A Yorkshire Neophyte Checking In

[zenephi001]

From the edge of 'Bronteland' in the West Riding of Yorkshire - 'Hello & Welcome'.

 

I think there must be something in the Yorkshire water (apart from tea, or hops & barley) .... or some sort of mind / life control 'plot' based on Fylingdales ..... call for Scully (I think that was her name) and cue creapy music .......

 

I too had an excellent matt black Sheaffer Targa with a fine italic nib - fantasic pen & writer - I still 'miss' it a lot. It was "liberated" from my possession sometime in the early 90's - as we were re-organising schools etc. - The only pen I have ever had stolen. I have managed to pick up the basic matt black pen again, with a medium nib - I'm still looking to pick up the fine italic to put into it. (good job I have patience) ! My Thorens & Kef Chorals are awaiting re-instatement - along with the Sony TA-1055 & ST-5055L - and I settled on a Bialetti Mocha Expess (less work involved & the coffee is still good). Unfortunately my Viking from Pennine Cycles went to other feet to pedal sometime in the mid 90's.

 

Now, back to the point ...... Since you've found italics again with the manuscript set may I suggest a great pen for you to try - it's £39, so well within budget, and is the smoothest nib, let alone italic (semi-stub) nib, I have ever used ... it's the Parson's Essential from mrpen.co.uk. Wide range of nibs etc. Black laquer on metal (other colours available - all final work on the pen, including nib finishing, done in the UK and the help on phone is good - delivery is lightening fast + nib exchange within 30 days if not happy with the one chosen etc. Check out other comments on FPN & on YouTube for confirmation & more details. (I know it's a 'Southern' company but they really are good and the Parson's really is an excellent writer)

 

On a really serious note I am afraid you are lost.

 

I joined FPN six months ago when I started my search for the Targa. I now have a 'nest' of Pelikans (very smooth piston fillers), a set of Platinums (japanese - the low priced Metallic Balance fine nib is a great all rounder and the Century #3776 UEF nibbed phenominal), a very smooth Sailor EF, a boatload of Pilot 78g's, a couple of Ahabs - now on special offer $13 +$6 p&p from Isellpens.com - these are modern pens designed for some flex that I really enjoy, a suprisingly good Waterman's Hemisphere etc. etc. All this in just six months!!!!

 

You will need an IRON WILL to resist the pens and the inks! Ah yes - the inks! So many - so little time .... Diamine are excellent and based in the north of the UK (you can get the 30ml plastic 'bottles' for around £2.30 - £2.75 if you shop around - handy to try out a number of colours without spending too much at a time) ... and I've found Waterman's to be of the same high standard as well (their Serenity Blue even got me to like blue ink)..... but, as others have said, it also depends upon the pen and the paper. Ah yes - the paper! I like Clairefontain / Rhodia (French) and Oxford (UK) as they handle the inks I use very well re bleed through and feathering (Noodlers X-Feather ink is good for papers that seem made for ballpoints). I source my paper from bureaudirect.co.uk and thewritingdesk.co.uk

 

Other companies worth a look at for pens are .... cultpens.com ... purepens.co.uk .... . Apart from Ebay keep a weather eye on Amazon as well - I picked up my green Pelican M200 fine for less than £50, new but without a fancy box, from a seller there; much cheaper. You state you have small hands - have a look at the Pelikan M150. I got one for under £50 from mrpen.co.uk - when a specially made italic nib - a beautiful, great, small piston filler pen.

 

OK .. enough of the ramble .... if you need any extra info on any of the above just PM me on the FPN and I'll get back to you etc.....

 

Good Luck - John

[pen-lover]

Welcome, I'm pretty new as well.

[dalliance]

Hello there, and commiserations on finding FPN.

[Eclectica]

Welcome Ant !

 

If you have a proclivity to collecting things then yes fountain pens will suck you in - not that it is at all bad, but something that can cause a certain amounts of disharmony at times - in a relationship for example!

 

I bought a vintage Swan Mabie Todd with No. 2 nib and fortunately had the opportunity to try it before buying and was so thrilled that have been using it every day since.

 

It is a beautiful writer - it is always ready and wet... ...if only everything were that simple in life .

 

All the best with your almost certain up and coming purchases!!

[Pen Nut]

Hello and welcome to you. Worked in Todmorden, yep it is in Yorkshire, and have friends in Cusworth which is 'oop thar way'.......

[Vendome]

T'missus is a tad brassed off about t'coil i't bath bur apar' fro' thar a'm a'reight, aye.

 

Tell Ma not to go into coal cellar. There's enough slack in me trousers.

[Pickwick]

I work with a guy who comes from Leeds in Yorkshire. My co-workers and I are having problems understanding him. He sure has a rapid fire of speech. doesn't drink anything but Yorkshire tea. He's quite a character.

[antheald]

Thanks for the further welcomes ad more great advice. And the warnings too!

 

@John - yes, there's a lot of serendipity going on here. I already heard of the Parson's Essential. One of the things that drew me into the FPN fold was searching for information about a good quality first fountain pen as I thought one would make a nice 18th birthday present for my son. It arrived yesterday. Obviously I had to make sure it works OK! It's a lovely writer (I went for a fine cursive nib as his handwriting is rather small and cramped). It's just the right weight and length for my taste, so I'm sure I'll soon be ordering one for myself. Or maybe the set of all three colours with different nibs.

 

and those Ahabs: all those gorgeous colours. I was thinking one might make a better starter to writing with flex than taking a bit of a chance on a vintage, but then Eclectica came along with that paen to his/her Mabie Todd, and now I'm thinking maybe I should just get both.

 

Right now I'm en rout to Berlin on a school trip. I hear there are some great pen shops there. Thankfully we will have very little free time, otherwise who knows what I'd end up coming back with.

 

@Pen Nut- yes Todomorden is one of those border areas that unlike my home area (West Craven) survived the indignity of the 1974 border butchery. Yorkshire, yes, but solid Claret: I, too, am a White Rose Burnley fan.

 

@Pikwick - much as I love Yorkshire tea, I'd be very suspicious of anyone who drank nothing else. Surely he must partake of a tipple of Old Peculier or Timothy Taylor's occasionally?

[Pickwick]

Thanks for the further welcomes ad more great advice. And the warnings too!

 

@John - yes, there's a lot of serendipity going on here. I already heard of the Parson's Essential. One of the things that drew me into the FPN fold was searching for information about a good quality first fountain pen as I thought one would make a nice 18th birthday present for my son. It arrived yesterday. Obviously I had to make sure it works OK! It's a lovely writer (I went for a fine cursive nib as his handwriting is rather small and cramped). It's just the right weight and length for my taste, so I'm sure I'll soon be ordering one for myself. Or maybe the set of all three colours with different nibs.

 

and those Ahabs: all those gorgeous colours. I was thinking one might make a better starter to writing with flex than taking a bit of a chance on a vintage, but then Eclectica came along with that paen to his/her Mabie Todd, and now I'm thinking maybe I should just get both.

 

Right now I'm en rout to Berlin on a school trip. I hear there are some great pen shops there. Thankfully we will have very little free time, otherwise who knows what I'd end up coming back with.

 

@Pen Nut- yes Todomorden is one of those border areas that unlike my home area (West Craven) survived the indignity of the 1974 border butchery. Yorkshire, yes, but solid Claret: I, too, am a White Rose Burnley fan.

 

@Pikwick - much as I love Yorkshire tea, I'd be very suspicious of anyone who drank nothing else. Surely he must partake of a tipple of Old Peculier or Timothy Taylor's occasionally?

Absolutely not! We get the impression he travels to the UK 3 to 4 times a year just to stock up on it, although he insists he likes to visit his family. Must admit it's pretty good, and explain that we do drink tea here, but he insists it's not the same.

[Francis_Rex]

Ant, Sorry I have been away from FPN as I find it a massive yet enjoyable distraction and hence I did not reply to your respond earlier.

 

Re Flex;I would just research it on this site where you will find great examples of how nibs open and shape lettering.Also You Tube has some examples of flex pens being used. The nibs are softer and "bouncy" and very enjoyable to use. Swann Mabie Todds rock!

 

Sheaffer PFM & hand size: if you do not like a big pen then ignore that suggestion. It is a big pen. Btw , I bought yesterday a LAMY AL-Star which gets good reviews: that is actually quite a big pen too. The Parsons' Essential mentioned above is not too big but quite weighty being nade of brass but good value..Avoid the Churchman's Prescriptor (its stable mate) by Mr Italix if size is an issue, it is big and weighty, but great value!

 

If you the Rotring pen size, the Capless, when you truly get the bug will fit: it is not a big pen. If you want smaller pens look out for Parker Slimfolds from the 50s or a Kaweco Sport is a great contemporary pen.

 

Look: this is an addiction!

 

Enjoy

 

F

[Carrie]

Greetings from a Lancashire Lass. Now what you need to be told about are the pen shows. The Northern Show is held in Lytham every April and then the Midlands Show is in Lichfield in June.