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Good morning from Ottawa! I have lurked on the site for quite awhile now and have even posted a couple of times, I decided it was high time I introduced myself in a more formal manner. I am a researcher in photonics/optics and originally was draw to fountain pens for the access to bottled ink as I was using preloaded ballpoints/gel pens at an alarming rate. I picked up a Lamy Safari demonstrator as a test and a bottle of blue waterman ink and then I suppose like most of us on here the bug bit and I have not really stopped. While I started with Lamy I quickly branched out and have not really settled on one brand, my only real trend is towards fine nibs as I use them extensively for equations and derivations. While I "collect" pens I do not see myself as a collector per say as all of my pens are in the regular inking rotation and I try to make a point of using everything I have and only buying something I want to use. With this being said in addition to one of my Safaris my Faber-Castell Mondoro, Mont Blanc UNICEF Le Grand, Kaweco Sport and Esterbrook do seem to be inked more often than others. In the interest of completeness below you will find my current collection of pens/inks. I look forward to being part of the community and seeing what everyone has to say. Pens Cerruti 1881 - Unidentified Esterbrook: - Black J Double Jewels (9460 Nib (Rigid Medium / Manifold Medium), 9555 Nib (Gregg Shorthand - F), 2314 B Nib (Relief Broad Stub))Faber-Castell - Mondoro (Orange) -EFFaber-Castell - e-motion (Black Parquet) - MKaweco - Sport (Black) - EFKaweco - Sport (Maroon) - FLamy Nibs including M, F, 1.1 ItalicLamy - Accent MatteLamy - Al-star (Blue)Lamy - Al-star (Copper/Orange)Lamy - Nexx (grey/Green)Lamy - Safari (Demonstrator)Lamy - Safari (Black)Noodler Ahab (Green)Rotring - Core (Grey/Orange - Awaiting arrival)Schaeffer - Taranis - FSchaeffer - 300 (Red Iridescent) - MScaheffer - Unidentified - MWaterman - Kultur (Blue Demonstrator) - MWaterman - Phileas (Purple/Blue Marble) - FWaterman - Hemisphere (All metal) - MInk J. Herbin - Eclat de SaphirJ. Herbin - Orange IndienJ. Herbin - Perle NoireJ. Herbin - Rouge OperaLamy - Copper OrangeMont Blanc - Oyster GreyMont Blanc - Lavender /PurpleNoodlers - Bulletproof BlackPilot Iroshizuku - Kiri-samePrivate Reserve - AvacadoPrivate Reserve - Black CherrySailor - Blue/BLackWaterman - Intense Black

As promised here (https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php/topic/275605-any-areas-to-look-for-in-hardwar-uttarkhand/) , today I'll show off my hauls during my vacation. As I visited 3 different parts of India, allow me to introduce the bounty likewise. Part I: Kolkata Hauls: Sulekha inks, Crystal Violet,Emerald Green, Turquoise Blue & Scarlet Red. pics are here (https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php/topic/90558-hunting-for-old-fps-in-kolkata-india-ramblings/page-3) Picked up from Sulekha Showroom at Jadavpur, Kolkata. Pens: A Parker Vacumatic Junior, A Sheaffer touchdown & A Wilson 45. Let me talk about the Wilson first, as it was a gift to my dad; year 1985. My dad was an employee in the claims division in Eastern Railway, a brunch of Indian Railways (Retd. now). This pen was never used and laid in a corner in the cupboard, forgotten. Upon pressing for details, my dad confessed that it was a gift for some tough assignment that he managed to untangle and complete successfully. I was also shown the certificates and other documents, as well as few b/w pictures. This is a heirloom, and I intend to give it a good use, cause pens are not meant to be locked up (IMHO,YMMV). The sheaffer TD and the Vac junior came from the little but enchanting treasure trove of fountain pen hospital in Esplanade, Kolkata. As you can see, it has a triumph nib (me thinks). I don't know the model name, and I'm relying on you guys for identification. Here's the parker Vac junior & a close up of the nib: As you can see, the nib is inserted well within the pen, so I can't see the year of manufacturing. I can't finish Part I without acknowledging the wonderful Raj Bhai (Riaz) of the Fountain Pen hospital, and the shop owner of Sulekha (Mr. Ghosh). The inks were bought during our festive season (Durga Puja), where we celebrate the triumph of Good over Evil. When Mr Ghosh saw me snatching up four ink bottles with eager hands, he remarked and I translate, "This doesn't look like the type of shopping for Durga Puja, but looks like that of Swaraswati Puja". [swaraswati: Deity of learning and Wisdom]. It was fun discussing pens and inks with him. Raj Bhai, on the other hand, was pleasantly surprised when I showed enthusiasm on fountain pens and was about to pull out a tray for cheap chinese ones, when I said,"I came here to pick up something unique, preferably vintage". He showed Pelikans (200,400,Silbexa), Pilots(78G,Decimo), Parkers(45,21,Frontier,Vac Senior), Sheaffer (PFM II Black,Targa Slim(with converter ), Targa,Imperials, & few TDs & Snorkels (impossible to remember models,forgive me readers )), Easterbrook (only 1 model, which I forgot),Eversharp (Doric,Lever Filler).. I also picked up a con-W for an old Pilot, and serviced my Cross Solo (bad nib !). He promised to keep an eye out for a wilson 45 ballpoint pen (to complete the set). Now I know where to invest my meager salary. Part II: Hardwar,Uttarakhand I have already given details here (https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php/topic/275605-any-areas-to-look-for-in-hardwar-uttarkhand/). Nibs are here, bunched with 4 Kale and 2 Montex nibs: & the delightful Tridents Nothing much to say on this part. Part III: Delhi My intention was to pick up Serwex pens, from the shop situated at Nai Sarak. To my utter bewilderment, I found a Saree (Traditonal garment for Indian Women) Shop there. I asked around, and was informed that the pen shop had been closed few months ago. My efforts to secure a few Serwex pens in other shops also turned futile, but I was directed at ARORA SONS (not Aurora! ) which is located very near to the HDFC & Kotak Mahindra ATMs. Well, Arora do stock fountain pens, and have Waterman,Lamy,Cross,Parker,Sheaffer, Mont Blanc (163). However they do not stock Indian fountain pens. I happened to choose a bad day, a businessman was present at the shop & was hoping to pick up some premium pens to be gifted on the occasion of Diwali. Being a complete non FP user (though he spoke as if he knew them all!!), he was taking a hell lot of time. Finally, as I was getting frustrated, I asked at the counter if he could show me his box of old stocks. They looked at me indignantly and asked if I owned a shop. Upon hearing my answer, they laughed among themselves (to my great shock!) and told me that they don't have cheap pens. Though it was rude, I kept my calm and asked them a few questions about their stock, and came to know that 1. They don't have Lamy replacement nibs 2. They stock only medium nibs 3. They know absolutely nothing about vintage pens or its worth. (I played a safe bait, and asked Sheaffer Snorkels,touchdowns & imperials) However, when I asked about isographs (Rotring), they said that they are out of stock, but have a single Rotring FP left. When I challenged them to tell the model, they admitted that they didn't know. So I took the opportunity to reciprocate my feelings in few sarcastic words, paid the bill & left. Them %$#@$@%!! Here's the freeway Disclaimer 1: I have no affiliation to the pen shops mentioned, though I'd go back time and again to Raj bhai for pens & Sulekha, for inks. Disclaimer 2: I vented my anger at Arora Sons, as they had no right to be rude to a customer, that too an enthusiast (If I cam be called that !), for not shelling out heavy money on Waterman Perspectives or Cross Beverlies. Yes, they are nice pens I'm sure, but I was there for something else. Disclaimer 3: I do not intend to hurt anyone's feelings. Disclaimer 4: Moderators,you are at liberty to place the topic to the right forum if need be. Thanks All. Your constructive ideas are very much welcome