How old are fountain pen enthusiasts?

[xsquared]

18 here

 

Always was interested in calligraphy, but not in fountain pens as regular writers until college. Now I don't use anything else.

 

-xsquared

[Gerda]

I'm in my 60's and love seeing all the younger people using FP's.

I have a history of FP's from school... required and expected to write in a printing style with no mistakes... no way to corect except DO IT OVER! I loved those first pens. When I got my first one I felt as if I had something precious.

[Okami]

48

[somnath1077]

I'm 31. I used fountain pens back in the 80's when it was compulsory for school students in India to use only fountain pens. We were always taught that ball pens caused your handwriting to deteriorate. Since 1992, two years before I took my first public examination (ICSE, the equivalent of the O-level exam), I started using ball pens. The ICSE is conducted on a nationwide level and answer scripts of students from one state are often sent to another state for evaluation. I was paranoid that if I used fountain pens in the exam and my answer scripts got all wet, for some weird reason while they're being shipped, I'd lose marks for no fault of mine. So I began using ball pens. And this continued through my ISC (the A-level exam), B.Tech, and M.Tech. Year later, while I was doing a PhD, a friend of mine reintroduced me to fountain pens. I got to know of FPN. And the rest is history. Now I use fountain pens on a regular basis and only occasionally (esp. when I travel) use ball/roller pens.

[ZebraPenguin]

25 here.

 

I had actively resisted proper fountain pens up until a short while ago, despite having had plenty of ink-dipping experience doing calligraphy. Figures it was only a matter of time, hey?

[TarpAsAShack]

Will turn 52 in July.

I remember using fountain pens in grade school, then have gone back to them on and off for the past 10 years.

Oops, I guess I'm older than I think. I'll be 53 in July.

I'm amazed at the number of under 30 people here. My guess is that fountain pens will continue for a few more generations.

[bayport714]

I am 60 and penmanship in my grade school was taught with a dip pen and inkwell.

[katia]

32 Here! I never used a fountain pen until I was 22 - got into fountain pens when reading a war romance story from WW .

[girlieg33k]

Like Jack Benny, I am 39 years old (plus one). I've been around fountain pens as far back as I can remember; given my age (and attention span) that means 20 minutes.

[pen2paper]

well someone has finally nailed down my age..old enough to recall the British licensure of the beggar Scots.

now who was my King then?

[sentraser165]

I'm 22. While I recently got into FPs, they have always held some sort of esteem in my eyes. I just recently decided to look more into it.

[jar]

well someone has finally nailed down my age..old enough to recall the British licensure of the beggar Scots.

now who was my King then?

 

James I as opposed to James I & VI. But it was the Parliament in 1424 that actually first nationalized the License.

[madamemarsouin]

I'm 16, and I've always loved pens and other writing instruments, but I never had much interest in fountain pens because I'd only seen them in the Levenger catalogue, where they are large, shiny, and expensive. My best friend ('susibilia' on this forum) got me into fountain pens a few months ago, and I absolutely love them. I take a lot of notes in school, so not only do fountain pens keep my hand from cramping after hours of notetaking, but they are a great aid in staying awake during boring lectures. I can spend hours doodling and practicing my handwriting in multicolored ink. I wrote the essays for my AP European History exam with a fountain pen, hoorah! xD

[wacomme]

I'm 47. Has that number been taken?

[Fountainbass]

I already posted in here, but I turn 34 today.

[Ryan Stewart]

I'm 28, and it's great to see such a wide variety of age groups and reasons for using FPs. And to think my wife calls this an "Old Man Hobby"...

[deauville]

I'm 28, and it's great to see such a wide variety of age groups and reasons for using FPs. And to think my wife calls this an "Old Man Hobby"...

 

It's good, being an old man - you're allowed to grumble and groan as much as you like. And talk about how much better things used to be

 

 

 

[ultraman60]

Holding on to 42 here!

 

 

 

Touchy topic.

I was born in 1950 and used a fountain pen in elementary school (an Esterbrook, which I still have!). I also used ballpoints, roller balls and gel pens as they came along, but always perferred fountain pens.

I think that is understandable.

What about people born into the era of ballpoints? What causes them to develop an understanding and love of quirky, sometimes difficult fountain pens?

My kids are 23,25 and 28 and all look at me with love and pity when I pull out a fountain pen. To them I might as well be driving a Model T Ford instead of a Mustang. Despite my example, none of them have the slightest interest in using anything but a Pilot G2.

Are there many members here my kids ages? I would love to hear how you got the bug.

 

[adyf]

I'm 43. Received a Parker 45 for my 7th birthday (recently restored by RB) from my parents and have been using fp's ever since.

[kurzman]

I'm 28. I've started using FPs a year ago and since then I've got very addicted and now only write with FPs unless one isn't handy.