How often do you see people using fountain pens?

[NibDog]

My mom got surgery about a month ago. As she was going into the operating room, I saw the doctor pull out a black TWSBI 580 to sign the consent form. I knew she was in good hands.

[Manalto]

Today was my first experience of someone seeing me use a fountain pen (FTR - a gray Sheaffer Imperial II with a Triumph nib w/ South Seas/Inspired ink) and responding, "I use fountain pens too!" Instant camaraderie.

Edited May 2, 2015 by Manalto

[A144]

I've turned one of my coworkers on to FPs. He's got a Pilot Metro and interested in getting more. After going through a couple black Pilot cartridges, I offered to fill the pen up with some other ink. He said pick a red dark enough to be usable at work. He got a fill of Red Dragon and already loves it. I really need to keep some Pilot Varsities on my for those who show interest in my TWSBI 580's (they seem to draw a lot of attention from non-FP users).

 

While doing some clinical shadowing at a local hospital, I watched a doctor fill out some forms with a MB 149.

 

I've also had a patient at the pharmacy I work at use a fountain pen to sign a release form.

 

I've also seen a guy at eating at one of my favorite restaurants writing in a notebook with a fountain pen I couldn't identify.

[prf5]

I have two desks in my office. One desk has computers, the other has fountain pens and pads. When someone stopped by this week, I was at the computer desk. She looked at the other desk, which had an open fountain pen on it, and observed: "so that's where you goof off." I agreed; she left, and I went back to checking baseball scores.

[Legal Eagle]

Lots of fountain pen usage in the movie The Imitation Game.

[LRR]

I haven't seen another FP user in years. So why is the industry seemingly so successful.

[Manalto]

I haven't seen another FP user in years. So why is the industry seemingly so successful.

 

Are you asking a question?

 

It's called a "niche market" - too small for you to notice, but thriving nonetheless.

[LRR]

Very "niche" if users are seldom seen in the "wild". i think we have the Internet to thank.

[Chettiar]

After coming to UK, in the last 16 years, I have seen two people using fountain pens. One was using a inoxcrom with Parker black quink in 2012 which was the first time I saw that brand and the other was in 2014 when one of my colleagues brought a pilot petit clone which takes international carts. I offered the latter some of my PR electric DC blue carts and he was astounded. I found a discarded parker vector in the office where I worked in 2012 too. Nobody came up after asking around and I cleaned it / dip wrote with it / cleaned again and handed over to the reception. Have no parkers in my collection yet and did not want to start without paying for it.

Otherwise I have not seen a soul in my daily life with fountain pens for 16 years...

Edited May 3, 2015 by Chettiar

[subbu68]

In my 15 years in my present company only my present boss and I. Now another colleague of mine started using FPs.

 

Then my wife uses Lamy Vista and daughter has a good collection and I keep adding to it to keep her away from BPs.

[AAAndrew]

Just started a new job and on my first day I'm taking notes with a c. 1960's MB 12. The next day one of the other people in the department shyly came in and asked if that was a fountain pen I was using.

 

Turns out she's just started to use them. She's got a TWISBI mini and a couple of others. I've been slowly introducing her to my mainly vintage user collection. Heh, heh, heh.

 

Just call me, the enabler.

[Manalto]

 

Just call me, the enabler.

 

You didn't provide a phone number.

 

Good work, Andrew, getting new converts to the cult. But seriously, I believe you're doing your coworker a favor. The best improvements to our lives are the subtle ones; food that's a bit fresher and more flavorful, clothing that fits and feels good, and a pen that is more than utilitarian. Well done!

[the_gasman]

I have always used a fountain pen but have rarely seen others using them. About 4 months ago, we had a trainee in our department that was about half my age. I was shocked when he pulled out a fantastic looking old FP. He told me that he had found it in a jumble sale and then restored it and that this was his hobby. My curiosity was piqued and I have since completely changed my appreciation of pens from insouciant utilitarian to lover of the old and beatiful.

 

I have also found FPN and, after a lifetime of using only Parker blue or black ink, I have discovered a wide new world of fabulous inks.

 

The only down side is that I have since spent a small fortune on Ebay, internet retailers, and at pen shows. Despite that I'm still very grateful to both the trainee and FPN for the education.

[Mannyonpil]

In my place of employment I know four people, including myself, who use fountain pens. Two are more casual users. The other two have the sickness. There is another who may in time be infected.

[ochre]

I've actually never used a fountain pen or saw anyone using them until a month ago. My team had a new hire fresh out of college and only a year older than my daughter. I remember thinking that her notebooks were strangely thin (I recognize it now as those Midori inserts) and her pens were strangely thick and colorful. Two weeks ago in a T-con my pen gave up and died on me while I was furiously taking notes, I asked her if she had a spare pen and she pulled another one of those pens out of her bag and it was a Pilot Kakuno. I was so surprised when I uncapped it and was really charmed by the smiley face on the nib, the color of the ink, and the way it wrote (I scribbled all over my notes that meeting). I asked her about it after and it must have been obvious how much I liked it because she told me to keep the Kakuno; she showed me the converter in it and gave me a quick rundown on how to refill it. She also gave me this website and told me that I could find more info on different inks and pens here. I've been lurking ever since and probably spent a little too much on this hobby. The poor girl's probably sick and tired of me asking her questions nonstop about different pens, but she's shown me her collection of Pilots and Sailors and Platinums. I just find it so interesting how the younger generation is delving into what even people my age thought was an outdated hobby.

[carlos.q]

Today I was in a labor negotiation and a union rep sitting next to me was using a Pilot Metropolitan. Across the table the new Personnel Director used a black FP that we could not identify.

[the_gasman]

I've actually never used a fountain pen or saw anyone using them until a month ago. My team had a new hire fresh out of college and only a year older than my daughter. I remember thinking that her notebooks were strangely thin (I recognize it now as those Midori inserts) and her pens were strangely thick and colorful. Two weeks ago in a T-con my pen gave up and died on me while I was furiously taking notes, I asked her if she had a spare pen and she pulled another one of those pens out of her bag and it was a Pilot Kakuno. I was so surprised when I uncapped it and was really charmed by the smiley face on the nib, the color of the ink, and the way it wrote (I scribbled all over my notes that meeting). I asked her about it after and it must have been obvious how much I liked it because she told me to keep the Kakuno; she showed me the converter in it and gave me a quick rundown on how to refill it. She also gave me this website and told me that I could find more info on different inks and pens here. I've been lurking ever since and probably spent a little too much on this hobby. The poor girl's probably sick and tired of me asking her questions nonstop about different pens, but she's shown me her collection of Pilots and Sailors and Platinums. I just find it so interesting how the younger generation is delving into what even people my age thought was an outdated hobby.

Sounds like a beautiful romance starting there, ochre ... with the pens, of course, not the girl !!! What did you think I was suggesting?

 

You may find that, just like with the ladies, more mature pens have more character. Don't forget that, just like in marriage, after the lust subsides a long, happy, and enduring partnership remains.

 

Cheers, David.

Edited May 5, 2015 by the_gasman

[Bisquitlips]

Now that I have a friend at work that loves FPs as much as I do...

 

I get to see it every day!!!

[Vpen]

I personally haven't seen anyone write with a Fountain Pen in ages. May be because the company I work in is paperless. I think here's the reason why we see less and less of them. The companies selling cheap FP (which are usually the ones people start out with) are usually a miss ( based on my personal experience of Preppy(Dry), Varsity(misaligned tine), Safari(not smooth), Metropolitan(a little skippy), TWSBI (scratchy when line drawn from right to left)). I have destroyed several of them trying to make the nibs smoother and wetter after looking at the videos posted on youtube.

 

Now if someone buys a Pilot G2 or even a use and throw Bic which costs like a dozen for couple of bucks will write every single time. There is no hit or miss with them. Where as even if I go ahead and buy a Lamy Safari (which costs ilke $30 + ~$5 for ink) I am not sure if it will write right the first time I ink it up. This makes people skeptical of FPs and with the added effort of inking and cleaning it regularly, keeping it in eye view range when you lend it, storing it properly etc. Even if you carry a FP you have to carry a BP or Rollerball as backup for sure.

 

I haven't used FPs which are more expensive than $100, so I can't say anything about the Souverans and Mont Blancs. Although once to make sure I get the right FP I bought it from R. Binder himself and even though it was a nice pen and wet writer, it wasn't smooth at all, provided a lot of feedback even on Rhodia paper.

 

I have started to believe that FPs are hobby collectibles or for people who sign large contracts physically and want to make a statement with their Mont Blancs.

[the_gasman]

I personally haven't seen anyone write with a Fountain Pen in ages. May be because the company I work in is paperless. I think here's the reason why we see less and less of them. The companies selling cheap FP (which are usually the ones people start out with) are usually a miss ( based on my personal experience of Preppy(Dry), Varsity(misaligned tine), Safari(not smooth), Metropolitan(a little skippy), TWSBI (scratchy when line drawn from right to left)). I have destroyed several of them trying to make the nibs smoother and wetter after looking at the videos posted on youtube.

 

Now if someone buys a Pilot G2 or even a use and throw Bic which costs like a dozen for couple of bucks will write every single time. There is no hit or miss with them. Where as even if I go ahead and buy a Lamy Safari (which costs ilke $30 + ~$5 for ink) I am not sure if it will write right the first time I ink it up. This makes people skeptical of FPs and with the added effort of inking and cleaning it regularly, keeping it in eye view range when you lend it, storing it properly etc. Even if you carry a FP you have to carry a BP or Rollerball as backup for sure.

 

I haven't used FPs which are more expensive than $100, so I can't say anything about the Souverans and Mont Blancs. Although once to make sure I get the right FP I bought it from R. Binder himself and even though it was a nice pen and wet writer, it wasn't smooth at all, provided a lot of feedback even on Rhodia paper.

 

I have started to believe that FPs are hobby collectibles or for people who sign large contracts physically and want to make a statement with their Mont Blancs.

So why subscribe to a fountain pen forum?

It's like a vegan following a raw steak forum.