What Pen started your life long love of fountain pens?

[myles]

A Parker Jotter in an office supply chain, which eventually led me to a Namiki Falcon from Amazon, which eventually led me to FPN and a large hole in my hobbies budget.

 

Regards, Myles.

[PigRatAndGoat]

Well, how about an experience that started me? I think it all began with my first trip to London when I was about eight, and I saw a Montblanc boutique. It was really interesting, and I resolved that I would one day get one. I was on the hunt ever since, and I have now finally got one. The pen didn't disappoint.

[limesally]

grade eight in 1975: Sheaffer cartridge italic pen. My English teacher taught the whole class to write in italic.

 

 

[captnemo]

Sheaffer school pen, circa 1965.

[Martius]

I remember using my first fountain pen (as far as I can recall) when I was about 9 years old and a student in the Bangkok school system. It was an aerometric-filling demonstrator, probably of Chinese or possibly Japanese origin. I got it at Central Department Store for a splendid price. I don't remember what brand of ink I used, but the color was blue. I actually think I had had another fountain pen before that, but I liked the demonstrator a lot more.

 

Flash forward to Office Depot 11 years later. As a creative writing major, I finally got tired of malfunctioning ballpoints and remembered the fun I had with my long lost fountain pen. I bought a black Focus house-brand fountain pen for $40, thought I probably should have gone with the Phileas instead (still don't have a Phileas). I soon graduated to a green-straited Pelikan M600 that I consider my first real fountain pen because I love it so much.

 

That was about 6 months ago. Now I have too many pens to mention. A (*inhale*) c. 1940 thin-model black Senior Lifetime Sheaffer Balance vac-filler with a visulated barrel (*whew*) is currently my favorite.

 

Best,

Summer Greer

Edited January 10, 2008 by Martius

[Doug C]

A little creative license...

[penguinmaster]

Mine was a Rotring Freeway Silver, which I later sold to much regret now. That pen started it, and Esterbrook Red J is what has cemented my love.

[Shangas]

Nearly 14 years ago now...it was those cheap no-name fountain pens that dad brought home from work. What attracted me to them was that they were so unusual...and it just stuck from then on.

[kiavonne]

Some kind of Sheaffer cartridge pen I found hanging in the school supply aisle of a grocery store back in the mid-70's when I was in high school. Was probably under $5. It wasn't a very good pen, the cartridges leaked a bit. No one used FP's then in school. I used it for a while as a novelty and had fun with it until someone swiped it from me. Didn't get my next FP until some 2+ decades later, though.

[KClaw]

English Parker 51 Aero with Chrome cap in 1973. I was attending King Alfred's School in Wantage, UK, and it was well established there that "young gentlemen" used FPs. Being an American, my breeding and background were already a bit suspect, so I did not want to aggravate things by using a ball point.

Still have my first 51, and I still use it. I have maintained my fealty to FPs ever since my first one, although I have since collected some very nice vintage pens.

Sadly my 51, along with moi, are rapidly approaching true vintage status.

[sdcurnow]

I was given a Waterman L'Etalon by the wife and child 6+ years ago. It's always been a hard starter (which is about to be fixed thanks to one of our nibmeisters), but it gave me the addiction anyway.

[NateEssex]

Lamy Safari, got it last month

 

I really like it, but I'm already looking for one with a nicer exterior..or maybe I should say fancier?

[Dean]

Waterman Phileas about 2 years ago now. Still a great writer when compared to my much more expensive pens.

 

Dean

[Silas]

About 10 years ago while in New Jersey I visited a pen shop and saw a black Eversharp Skyline with a Gold cap and was told it was a 1943 model for a Navy Officer.

My father was in the Navy in 1943, and also the year I was born. I bought it as a remembrance of him as he died when I was 8.

I fell in love with the pen......and everywhere I went people asked what it was, as it also had a flexible nib.

 

Now, the love affair continues.......

[Deirdre]

I believe it was the Aurora Mare.

I should add that the first really nice fountain pen I owned (above the $10-25 range) was either the Namiki Vanishing Point or the Omas 360 Mezzo. The latter sealed my fate on Italian pens.

[kissing]

My first love was a Parker Vector Flighter I found at a local newsagency. It was a lovely surprise, because back then I really wanted a fountain pen - but thought they were all expensive ($100+) from what I saw in department stores. The Parker Vector was inexpensive, and I still have it

 

I have ground the original Medium nib into a stub.

[Romeo Dog]

Parker 75 I bought about 25 years ago.

[Martius]

A little creative license...

 

 

Unfortunately that one's true. :ltcapd:

[Doug C]

It is interesting to see that a number of us had similar experiences that brought us here.

 

For instances, the references to the old sheaffer cartridge pens that alot of us had in school. I remember asking for one each year, and being told that it wasnt practical.

 

There are quite a few people recalling their first Parker 51, but I can easily see some of the people that are talking here about their first Lamy Safari that they bought 2 years ago, reminiscing in 20 years about 'this old funny looking pen from Germany' and how the new ones arent as good.

[theblackpen]

Parker 51 chinese clone: "Golden Star 707".