How often do you see people using fountain pens?

[floydee1]

At a regional meeting, I spotted an fp user taking notes. I couldnt tell what make/model pen but it was red with gold trim, as he was a good way down the large rectangular conference table we were all seated around (there were about 25 of us).

 

It was a short meeting and I didnt get the time to talk with him either during the break.

 

Our paths may cross again. The next meeting is in 6 months...

[lurker]

in my line of work at the bank, everytime a contract or check is signed. the thing there is most of those with FPs (thinking it's so cool to have one) don't know how to use one or wait for the ink to "touch-dry" before placing something over the fresh ink.

 

I saw a guy with a Cross in his breast pocket and pointed out to him it's really rare to see people using a FP. He told me he is a banker and gives it to people to sign contracts with, makes the people have more confidence when signing away their life savings...

[SylvainP]

I meet many peoples in a day and I would say pretty much never. I see often nice expensive rollerball or ballpoint but that's pretty much it. I often get the "look" when using one though and couple have questioned me about it. I think for most it's an unnecessary pain to maintain one.

[LostInBrittany]

I had never thought things were so different in the other side of the Atlantic... Here in Europe (at least in my corner of Europe), FP are way more common, and nobody gets the "look" when using them. But even here, things are different in different countries.

 

I was born in Spain, in the 70s. When I was at school, I was the only student using FP (a Parker Vector), but many teachers used it, and you could buy FPs and inks (mainly Parker, Pelikan, Waterman and Inoxcrom) in any stationery store. FPs were seen a bit as a fad, or like a retro hobby, but a rather common one.

 

Now I live in France, and here things are really different ! Most French students use FPs at school, as teachers and scholar system push students to write with FPs.

They use cheap (or dirty cheap) pens, you can buy them in Carrefour or Auchan (WalMart equivalent), where you can find FPs from 2€ to 20€. Ok, 2€ FPs aren't great (they suck!) but they are FPs. You can also buy then inks (4 standard colors), very cheap too (but they suck too). And in any stationery store you can find lots of FPs, from many makers : Parker, Waterman, Pelikan, Lamy... from basic models to expensive ones.

 

So almost 100% of French population has used FPs at least for some time in their life. And when they grow, many of them still use them. I work in IT in a banking company, and I would say that 1 out of 4 or 5 people use FPs in meetings. And if they are managers, the ratio is more 1 out of 2...

 

So when I take out one of my trusty Lamy Safari, I get no special "look", because it's seen as normal... unless the other person is newly met a FPs user too, then some chatter and comparison ensues.

[Trillium]

I am a tattoo artist working in a rather unusual studio in a resort area on the beach in S. Alabama.... we actually restore and retail old FPs as well as collect some modern ones. We actually use them in the shop to fill out medical info forms and for clients to complete forms and affix signatures. It is a great way to expose people to FPs... and generate sales of restored FPs! We are viewed as perhaps a bit eccentric, but the "green" aspect is popular as is the "retro" aspect. So all in all.... we are seeing people use them every single day! Some have a rather odd expression on their faces as they do so, but they are doing so nonetheless!

[cplschnapps]

I was in grade school in the fifties and I remember having to learn to write "longhand" (cursive) with a fountain pen. The teacher wouldn't allow ballpoints, because they were relatively new (she was probably born about 1895), unreliable (skipped a lot), and cost $1.98 versus $.98 for an Esterbrook. The school board didn't buy pens, you had to bring your own, and $1.98 for a PaperMate was a lot of money for a working class family. I also remember "accidents" from using the lever fillers. And our desks were so old they still had holes for inkwells.

[anchorschmidt]

During my lecture today I saw someone next to me using a M200 and someone close-by using a Waterman. I was using a Lamy Nexx

[pelahale]

I see more than a few people using fountain pens at work daily. I talk with a couple of them about fountain pens whenever I meet them & we both have a little time.

[SIG9]

Like most here, I've never seen anyone use a fountain pen except for a close friend. It was he who introduced me to fountain pens (and that was only after being friends for five years). Now I'm hooked and have him to blame.

 

At work they just look at me a little funny. But then they consider me eccentric since I have a Leica and prefer film in my cameras

[oldcbl]

I find the number of replies that don’t see FPs in use quite surprising. In my organisation at least three others use Parker and Lamy fountain pens. I have repaired a pen for one of our elected member and have risen tenfold in his estimation as a result!

 

Colleagues are fascinated by my love of fountain pens, not least because it seems at odds with my other passion - religiously following my football team home and away. Probably because it’s one of the most infamous football clubs in the English leagues. The life of an English eccentric….

[weavystevie]

where I work I have a lot if very wealthy pros commingle in and using a fountain pen to sign with/ there is one Guy who comes twice a week and has about 7 different montblanc pens and a couple Delta dolceavita's LOL

[ISW_Kaputnik]

Since I last posted in this thread, eight months ago, I have now seen one other person using a fountain pen. One other person at work noticed mine and thought that it seemed like something that would be fun to try. So he bought one, then asked my advice.

Edited July 30, 2012 by ISW_Kaputnik

[Tom Aquinas]

Rarely, even in my profession.

[tonydent84]

Unfortunately, I've never ever seen a person use one in real life unless I let them try my pen or they were a salesman showing me a pen. I thought that it was just a hobby or enjoyment people have, but it appears that outside the US people still use them much more often.

[mhphoto]

However, when I went to a conference up in Tulsa a few weeks ago, I saw 3 different people writing with actual MB fountain pens (We didn't have time to talk about collecting though).

 

And none of them were ME!?

 

But seriously, I'm the only person I know in town who is a Man of the Tines.

[PDW]

Recently we had several meetings while working toward our museum's new website. I noticed that the person in charge of the project was using several FP of clearly european styling, probably italian. Of course she was also using some nice notebooks with that! So, website maybe, but preparatory work without a fountain pen? Jamais ! :-)

 

Spent a bit of time last Sunday explaining to a friend who cleans up SAP databases for a living how to use diluted ammonia to flush out the Sheaffer Targa he's been using for the last twenty years. And, in a university Computer Science department, my Head and one of the deputies are FP users (both Lamy Safaris - and the HoD has just bought this year's green LE!).

 

Maybe it's something about people in a technical area appreciating 'real' technology?

Edited July 31, 2012 by PDW

[nano404]

Never have. Unless I look down at myself.

[Durham K]

There are a few of my colleagues on the staff at my secondary school (11 to 18 years) who are FP users. One is dedicated to Safari Fine and ExFine nibs and always has a range of pens with him. When my daughters left school they gave him bottles of unsual coloured inks. He was so happy. As so much work is IT based there is usually only marking students work that provides an opprtunity to write by hand (unless you count notes to parents in student planners).

A member of staff who just does not understand, once uttered the incomprehensible phrase, "How can you have a favourite pen?"

 

A very small number of students use FPs but most have been put off by leakage problems. Being thrown around in school bags is not good for keeping ink in the right part of the pen. This differs from about 20 years ago when I often found parts of broken Parker vectors around school (not durable enough).

 

As for use in public, I was told that I could not use a FP to sign a blood doning form as the forms had to be kept for 15 years. Would a Bic really out last my black Quink?.

 

Good article about pen use.

 

http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/features/everything-starts-with-the-pen-2109252.html

 

Kevin

[Kelly G]

Over the years, since the mid 1990's I've run into a few people using fp's. In my former work for a large energy company there were a handful of fp users. A boss that I had for a couple of years dabbled in fp's and had me repair an old style Rotring 600 that he was awarded for a project completion. That work paid off handsomely. When I left that post prior to my retirement he gave me a Yard-o-Led Grand Barley as a parting gift. Two years later when I left the company my then boss arranged for my retirement gift a Danitrio Tamenuri Densho. There were at least three other people that used fp's in setting.

 

Since that time, I only very occasionally find myself in the presence of another fp user. I live in a rural area in a very small town and surprisingly, the other fp user in town is my family doctor. I've arranged for the repair of one of his pens, a Waterman Carene Deluxe and have given him a few vintage pens over the years for special favors. He also accepts good cigars!

 

I recently completed my seminary degree and there was one person amongst my classmates who wrote with a fp.

 

We are out there but we are decidedly in the minority.

[esterbex]

Unless I go to a pen club meeting, never.