Primacy Effect?

[inkstainedruth]

I remember having, when I was around 9 or 10 -- so, yeah, impressionable age -- something with a lever that may have been a pen/pencil combo (I could never figure out how to load replacement leads, and thought it should be through the lever...). It *may* have been a Parker, because the brand name always resonated with me (it had been my grandfather's); I may also have had something like a Sheaffer at one point, but When I first got back into using fountain pens (about 8 or 9 years ago at this point, I had a couple of cheap Parker cartridge pens (Rialto? the ones with the the rubberized section), in succession. When I couldn't get them at Staples any more, I ended up "upgrading" to a Vector, and when I left that pen someplace I upgraded to an Urban. This was mostly all due to still having Parker cartridges.

What best represents my tastes now? Good question. Unfortunately I don't have a good answer, other than I have more vintage and semi-vintage pens than anything else; and more Parkers than any other brand (vintage or modern) -- more than double the number of the next highest number by brand, which is Esterbrook. I do have a tendency to get more than one of the same model if I like it: hence 6 Vectors (I still have that original one from when I got back into using fountain pens); six 51s -- plus a 51 Special and a 21; four Vacumatics; three Sheaffer Snorkels; four Noodler's Konrads (three resin bodied ones and an ebonite one); etc.

Similarities? Dunno. My favorite pen is one of the 51s; but for my favorite *fill* system I would have to say piston fillers. And because I have so many vintage pens, I probably have more F nibs than anything else.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[catbert]

 

1. What was your first pen?

• Sheaffer Snorkle - passed along to me by my mom, who had replaced the blue Snorkel open nib with a gray P51 fine point.

2. Did you get it at an impressionable age?

• inquisitive Pre-K age = Snorkle was mechanical!!! = fascinating Peacock Blue ink bubble maker. We spent a lot of time together.

3. What pen or type of pen best represents your preferences today?

• reliable - Safari 1.1
• vintage - reliable, semi-flex nibs, demonstrating the varied development of pen History

4. What similarities, if any, do you see between the two?

• absolutely, appreciating the mechanics of the Snorkle vs next inheriting the "Scratchy" P51, as my mom shifted to ballpoints = early recognition that the instrument could be somewhat complex and work, or fairly simple, and require fussy adjusting with upkeep. Always interested in writing equipment, as an adult revisiting vintage I first sought out a Snorkle. Then much later, convinced to try a well-tuned 51. But, Daily I use my never fussy Safari 1.1's

 

 

The connection to your earliest fountain pens seems clear. How wonderful to get two classics right at the beginning.

 

Until I read it again, I thought you were saying that your mom had transplanted a P51 nib into a snorkel, which would have been amazing!

[catbert]

 

 

1. My first fountain pen was a Parker IM.
2. I bought it in my impressionable early fifties. I am now in my impressionable late fifties.
3. Pilot Custom Heritage 92 for modern pens. Several different types of vintage ones.
4. None. The Parker IM was a piece of junk that was just good enough to get me interested in finding a different fountain pen that worked. The Pilot Custom Heritage 92 just works without any problems.

 

 

This is a dangerous place for us impressionable types, but you already knew that (he said, adding a Custom Heritage 92 to his list of pens to check out.)

[catbert]

I remember having, when I was around 9 or 10 -- so, yeah, impressionable age -- something with a lever that may have been a pen/pencil combo (I could never figure out how to load replacement leads, and thought it should be through the lever...). It *may* have been a Parker, because the brand name always resonated with me (it had been my grandfather's); I may also have had something like a Sheaffer at one point, but When I first got back into using fountain pens (about 8 or 9 years ago at this point, I had a couple of cheap Parker cartridge pens (Rialto? the ones with the the rubberized section), in succession. When I couldn't get them at Staples any more, I ended up "upgrading" to a Vector, and when I left that pen someplace I upgraded to an Urban. This was mostly all due to still having Parker cartridges.

What best represents my tastes now? Good question. Unfortunately I don't have a good answer, other than I have more vintage and semi-vintage pens than anything else; and more Parkers than any other brand (vintage or modern) -- more than double the number of the next highest number by brand, which is Esterbrook. I do have a tendency to get more than one of the same model if I like it: hence 6 Vectors (I still have that original one from when I got back into using fountain pens); six 51s -- plus a 51 Special and a 21; four Vacumatics; three Sheaffer Snorkels; four Noodler's Konrads (three resin bodied ones and an ebonite one); etc.

Similarities? Dunno. My favorite pen is one of the 51s; but for my favorite *fill* system I would have to say piston fillers. And because I have so many vintage pens, I probably have more F nibs than anything else.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

 

Sounds like a soft spot for Parkers could be linked to formative memories if not an actual pen?

 

I bought a 51 Special almost immediately after getting back into a fountain pens, thanks to reading FPN. A vacumatic, snorkel and Konrad are on my wish list - just waiting for the right ones. Have so far escaped wanting to own multiples of any pen, but of course there's a case to be made that different trim, nib, etc. makes it a totally different pen.

[NinthSphere]

 

Could this be an example of a not totally positive first pen sending you in the opposite direction from the 'prototype'? (Actual psychologists, please correct.) I think it's great that you still have it somewhere.

 

It was most definitely not postitive.

 

We used to have notepads all over the house with ads for prescription drugs & my favorite was one that had a fountain pen writing the text across the bottom, When I finally got one, it was great...until the day it wasn't. I used to carry all of my writing stuff in my pants pocket. I still carry pencils, Sharpies, & a tac pen in my pants pocket. One day in class, I went to pull out the fp & found an entire cart of black covering the inside of my pocket & everything in it. After that, it stayed home, eventually falling out of use when I stopped buying carts.

 

I picked up another years later when I got my first job. A chrome bodied pos. The only thing I remember of it is that it broke in some obviously irrepairable way & I ended up tossing it. It was followed by a cheap plastic pen that I dropped because it felt like writing with a cheap plastic pen.

 

So, when I decided to have another go at it, this time throwing in enough money to get a good quality pen, I did a bunch of shopping around. I was still interested in the idea of a fountain pen, but completely different from what came before. That eventually led me to Sheaffer inlaids & the mashup of Sheaffer quasi-Imps & Ranga ebonite bodies, & along the way, FPN.

[catbert]

 

It was most definitely not postitive.

 

We used to have notepads all over the house with ads for prescription drugs & my favorite was one that had a fountain pen writing the text across the bottom, When I finally got one, it was great...until the day it wasn't. I used to carry all of my writing stuff in my pants pocket. I still carry pencils, Sharpies, & a tac pen in my pants pocket. One day in class, I went to pull out the fp & found an entire cart of black covering the inside of my pocket & everything in it. After that, it stayed home, eventually falling out of use when I stopped buying carts.

 

I picked up another years later when I got my first job. A chrome bodied pos. The only thing I remember of it is that it broke in some obviously irrepairable way & I ended up tossing it. It was followed by a cheap plastic pen that I dropped because it felt like writing with a cheap plastic pen.

 

So, when I decided to have another go at it, this time throwing in enough money to get a good quality pen, I did a bunch of shopping around. I was still interested in the idea of a fountain pen, but completely different from what came before. That eventually led me to Sheaffer inlaids & the mashup of Sheaffer quasi-Imps & Ranga ebonite bodies, & along the way, FPN.

 

The idea - the ideal, even - of a fountain pen must have been planted pretty firmly by those notepads.

 

Sounds like we both got here via Peyton Street. Those old Sheaffers make nice pocket pens.

[httpmom]

What was your first pen?

An old Sheaffer school cartridge pen with a 305 (fat medium) nib. I’ve attached a photo because I still have one…and it still works 50+ years later.

 

 

2. Did you get it at an impressionable age?

 

Third grade private school when we were required to switch form pencil to fountain pen. Used these daily until I entered public high school.

 

 

3. What pen or type of pen best represents your preferences today?

 

Except for my calligraphy pens, I prefer piston fillers to cartridges and I prefer to use my own choice of bottled inks. I also generally like fine points of a higher quality, especially 14k gold. I love semi-flex to full flex nibs, especially in vintage pens. In modern pens I like reasonably priced ($50-200) Japanese and German pens because the nibs are well made and the designs comfortable and attractive in the hand.

 

Right now I own the following:

Platinum Century 3776 Pur

Pilot Metropolitan X 4

Italix Parsons x 2

Esterbrook J Vintage

Swan Marbie Todd flex nib Vintage

Pilot Custom Maple Kaede

Pilot Namiki Falcon

Sheaffer School Pen

Lamy Saffari x 2

Sheaffer Targa Vintage

Edison Nouveau Preimere

Osmiriod Calligraphy Pens Full Set Vintage

Lamy Calligraphy Pens Full Set

 

I also own a number of oblique dip pens and calligraphy nibs.

 

If money were no object I would have a few fine Italian Auroras, Omas, and a few custom made Eboya pens. I would never spend my money on a Montblanc pen because they are so overpriced. Especially when you can get a wonderful Diplomat of equal or superior quality for half the price. I am saving right now to purchase a Pilot Justus 95 to be customized for Spencerian Script by John Mottishaw at nibs.com. After that I would like to purchase a Lamy 200, a few more Diplomats, and whatever.

 

4. What similarities, if any, do you see between the two?

None whatsoever, except I hope to own and use them for just as long.

Edited June 14, 2015 by httpmom

[catbert]

Old_School_Pen.jpg

What was your first pen?

An old Sheaffer school cartridge pen with a 305 (fat medium) nib. I’ve attached a photo because I still have one…and it still works 50+ years later.

 

 

2. Did you get it at an impressionable age?

 

Third grade private school when we were required to switch form pencil to fountain pen. Used these daily until I entered public high school.

 

 

3. What pen or type of pen best represents your preferences today?

 

Except for my calligraphy pens, I prefer piston fillers to cartridges and I prefer to use my own choice of bottled inks. I also generally like fine points of a higher quality, especially 14k gold. I love semi-flex to full flex nibs, especially in vintage pens. In modern pens I like reasonably priced ($50-200) Japanese and German pens because the nibs are well made and the designs comfortable and attractive in the hand.

 

Right now I own the following:

Platinum Century 3776 Pur

Pilot Metropolitan X 4

Italix Parsons x 2

Esterbrook J Vintage

Swan Marbie Todd flex nib Vintage

Pilot Custom Maple Kaede

Pilot Namiki Falcon

Sheaffer School Pen

Lamy Saffari x 2

Sheaffer Targa Vintage

Edison Nouveau Preimere

Osmiriod Calligraphy Pens Full Set Vintage

Lamy Calligraphy Pens Full Set

 

I also own a number of oblique dip pens and calligraphy nibs.

 

If money were no object I would have a few fine Italian Auroras, Omas, and a few custom made Eboya pens. I would never spend my money on a Montblanc pen because they are so overpriced. Especially when you can get a wonderful Diplomat of equal or superior quality for half the price. I am saving right now to purchase a Pilot Justus 95 to be customized for Spencerian Script by John Mottishaw at nibs.com. After that I would like to purchase a Lamy 200, a few more Diplomats, and whatever.

 

4. What similarities, if any, do you see between the two?

None whatsoever, except I hope to own and use them for just as long.

 

Nice photo! It still looks like new. I wonder how many here started out with a pen like that and have never looked back? I think it's great you still have one in your collection.

 

I also have a couple of Safaris (including one of the early green ones - much used and abused) but those are the only pens we have in common.

 

If money were no object I probably wouldn't get a modern Montblanc, but a 50s model with some flex would be another story. (Adds Diplomat to list of pens to check out. )

[pen2paper]

 

The connection to your earliest fountain pens seems clear. How wonderful to get two classics right at the beginning.

 

Until I read it again, I thought you were saying that your mom had transplanted a P51 nib into a snorkel, which would have been amazing!

oops, sorry, it's edited to (hopefully) read clearly now. Before posting, added specific nib details, which clouded the original wording, then neglected to proofread.

[penswordnoassemblyrequired]

1. What was your first pen?

A MontBlanc slim-line.

2. Did you get it at an impressionable age?

As an impressionable adult.

3. What pen or type of pen best represents your preferences today?

A vintage Waterman.

4. What similarities, if any, do you see between the two?

Yeah, the Watermans work, the MontBlanc is a pain in the neck.

(Shawn Newton did fix the MontBlanc so I shouldn't be so negative about it but he didn't give it a character infusion.)

PS I guess that means no similarities. And the Watermans are of course lovely and replete with history and the MB is a straight red pen.

Edited June 14, 2015 by penswordnoassemblyrequired

[prf5]

1. What was your first pen?: Parker 51

2. Did you get it at an impressionable age?: Age 10

3. What pen or type of pen best represents your preferences today?: Parker 75, Pilot CH 91

4. What similarities, if any, do you see between the two?: The Parker brand, otherwise none

[inkstainedruth]

 

Sounds like a soft spot for Parkers could be linked to formative memories if not an actual pen?

 

I bought a 51 Special almost immediately after getting back into a fountain pens, thanks to reading FPN. A vacumatic, snorkel and Konrad are on my wish list - just waiting for the right ones. Have so far escaped wanting to own multiples of any pen, but of course there's a case to be made that different trim, nib, etc. makes it a totally different pen.

Yup. Definitely formative memories. Of course the Esterbrook stash might be because you can also apparently use Osmiroid nib units on them: my first college roommate (who was a year ahead of me) had an Osmiroid pen from when she took calligraphy. When I took it sophomore year, though, it was with a different instructor and we used Speedball pens. And C nibs at that. Boring.

All the pens you list are ones I ended up with because of FPN. This place is sooooo dangerous to my wallet!

But hey, can I use your, er, justification of them being "totally different pens"? I need to explain the stash to the husband sometimes....

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[catbert]

 

1. What was your first pen?

A MontBlanc slim-line.

2. Did you get it at an impressionable age?

As an impressionable adult.

3. What pen or type of pen best represents your preferences today?

A vintage Waterman.

4. What similarities, if any, do you see between the two?

Yeah, the Watermans work, the MontBlanc is a pain in the neck.

(Shawn Newton did fix the MontBlanc so I shouldn't be so negative about it but he didn't give it a character infusion.)

PS I guess that means no similarities. And the Watermans are of course lovely and replete with history and the MB is a straight red pen.

 

 

Speaking of straight red pens, perhaps one of those lovely red hard rubber Watermans (sorry for my ignorance of Waterman models) could be the missing link?

[catbert]

 

1. What was your first pen?: Parker 51

2. Did you get it at an impressionable age?: Age 10

3. What pen or type of pen best represents your preferences today?: Parker 75, Pilot CH 91

4. What similarities, if any, do you see between the two?: The Parker brand, otherwise none

 

 

Yes, sometimes it does seem to come down to a residual brand loyalty or soft spot.

[httpmom]

Yup. Definitely formative memories. Of course the Esterbrook stash might be because you can also apparently use Osmiroid nib units on them: my first college roommate (who was a year ahead of me) had an Osmiroid pen from when she took calligraphy. When I took it sophomore year, though, it was with a different instructor and we used Speedball pens. And C nibs at that. Boring.

All the pens you list are ones I ended up with because of FPN. This place is sooooo dangerous to my wallet!

But hey, can I use your, er, justification of them being "totally different pens"? I need to explain the stash to the husband sometimes....

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

Yes I have 2 vintage Esterbrooks and all my vintage Osmeriod nibs work perfectly on them. Just LOVE that.

[catbert]

Yup. Definitely formative memories. Of course the Esterbrook stash might be because you can also apparently use Osmiroid nib units on them: my first college roommate (who was a year ahead of me) had an Osmiroid pen from when she took calligraphy. When I took it sophomore year, though, it was with a different instructor and we used Speedball pens. And C nibs at that. Boring.

All the pens you list are ones I ended up with because of FPN. This place is sooooo dangerous to my wallet!

But hey, can I use your, er, justification of them being "totally different pens"? I need to explain the stash to the husband sometimes....

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

 

My ever-expanding 'interested' list is a direct result of this place. I try to be strict about what makes it to the 'want' list. Speaking of wallets, it was suggested in another thread on another network that empty ones can be repurposed as faux Midori travellers. So there's that.

 

Feel free to use the infinite variety stratagem. It was posited by Mrs Catbert, who observed that even among our Pilot Kakunos (her two, my one) - a starter pen bordering on stationery - the nibs and writing experiences are completely (and pleasingly) different.

[Mr. Dante]

1. What was your first pen?

Waterman Laureat.

2. Did you get it at an impressionable age?

Don't think so. I was in my mid-20s.

3. What pen or type of pen best represents your preferences today?

I prefer to use Pelikan M800s, Montblanc 146s and Omas Arte Italianas (old style)

4. What similarities, if any, do you see between the two?

The Laureat writes very well. Other than that, not much. My preferred pens are wider, longer piston fillers with screw caps.

[prf5]

 

Yes, sometimes it does seem to come down to a residual brand loyalty or soft spot.

 

...and sometimes semblances are deceiving. My first pen was a Parker 51. It was a loan or gift at age 10. Many years later, I went Seattle Pen, looking for an upgrade to a Sheaffer Imperial that I had picked up at a flea market. The owner recommended a Parker 75 with a Premier nib. This pen matched my specs and remains to this day my favorite pen. Brand name had no bearing. I suspect that for most people here who have a brand preference, their loyalty is not residue but a deliberate decision.

[catbert]

 

1. What was your first pen?

Waterman Laureat.

2. Did you get it at an impressionable age?

Don't think so. I was in my mid-20s.

3. What pen or type of pen best represents your preferences today?

I prefer to use Pelikan M800s, Montblanc 146s and Omas Arte Italianas (old style)

4. What similarities, if any, do you see between the two?

The Laureat writes very well. Other than that, not much. My preferred pens are wider, longer piston fillers with screw caps.

 

 

Some great pens that write very well - maybe the best possible similarity.

[vPro]

My first pen was a Waterman's Phileas which I got at age 12.

When I received it, I recall feeling it was quite short and small - and I don't have big hands. However, after using the pen for some time I got used to it and I started liking it quite a bit. And since I wrote with it for 7 years before acquiring another pen, I am sure my preferences are based around the Phileas.

My current favorite pen to hold is probably my Parker 51 or my Parker Vacumatic Junior. Both are very comfortable, about the same length as the Phileas, but a tad slimmer.