Fountain Pens

[toolchanger777]

Do any of you guys have a fountain pen collection in your garage with pens that you guy's are fixing?

 

[TheGrooveking]

I have a collection of fountain pens, but they re not in my garage, they are in the Gerstner model 82 in Oak I keep in the master bedroom. I do use a fountain pen as my regular daily pen, a Rotring 600 I bought in 1988, been using it since then.

TheGrooveking

 

[Elroy]

I have a collection of fountain pens, .......they are in the Gerstner model 82 in Oak I keep in the master bedroom.

There's a man with his priorities straight

Elroy has this 14K gold filled 1946 Parker:

It needs a new bladder but that's a minor issue as they're available

 

[american lockpicker]

I had a collection of them once. Had a Mont Blanc, a few Parkers, a Waterman, and a Cross.

 

[turrican]

I have a couple non-collector ones (meaning, plastic body ones bought recently). Those, because my s/o is semi-into collecting them.

Any tips on what I should be looking for if I wanted to get her one (or a few) collector-level ones for a gift?

I like them, myself, but find that I can only use them at home, when I can be more patient writing things down, as opposed to the shop where I'm usually scribbling things down with filthy hands.

 

[GrantCee]

Any tips on what I should be looking for if I wanted to get her one (or a few) collector-level ones for a gift?

"My boyfriend is really into cars. What kind of collector car should I buy him?"

Same question with the same answer: what does she have now, and why does she collect? Does she use them or just look at them?

Some people like vintage American pens (Parker and Sheaffer being the most popular, but certainly not the only options.) Some like European pens; others like the art of pen design, and will buy those that appeal aesthetically. Still others buy based on the nib, many collect only certain body materials, and I know at least one guy who acquires only certain kinds of filling mechanisms. A whole subset are those who'll take any pen, as their interest really isn't the pen itself - it's the ink, and they'll have bottles and bottles of it!

Me? I like them because of the way they write; anything else is of minor importance. So I have yet a different motivation. Find hers, and you'll have your answer.

 

[Steve from Socal]

I have several Parker Vacumatic's, brown, green, gray, blue and black sets, all majors. Green, Brown and Blue Maxima sets and a few others.

Steve

 

[american lockpicker]

I have a couple non-collector ones (meaning, plastic body ones bought recently). Those, because my s/o is semi-into collecting them.

Any tips on what I should be looking for if I wanted to get her one (or a few) collector-level ones for a gift?

I like them, myself, but find that I can only use them at home, when I can be more patient writing things down, as opposed to the shop where I'm usually scribbling things down with filthy hands.

Get her a Mont Blanc Meisterstuck.

 

[Cameronl]

I have several Parker 51s. Clean look and good daily drivers.

 

[mrholeshot]

I have quite a collection of pens. Most of mine say Conway National Bank, NAPA, Conway Medical Center and MUSC.

 

[Elroy]

I have quite a collection of pens. Most of mine say Conway National Bank, NAPA, Conway Medical Center and MUSC.

The title was specifically seeking FOUNTAIN PENS not cheap throw away ball points. You obviously don't know the difference.

 

[KEH]

I used fountain pens in school back in the day. Ball point pens are a vast improvement.
Some of my fountain pens may be around somewhere but I didn't make an effort to save them.

KEH

 

[GrantCee]

I used fountain pens in school back in the day. Ball point pens are a vast improvement.

In some ways, yes. In others, no. No one tool is right for all uses, which is why there are still a lot of fountain pens being made and sold today.

 

[Stuey]

No, but I bought my first few fountain pens this month!

 

[trainwreck]

I do use a fountain pen as my regular daily pen, a Rotring 600 I bought in 1988, been using it since then.

Same here, though not since 1988. Maybe more like 1998. My only gripe is that after so many years, the springs that hold the cap in place have been worn down a bit, so the cap has a tendency to pop off.

 

[american lockpicker]

Same here, though not since 1988. Maybe more like 1998. My only gripe is that after so many years, the springs that hold the cap in place have been worn down a bit, so the cap has a tendency to pop off.

Send it off to the fountain pen hospital.

http://www.fountainpenhospital.com/

 

[GrantCee]

Get her a Mont Blanc Meisterstuck.

*cough*POSER*cough*

 

[american lockpicker]

*cough*POSER*cough*

 

[bsaint]

I have a Parker 51 also. Awesome pen. But since I travel for work, fountain pens don't hold up on airplanes.

 

[mrholeshot]

The title was specifically seeking FOUNTAIN PENS not cheap throw away ball points. You obviously don't know the difference.

You obviously missed the point. Even us dumb rednecks know what Fountian pens are. We had to use them in a Calligraphy course in high school. Maybe you need to take a course in off the cuff humor.

 

[Stuey]

You obviously missed the point. Even us dumb rednecks know what Fountian pens are. We had to use them in a Calligraphy course in high school. Maybe you need to take a course in off the cuff humor.

I see to be missing the point as well.

The OP asked about fountain pens, you mentioned freebie ballpoint pens. Elroy pointed that out in a rather snarky way, but your response was no kinder. You two need a time out from each other.

 

[FJ 432]

I love nice writing instruments but I could never get into fountain pens.

Of course it could be that I'm left handed and write upside down. By the time I write 3 sentences my hand looks similar to a monkey's hand thats been throwing feces all over his cage

 

[Stuey]

I love nice writing instruments but I could never get into fountain pens.

Of course it could be that I'm left handed and write upside down. By the time I write 3 sentences my hand looks similar to a monkey's hand thats been throwing feces all over his cage

You could always find a quick-drying ink.

 

[Bruce M]

Slightly off topic bit I have one of these..

It is a solid silver "Yard-o-led" propelling pencil from 1940's onwards (mine is 60's i think). The old ones were made by hand in England and had very fine engraving. Lots of different designs and matching pens too.

The company is now owned by filofax and they still sell the pencils.

 

[mrholeshot]

I see to be missing the point as well.

The OP asked about fountain pens, you mentioned freebie ballpoint pens. Elroy pointed that out in a rather snarky way, but your response was no kinder. You two need a time out from each other.

To keep from trashing the OP's thread I'll withhold my comment.

 

[turrican]

Speaking of freebie/cheap pens, you can get pretty cheap plastic-bodied fountain pens - that's what I actually use, when I use them. The one right above my keyboard here is a "Preppy" from jetpens.com.

 

[GrantCee]

Slightly off topic bit I have one of these..

It is a solid silver "Yard-o-led" propelling pencil from 1940's onwards (mine is 60's i think). The old ones were made by hand in England and had very fine engraving. Lots of different designs and matching pens too.

The company is now owned by filofax and they still sell the pencils.

They also make some terrific fountain pens, and surprisingly reasonably priced for the quality delivered. Superb writers.

 

[GrantCee]

Speaking of freebie/cheap pens, you can get pretty cheap plastic-bodied fountain pens - that's what I actually use, when I use them. The one right above my keyboard here is a "Preppy" from jetpens.com.

Jetpens is also the only place I know where I can get my favorite mechanical pencil, the Ohto Promecha.

 

[leod]

I like fountain pens but since I'm left handled I always leave smudges on the paper so i don't use it much, only when signing forms or cheques.

 

[moparmuscle88]

like mrholeshot said i also have a large collection of snagged ballpoint pens

 

[Thumper]

I guess y'all don't wanna hear 'bout my U-Haul pen I found by the water fountain.......

 

[TheGrooveking]

I'm left handed, it takes practice but learn to write more from the wrist so you can keep the heel of your palm/side of your hand up a bit. My favorite ink is Mont Blanc, used to be Schaeffer, but the Mont Blanc has grown on me, plus the bottles are nicer.

TheGrooveking

 

[american lockpicker]

I'm left handed, it takes practice but learn to write more from the wrist so you can keep the heel of your palm/side of your hand up a bit. My favorite ink is Mont Blanc, used to be Schaeffer, but the Mont Blanc has grown on me, plus the bottles are nicer.

TheGrooveking

Have you tried the newer(Made in Austria) MB ink? If yes, how does it compare to the older German made ink? Years ago I used emerald green ink from them.

 

[jvitez]

Here's what I'm using on a regular basis.

Since I was in the photo mood, I thought I'd show something I know my kids will never see, except for these: an ink eraser. I remember being taught in typing class how to erase a mistake, and erase it from the carbon copy, and use the little brush to brush away the shavings. Man, it makes me feel old. Especially since we had 2 typing classrooms, one with only manual and one with electric typewriters. I learned on the manual. Now I'm really old.......

 

[toolchanger777]

Thanks for the pictures jvitez, you just taught me something new about erasing

 

[toolchanger777]

TheGrooveking , if you didn't mind, could you post some pictures of your Gerstner 82 with all the pens, etc. Thanks

 

[Wrenches of Death]

I have a Parker 51 also. Awesome pen. But since I travel for work, fountain pens don't hold up on airplanes.

I wouldn't carry anything out of the ordinary on a commercial aircraft today. I can easily envision some jack booted TSA thug breaking it, thinking it's a James Bond weapon or an anthrax delivery system or something .

WoD

 

[HandyManny]

Hey Elroy, that's a nice Parker 51. I'm guessing by the blue diamond on the clip that it's likely post war but pre-1947?

I used to collect fountain pens in a previous life. Never kept any in my garage. Why on Earth would anyone do that? I did a limited amount of pen restoration, but I'm no expert on the matter. I mostly just collected them. I sold off most of my collection years ago and just kept the pens I liked as witers. Parker and Pelikan are my favorites.

 

[toolchanger777]

Thanks to the people that posted pictures. Anyone that has a fountain pen, please take a picture so all can see. Thanks

 

[toolchanger777]

Bump