How often do you see people using fountain pens?

[Ernst Bitterman]

Yesterday at a book store, one of the clerks was fiddling with an Al-Star. I didn't notice until I was past the exit, or I'd have said something encouraging to her.

[BurkStar]

I used one back in highschool, but hadn't used one in decades. What got me started again was through my membership in a knife forum. This knife forum, besdies getting me hooked on expensive knives, mid-range watches (Breitling, Omega, Baume & Mercier), and custom flashlights, has quite a few members that are into high end pens, including FP's, so it was really just a natural progression for me. I really can't think of anyone over the years that I remember using a FP until the knife forum.

Edited January 28, 2008 by BurkStar

[jhazelwood]

My sister in law recently purchased a solid black Phileas. That is it, and I had to tell here where to get one lol

[Plume145]

Well, where I went to school, everybody was required to have a FP in the second year of primary school, and people generally stuck with it for the next few years; most people finished primary school using a FP. although I'm not entirely sure they were an absolute requirement throughout the 3 years coming after year 2. Most people stopped using one gradually, some as early as the last year of primary school (though that was kind of frowned upon, I think), but most sometime in secondary school--say around 14-15 years of age. Still, right till I finished school at 18, I saw FPs daily at school.

 

Afterwards, in college, I saw them MUCH less, and almost not at all randomly on the street. I do get what some posters are saying though, about seing a likely one and asking to get a look, and then ugh, disappointment--it's a rollerball

Edited January 29, 2008 by niks

[kiavonne]

All of us here on this site, lol

 

I've certainly done my share in the last month.

[Plume145]

All of us here on this site, lol

 

I've certainly done my share in the last month.

 

 

Gah, I went back to edit the post by adding some stuff, and I deleted that bit and didn't put it back!! Sorry!! (what a klutz, hee hee) It doesn't matter much though, as my pearl of wisdom is quoted in full in the kiavonne's comment!!

[kadymae]

On Saturday, writer Greg Rucka signed my Whiteout and Gotham Central pages with a Lamy Safari.

 

 

I've known him for years, but I had no idea he was one of us.

[Paladin]

Here are some of the places I've seen people using fountain pens.

 

1. At the Malaysia Thai border

 

A customs officer was using a Lamy Safari. He was dressed in traditional muslim head dress and clothing. If I remember correctly, it was a bright red colour! He was pleased that I recognized the pen. I pulled out my Rotring 600 and showed it to him. This was a few years back.

 

2. At a Wedding

 

A teacher had a rather battered Pelikan M400 in his pocket. He had it inked with red. He mentioned that he uses it for marking.

 

3. Others

 

I first gave my wife a Lamy Safari and she's been hooked since. She's got most of the Safari colours. Recently she bought all the different colours of the Pelikano Junior. She's been converting others in her office with gifts and recommendations.

 

We also gave some Pelikano Juniors to friends as they are excellent writers and good introduction to the joys of fountain pens. I've attached some pictures of the one I'm using at present.

 

The Pelikano Junior has a neat feature. You can write your name on a bit of sticky tape and customize your pen. It has very nice grip built in. These features make it ideal for students i.e. being able to distinguish the pen owner as well as learning to write.

Edited January 29, 2008 by Paladin

[Artbeast]

outside of our studio or a pen shop I never see people using or carrying.

[jthole]

On Saturday, writer Greg Rucka signed my Whiteout and Gotham Central pages with a Lamy Safari.

 

 

I've known him for years, but I had no idea he was one of us.

 

Come on, having a fountain pen doesn't make one special ... having 60 of them does

 

My manager uses a fountain pen every day, some colleagues also do, my kids (of course), my wife, my father, at many customer locations there are one or more people using a fountain pen .... but none of them probably would want to own a mini collection of Parker 45's, of Sheaffer TM pens, German pens, and so on

 

Btw, the pens that I see most often are Watermans and Parkers (almost no Sheaffers unfortunately), except in the hands of sales persons ... then it often is a Montblanc (the Waterman Expert is a good second).

 

What I "hate" (big word) is when you see someone having a snowflake pen in their writing case, and then they pull it out ... and it is a ballpoint pen. I mean, if you want to spend the money on a Montblanc, then buy at least a real pen! Me telling them that (in friendly words) has helped at least in one case

Edited January 29, 2008 by jthole

[Paladin]

What I "hate" (big word) is when you see someone having a snowflake pen in their writing case, and then they pull it out ... and it is a ballpoint pen. I mean, if you want to spend the money on a Montblanc, then buy at least a real pen! Me telling them that (in friendly words) has helped at least in one case

 

I agree! You are right. Many men in Singapore "wear" a "snow flake" and I've rarely seen one with a fountain pen. It's basically the brand factor. Sigh ...

[theblackpen]

One of my professors had a Sonnet.I saw that another one had a Pelikan(M600 I think) in his pocket.Both of them were using these just for signatures.

I have two friends at school that use from time to time a FP.One uses a green Inoxcrom and another one uses a Hero.

My father uses a Pelikan M150 EF and loves my Sailor 1911 F.He would like to use a Sailor 1911 F and love a Pelikan M150 EF. I'll think about that :roflmho:

My sister uses from time to time Pilot Prera.

Best regards,

Mihai

[fountainpenjunkie]

I mean, if you want to spend the money on a Montblanc, then buy at least a real pen!

That's my kinda thinkin'!

[Ink Stained Wretch]

I first gave my wife a Lamy Safari and she's been hooked since. She's got most of the Safari colours. Recently she bought all the different colours of the Pelikano Junior. She's been converting others in her office with gifts and recommendations.

....

The Pelikano Junior has a neat feature. You can write your name on a bit of sticky tape and customize your pen. It has very nice grip built in. These features make it ideal for students i.e. being able to distinguish the pen owner as well as learning to write.

Yes, the Pelikano Jr. is a really great fountain pen. I always have one, maybe two, in my rotation. They're inexpensive and yet they usually seem to work better than some quite expensive fountain pens. I did recently purchase a, used, lemon but I guess you just have to expect that sometimes. It may yet be rehabilitatable. I've been tempted to use that little name tape thing, but no one else is around who might have their Pelikano Jr. confused with mine so I've never bothered.

 

Another really good thing about the Pelikano Jr. is the fact that the nib/feed part can be pretty easily pulled out of the section. This allows it to be cleaned completely and dried out rapidly, allowing for a fast turnaround when I want to use different inks. It's a great fountain pen.

[Fountainbass]

Today I had a dermatology appointment, and the doctor used a Parker Sonnet FP to write on my chart. Pretty cool! I had my Parker 51 Vac in my pocket, so we chatted about pens for a few minutes. He said he has a couple of Parkers & a Mont Blanc.

[sdonahue]

Never. Just me. Everybody in my office uses cheap Bics or something equivalent.

[AndreaDuni]

In the last 7 years, I have seen only another person using fountain pens, and he is my uncle that uses ONLY fountain pens. Instead I saw a lot of fountain pens in luxury wooden desk. All capped or posted but not inked. Just to show off.

[cityboy1986]

Since August of last year, I have only noticed one other person using a fountain pen. It was today in my Science Fiction class. The pen was a demonstrator, but I was not able to see what kind it was.

 

Tracy

[yachtsilverswan]

Since August of last year, I have only noticed one other person using a fountain pen. It was today in my Science Fiction class. The pen was a demonstrator, but I was not able to see what kind it was.

 

Tracy

 

In your "Science Fiction Class?!" In college? You're getting a degree in Star Trek? *sigh*

[Ernst Bitterman]

I took a 300 level English class in SF, as it's a branch of literature. It was an hour after my Old & Middle English course at the same level... which are also slightly esoteric branches of the art. Alas, no new pens spotted, but I must say that the demonstrator is one of the more sci-fi styles of pen to wave around.