"Just So" stories

[Slivovitz]

Another invitation for members to share their eccentricities.

I have quite a few vintage lever fillers. I like to have the levers exactly aligned with the center of the top of the nib. When changing out a nib in an Esterbrook, I'll turn the section if the new nib doesn't line up "properly". It has to be "just so".

On the other hand, I understand that some people like to have the clip on a cap lined up the same way when they post it. I couldn't care less about that, and in fact, think it looks rather good sitting at an angle to the nib. Doesn't have to be an exact angle, though.

My currently un-inked pens are sitting in three pen cases of different sizes. They have to be organized according to a scheme that makes sense to me, even though I don't have that many pens compared to some people, and could find any pen in about a minute, even if they were completely randomized.

Although it's not the only way I carry pens, any pen that I take out of the house has to fit in a shirt pocket.

What about your pens has to be just so? Does something have to be aligned a particular way? Is there a special way they have to carried? Does the outside need to be cleaned every day? Do they have to be stored with the nib facing up at a 73º angle pointing South by Southeast?

 

[oc_in_fw]

So far the only thing I have noticed myself doing is posting the cap with the clip lined up with the nib.

 

[RichieRich3902]

So far the only thing I have noticed myself doing is posting the cap with the clip lined up with the nib.

I usually do the same thing

 

[Moondancer]

Another invitation for members to share their eccentricities.

I have quite a few vintage lever fillers. I like to have the levers exactly aligned with the center of the top of the nib. When changing out a nib in an Esterbrook, I'll turn the section if the new nib doesn't line up "properly". It has to be "just so".

On the other hand, I understand that some people like to have the clip on a cap lined up the same way when they post it. I couldn't care less about that, and in fact, think it looks rather good sitting at an angle to the nib. Doesn't have to be an exact angle, though.

My currently un-inked pens are sitting in three pen cases of different sizes. They have to be organized according to a scheme that makes sense to me, even though I don't have that many pens compared to some people, and could find any pen in about a minute, even if they were completely randomized.

Although it's not the only way I carry pens, any pen that I take out of the house has to fit in a shirt pocket.

What about your pens has to be just so? Does something have to be aligned a particular way? Is there a special way they have to carried? Does the outside need to be cleaned every day? Do they have to be stored with the nib facing up at a 73º angle pointing South by Southeast?

LOL, this is my one FP quirk. I'll screw with the Esterbrooks when I change nibs until the lever and the nib EXACTLY line up. Then, although not quite as anal as the lever and nib, when I close the pens, I want the clip to line up with the lever as close as possible. Posted, I literally don't care at all.

 

[oc_in_fw]

LOL, this is my one FP quirk. I'll screw with the Esterbrooks when I change nibs until the lever and the nib EXACTLY line up. Then, although not quite as anal as the lever and nib, when I close the pens, I want the clip to line up with the lever as close as possible. Posted, I literally don't care at all.

Oh, forgot that. On my Lamy Al-Star and Vista, "Lamy" is printed on one side of the body. Due to the threading, it can either be under the bottom side or top (in normal writing position Lamy is visible). Those pens must be that way.

 

[Shave_Rat]

So far the only thing I have noticed myself doing is posting the cap with the clip lined up with the nib.

I usually do the same thing

I do this as well, but it's a matter of comfort since the clip will dig some into the webbing between my thumb and finger if the clip is on that side of the pen.

 

[syngent]

My cap on the Conklin always has to line up with crescent filler

 

[N2theBreech]

My cap on the Conklin always has to line up with crescent filler

Yep. Except I do it because I labor under the illusion that when it's posted with the clip on the side, the weight of it makes the pen want rotate.

Now, when I cap it, I also want the clip to line up with the crescent. I have no excuse for that one. It just has to be "just so."

 

[andrew98]

You guys are all nuts! My pens have to be carried in a leather case when I take them out of the house. I try to minimize wear and tear by doing that and being mindful of how I handle the pens (don't drop them, etc.). I want them to look as new as possible for as long as possible. I don't post pens and no longer own any lever fillers, so I don't ever have to deal with the nib alignment and posted cap palaver. That's not the reason I don't post or own lever fillers, though. That would be crazy.

I also like storing my pens in a logical order that makes sense to me. I group them by brand and then the chronological order in which I bought them within their brand group. I don't own a ton of pens, so I could probably find them easily enough even if I didn't organize them. flush pens between refills, even if I'm refilling with the same ink. I've seen what ink residue can do to a feed.

That's all my fountain pen related neuroses that I can think of at the moment. There are probably others.

-Andy

 

[OldSchoolYoungin]

For any pen that's to be carried that day, it must be filled to the top. Even if I know the pen as plenty of ink in it, I want a completely full tank and will give it another fill for good measure. This is the case even if I know I probably won't carry that pen the following day.

Other than myself, one person and one other person only gets to use my fountain pens. He's a co-worker and friend of mine that, and I'll give him his congrats here, was just promoted to Engineering Manager! We have practically identical hobbies and likes, and he's one of the only people that I know will appreciate a fountain pen and take good care of it. Other than that, I get lots of co-workers asking, "Hey, can I use your pen for a quick second"? They get the company issued Papermate InkJoy stashed in my pocket just for such occasions. Still very decent throwaway pens in their own right, though.

I rarely post pens, but at work, I do it just so I don't lose the damn cap. When I do, though, it has to be right in line with the cross section of the nib.

My preferences also defer to the subjects I'm writing about. If they're a serious matter that harkens back to older ideals, then older pens are in order - i.e. vintage Parkers and Esterbrooks. If they're "new" ideas, commentary or similar correspondence, I'll use later model pens, nibs AND inks.