How often do you see people using fountain pens?

[fountainpenjunkie]

In the states I'm often amazed how rare FP use is, although I think people do use them at home. My students have often never heard of, much less seen or used, a FP. Sometimes I get them a Varsity.

Yeah Eric, that is why I asked the question. It dawned on me when I saw the second person a month or so ago, that these things just aren't being used much here in Sacramento. The population of the town is about 500K with the greater Sacto area about 2M. Since people generally regard my fountain pen use as an odd interest, I thought I'd check with others to see what their experiences are. It has been interesting! Thanks to everyone for taking the time to share.

[dogdogminnie]

I do see people writing with fountain pens more and more -- particularly the pilot vanishing point (maybe it has the added bonus of also feeling like a ball point or it folks think it won't leak and are mistaken in thinking all other fountain pens do). But i have a question about your post -- you said "he pulled the cap off and immediately began writing with it) -- When i was givenm muy first fountain pen I was admonished not to let anyone use my pen because their slant and pressure would change the way the nib worked. I have my pens to use and i love the way they feel but i've always hated turning a potential fellow future collector away from them by being so stuffy so I actually carry another pen that i left them use (and politely expalin why they can't use mine so it actually becomes sort of a secret club kind of hting) -- but. . . am i mistaken and anyone can use your pen and it does nothing to the nib. Clearly vintage pens have been used by others but presumablyu (or so i thought) while you had it you were guding it into your slant, etc. IUt realy made sense to me but i think its the romantic in me.

 

anyone know the answer?

 

 

Last week, for the second time in the few years since I started down this path of accumulation and daily use of fountain pens, I noticed what I suspected was a fountain pen in the pocket of a guest speaker in my electronics class.

 

I've been mistaken before. Folks hand over their pride and joy for my ogling and usually it is a ball point of some sort.

 

So, I started out cautiously, "That looks like a nice pen" and it was immediately handed over with an explanation of why he has some throwback of a pen in his pocket. I took the cap of the beautiful blue pen and saw that it was indeed a fountain pen - a Waterman Phileas.

 

"Oh, you don't have to explain to me..." I said, as I handed over my recently purchased Parker Sonnet. He immediately pulled the cap off and started writing with it. I should have done the same, but he was there to speak and hadn't started yet, I was holding up the class.

 

But that is only the second time I've seen someone with a fountain pen. True, living in Sacramento, (the LA Laker touted 'cow-town'), one may expect a rarity of use, I suppose. The other was at school as well. Discovered an instructor using a Pilot Varsity to initial our lab work.

 

So, I am curious if you folks see a lot of others using or carrying fountain pens?

 

I of course emailed both folks shortly after the incidents and gave them the FPN link. Cause, you know, this is where they belong.

 

[dogdogminnie]

I do see people writing with fountain pens more and more -- particularly the pilot vanishing point (maybe it has the added bonus of also feeling like a ball point or it folks think it won't leak and are mistaken in thinking all other fountain pens do). But i have a question about your post -- you said "he pulled the cap off and immediately began writing with it) -- When i was givenm muy first fountain pen I was admonished not to let anyone use my pen because their slant and pressure would change the way the nib worked. I have my pens to use and i love the way they feel but i've always hated turning a potential fellow future collector away from them by being so stuffy so I actually carry another pen that i left them use (and politely expalin why they can't use mine so it actually becomes sort of a secret club kind of hting) -- but. . . am i mistaken and anyone can use your pen and it does nothing to the nib. Clearly vintage pens have been used by others but presumablyu (or so i thought) while you had it you were guding it into your slant, etc. IUt realy made sense to me but i think its the romantic in me.

 

anyone know the answer?

 

 

Last week, for the second time in the few years since I started down this path of accumulation and daily use of fountain pens, I noticed what I suspected was a fountain pen in the pocket of a guest speaker in my electronics class.

 

I've been mistaken before. Folks hand over their pride and joy for my ogling and usually it is a ball point of some sort.

 

So, I started out cautiously, "That looks like a nice pen" and it was immediately handed over with an explanation of why he has some throwback of a pen in his pocket. I took the cap of the beautiful blue pen and saw that it was indeed a fountain pen - a Waterman Phileas.

 

"Oh, you don't have to explain to me..." I said, as I handed over my recently purchased Parker Sonnet. He immediately pulled the cap off and started writing with it. I should have done the same, but he was there to speak and hadn't started yet, I was holding up the class.

 

But that is only the second time I've seen someone with a fountain pen. True, living in Sacramento, (the LA Laker touted 'cow-town'), one may expect a rarity of use, I suppose. The other was at school as well. Discovered an instructor using a Pilot Varsity to initial our lab work.

 

So, I am curious if you folks see a lot of others using or carrying fountain pens?

 

I of course emailed both folks shortly after the incidents and gave them the FPN link. Cause, you know, this is where they belong.

 

[fountainpenjunkie]

But i have a question about your post -- you said "he pulled the cap off and immediately began writing with it) -- When i was givenm muy first fountain pen I was admonished not to let anyone use my pen because their slant and pressure would change the way the nib worked. I have my pens to use and i love the way they feel but i've always hated turning a potential fellow future collector away from them by being so stuffy so I actually carry another pen that i left them use (and politely expalin why they can't use mine so it actually becomes sort of a secret club kind of hting) -- but. . . am i mistaken and anyone can use your pen and it does nothing to the nib. Clearly vintage pens have been used by others but presumablyu (or so i thought) while you had it you were guding it into your slant, etc. IUt realy made sense to me but i think its the romantic in me.

 

anyone know the answer?

 

I have heard/read that as well and actually had a co-worker quote this to me as he turned down my offer to let him try a pen. I just did a quick search here for topics including the word 'loan'. Someone posted that some of the nibs are delicate on vintage pens and could easily be damaged by heavy handed treatment. I found almost your exact quote here:

http://www.xezo.com/pens/manual_fountain_pens.html

I don't loan my delicate or vintage pens to folks unfamiliar with fountain pens, but not because of form fitting my writing style, because I don't want to have repair them!

[Ernst Bitterman]

I use mainly vintage pens, and the only one I've got that has a noticeable "set" to it is a Waterman C/F of (likely) late 1950s make, which demands about a 12 degree roll to port to lay a line, a foible I blame on the previous owner. 1920s Sheaffer? No issue. 1930s Parker? Nothing. 1917ish Waterman? Just fine.

 

As Junkie indicates, I'd hesitate to lend out a vintage pen just because the average ballpoint user is apt to spring the tines before they even notice they've touched paper. I will with a fairly free heart let almost anyone use a Parker 51 Special, or one to the more functional Wearevers.

[lambertiana]

Outside of members of my family, where fountain pens might be considered an illness, I have only met one other person who uses fountain pens, a chemist who used to work for me. Whenever other people see me use mine, or borrow a pen from me, I usually get the "wow, that's a fancy pen" statement.

 

Of course, I live in a city in the middle of a major ag region, hardly to be considered metropolitan.

[FP_Lover]

The only place I've seen other people using fountain pens is at Flax in San Francisco. The guy who works in the paper dept. usually has two vintage pens on him all the time. The lady who works the pen dept. also naturally uses them.

 

But out in the "real world" like on BART or just around in the Bay Area, never. I've had people admire my pens when I'm using them, but never seen another person using fountain pens for regular writing. I seem to recall at one client, but I can't remember which one, a high level manager type guy using a large Montblanc FP (status item for sure). This was years ago, however.

 

To tell you the truth, I hardly see anyone using any type of pen any more, not even crappy ballpoints. Most people are using keyboards and thumbpads, if anything. Even at meetings at work, people either do not take notes at all, or they take them on their laptop. I don't know when notetaking became so passe. I live and die by my notes... Of course, that's probably why I'm usually asked to be the "scribe."

:~)

[piembi]

As Junkie indicates, I'd hesitate to lend out a vintage pen just because the average ballpoint user is apt to spring the tines before they even notice they've touched paper. I will with a fairly free heart let almost anyone use a Parker 51 Special, or one to the more functional Wearevers.

 

I would hesitate only with delicate vintage nibs that are flexible or require a special writing position.

 

I do lend out modern pens or troublefree nibs. Especially to people not significantly younger than me, because they grew up writing with FPs in school and should know the difference between FP and ballpoint.

 

[penguinmaster]

At my workplace (in our building I should say) I know I'm the only one who routinely uses a FP at work. Our accountant saw me using them one day and commented on how her husband turns pens and randomly makes her a new FP to use, but she never brings them to work. I invited her to try and use some of mine if she wanted but commented that she didn't want to ruin the nib.

 

The big guy has mentioned to me once or twice that he might be interested in FP's, He's left handed so I need to find him an ink that dries quickly so he doesn't end up with inky hands.

 

There is one girl that I've shown how to write with them and trust to use them, so I'll borrow her out a pen every once in a while if she comes and asks for one, but she doesn't actually own one. Everyone else there seems to think I'm crazy for my addiction. I have all my pens delivered there so they all know when I get a new one in.

 

When I was a student last year I used them in class to take notes and a few people would notice, but they had the typical disdain for FP's, complaining they leaked to much or were too much work.

 

I do work on a University though, so I know there has to be other people that use them. I've been keeping an eye out!

[kiavonne]

huh. I don't think I've seen anyone but myself using fountain pens. I've been facsinated with them since my early school days, but horror... we weren't allowed to use fountain pens in school then (mid-60's through 70's). The only ones one could really find by that time were the cheap Sheaffer cartridge pens hanging in the dimestores. Then they disappeared all together. I have my mother's papers from her school days, and FPs were all they used. What a difference a generation makes.

 

I've always had scores of pens of some kind lying around, but it wasn't until recently that I dove back into fountain pens. I was looking for unique, hand-made gifts and happened upon one of the wood turning sites. The guy had such beautiful pens. I bought sets of the things in various woods. I still buy from him, I just love his selection of woods, and though the pens aren't Parker, Pelikan, MB, etc., they still give me a lot of joy. And, I give them as gifts to get others interested. The pens have really made a difference in how I feel when I write, and it's nice to get away from the computer for a change. The only thing I'm having a problem with are the converters, but I'm working on that. The converters are very cheap, and are not drawing up ink.

 

I did just purchase a Parker Sonnet, though. Can't wait for it to show up. I've also been pouring over a lot of FP sites (and just today registered here), and have been taking in a lot of information. I think I'd like to try a Pelikan next. I'll work up from there.

 

People do give me odd looks when they realize I'm writing with a fountain pen, though. They spy the fine looks first, but then cringe when they see that nib when I uncap the pen. That's fine, really. Leaves more pens out there for me to add to my growing "collection."

Edited December 30, 2007 by kiavonne

[fountainpenjunkie]

I just love his selection of woods, and though the pens aren't Parker, Pelikan, MB, etc., they still give me a lot of joy.

Welcome to FPN kiavonne! Yeah, I wrote for years with cheap cartridge pens before looking into vintage. It all comes down to that joy of writing with a fountain pen, no matter the name.

[Lozzic]

I have known very few people with fountain pens. So many people use cheap disposable ball points (which I hate with a passion by the way ) I vaguely remember first seeing a fountain pen at primary school and being captivated by it and wanting one, though I never got one until years later. The next time I saw one was when I sat next to a girl in my psychology class last year who used a cheap clear plastic fountain pen, I don't know what it was but it was nothing special, then one day she came in with a ballpoint and I never saw it again. Last year I also had a friend in my biology class who used a black Parker Vector the same as the one I used to have (and lost), that is when I switched to an atrocious Parker Jotter fountain pen with a misaligned slit on the nib that I found in a drawer at home ha-ha. Those are the only fountain pens I have ever seen anyone ever use.

I am trying frantically to get people I know to use fountain pens but they tend to be apprehensive or cynical. One guy I know replied by saying that 'a fountain pen is too expensive for my liking' and 'I can't be bothered to buy ink for it'. Another guy I lent my jotter to decided to fling the pen and spray ink on the desk of my philosophy teacher, though she did not notice while we were in the room thank god! Also, my Psychology teacher has come to me several times in class and complimented my fountain pen, she sometimes uses it when annotating or marking my work.

My grandmother has a very nice Green Marie Todd Swan fountain pen, at least I think it is, I haven't had a chance to look at it since I have become more interested in pens but I actually intend to photograph it and ask on this forum about it. The annoying thing is I get the impression it has not been used for many many years and my grandmother seems disinterested in my idea of getting it working again .

Also another thing, I seem to vaguely remember that a few years ago on a test paper here in the UK it inferred not to use a fountain pen, I suppose that does not help with their popularity.

I think lots of people simply don't spend time writing, they don't care, many people I have met also seem to dismiss things of value and culture .

[dennisraines]

I've seen very few people.... maybe 3? All work related.

 

I'm a printmaker, and as a rule we all have to have 2.... I turned one of my students on to them, I told him if he were serious about prints he'd have to get two. He referred to it at first as "a real pen" as people usually do. Now he's a pen nut.

 

I think I actually used my first fountain pen when I was... 14 maybe. Some cheap-o Parker, then I got reacquainted in adult-hood (now that I'm able to maintain my "nice things").... and now HAVE TO have things such as "pen cases."

[Velma]

Soren and I stopped in our local Den of Smoked Meat and Brown Liquor (it's a barbecue joint that specializes in bourbon and whiskey), and the bartender (a twenty-something musician) was waiting for me.

 

"I put a fountain pen and a notebook on my wishlist this year, and I got these--" and pulled out a case with a Phileas and a Mont Blanc ball point in it. We then discussed cartridges vs. converters, and I may wind up going in to show him how to use a converter.

 

Bit by bit, we're gaining ground.

[WillSW]

I once saw a man on the bus using a fountain pen, I think he was a professor grading papers, he looked a bit rumpled.

 

At my school, an art school, two other students I know of use fountain pens. One I enthusiastically encouraged to get one last year, and she has since bought another and upgraded one' nib. Another guy has a Waterman a few years old; I admire his nonchalance towards the pen, it goes everywhere and is very worn, I think the clip has broken off, but it functions. A true workhorse.

 

I can't remember any others, though I do remember a few disappointments involving fancy looking bodies being uncapped to reveal balls. Ball-points.

[fountainpenjunkie]

I can't remember any others, though I do remember a few disappointments involving fancy looking bodies being uncapped to reveal balls. Ball-points.

Yeah, I've had that happen more often than finding a fp user.

[Shangas]

On a related topic, how many people have been amazed/surprised to find out that there ARE other people who use fountain pens?

 

I was reading a post on the previous page and it reminded me of something that happened in school when I was about 14 or 15 years old.

 

Having bad eyesight, I sometimes attended classes in the school's education-support unit, away from the other students. Anyway, one of the teachers there, a very nice lady named Donna del-Porto, an American who was the school psychologist, has her office there. One day I was in her office helping myself to her chocolate-machine (She usually gave out chocolates to her students anyway) and I noticed this pen on her desk.

 

It was red plastic with black ends and it had Disney characters (Mickey Mouse, actually) all over it. I was looking at it and she said I could take it if I wanted to. She found it lying in the corridors one day while poking around the school between classes.

 

I yanked the cap off. *Heart-jumps-a-beat* A FOUNTAIN PEN! *Runs off before she changes her mind*

 

That night at home, I took out a bottle of Quink and tried the pen. Despite being bashed up, despite having lost it's clip and being more scratched than the front door of a house that owns a cat, it wrote pretty well. It was a bit scratchy on some angles, but it wrote well.

 

The shock came two days later when I took it to school. A friend of mine said something like:

 

"Hey! That's my pen!"

"What?"

"You found my fountain pen!"

"Mrs. Del-Porto found it. It was in her office and she gave it to me!" *I was getting defensive, now. This was MY treasure!*

"It's mine! I can prove it!"

"Alright, go on."

 

And my friend opens his pencil-case and pulls out four, still-sealed ink-cartridges. *Damn it!* I'm thinking to myself, and I handed the pen back. But I was also thinking: "Hey, at least I'm not the only one in this school who uses them regularly!" It was also a shock, because I didn't expect there was another 15-year-old boy in the entire school who used fountain pens for their daily writing other than me.

[southpaw]

It finally happened! Today I was at the DMV to get a new license because the old one wasn't holding up and was supposed to last another 16 months. I had to fill out some paperwork and pulled out my gray striated Sheaffer Vac-Fil (chrome cap, gold clip and cap band, Triumph nib) and took care of it. This started a conversation with the DMV clerk and he's an FP user. He has a few Cross FPs he uses and BOTH of his twin brothers are into FPs as well. Who'd a thunk it?!?!? I told him about FPN and wrote down the web address. Maybe he'll show up.

[Kalessin]

I once saw a man on the bus using a fountain pen, I think he was a professor grading papers, he looked a bit rumpled.

 

My father is a math professor, and has been known to do just that. Me, I've tried writing with a low-value FP on the bus to my office, but my route is a short and bumpy ride, so I'm limited to rollerball/ballpoint/pencil.

[wiegandwatches]

i have only seen one person, in my life use a fountain pen. i was intruiged... and bought one for myself.and another...and another...and another