Fountain pens
When I was bemoaning the state of my handwriting a while ago and asking for advice on how to go about improving it, several people suggested that a good pen—-particularly a fountain pen—-helps a lot. While my handwriting has improved a lot as a result of all the good advice I got, I felt that a good fountain pen would probably make it even better—-or at least more comfortable.
I’ve had a Lamy Safari fountain pen for a number of years, but I’ve found it to be a bit unreliable as far as ink flow goes. It also has a rather broad nib, and forms a rather wet, blobby line on the paper in my Moleskine. So I decided to splash out on a decent pen. After a lot of shopping around, and writing “The quick brown fox…” in a slightly embarrassed fashion on numerous pen shop testing pads, I settled on the Rotring Newton. In fact, this is the very pen that Lyle recommended in the comments of my post.
I love the sturdiness of this pen. It’s very solid metal, and looks as if you could run over it in a tank without ill effects (to the pen). I like to think that if I’m ever in a super-villain’s secret underground lair with some huge stone door about to crush me, I could probably save myself by wedging the door open with the Rotring. Happily, it also writes very well. It is—-as Lyle pointed out—-nicely weighty in the hand, and I find that this helps the stability and regularity of my writing a lot. The nib is very smooth, and the perfect ‘three bears’ happy medium between a smooth but wet broad nib and a dry but scratchy narrow one.
I don’t like cartridges (they always seem like a waste of money and hassle to get hold of) so I bought a convertor to use bottled ink. It took a couple of goes to fill the pen from dry, but the flow is now very even and reliable. To complete my conversion to fountain pen fanaticism, I’ve even ordered a couple of bottles of Noodler’s Ink on the recommendation of several people on the 43folders list.
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I purchased two Uni-Ball Signo 207 Pens from my College Bookstore. After a quick test of the pens on my notebook I thought it would be a good pen. The next day during class it came time to put the pens to the test and see how well they perform. The results speak for themselves. They are literally the Worst Pens I have ever purchased. I could not complete a sentence without having the pen skip. It got to the point that I had to switch to a basic Bic Ball Point Pen. Bottom line if you don’t mind having to go over your writing to correct any letters and add letter’s to complete words due to the skipping then you might find this pen ok.
by jerry wilson @ 09/11/2007 1:26 pm • Permalink •
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Re: comment #33 - some people do report trouble with Quink. However, I use Quink black in Sheaffers, Parkers, Pelikans, an Esterbrook, even a 100-year old Waterman with no problems. Even mix it with other inks to adjust colors to my liking.
Re: comment #47 - fountain pens are not a necessity, no, but they're hardly jewelry. REAL fountain pens (not the frighteningly expensive decorative clunkers that some pen manufacturers sell) are meant to be used; some are meant to look nice at the same time. Ballpoint pens are a poor substitute for a pen that glides over the paper without having to be pressed into the paper to get the ink out. BTW, Pelikan's been selling an ink eradicator for years.
Yes, I do like me some fountain pens.
by Christine @ 23/11/2007 6:30 pm • Permalink •
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Seeking a Schaeffer propelling pencil as a companion piece to the Targa 1009, (gold filled engine turned case) manufactured in the US, ( not the Australian product if possible ) Please advise to <gerard.2@virgin.net> with price and location.
by Gerard Jordan @ 17/12/2007 7:05 am • Permalink •
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i'm currently on the hunt for a decent fountain pen so all of your comments should certainly help. I have to say that the best one i've ever had is the Berol handwriting fountain pen (looks a bit tacky and childish but i loved it and made a huge difference to my writing) however my friend dropped it on it's end the other day and bent the nip (could have cried!) got another but after a good number of years they seem to have changed and it's just not up to it! finding it quite hard to find a decent thick nib that is'nt too expensive - everywhere stocks medium and fine, grr!
by jenny @ 19/03/2008 9:01 pm • Permalink •
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Please feel free to contact me if you would like. I have a collection of Mont Blanc fountains and am in the process of liquidating them. 4049260058
Colt Conner
by Colt Conner @ 19/03/2008 9:04 pm • Permalink •
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