if someone nicks them, it won't be a major loss. For a situation like that or for someone just wanting to try out fountain pens, these would be good choices. But I don't think Obie should run out to get one to replace his Pelikan.

I had the same problem with slow starting with my Jinhao 159 until I worked the nib on some 12000 micro mesh, now it's really nice with no skipping or slow starting

First things first, I would like to thank all of the gentlemen here for helping me find another way to invest in myself.

I have recently purchased a Pilot Vanishing Point with a fine nib from Goulet Pens. This is my first fountain pen and I could not be happier. I have been pleasantly surprised with the ease of writing and in turn the amount of hand fatigue I experience has been drastically reduced. This allows me to write for longer periods of time and makes the entire experience more personal and enjoyable.

I do believe that I will not have a FPAD but ink might just have me hooked. I have been finding myself perusing ink samples almost daily and am about to pull the trigger on a few I have found.

I now have a Lamy to go with my jinhao x450, i am still waiting for my other 2 x450's to come in, the Lamy has a left hand nib, which does flow more smoothly across the page, but i think the fatter grip of the jinhao actually suits my hands.

Hi guys, I got my Jinhao X450 in the mail last week and it's one awesome pen. I've been a fountain pen user for over 20 years (Waterman Expert) and I'm impressed by what this Chinese firm has achieved. Strongly recommended.

Originally Posted by Maladroit

Hi guys, I got my Jinhao X450 in the mail last week and it's one awesome pen. I've been a fountain pen user for over 20 years (Waterman Expert) and I'm impressed by what this Chinese firm has achieved. Strongly recommended.

Deffo, i have 2 in hand and 2 more on order, all 4 cost less (postage included) in total than the Lamy and I think they feel a lot nicer.