How often do you see people using fountain pens?

[pmhudepo]

My co-workers usually look a bit wary when I pull out a fountain pen. I've never seen any of them use one. However, a few weeks ago a client made a nice comment about my MB 149. She was using a fountain pen herself. We were both quite busy with a new assignment and didn't chat about pens.

[bjornarneson]

My office welcomed a new co-worker about a year ago. About 5 seconds after we shook hands I said to him, "I see by the vintage Rotring 600 in your pocket that you are a fountain pen nerd." We had a great time working together!

[bunnybaby]

The designer who designs our brochures, posters and stuff uses a Lamy Safari FP, the one with white body. As long as I can recall, that's my only encounter before and since I myself become a FP user.

Edited January 2, 2012 by bunnybaby

[Pingu]

I know three people at my place of work who use a fountain pen as their norm. One uses a Pelikan striated green... well he is German.

[dennisdc48]

I'm from Utah and have never seen anyone ever using a fountain pen.

 

When you say culture we say buttermilk

 

DC

[Nucas]

i have never in my life met or known anyone besides myself who used a fountain pen. i've lived on both coasts of the US and in several parts of russia and eastern europe.

[Wyre]

Not very often for me. My wife is a convert, as is my brother. Outside of home I am looked at as the oddity that uses strange devices for placing ink to paper.

 

I work in a very large IT department and very few people actually use FPs here.

 

My nephew tells me that they are no longer teaching cursive in school. This bothers me a great deal...

[fountainpenjunkie]

My nephew tells me that they are no longer teaching cursive in school. This bothers me a great deal...

 

Wyre,

 

I have heard this, too, through snippets of news here and there. I share your sentiments. My twins are 10, learned and enjoy cursive. How can it not be taught?

 

Then again, as a correspondence enthusiast, I can't tell you how many times I've received an email thanking me for a hand written letter. So, I guess if it won't be used, maybe we better focus on teaching 'typing with thumbs' or something that will be used.

 

belated welcome to FPN!

[cobaltace]

Not in a very, very long time. I was only re-introduced into FP after an office Mega store was massively discounting the fine pens because no one was buying them. I bought four Monteverde FP (all four for under $80, two Invincia Black tie and two Regatta) so I am now the only guy at work using a pen that costs more than. 29 cents. I get the strangest looks from even my manager.

[yamborghini]

My nephew tells me that they are no longer teaching cursive in school. This bothers me a great deal...

 

Wyre,

 

I have heard this, too, through snippets of news here and there. I share your sentiments. My twins are 10, learned and enjoy cursive. How can it not be taught?

 

Then again, as a correspondence enthusiast, I can't tell you how many times I've received an email thanking me for a hand written letter. So, I guess if it won't be used, maybe we better focus on teaching 'typing with thumbs' or something that will be used.

 

belated welcome to FPN!

 

When I was in school they taught cursive in grade 3/4. (only in uni now so about 8-9 years ago). However I've noticed with my friends that hardly any of them write in a cursive manner. Girls especially. It seems as though the emphasis is on easy to read writing, not beautiful writing.

[XP100]

In my Discrete Math lecture, I saw that one of the guys at the other end of the room was filling up a pen with a red ink (Diamine, if I recall). I ask him what kind of pen he's using, and it's a higher-end Platinum. He also said to have a TWSBI in his possession at home.

 

Other than that, never have I seen anybody use an FP. I always get the odd look when using it for lectures. Even during my Calculus exam, when a TA was passing by my desk, he took a look at the bottle of ink on my desk, as well as the Sailor 1911m I was using. He said "nice" and continued down.

 

Awesome.

[inkspot]

One of my colleagues uses a fountain pen regularly, but aside from that I rarely see another fountain pen user. My pens do tend to get a lot of attention, especially at council meetings where people are often looking for anything to talk about besides the issues we need to vote on.

[mirosc]

on a normal workday there are usually several people, mostly with Pelikans, some with Lamy and some few with other pens which I have never asked about yet.

[alonsh2006]

Not even once in my entire life.

But then again, I am young, and people could not possibly care less than they do now about handwriting in Israel. I taught myself a proper grip about four months ago, until then I was using a horrible, painful hook shape that made writing a torture.

[ylw]

It seems as though the emphasis is on easy to read writing, not beautiful writing.

For something that is invented to communicate with others it would be absolutely stupid to put the emphasis on being beautiful instead of being able to read. The only way you can have communication is when all parties get the message. Beauty is something that comes next but bear in mind that handwriting says something about the person and that in essence is something you can call beautiful too

 

Since not that many people actually write letters any more (they facebook, twitter, text, chat) and most administrative stuff in the office is done via computers I don't see many people writing with an fp either. Most will use the first pen they can find because they'll misplace it quite easily (which to me comes across as being lazy and careless). Telling them a pen costs hundreds of euros does 2 things: they think I'm an idiot and they do not dare to borrow any of my pens or even come near it (offer to hold it and they take a step back :roflmho: ). Good way of preventing losing pens

[keepitfresh]

My psychology teacher at my high school uses fountain pens and I struck up a conversation. I currently have 100 in his class. Ah, the perks of fountain pens

[fx101]

Interestingly enough, I see at least one or two people with FP's in each class I have. Most of the time the FP in question is a Lamy Safari/Al-Star but I have seen a few nicer pens... a LE Montegrappa, several MB149's, some Pelikan M600's, and a YOL Grand Viceroy. One of my friends owns a beautiful Waterman Edson (a gift from someone) but I don't think he uses it...

 

When I worked over the summer, I noticed that investment bankers tend to have several FP's. I saw quite a few beautiful Viscontis, a James Bond edition S.T Dupont (a $7k pen!!!), and MB146's. Then again Sak's and Neiman Marcus salespeople tend to steer you toward their FP selection when you tell them you're looking for your first banking suit.

[amble63]

One colleague uses a FP regularly. Another uses one from time to time. Another one has one in his desk drawer but admitted he didn't use it (he's German and grew up using fountain pens. It was, of course, a Pelikan). I suspect I am the only one in my office who uses one daily.

 

I have seen a couple of judges using fountain pens. I saw another one using what was obviously a green stripe Pelikan but I was far enough away that I couldn't tell if it was a fountain pen or a ballpoint.

[seoulseeker]

Interestingly enough, I see at least one or two people with FP's in each class I have. Most of the time the FP in question is a Lamy Safari/Al-Star but I have seen a few nicer pens... a LE Montegrappa, several MB149's, some Pelikan M600's, and a YOL Grand Viceroy. One of my friends owns a beautiful Waterman Edson (a gift from someone) but I don't think he uses it...

 

When I worked over the summer, I noticed that investment bankers tend to have several FP's. I saw quite a few beautiful Viscontis, a James Bond edition S.T Dupont (a $7k pen!!!), and MB146's. Then again Sak's and Neiman Marcus salespeople tend to steer you toward their FP selection when you tell them you're looking for your first banking suit.

 

Unless I'm very much mistaken, the 007 ST Dupont is closer to $1,000. Even the more decorative limited editions usually fall under $2,500. Great, classy pen though!

[PelikansPlus]

I have never noticed anyone outside of my office using a FP. A former co-worker used them and talked about them frequently, and a current colleague uses them, too. But this is unusual. I am always on the lookout for people using FPs, but it is not a common sight. When I bring mine out, people look rather surprised and make favorable comments.