Fountain pens - anyone write?

[John Robertson]

No one calls them that any more?Noel

Sorry Noel, I still call them that

Oh and I still have unused in its box with instructions a 1950's Conway Stewart lever-fill fountail pen given me as a prize at school, I didn't like its colour (marbled dark red) and wouldn't use it. Ungreatfull wretch that I was, my mother put it away in a drawer where I discovered it after her death a few years ago!!

John.

 

[Farace]

My writing looks like a Tom Waits song.

I think that's one of the best descriptions of anything I've read lately. I love Tom Waits, but yeah, his voice sounds like he started smoking in utero.

 

[richiedcruz]

I use an Eversharp desktop model and used to carry Parker Vectors as my go everywhere pen-before it was redesigned. Plus I have a few lever fill pens sitting in a drawer that need new rubber ink resovoirs.

One thing that I have been wondering is if I am the only one that find that modern fountain pens do not write as well as their vintage counterparts?

Richie

 

[John Robertson]

fill pens sitting in a drawer that need new rubber ink resovoirs.

One thing that I have been wondering is if I am the only one that find that modern fountain pens do not write as well as their vintage counterparts?

Richie

I think you have to run (write?) them in as you used to have to do with cars, they are never good right out of the box. My Pelikan (20+ years old) is a smooth as silk now!!

John.

 

[Marc-A.]

I use a QWERTY pen ... it's fine.

No seriously, I don't use anymore fountain pen, don't know why. I prefer to use a ball pen, mostly a small and well balanced Mont Blanc or a vulgar Uniball ... doesn't change what I write.
Best,
Marc

 

[sepiareverb]

....One thing that I have been wondering is if I am the only one that find that modern fountain pens do not write as well as their vintage counterparts?

Richie

There certainly is a break-in for a new nib. I got a broad nib for my old Pelikan a few years ago- the first few months it wasn't nearly as nice as the old Fine nib I put in another pen. Now that the Broad has been driven a few miles it is as nice as the Fine ever was. I think pens are more like dogs than cars- some training and patience is needed with the puppy!

 

[Kent]

Yes, I love to use fountain pens.
I have got three "upper class models": a Parker, a Pelikan and a Mont Blanc.
Any my favourite one: a Faber-Castell - an excellent fountain pen!

 

[matt fury]

Most people think that modern nibs don't write as well as vintage ones, and I'm one of them. I have more than a handful of vintage (50's or earlier) Mont Blancs, and a couple of new ones, and the vintage ones are hands-down winners. There's basically no such thing as flex in a modern nib, and to me, it's the flex (& an oblique nib) that make writing with a fp so expressive.

I've also got a couple of vintage Parkers, a Pelikan, a glass-cartridge filling Waterman and a few other misc pens. I just traded some cigars for a Rotring 600, and I do like the construction, I just wish the cap clamped on more tightly.

Come to think of it...I have too much money sitting in pen cases, considering the amount I write lately. It's probably time that I put some of that money into things that will sit in camera bags....

 

[Uncle Bill]

Uncle Bill,

I am hooked lately on Aurora pens; must be the Italian style. My light blue Talentium and newly aquired sterling ribbed Ipsilon give me a lot of joy to use and hold. I also recently inherited my wife's late father's Parker 51, refurbished by Richartd Binder. Now I am looking for a Cedar Blue 51...when will it end?

Hate to say this, there is no end with 51's, I have about 15 at last count split equally between aerometric fill and Vacumatic fill. That being said, I am becoming a fan of the Parker 75, also a really nice writer.

I am also a huge fan of Pelikan especially their 400 line from the 1950's, I love the nibs from that era.

Bill

 

[visiondr]

This thread has caused me (yes, you are all to blame, not me) to order a Lamy 2000 fountain pen. I HAD to replace the old pen that hit the floor, nib first (non-replaceable nib). I can't wait. It looks like a cool pen.

 

[bobkonos]

This thread has caused me (yes, you are all to blame, not me) to order a Lamy 2000 fountain pen. I HAD to replace the old pen that hit the floor, nib first (non-replaceable nib). I can't wait. It looks like a cool pen.

Hey, we're here to help. And if I can help you get that new bike, just ask.

 

[richiedcruz]

Most people think that modern nibs don't write as well as vintage ones, and I'm one of them. I have more than a handful of vintage (50's or earlier) Mont Blancs, and a couple of new ones, and the vintage ones are hands-down winners. There's basically no such thing as flex in a modern nib, and to me, it's the flex (& an oblique nib) that make writing with a fp so expressive.

I've also got a couple of vintage Parkers, a Pelikan, a glass-cartridge filling Waterman and a few other misc pens. I just traded some cigars for a Rotring 600, and I do like the construction, I just wish the cap clamped on more tightly.

Come to think of it...I have too much money sitting in pen cases, considering the amount I write lately. It's probably time that I put some of that money into things that will sit in camera bags....

You also cannot forget about weight. All my older pens are a lot lighter than any of the modern pens that I have or have tried out. Sometimes I think that modern fountain pens are more meant for signing things and looking important than actually spending long periods writing.

I can get used to the weight and different writing qualities of modern fountain pens, but I am always disappointed at the short writing times that I get out of cartidge converter style fountain pens versus the older lever filler types.

Richie

 

[jaypolaski]

I swear by my fountain pens. won't write with anything else. My daily carry pens are a Parker Double Jewel "51" in Cordovan with Sterling Silver cap, and a Bexley Simplicity with 18K nib. It is a limited edition of 114 made for the Fountain Pen Network earlier this year. Here's a shot of it I took (with a digital, unfortunately):

 

[foto_fool]

Guilty as charged!

Guilty as charged!

I have been using fountain pens for longer than I have been using rangefinders. After trading back and forth for several years I decided I prefer the piston-fill designs by Pelikan and Omas. My daily user - and the one that actually got me to start practicing penmanship again - is a vintage black M800 with a medium-oblique nib hand-cut by John Mottishaw. My signature pen is a newer green-stripe M1000 with a Pelikan stock medium-oblique; broader and more flexible than the custom nib. My occasional-use pens are a black/gold Omas Paragon M, a black/gold Omas Ogiva F and a green Omas 360 M - all with stock nibs. I have big hands and the big pens feel better in use - less cramped. I blend an ink I like from Levenger Cocoa and Cardinal Red with a touch of Waterman Black. I also like the flow and transparency of the Pelikan Blue.

- John

 

[ray_g]

My love affair with fountain pens was recently rekindled when, ironically, I recently got a letter from one of the hospital VP's that my notes and operative reports were illegible! There's something to slowing down a bit with a FP.

I love my Pelikans: 805, 605, old 600, 205 clear demonstrator and my parker 51's. A couple of them are heading for regrinding with Richard Binder.

I discovered the Danitrio Densho on FPN... yummy

More recently, I have been into more vintage pens... Waterman 52 BCHR and mottled red rubber Mabie Todd Swan, with amazing flex nibs from the 1920's. A restored original Conway Stewart 58. I have to say using them daily comes close to shooting with vintage leicas.

Another form of GAS... fortunately less expensive.

Unless, like Joerg, you are lusting for a Nakaya Urushi.

 

[visiondr]

I just picked up a very nice pen for work. It's a Lamy 2000. No nonsense Bauhaus style. Nice, smooth writing. The Lamy has no cartridge or converter fill, it only accepts ink from a bottle.

Ray, since your notes are obviously important (I use my pen for charting and general office), you might consider permanent ink such as Noodlers black. I've heard once dry this stuff is more permanent (even soaked in water) than a ball point. It also has the advantage of minimal feathering. Apparently, you can practically write on paper towels! I'm ordering a bottle myself.

 

[GeneW]

I've always preferred fountain pens. I don't collect and don't own any vintage pens, but I have a modern Sheaffer that I use daily in my Moleskine. It uses Sheaffer ink cartridges, which I refill using a diabetic's medical syringe ($0.25 at my local pharmacy). I fill them with black Pelikan ink, thanks to Jan Normandale's recommendation. Seen here, along with a few other essentials...

Gene

 

[mervynyan]

speak of which, is there someone who wants a Montblanc Starwalker Metal & Rubber fountain pen. The medium nib is a little too big for my writing style, and retailer won't find me a replacement. and more importantly, ink cartridges are too expensive to use. the whole box costs more $10, I used to write some serious notes that a box can only last 2-3 weeks.

I don't want to sell for cash but would be interested to trade with something interesting. Perhaps a similar value fountain pen.

 

[LazyHammock]

I have been writing all my personal correspondence with a fountain pen since I was forced to use one in Junior School. I now use the FP's for note-taking at work, writing grocery lists, you name it. I rarely pick up rollerballs or ballpoints anymore. I'm also working on improving my handwriting following the lessons in "Write Now" by Dubay and Getty.
My daily users are a Sailor 1911 and a Duke.
Cheers,
Nick

 

[Ken Ford]

I'm still waiting for my replacement Rotring Initial - the seller shipped me a broad nibbed pen instead of the fine I had ordered. I also have an inexpensive pen inbound - a Lamy Al-Star.