What Pen started your life long love of fountain pens?

[jmann]

Hey everyone,

 

I'd be interested in knowning what pen started it all for you and if you still have it?

 

My first fountain pen was purchased about 7 years ago. Walking around Staples I believe, or Office Max, anyway they had one Diplomat Classic Collection fountain pen with a Medium nib. I had always wanted a fountain pen and they were looking to get rid of it, so if memory is correct, they gave it to me for 35 dollars.

 

I still have it and still write with it. It's been a very good pen. It's now a little beat up from a lot of years use and I'm very glad to see that these pens are now back on the market.

 

So there is mine, what was the one that started it all for you? Just the one, not what we've all come to purchase since than.

 

Be well,

Mike

[swarden43]

A $4.95 Parker Vector from the McGuire/Ft. Dix Base Exchange back in Aug. '06.

Still have it, still use it.

[AKAGodSent]

About 3 or 4 years ago it was the Ferrari da Varese Spartacus which I purchased at Fountain Pen Hospital, still have it, still one of my better writers.

 

 

[donwinn]

When I was 8 or 9 years old, I found a dove gray Parker 51 in an old junk box. My grandfather cleaned it up for me, and let me use it. I ended up breaking it, because I was an ignorant, rowdy boy. But I really liked that pen. Later went on to Sheaffer translucent school pens, in junior high.

 

Donnie

[handlebar]

A brushed stainless Sheaffer Targa from the late 80's.

I still have it and use it often.

 

Jim

[greencobra]

Actually, I have two, bought at the same time online. I wasn't too thrilled with my Sailor which was my first FP, bought in Sept of '06. While it was out for repairs, I got a Namiki Bamboo and a Pelikan Shanghai City. Both outstanding pens as far as I'm concerned and those two pens kept up my interest. I've sold a lot a pens in a year trying to find my way but I still have those two.

[DrPJM1]

Parker 51, India black.

[Quicksilver]

An $8 Diplomat cartridge pen from Staples way back in High School about a decade or so ago.

[mike1]

My folks gave me a PFM pen and pencil set when I was in high school for Christmas in 1962. I lost that set way back when. Wish I had it today.

[gistar]

In my previous life I had some Parkers, two Sonnets, a 25 and a 45. But I hit the slope when I got a Pelikan 215. It glided over the paper and I I fell in love with it. Then I tried to find some other ink than the locally available Quink blue and black, I searched the Internet and found the FPN. End of the story. (walking qickly to open the box contaiining the new Aurora Optima).

[SteadyHand]

I studied Architecture in 1991 and I used Koh-i-noor Rapidograph pens for rendering and drafting. I fell in love with the Rotring 600. Unfortunately I had to send it back for repairs and never got that one back. Instead they sent me a Newton version. Still have it to this day.

[WillAdams]

Sheaffer NoNonsense in blue bought back when I was in high school, ~1978. Still have it.

 

William

 

 

[poxy51]

I may have told this here before, but when I was in high school I had a fondess for pens that did not leak all over my hands and fingers like the old cheap Bic pens. So I used Parker Jotters or Scheafers. The Bics If I remember --they were cheap, had an easy flow but were very messy at times. My mom noticed that, and then always gave me a nice pen then for Christmas or birthday. In my senior year she gave a Parker 51 that she had used as a girl to write my father while he was in the Military.

 

In a way it is funny but I did not really use the fountain pen a lot until I graduated from college a few years later. Then I used the 51 and then bought a Parker 75 in '73 or '74 and have been using fountain pens ever since.

 

 

[southpaw]

Pelikan M200 way back in April 2005 shortly after finding FPN.

[ANM]

When i finally got to be a"big kid" and use a fountain pen in school, the school changed the supply list to ball points! That I remember it to this day may have had some influence on my use of fountain pens later. In college I wanted a drawing pen that I didn't have to keep dipping so I got a Speedball fountain pen for india ink. It didn't work very well and I don't know what happened to it. I think it fell apart or broke from me trying to clean it all the time. Later I tried fountain pens for calligraphy and the one I kept was a Pelikan 120. It had interchangable nibs, so I could, write, draw or letter with it. I still have that pen and several nibs to go with it.

 

Later I saw an Aiken Lambert pen in an antique store that was just like the one my dad had. That pen started me on my collection of vintage pens.

[Doug C]

About 25 years ago, (I was 2 at the time) I started to notice the differences between European and American product design. One of the most dramatic differences was between German and American products. I received a Eltron shaver, and was blown away by its black, minimalist look. This was as compared to Reminington Shavers at the time that were chrome and didnt seem to have any cohesive style.

I have a heavy beard (I know I'm rambling), and back then, I had a tendency to go through shavers (I use a double edge now-rambling again).

With my second Eltron or Braun shaver, there was an offer to get a Lamy Rollerball pen. I had no idea was Lamy was, or was a rollerball was for that matter. Back then, they made quite a few pens that were in the $5 range. Once I got it I was hooked. I continued to purchase cheapie Lamys until one day I was in the local Service Merchandise (Out of business now I think).

There they had a Pelikan m200 FP and ballpoint set on sale ( they are marked W. Germany so that gives you an idea of the age). I had only heard of Montblanc at that point, and thought this must be a cheap knockoff.

 

I have them to this day..

[Crobe]

When I was 10 (1960) my dad gave me his Esterbrook Model J, Fern Green Pearl. I used it many years in elementary school. I wish I still had it.

 

Mike

[hardyb]

I got a Parker 75 Sterling Silver fountain pen for my high school graduation present and used it for years until roller balls came out but I still had fond memories of it. One day I got a Levenger catalog and order a Waterman Phileas. The rest is all pleasant history.

Edited January 9, 2008 by hardyb

[Clancy]

It was watching my mom at her writing desk penning notes and letters with her carmine Sheaffer Tuckawy. I was mesmerized with the way the pen would lay down that ink, creating the beautiful script that was my mother's handwriting.

Just had that pen restored by Sherrell this past summer.

[ebwatt]

About 25 years ago, (I was 2 at the time) I started to notice the differences between European and American product design. One of the most dramatic differences was between German and American products. I received a Eltron shaver, and was blown away by its black, minimalist look. This was as compared to Reminington Shavers at the time that were chrome and didnt seem to have any cohesive style.

I have a heavy beard (I know I'm rambling), and back then, I had a tendency to go through shavers (I use a double edge now-rambling again).

With my second Eltron or Braun shaver, there was an offer to get a Lamy Rollerball pen. I had no idea was Lamy was, or was a rollerball was for that matter. Back then, they made quite a few pens that were in the $5 range. Once I got it I was hooked. I continued to purchase cheapie Lamys until one day I was in the local Service Merchandise (Out of business now I think).

There they had a Pelikan m200 FP and ballpoint set on sale ( they are marked W. Germany so that gives you an idea of the age). I had only heard of Montblanc at that point, and thought this must be a cheap knockoff.

 

I have them to this day..

 

Doug,

 

You must have matured quickly. I didn't start shaving until I was 14 :-P

 

Eb