How often do you see people using fountain pens?

[Ipno Tizer]

Usually only when I look in a mirror.

 

Chris B.

[nicholasyeo]

I see them, but they are rare. But they are very distinct and quite fascinating people.

[mannyr27]

In my professional life I have only seen two other FP users. Two Doctors, one who wrote with a MB149 and another with whom I currently work who writes with a Sailor 1911.

[blackrainstorm]

I have only seen one other person using a fountain pen: my girlfriend (that's how we met... :embarrassed_smile: )

[ravantra]

Never.

 

There was a possible FP spotted at a party once, amongst the crowd through a forest of arms and pockets…it was probably a Sasquatch.

[WatsonDude]

I must "de-lurk" to add some very encouraging FP sightings.

 

My 11 year old daughter, out of pure curiosity, asked to write with one of my inexpensive pens (a Safari). She's a thoughtful and artistic soul, who will cuddle with me on the couch and write in her journal while I'm writing in mine.

 

Anyway, I gave her a Lamy Vista with a 1.1 italic nib and she began using it at school. Next thing I know, she's converted two of her curious friends. A couple of clear acrylic Wality pens, some fun ink selection, and she's started a trend in the sixth grade. NOTE: Kids LOVE to see the ink sloshing around in a clear pen.

 

Not to be out done by his big sister, Josh (9 years old) asked for a fountain pen of his own. So after much deliberation, he got a White Safari (Med nib) and he chose Noodlers Tienamen as the ink (sp?). Now his buddy Grant wants a FP.

 

My kids are becoming fountain pen evangelists!

 

So, I've ordered some Dollar piston fill demonstrators ($8 ea) to meet the growing demand.

 

[Kaptenmork]

>Pocket jewelry is a pen that is carried for status, not use,

 

yes, I have a korean guy in my office, he have a MB, the pen can be seen on his table, often in its zipperpouch (with a very big logo), but does he ever take it home? do we see him acually using it? Nope. I dont count him as a FP-user

[floydee1]

At a previous office (10 years ago) I'd say there were about 4 (out of 90 staff)that were regular fp users.

 

Now, it would certainly be a rarity (at the moment). In my current office there is one person on another floor who I'm told ".... has a funny pen like yours, Floyd." But I've not actually met the person but I'm on the look out for that other kindred spirit in the building.

 

We shall meet...

 

F

[funkypeanut]

Only my brother. He has a couple of 50-year old Parker 51s which he first acquired when he took a shorthand course in college in the mid-60s. The instructor required all the students in the class to use Parker 51s.

 

That's laughable. I could understand wanting a certain kind of pen, but narrowing it down to the model is funny. At least he picked a good one.

 

Not so strange, I guess. Minipeanut's school is very picky about brand and even color of supplies, and they'll send home anything that doesn't conform. Supply nazis.

 

To answer the original question, I hardly ever see one here at all. I've given out a few Varsities.

[dcpritch]

Haven't seen one in a pocket or in use other than by me or someone to whom I given a fountain pen, in more than ten years! Although I live in a small town in an out of the way part of the state, I deal with lawyers and bankers all the time, but nothing, nada, ever!

[jmj75]

I work in academics and I frequently see people (faculty, graduate students, and post-docs) using fountain pens, especially in my department. In 1997 I spent a summer at the main University in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and observed most of the faculty and students were using fountain pens (that's where I discovered the joys of the Pelikano).

 

Back in the mid 1990's you could still find fountain pens in drug stores in the US (e.g. Parker Vector). I remember them going away around the time Gel pens started taking off...

[kenny]

I work in academics and I frequently see people (faculty, graduate students, and post-docs) using fountain pens, especially in my department. In 1997 I spent a summer at the main University in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and observed most of the faculty and students were using fountain pens (that's where I discovered the joys of the Pelikano).

 

 

Seems like you work in a FP-friendly environment! Oskee-Wow-Wow!

[linux3214]

On Friday, I was in Berkeley, and I saw a man outside of Semifreddi’s using one. I didn't get a good look at it, so I'm not sure what kind, but it was certainly a FP.

Its quite possible that it could have been me

[Zenadier]

I have never seen anyone use a FP except for myself. I work for a large hobby store chain in the framing department and get a LOT of comments on my use of a FP, mostly positive. Especially from folks over 50. Thankfully we have started to carry the varsity pens and I can show them something inexpensive that will hopefully get them hooked

[Ethereal Winter Wind]

I saw someone writing with a white lamy safari in my Mechanical Engineering Lab a few days ago. First time ever. I was using a mechanical pencil though. I noticed on that day only I was using a pencil, everyone else had pens, funny, I would have thought budding engineers would use pencils more

[kauloltran]

nobody I know would spend more than $2 on a pen except for myself

[frazzlerazzle]

Everybody at work just uses ballpoints unfortunately. I did notice somebody using a fountain today, he was my doctor! Doctors always use fountain pens!

[fotographik]

I have yet to come across anybody who used a fountain pen.

[Surf Monkey]

I'm a graphic artist, so some of my friends have fountain pens. I'm the only one I know who uses one regularly, though.

[Ernst Bitterman]

I was passing out of a restaurant this past weekend and saw a chap with a very obvious Parker 75 in his shirt. As he was engaged in a pretty concentrated conversation and I had a two-year old under one arm, I didn't ask him about it nor wave my "51" about crying "Frater calami!"