Homage to the composition notebook

[ajha1970]

I would say that about 75% of my current comp notebook stock has indian paper. You wouldn't think of it as fp- friendly because it is not slick, thick and shiny the way Rhodia or Clairefontaine is. It is in fact thin, soft, and a little 'chalky' in feel.

 

But it does take ink beautifully. There might be show- through in some books but they're so inexpensive it hardly matters. I don't write on both sides of the paper even with Claires.

 

Several years ago I reviewed an India comp book here but it was lost in the ' move,' most likely. I should dredge up the pics and post it to my blog.

Hi

Please be specific about which iNdian Paper you are talking, Do i need to be careful if writting with F or EF nibs

I am just learning , Please advise.

Regards,

Ashish Jha

[Sailor Kenshin]

There are a lot of comp notebooks with Indian paper.

 

They have various covers and names, but to the best of my recall are currently available at Dollar stores, some with plastic covers and some cardboard.

 

Look on the back of the notebook to see the country of origin.

 

They work fine with F nibs. I haven't tried any EF.

[leicamaster]

Whoa, I just tried the Vietnamese Office Max polycarbonate college ruled composition books and my oh my are they good. The papery is buttery smooth and there is absolutely no feathering with Noodler's Black or Pelikan BB. Check them out!

[wpb]

...the Vietnamese Office Max polycarbonate college ruled composition books...

 

That's what we use (supplied) at work and they are very good. I think the Brazil version (usually found at WalMart) is a little better, but the Vietnam/Office Max version is good too.

 

Bill

Edited September 25, 2012 by wpb

[Octo]

This is a little off topic, but among my great-uncle's things I found a composition notebook from between 1900 and 1910. It seems composition notebooks have been around a long time. His has a tan cover similar to the original bagasse ones from Staples. He wrote in it with a pencil, and I didn't want to write in it so can't check for ink friendliness. The paper is not particularly smooth. The lines are pale blue and only slightly narrower than current "wide rule."

 

Perhaps useful items never go out of style?

[pencils+pens]

The ad inserts for my Sunday paper have $1.00 sales on Composition Notebooks at Staples and OfficeDepot this week. That is about .59 off the regular price. The Staples ad mentions grid, regular and college rulings are available by location.

[StrangerT]

I never would have thought that some composition books are fp friendly. Hopefully I can get some that are made in Brazil or Vietnam.

[mmkoenecke]

I love Composition notebooks! I've always been afraid to use my fountain pens as I assumed that there would be some terrible bleedthrough. You have inspired me to do a bit of an experiment!

[indigoskye]

I'm going to choose my words carefully here, but in case I slip up, apologies in advance! I'm a little bit surprised at the interest on this thread, because I'm really curious how people actually use these things. My memories of dreading these books in school don't come from how they handled (or didn't) ink, but rather how I was constantly fighting that binding! They just always felt like they were designed specifically to frustrate the writer. Always shutting, and the margin all curving inward... So is there some trick to it, or is this just something people have more patience with than I do?

 

I never used these composition books when I was kid. I only learned about them last year via this thread. Perhaps that is why I do not have bad memories associated with them. I bought a few of them from Target at 50 cents each in August of 2012. Mine are Mead's from Viet Nam. I was surprised at how well they worked with my fountain pens. They are not perfect with the ink, there is a little show through and the ink spreads a little, but there is no bleed or drastic feathering. For the price, I'm well satisfied. They lay flat, are sewn instead of stapled and the covers are sturdy card board. They tuck easily into a laptop bag. I like the little pocket sized ones for general notes and lists too. I looked for the Brazil ones, but never found any. This coming year, I'll look more diligently. If you have trouble keeping them flat, you should train your notebook with weights. That usually does the trick for me.

 

What I use the notebooks for mainly is brain storming and outlining my novels. One notebook per novel or novella project. Then I take the hand written words and transcribe them into my writing programs and go on from there. Much of what I write in my brain storming sessions is all throw away. I would hate to use expensive paper for this use. Writing on paper at this stage is superior to keyboarding into the computer, so learning about these notebooks was a great find for me. I have another of the composition notebooks dedicated to practicing new sketch ideas before I commit them to my more expensive 90 lb watercolor paper journal. I don't mind making design errors in the comp book. I'd rather I do it there than in the art journal I plan to keep and possibly show to people.

[Sailor Kenshin]

You work a lot like I do, except I DID use comps in school and have fond memories of 'em.

[indigoskye]

You work a lot like I do, except I DID use comps in school and have fond memories of 'em.

 

I keep wondering how in the world I had never noticed these things before. Evidently they were in use even during the decades I was in gradeschool! I guess you do learn something new everyday. I still have two comps left from my purchase last August, but I'm looking forward to scouring Wal-Mart for bagasse paper comp books this summer.

 

My next goal is to find a cover for the comp books. When I take them out to group write-ins, people look at me with surprise because the comps are associated with school children. A nice cover would stop that. There are scads of fabric or quilted covers designed for comp books on ESTY at reasonable prices and I've been looking at the leather covers recommended in this thread. Except for the Renaissance Art ones. I had a very bad experience with that company last year and will not order from them again. Fortunately, there are alternatives.

[Sailor Kenshin]

I made one myself (comp notebook cover) from a pair of old jeans.

 

Hey, they come with built-in pockets for pens!

[indigoskye]

I made one myself (comp notebook cover) from a pair of old jeans.

 

Hey, they come with built-in pockets for pens!

 

LOL Nice way to recycle your jeans! I did notice that most of the ESTY fabric comp book covers did include a pocket for your pens and a nice attached ribbon book mark.

[Runnin_Ute]

Just picked up a couple of Brazil Office Max books for $1.00 each - blue cover/wide ruled. The black cover had the VietNam paper. I didn't look super close at the differences. Thought I would pick up a couple just to try them. Picked up one of those Avery note card/thank you card kits. 60 sets for like $22.99 or something like that, (Matte Ivory - card size 4.25" x 5.5" #8317)

[blackcat99]

Resurrecting an old thread - lol - Just had some composition books in ordered from ebay - Vietnam paper Mead college ruled - paper is very thin - but I am using them for OU (open university) maths work so not that fussed... do people write on both sides of the paper ??

[mwpannell]

I tend to write on both sides.

[TMac]

Since blackcat99 decided to resurrect this thread, it caught my eye. I used to use Norcom or Staples brands composition books and was always happy with how they behaved with ym pens and ink. almost 2 years ago, I decided I should "upgrade" my notebook and began a fruitless search for the perfect notebook. After buying most of the more popular books, and being unsatisfied, I have been on the lookout again for a good, reliable book. I saw this thread over the weekend and dusted off a Staples composition book and brought it into the office today. I must say, I am as happy with this book as those that cost $20+. Thanks blackcat99 for the reminder!

[indigoskye]

I had forgotten about this thread, nice to have it return to the top. Since my last post, I found a supply of bagasse Brazilian Mead composition books at Office Depot. They were $2.00 during the back to school sale last August. I paid a little more for them because they came in college rule and quad! I ended up buying 15 of the college rule and 2 quads, one of which is now my bullet journal. The paper has been extremely fountain pen friendly, the size tucks into my laptop briefcase perfectly, and I bought a few fabric covers (with pockets for a pen and small notebook on the front).

 

I have some of the wide rules for 50 cents, but I much prefer using college rule for my notes. I will be returning this year for a new supply to supplement what I have in my office. Although I do like Rhodia pads, the composition book has become my writing tool of choice. I'm glad I discovered them via this thread back in 2012.

[gweimer1]

The composition notebook (college ruled) is my work bible. I keep all my daily notes and task lists there. I just noticed that the ones I get at work for free are made in Brazil. That may be why I like the way the pens work there. I can also get them on sale at my local Kroger for about 50 cents at the end of the summer after school starts.

[Yaakova]

I use the Mead 5-Star College Ruled composition books made in Vietnam for journaling. I write on both sides of the paper, and so far I've found them to be fountain-pen friendly.