How often do you see people using fountain pens?

[Fabienne]

My husband and I were at a dinner at a private library in Cincinnati and listening to a great address of the keynote speaker, Ann Patchett. A well dressed woman in front of me was scribbling away with a Lamy! It was a yellow one. I did ask her about it afterwards but I got the impression that she didn't like to have her pen commented on by a stranger, so I didn't pursue the topic more with her.

[Rufio]

The very first time I have seen another person using a fountain pen ended up being a fellow classmate in an english course I am taking this semester.

[william2001]

Other than that, there's only one other person I know that uses a fountain pen. He's a friend and a fellow enthusiast, but unfortunately isn't on this forum. I may have to prod him this way

You should invite him to FPN.

-William S. Park

[thatotherguy1]

You should invite him to FPN.

-William S. Park

That I shall. We'll see if he takes the bait or not

[Sabin]

finding some one using a fountain pen is like finding someone shaving with a straight edge razor !

[BlakeNole]

I have received some business correspondence/thank you notes I could tell were written with a fountain pen, but never see them in the wild. Often see MBs and hope to see a nib when uncapped only to see a ballpoint or rollerball!

[AnnieB123]

finding some one using a fountain pen is like finding someone shaving with a straight edge razor !

 

The last time the Husbandguy and I were in London, I booked him in to Geo. F. Trumper for a full facial/manicure/scalp massage/straight razor shave and the whole bit. He was like a whole new viking when we left the place

[thatotherguy1]

finding some one using a fountain pen is like finding someone shaving with a straight edge razor !

I use a double edge safety razor, does that count?

In all seriousness, that's a good analogy. Both are just about as rare to find in my experience.

[moylek]

finding some one using a fountain pen is like finding someone shaving with a straight edge razor !

 

Though in general, the former is far less alarming a discovery in a café or the office.

[WhoCares1537]

I haven't seen anyone else use a fountain pen yet, though my experience is limited to a public high school so I suppose it's only natural they spend their money on tacky clothes or shoes instead of fountain pens. I was really hoping to maybe see a few more fountain pens after I started using them (not because I'm popular but because everyone kept asking me where I had got it), but since there isn't any pen stores where I live they can't get one easily without ordering online. Something my peers seem to loathe because I remain the one stalwart FP writer at school.

[Skyppere]

I taught for 35 years at the university level, 3 classes per semester, 30 per class and in the course of my career I saw exactly one student use a FP and he was a german exchange student. In a faculty of about 250 3 others used.

Since I retired one time I was in line at Albertson's and the man ahead of me was using a FP, a yellow aurora, to write a check. I said "nice pen," and without so much as a smile or even any eye contact he said, dripping with condescension, "It's a fountain pen, that's all I ever use," and walked off. I never even had a chance to whip out my Sheaffer blue and black balance...

[WhoCares1537]

I taught for 35 years at the university level, 3 classes per semester, 30 per class and in the course of my career I saw exactly one student use a FP and he was a german exchange student. In a faculty of about 250 3 others used.

Since I retired one time I was in line at Albertson's and the man ahead of me was using a FP, a yellow aurora, to write a check. I said "nice pen," and without so much as a smile or even any eye contact he said, dripping with condescension, "It's a fountain pen, that's all I ever use," and walked off. I never even had a chance to whip out my Sheaffer blue and black balance...

That honestly hurt just reading it.

[akapulko2020]

I think I can recall some professors at the uni' years ago..

Today I took out my Platinum Preppy to take notes and my team leader was in total shock - "wow, I don't think I ever saw someone using this type of pen! Is it comfortable to use? "

[Vinayj009]

Except a doctor I had. No one. Even the dealer in vintage fountain pens uses a ballpoint pen. I am trying to convert people into using it too but people think of filling ink and learning to use it too much of a hassle.

[WhoCares1537]

Except a doctor I had. No one. Even the dealer in vintage fountain pens uses a ballpoint pen. I am trying to convert people into using it too but people think of filling ink and learning to use it too much of a hassle.

Maybe starting them off using cartridges would be better, so then they can look into bottled ink as they grow more interested in their pen.

[Yaakova]

Other than myself, it's been well over a decade since I last saw someone else with a fountain pen.

[AnnieB123]

There are several people on this forum who are either colleagues or professors of mine or former professors. Is it really more of a European thing? I never thought so, especially considering that my best writers are weighted toward the American side of the pond...

 

(I'm in Norway)

[hypnostene]

I think it's an European thing. I've seen many fountain pen users here in Poland, and the number of pen shops in France or Italy suggests that it's no coincidence ; )

[rezwrrd]

The TA in my Software Engineering course had one, a Lamy Al-Star. I brought my Safari and my Jinhao 599 to class a few times, but usually I write with a more subdued hooded-nib Hero. He commented on my Safari once or twice.

 

Many of my school friends have tried fountain pens at some point, but nearly all found it too messy or too much trouble. I've been writing with felt tips and a Jotter ballpoint recently when I don't feel like keeping my real pens inked up, so I can relate to the convenience of the non-fountain pen.

[ChickenScratch]

Since I came home from studying abroad in France for a year more than a decade ago, I've never seen anybody else use an FP. Not unless you count watching presidents sign bills into law on TV.