My First Fountain Pen

(page still under construction ... please forgive this draft's spelling and grammar errors until page construction is completed).

Fountain pens are neither an old nor new means to use to write; they are both. Pens, in one form or another have been in use for eons, however the fountain pen came into widespread use in the late nineteenth/early 20th century. It became the major means of writing in the post WWI period; the 1920's. In fact the twenties and early thirties (1920's) are often referred to as the Golden Age of the fountain pen. Their production and use did not cease after that period by any means and new technologies and styles were still being introduced well into the 1960's by which time the widespread use of the ball-point pen had replaced them as the major means of writing. A second Golden Age of the Fountain Pen emerged in the 1990's with both the introduction of many new fountain pens by the pen companies and a resurgent interest in society in the fountain pen as a means of writing. Not only were there many new pens being introduced yearly but there was a growth (and re-organization) of the pen companies themselves.
Companies like Visconti, Delta, Aurora, Montverde, Think, and Acme emerged as new growth companies while manufactures such as Parker, Sheaffer and Waterman, having been re-organized and moved to Europe, began to introduce many new pens. Some of these pens were completely new styles while others were luxury updates of models from than earlier Golden Age of the fountain pen. One of the first luxury companies to forge a new identity during this period was Montblanc who have made luxury and fountain pens synonymous. It was companies like Acme, Think and Montverde that produced less expensive versions of the fountain pen. Buying, using and collecting fountain pens became big business.
For the new fountain pen user all of this is but background. One's immediate view is on such questions as how does one write with them, what do you use for ink, how do they fill, what ink should you use and do you need special paper to write on. Are they difficult to use? Do they break easily? When do you use them?
The short answers:
i. - There is no need to fear using one (most children once used one).
ii - Thus they are not difficult to use.
iii - they are easy to fill.
iv - use the fountain pen ink you like
v - the nibs are more flexible than ball-points; don't push too hard (think of them as being like a pencil lead).
vi - clean them once in a while just like you bath yourself.

Remember that most people wrote with fountain pens from childhood, just as most children can now use a computer (something that often scares their parents) so there is no need to fear using one. 

Likewise they can be re-loaded - filled easily but just like ball-point pens some makes are filled differently than others (all ball point refills are not loaded into the pen the same way). Most take a cartridge that is inserted into the pen, in the slot available after one unscrews the barrel and replaces the empty one. Others can be filled from a bottle. That is done in different ways (again it depends on the model ...just like that ballpoint or roller ball again). Most, today, have a converter which is essentially a permanent cartridge. You just use it as the directions say. Others may have a lever on the outside of the barrel - just lift it, put it in the bottle of ink and let the lever snap back into place. Others may have a piston that is just turned in one direction to fill and the other to empty it.
Which ink should one use. The simple answer is use a FOUNTAIN PEN INK you like. Any color that appeals (there are hundreds of inks and colors available and new ones being introduced monthly). To start with the best ink to use is the one recommended by the manufacturer of the pen(if they don't recommend one, use the kind you like). Most people start with a basic blue or black from Parker or Sheaffer. Once you determine what colors you like you will decide what color to use.

Are they difficult to use? No. There are some things to consider however. The nibs are more flexible than ball-points so don't drop them, slam them or abuse them. You do not have to push hard to write ... just ... write. Put the cap on when you are finished. Fountain Pen ink is a liquid (just as roller-ball in is more liquid than the paste-ink of ball points) so it can 'dry out (as do roller balls if left un-capped).

Paper!  Does it have to be special?  No. Fountain pens will write on any paper but they will write on some types better than others just as ink-jet printers will print better on 'ink-jet' paper than on laser paper and the reverse. Use a paper that doesn't make the ink feather or bleed into the paper. It doesn't take long to find one you like. There are luxury papers available but so luxury papers are available for ball-point writers, roller-ball writers. pencil writers (artist papers) and in computer papers.

 

Fountain pens should be cleaned occasionally. Monthly is a good period between cleanings although if a pen is used daily with the same in (like Sheaffer Blue - a thin ink) one could go for months between cleanings. By Cleaning what is meant is rinsing it out, in cool or cold water (never hot). Flushing it is another way to put it; flush out the old ink and leave everything fresh and clean. It is important to flush one's pen if you change colours (otherwise the ink that is still in the pen's feed will continue to mix with the new ink until it has been 'flushed out' by use). Problem with that method is the ink will not be the color you want; it will be a mixture of the two colors. Flush the pen out if you are not going to use it for a while. (Because the liquid ink will dry out just like any liquid will 'dry out').

Fountain pens allow you to express yourself visually. A light hand (pressing softly) produces a light line while pressing more forcefully produces a heavier line. (that doesn't mean pressing hard). Fountain pens can be purchased with different width nibs from extra- fine, fine, medium, broad.

There are even oblique nibs (left and right facing) fine oblique, medium oblique and oblique broad. There are stub nibs and italic nibs in different widths. Most pens come with a medium nib but some have nibs that can be unscrewed and replaced by any number of different kinds of nibs. Perhaps the most noted of these is a Vintage Esterbrook Fountain Pen. Esterbrooks were used by most students in high schools in America. (They can still be purchased relatively inexpensively ... about $20 or so on ebay as can the different nibs).

Fountain pens are not old even though there are vintage fountain pens (and ballpoints and pencils). They are new and provide the user with an great deal of pleasure. If you are a new user ... ... welcome aboard.

 

 

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