Fountain Pens, A Practical Solution?

[Pickwick]

In my generation the mechanical {It was known as a propelling pencil, because the graphite was exposed by twisting the pencil} pencil was the nost pratical and popular instrument to use for quick jotting down or reminders, and making notes whilst out and about. The most popular gift to give anyone was a fountain pen and pencil set. I can't recall anyone using a fountain pen other than writing a postcard or letter when away on Vacation/Holiday {the "Boot" instead of "Trunk" indicates your from the UK! I was born in Sussex, now living in California}. Using Gel or Ballpoint pens nowadays is much more practical for jotting down quick reminders.

 

Kind regards,

 

Pickwick

[tawanda]

I have been using fountain pens now for over two years and find very few situations, in my life at least, where I can't use them. I always take notes with them at university and find them quicker and less fatiguing to use than bp or gel pens.

 

I have an old Parker 45 set, and the ballpoint now has a gel refil in it. It sits in the bumbag (fanny pack?) attached to the side of my wheelchar, along with a Sheaffer Agio with Diamine cart in it. I also have a tiny notebook in there, and can whip it out to make notes 'on the go.' I have never yet grabbed the gel pen in favour of the Agio.

 

When addressing envelopes and postcards, I always try have a fountain pen loaded with Noodler's Navy which is semi-permanent and can resist water splashes.

 

On the very rare occasions when I've used a ball point/gel point I've always felt slightly let down, and my hand writing suffers significantly.

[dickydotcom]

I bought a Scheaffer rollerball about ten years ago to match the colour of my car at the time.

I never used it but recently decided it may be more practical for work when I am shuffling papers around and don't want to smudge the ink. The roller was dried out so I bought a refill. I still haven't used it.

OK so now I'm gong to find it and put it in my case to take to work with me this afternoon.

 

Dick D

[rhosygell]

My weapon of choice in all situations is my 1917 Waterman 15PSF with a manifold fine nib. It is used everywhere for all things. I have no problem letting clients / colleagues / friends use it. It is not going to disintegrate in their hands, nor will the nib evaporate when exposed to a heavy hand. It is after all designed to write through carbon paper. Pens are a lot tougher than you think.

[lalindsay225]

In my experience, fountain pens just aren't practical in every situation. I use mine as much as I can, but try to keep a ballpoint handy as well -- filling out multi-copy forms at work, writing on certain kinds of paper, etc.

[Fuzzy_Bear]

I use mine even on receipt paper. Not my problem if out smears on them.

 

I carry a cheap Fuliwen nib pen and an inexpensive Stypen on me at all times.

 

I basically concur with you. I use the fountain pen for my job and at home, but bp's when in the streets, a store, etc. Not all papers are suitable for FP's ( i.e. receipt papers)

[jsonewald]

My solution is two pocket pens, one bullet style Fisher Space Pen as the backup, with Japanese pocket fountain pen as the primary. These are pretty reliable, and loaded with Noodler's HoD, Polar Black, or Polar Blue, are pretty good for most every situation I have encountered. The Otto Tasche pocket fountain pen is an OK sub, but the quality is a little short of the Platinum/Pilot/Sailor pocket models.

 

The real reason I keep the ballpoint is for when someone else needs to use a pen. For my own use the pocket FP works.

[Bo Bo Olson]

I will admit to having a 'Vintage' Ball point, in my rotation...one ball point among 17 fountain pens, and it does get it's use every once in a while.

 

'Vintage' ie I bought it, back in the Dawn of History; the ones too good to take out of the house; the one's that would walk.

 

Jotters and Flighters and P-75 and what not.

Edited November 19, 2010 by Bo Bo Olson

[Paddler]

Do what works for you. If a ball pen is more handy, go for it. Fountain pens won't write on every surface or type of paper. You need a ball point or roller ball or gel pen for some things. People who deny this have too many parenting hormones.

 

Paddler

[Joane]

I agree a person should use the pen they feel comfortable with in the circumstances. Out and about I carry both a fountain pen and ballpoint, using the f/p any place where I can write in a secure stationary spot--work, cafè/restaurant (except for credit-card slips), professional office, etc. For moving places like bus, or car or anywhere one is likely to be jostled like crowded stores, I use the ballpoint. I do enjoy using a fountain pen on a long train journey. I keep the fragile pens for home use. The ones I carry are sturdy acrylic. Have I ever dropped them? Yes.

[LisaN]

Ball point or rollerball pens are essential.

You need to have a cup of them in your office for that "can I borrow a pen" moment.

Other than that- not really. If you need to sign a receipt, usually the person who took your card has one.

 

I have not personally used a ballpoint or rollerball pen (except for a few CC transactions) in 9 months.

I have a little notebook and a three pen case in my purse, and rotate the pens around. Even if I used jotters, I would still have to put my thing down to write something. And I do.

 

I enjoy the luxury of not being rushed- or rush-able.

[nxn96]

As much as I like and use a fountain pen, there is a bit of an inconvenience I accept to use one; starting, for example with the fact that I can't just walk into any retailer to buy a bottle of ink or pack of cartridges, but have to go out of my way to that limited group of retailers (or to the Internet) who carry such merchandise. To me, that's only a minor inconvenience, but to someone less "tied" to a fountain pen, it might be enough to justify using another form of writing instrument. It's a matter of preference vs. convenience and utility, or, practicality.

 

I regularly carry a ballpoint with me, for much the same reasons others here mention: general ease of use; good for making a quick note or signing a sales receipt; etc. However, the ballpoint I carry is usually a vintage Parker Jotter or 45 Flighter (cap-actuated) with a good refill. While there are people here who detest the idea of a ballpoint of any sort, most of us will at least acknowledge that there is a world of difference between the ballpoint experience one gets from a solid pen, such as a Jotter, versus a Bic or WriteBros stickpen with the name of some budget motel on the barrel.

 

So while I don't dislike the idea of a ballpoint, I'm still fussy as to the sort of ballpoint I use.

[ajcoleman]

Perhaps there was a reason fountain pen/ballpoint pen sets were once common. Though I nearly always use a FP, and consider the inexpensive FP's I carry very practical (Usually a Parker 45), I usually carry a ballpoint as well. Often this is just a pocket pen (Fisher Bullet or Zebra compact 301), but I also like carrying "sets" like a 45 Flighter FP with a steel Jotter ballpoint. It is not an "official" matched set, but they look nice together. And it is nice to have a BP handy when one of my kids wants to scribble a phone number on the back of their hand!

[Phormula]

I agree with nxn96. I usually carry a Jotter together with my FP. The Jotter is a good compromise, not to expensive to cry if MIA but good enough to write. And it takes very little space. In my office desk cup I have another Jotter and a Faber Castell Basic (the kind of pen that if you drop it on a table, you have to fix the table :roflmho: ), plus a couple of cheap BICs or "hotel pens" that I usually lend to people bouncing in my office and asking "do you have a pen, please?" I accept the fact that 50% of them do not come back, but I have a box in the drawer that I constantly refill with this cheap stuff and from where I source my "to lend" pens.

[orange lamy]

As a student, my only pen is the Lamy Safari, and it's a FP.

 

I carry with me in my bag, two 0.3mm mech pencil, one 0.5mm mech pencil, one 0.7mm, and the pilot eno color set in 0.7mm

 

When people ask me to borrow a pen, i have none to offer.

 

lol.

[Blade Runner]

I prefer fountain pens, but ballpoints are more versatile than fps in a many situations: writing through triplicate forms, greasy thermal paper and receipts, glossy papers like magazines and postcards, photographs, plastics, wood, wet paper, unsized paper like paper towels and napkins. They require no maintenance, they can be tossed around, you don't have to cap and uncap to avoid drying out a nib, they're usually faster on the draw, refills last much longer, you can lend them without a care, their quality control is superior to fps. When the situation calls for it I'll happily and gratefully use a ballpoint. Note: not all ballpoints are as unpleasant as a Bic or similar pen. For example a fairly inexpensive Zebra 301 is a pleasure to use and requires almost no pressure to create a smooth, consistent line.

Edited November 20, 2010 by Blade Runner

[Russ]

I keep a ballpoint in my office for inmates and most staff. :roflmho: FP's go with me everywhere.

[tonybelding]

I most typically carry around a Vanishing Point full of "bulletproof" Violet Vote, and a Fisher Space Pen. The Space Pen rarely gets used, but I can draw it when I need to fill out a "carbonless" copy form at the post office, or when somebody wants to borrow a pen.

 

Because you know, handing the VP to J. Random Citizen would be both scary and probably hilarious. To them it would be like something from another planet.

[PianoMan14]

I usually use pencils. (I like the California Republic Forest Choice).

[cubic archon]

I've never been able to stand rollerballs to be honest, even before I cared about fountain pens. They always seemed like a sort of ballpoint that was trying to be posh but never quite got it right and kept using the wrong spoon for the soup.