Newbie from Doncaster U.K.

[Jonny Aitch]

Hello to one and all.

I've always loved using fountain pens but being a mechanic by trade have never really had the opportunity.  That is until recently when I had to have hip replacement surgery and became slightly less mobile for several weeks and decided I would start a journal and would use a fountain pen to write. I went on to the internets No 1 auction site ( opinions differ ) and for approximately 25 great british pounds bought a job lot of FP's that though sold as spares/repairs looked good and after all how bad could it be right? In due course they arrived and my journey began. Make and model identification took a little while and one still eludes me, however, a Jean Pierre LePine "winston" in steel and brass and an Onoto K1 were in perfect working order, Happy bunny!!!  An Osmiriod lever does need re sacing but still. Anyway, though really nice pens that write really well I'm still looking for a EF flex ( at the right price (cheap) ). I have just bought a Swan Mabie Todd 3161 with a No1 nib that the seller led me to believe had been re-sac'd but I find was done really badly and it is badly twisted as well as not being chalked. But on a dip test wrote beautifully. Any road up, I'm here to learn and share the joy of FPs.

[northstar]

Hello and welcome to FPN.

[PAKMAN]

Hello and Welcome to FPN!! So glad to have you as a member!!

[OCArt]

[Beechwood]

Hi and welcome.

 

Use and maintenance of fountain pens is a great journey, never be uncomfortable about asking for help and advice, there is a huge font of knowledge on here.

[Mechanical]

@Jonny Aitch, you're off to a great start.  Beginning with a lot meant as "repairables", you clearly have an intrepid spirit.  Welcome! 

 

 

[Bisquitlips]

Welcome from Missouri!

 

[Stompie]

Hello and Welcome from Southampton!

 

Wow, what a way to start! But, relax because there are lots of very kind and helpful folk here that will answer any and all of your questions etc. plus, there are a lot of very able pen specialists dotted around the UK that you can also talk to or visit to chat to and see live in action.

[inkstainedruth]

Greetings from Pittsburgh, PA! 

I also got into fountain pens through journalling (while reading The Artist's Way, a creativity course) but didn't buy a bunch to begin with.  I hadn't kept a diary or journal since high school, and I wanted to have a "good" journal and a "good" pen to get myself back in the habit.  In retrospect, neither were all that good (a couple of Parker Reflexes in succession, and a journal that had really poor quality paper).  I then upgraded to a Parker Vector.  When I left the then-current journal volume and the Vector and the bag they were in at my in-laws' house one January, I ended up finding my way first to the Goulet Pens website (Purple?  You can get PURPLE ink?  Who knew! ) and then to FPN....  And have been here ever since....

I generally suggest that new people click on the "New Content" button when they log in, to get a good overview of a range of topics (you can adjust how much/often it refreshes).  And to have a look at the pinned Index to the Ink Reviews (we live in the Golden Age of Ink!).  But I also warn them that they have found themselves amongst a band of evil enablers, who will HAPPILY help them spend their discretionary budgets on pens, inks, paper, desk accessories, repair tools, ephemera and pen shows....  Me?  I fell down the vintage pen rabbit hole (okay, I dived in head first ); but my two most expensive pens are a couple of modern Pelikans.  Of course, my husband will tell you that the pens were the gateway to the "real" collection -- the inks.... 

Have fun here and don't be afraid to ask questions (the only wrong ones are the ones that don't get asked).  I'm constantly amazed at the amount of information to be found here -- and not just pen-related at that!  And humbled by the generosity of those here in the sharing of that knowledge. 

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[Wil D]

Welcome!