What do you do with your fountain pens?

[MYU]

People have fountain pens for various reasons, such as aesthetics, writing quality, history, heritage, etc. I thought it might be interesting to see how folks tend to use their fountain pens.

[djuna]

I don't have much of a collection--2 fountain pens (for now), but I use them both daily, in my journal and for writing poetry. I've banished ballpoints and rollerballs from my domain, but will use a pencil if I'm feeling tentative.

My thought is, they were made to be used and loved.

[JohnS-MI]

I am a writer, not a collector. My pens are working pens, inked (mostly).

However, I had to pick the 2nd option as I also use gel or roller ball when it is better suited to the task, and I don't feel ashamed.

[OldGriz]

All of my pens are writers.... I don't care what age they are....

As long as they are in good condition, they get written with...

When I get to a point that they are no longer used, I generally sell them to get something new....

YES, there are certain pens that probably won't get sold, but I do still write with them occassionally....

I mean after all that is what they were made for...

[sleek_lover]

Very much a writer. I have old pens, MIB stuff, that folks over at Zoss would have me hung, drawn, disemboweled and quartered for inking. That is why I hang out here...

 

Example...a pristine Estie 407 Dib-less well. Inked.

 

Bill

[Ink Stained Wretch]

Oh, I chose the writing option, all right.

 

The writing is the really nice part of the fountain pen experience for me. Nothing else will allow me to watch and feel the flow of the ink the way writing with a fountain pen will. The writing also equalizes a lot of the fountain pens, too. They write well or they don't. And in the writing it's the mechanics of the fountain pen that matter, not the price or the decorations on the barrel or cap. And that's sort of pleasing too.

[MikeLip]

It seems as though some days all I do is write! Usually in my lab and engineering journals. Usually with my Phileas, loaded with Diamine registrars blue.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

phileas

[Blacksheep95]

I don't do a lot of writting but when I do, it's with a fountain pen.

[Vintage Pens Fan]

I voted for signature & occasions. As I separate my writing in 2 categories:

 

1. For regular work & routine tasks I use a rollerball/gels pen. (Unfortunately most of my 'writing" is done with a PC :bonk: )

 

2. For enjoyment I always use a FPs, as I consider it a form of relaxation / entertainment.

 

To me FPs is becoming less as a tool but more as objects of collectible/hobby. I enjoy very much in writing with a FP, but in terms of efficiency there isn't anything to compare with writing on a laptop...(Some call it progress, but we lost a lot in the process.)

 

Just my opinion,

David

Edited January 5, 2007 by Vintage Pens Fan

[helius]

I've been using fountain pen almost exclusively for the past 5 months or so. Goodbye cramps!

 

The few exceptions being the recent post office ordeal and signing credit card slips.

[D.R.Mabuse]

I use them exclusively, though I do also collect them.

[goodguy]

I couldnt answer this poll cause you dont have my critiria.

I have about 120 pens but I only use 1 or 2 of them.The rest is in the cabinet.The 2 that I use-I always use!!!

[MYU]

Wow, great to see the distribution of replies. I expected that last 3 wouldn't get any takers, but you never know. I thought maybe we might see "I don't have any fountain pens" for those thinking about it but not yet decided.

 

I'm glad to see a lot of votes for people using them very often.

 

I voted #2, as I usually use ballpoints or rollerballs for quick jots on scrap paper or on those cheap receipts that trick up a fine nibbed fountain pen. Otherwise, I always have a fountain pen or two for things like journals and taking notes in a meeting.

 

I do have a few collectibles I won't ink, because they're quite rare and I've got cheaper versions to use. Or I have some copies to complete my set of variations--they're for display and maybe one day selling off when my interests have shifted. But thanks to the advice of a few people here, I'm going to put more of my collection to use.

[Johnny Appleseed]

I have a fairly sizable collection, all of which gets used (though there are good handful that have not been inked, sitting patiently waiting for their chance once I empty a few more that I do have inked, and a small pile waiting for repair).

 

So far I have had two vintage stickered pens that I have not used. In both cases I could find no sign of the pens having been inked. One I sold, the other is part of my Ingersoll collection and I am debating whether or not to ink it. I also have stickered pens that had been inked, and I use them (but they don't tend to leave the house, unless I am taking them to a pen club meeting).

 

John

[johnr55]

My pens work for a living, and I do use RB's and BP's on some medical forms, etc. Yes, I could probably use FP's for at least most of these but it would slow down my work, and I won't do that. For personal writing, I still go back to FP's as I have for 40+ years.

[Slush99]

i write with them. I do almost all my writing with them. If it's there, why not use it?

[kkbach]

I use fountain pens 95% of the time. The remaining 5% I use a mechanical pencil. All my pens get used even the "collector's items". Though I will admit they get used less,

 

The exppression you can achieve, whether it is a poem or a calculation just can't be beat.

 

I just live with inky fingers on ocassion.

[cwnidog]

I write with mine. I haven't written with everything yet, but sooner or later they'll all get into rotation. It's not that I have a ton of FPs, it's just that I'm particularly happy with the two Parker Vacs I'm writing with now.

 

It might sound odd, but it's my non-vintage pens that are sitting in a case right now. They've all been used, but I just like the feel of the older ones better right now.

[kissing]

Another day, another poll

 

I write a lot with FPs - I barely ever write with anything else (save a dip pen maybe ).

 

Even though I'm on holidays, I find new exciting excuses to use FPs (eg: teaching myself Japanese, writing out good books word for word )

[krz]

I now have a few pens that I keep out of circulation, but I use quite a few of them (mostly vintage). I've got many to sell off some day. I do have my favorites too.

 

I jot, write, doodle, and draw with them. I much prefer a fountain pen over anything else.