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Hello! I'm here from California with great weather and the worst political discourse between the rest of the the US! However, the best thing about fountain is that politics doesn't matter. I'll be looking forward to joining the great community! The only expensive pen I have is a Parker 45, but it is way too inky, so I never use it. The 14k nib is slightly bent, and some pieces are needed, so that's not good. My go to-pen is a Jinhao 911 (Parker 61? ripoff), and it's worked nicely for a year until it's section split in half. So far, my favorite pen is the Jinhao 911, due to it's great nib. Anyhow, thanks for the verification! If anyone knows a cheapo Parker 61, or some pen that can write on un-coated paper well, please feel free to share! I had to resort to ballpoint pens for the last few weeks ever since my 911 broke.

Just dropping a note to say hi, I used to own a fair number of fountain pens that unfortunately got lost in a move to my current home a couple of years ago. I've been reading the forum and am finding quite a few interesting stories. I joined as i have a questions about a couple of pens my nephew in-law found among his dads belongings (from 60's to 70's) but ill ask about those in the proper spot. Rob

I think I was nine when I found my dead grandpa's parker fountain pen. I never new what model it was and lost it before caring about it; but I remember the golden arrow on top of that machined-aluminum body, and I remember how that 'silver' nib amazed me. Moreover, it had an 'M' in a circle engraved on the barrel (grandpa's surname?); so personal, so mythic, so extraordinary. It was not the old pistol that was also there, in that old leather suit case of his, it was that fountain pen (can't avoid the tears just right now, sorry). Time passed and fp's remained a closet, postponed passion that I could not share with those careless friends of mine (did they also keep their passion silently for themselves?). Lately (couple years ago) it came back with renewed strength and this lasts months (I moved to a different country, started a new job and a new life) I decided to spend some time, money and ink to let it grow. And here I am...

Hi my fellow (fountain) pen lovers, This is Pravin Pai from Mumbai, India. I am just 2 years short of being a senior citizen (60 years) and it was just recently that I again reactivated my old love for fountain pens which had been dormant since my school days (1970~1975). School days I had a large collection of fountain pens and I still fondly remember many of my favorite possessions from those days, which are no more with me, particularly a Chinese made called "Wing Sung" which was so smooth and flowed like heated butter. Another favorite was a Japanese Pilot (don't remember the model name) with a telescopic bottom barrel such that while writing you could pull-out and extend the barrel and again push to shorten it before inserting in your shirt pocket. Don't know where all these possessions disappeared over the course of my travel in life. But I do have in my possession antique original black tiger-striped over green, 18K gold nibbed Parker which is about 75 years old. I don't use this anymore but once in a while remove it from its box, admire and caress it and again put it back in to the box. Over these years one pen that has stuck with me is a Sheaffer - again don't know the model name, but with its nib embedded to the top barrel. Anyway, recently I bought on Amazon a Pilot (Lizard design) fountain pen - I guess this is marketed as 'Metropolitan' outside India. This has a Fine nib and is just too good in smoothness as well as feel of writing. It is delight to write with this pen. I think every pen aficionado should have a PILOT pen in his possession. I am once again thinking of being a serious pen collector. So with the help of you friends on this forum, I hope to make some collection of good fountain pens. Please do advice. Regards Paiwah

Hello hello! I'm the new guy around here. Hey, StarrySirius. Thanks for pushing me over here (dunno how to link my friend but she'll find out). Thanks to her, I'm showing some great interests in fountain pens. For years, I have been a lurker on multiple sites, but I suppose I should be bold in introducing myself to you, the elders of the fountain pens, the wielders of the inky swords. Yes, I'm a poet, and I love literature as well as the tools that creates the lasting knowledge imprinted on a paper. Ah, but I fancy myself a renaissance man so I spread myself thin. If you wish, you can introduce me to a pen that is appropriate for a poet and one as a traveling pen. I'm considering starting up a collection of my own. Also, can anyone tell me how to add someone as a friend? Or is there a rule for a newbie like me to wait for a period of time before I officially befriend? I'm a shy person to begin with, but I'm working to overcome the challenge, hence the title of this post.

Hello All, I've been lurking for about 6 months and started posting a couple of weeks ago, so I thought I'd go ahead and introduce myself more formally. My name is Sarah, and I am addicted to fountain pens. I used them for the first time many years ago while an undergrad, then got distracted. I'm a scholar in the field of Renaissance poetics, and won a grant last summer to work in a library holding an autograph manuscript of one of "my" authors. Getting to touch the hand-written work of someone who has been dead for 400 years gave me the shivers (in a good way), and renewed my interest in writing by hand. I jumped right in to nib grinding (so that I could get the perfect italic to imitate the lines on that manuscript) and have now started in on hobby restorations.

Hello there, FPN! Well this is quite a site and I figured why not I make an account since I'm always knee-deep in writing. To introduce myself, my name is Ian and I recently got bitten by the Pen Bug about 1 month ago and already have gotten myself quite a collection of pens. Being a sophomore in university, writing with fountain pens has given me two reasons to enjoy the essense of writing with a nib rather than a ballpoint: the multiple choices of ink and the unique character that evolves around the sight of a fountain pen. I hope to enjoy being in the company of FPN and I'll be sure to keep the fountain pen fun going. Nice to meet you guys/girls!

NOW im a student in CHINA >.< i like all kinds of handwritting ， especially Gothic and Italy >.< i like to talk with friends in different countries as well ( just clean chat ) >.< i hope one day we can send snail-mail to each other >.< i don't know what else i can say ... that's all . PS. HAPPY MID-AUTUMN DAY !

Allow me to introduce myself, I'm a twenty-five year old housewife & Mother. I sort of fell into the world of pens. I didn't start off crazy about them. When I was nineteen I worked for a high end watch shop, that sold Montblanc pens & accessories, I was in charge of inventory & became very aquainted with the models we had in our store. When I left that job the only time I thought about a pen was when I needed to use one. Then last year my Husband's Uncle passed (RIP) & he left his pen collection behind. No one knew what to do with the pens or how to sort them out, they weren't exactly organized. I had the only knowlege of such a thing so I offered to help. It became my responsibility to research & catalog his collection for my Husband & his Sister. Eight months later, I've grown quite fond of pens & have aquired a great appreciation for them. I have a lot of fun researching & learning about fountain pens even though I have found it to be very time consuming! I especially love the vintage & antique pens as I just love history & anything vintage/antique! It's been exciting to jump into this unexpected hobby. I think it coincides well with my love for typewriters! Cheers! To writing instruments! -MM

If the name Rider rings a bell, it's because J. G. Rider was my grandfather. I never met him and my father was not very liberal in sharing information about his family background. I am an author and I decided to research my granddad's life. The more deeply I dig, the more interested I am. I've recently found a cigar box full of pens. About ten of them are Rider pens. I'm not sure all of them are in good shape or are salable. Admittedly, I am not a pen person so I have no idea how to proceed. I'll need help in this department. Thanks.