Fountain Pens - Who uses 'em?

R

rroossinck

Joined
Jan 10, 2007
Messages
72
Well, after shamelessly pirating this forum for months as I slip a little deeper into the realm of the sharp and shiny, I wanted to first offer my thanks for all of the great information that's been posted out here. It's been really nice to be able to go somewhere and find un-biased information.

Here's my question. How many of you guys are carrying fountain pens, or considering them? This is a topic where I might be able to contribute some decent information.
 
I carry either my sheaffer or my parker vector everyday. Personally I feel you cant find better pens to write with (fountain pens that is, because my pens dont write as well as others) and the maintenance and upkeep of them is well worth it.
 
Within reach right now(at work) I have 4, a Conklin Mark Twain in my pocket, a Monteverde Black Tie in the pack and a couple of others around on the desk. Would prob find a couple more if I was to dig around in the pack or on/in the desk.
 
I use every day a Waterman Charleston that I bought new for $25 (story somewhere else on this forum). I have had irregular problems with it "starting". I find myself having to duplicate the first stroke of the letter or number I am writing to get the ink to flow. I also use a rollerball and will never go back to a ballpoint.
 
I use fountain pens daily. I like the Lamy pen for work because they work very well and they are very light weight.I have several Waterman pens also that I'm fond of. When I'm in a nostalgic mood I like to use a couple of Easterbrook's that I bought cheap.
 
I have a modest collection of vintage fountain pens including Parker, Waterman, Schaeffer, Conklin, etc. For years I carried a Parker Duofold Centennial. In the past year, I switched to a vintage 1948 Parker 51. It's a great design -- very sleek.
 
I routinely use a Cross Matrix with a fountain pen nib. It is not as nice or fancy as others but I absolutely love writing with a fountain pen. Ink and words just flow from the pens. I do not EDC a fountain pen but I do use it often.

I am also a fan of the disposable Varsity fountain pens. They are not as nice as other fountain pens but they are a great way to get someone interested in fountain pens.
 
Howdy RR,
I'm Lloyd at FPN. Today I used my Pilot Custom 743 with FA nib using Pilot blue-black ink, my Pilot Prera with fine nib with a blue-black mix (Pilot,Levenger & Nooders inks) and an Esterbrook J with 9556 nib using PR chocolat ink. My MB149 with a fine nib is now next to me with MB blue ink.
 
I use my own titanium fountain pen. The only problem is if you need to make several copies of a signature or something. You don't press down hard like a ball point.
 
I've tried, but couldn't even make a single word come out right...

If you have already learned to use them, more power to you, I would use them too if I had the skillz.
 
Guilty. I am a huge pen geek. Love fountain pens. I used to write numerous pages per day (20-75/day) for several years. That kind of writing will make you really appreciate the benefits of a good fountain pen.

I think that for everyday use the Nimiki Vanishing Point is a great choice, or something along the lines of the Pelikan 600.
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Mont Blanc makes some fine writing instruments, aside from the snobbery that is associated with the brand. Some of their nibs are really top flight. What is ironic is that they are seen as way over priced by the general public, but I would say they are middle class to most stylophiles.
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For slower paced, more contemplative writing, such as writing a short letter to a friend, I like a heavier pen such as the St. Dupont line The Orpheo is excellent, and I use the Classique on a regular basis (it is quite thin compaed to the Orpheo), the Caran d' Ache Leman, Waterman E'talon, etc. A couple of my favorite pens are by Cartier. They write wonderfully well.

ON the flip side, a nice vintage pen like a Parker 51 can be a wonderful writing tool.

As for ink, I use Noodlers or Private Reserve in any number of colors, DC Super Show blue being my fave.
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Here are some of the pens from my collection that see the most use

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i used to use them all the time when i was in college for taking notes, most of the writing i do now a fountain pen wont work as well as a gel rollerball cuz of the carbon paper thingie on checks for example, if i wrote a lot i very much prefer them though.
 
Yep. I edc a Pelikan M200, I have also a Rotring Newton 900 (old style) and Lamy Safari.
Using Pelikan Black ink =)
 
Pelikan M250 (great buy at $80 for a gold nib)
Lamy Safari- Super smooth nib, though the clutch ring that holds the cap on might irritate some users

Waterman Charleston

Cleaning them is EASY, so no problems there
 
I think the Waterman Charleston is an excellent pen at its price point, I ahve a few and they all write great. My favorite is a yellow with a broad nib that is good for signatures, on the flip side is an ivory one with an XF nib that is great for note taking in book margins.

I give the Philleas as a gift on occasion, it is a great starter FP, probably the best IMHO. . .
 
Too bad its discontinued. My favorite starter pen is now the Lamy Safari, though it's egros are odd
 
I do. I EDC a Sailor 1911. For a good beginner EDC, I recommend the Namiki Vanishing Point. They're much easier to carry around.
 
Nice collection knifetester.
I have a handful but use Lamy Safaris every day at work. I have a red, black and Al pens with red black and turoquoise inks. Don't mind too much if I lose them as happens with pens.
The Lamy red ink is great for marking up documents and photocopies very poorly - which can be aa good thing.
Big fat Mont Blanc stays at home, as heavy on ink as a Hummer with gas but nice for signing things.
 
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