The Absolutely Unnecessary Joy of a Fountain Pen

[psfred]

Lol, my favorite modern nib is the one on my Chinese Hero 100 (a copy of the Parker 61, with all of it's faults). Fine, even line and very very smooth. The rest of the pen is marginal, as one would expect from the price point, but it writes very nicely.

 

[AimlessWanderer]

I enjoy using my fountain pens, but I am comfortably seated in the modern pen arena. Not just modern manufacturing, and the lower asking prices, but also metal bodied cartridge converters with a snap on cap.

I couldn't write a paragraph with one of those threaded grip jobbies, without wanting to hurl it. I don't want to be worried about caps cracking, or sacs leaking, or hard rubber perishing, nor do I want to be paying a premium for any of those things.

I can sort of see why folks like the pens often spoken of as "instruments", but ergonomics, affordability, and peace of mind have me looking elsewhere. I'm certainly not suggested others are misguided in their choices, just that I am unable to share their joy of the premium and heritage aspects of the fountain pen world. There is much that is closed off to me, yet I am still happy.

Or to put it another way, and corrupt the thread title, there is much that is absolutely unnecessary, in finding joy with a fountain pen.

 

[Vikram]

When I worked offshore and now in mining, I take my 149. I figured that since I am an engineer I’ll get a tough time, so let them include me writing with a fancy fountain pen.

When I am back in the office (2/3rds of the year), I only use my Sailor 1911. Every meeting I go to, there is always someone with the bird splatter.

To me both pens write the same, but I am more proud of owning the Sailor 1911.