"Torn Between Two Lovers" - no, I'm not talking about Mary MacGregor's song from 1972. I'm talking about my love for wet-shaving that has grown at unbelivable proportions these past two years, and my new "love" - fountain pens! I know many of you are way ahead of me here, but I still wanted to share my recent experience, and also give a big thanks to my enabler, BrianW.
During this past year, Brian and I became friends here on B&B, proving that a yankee from New Jersey and a redneck from Texas can not only co-exist, but can enjoy each other's friendship! Brian recently asked me if I was interested in fountain pens. I've always loved pens, or as another friend calls it, our "pen fetish", but have avoided fountain pens and use strictly rollerball pens. My sister-in-law, a nurse who knows I love pens, even sent me a couple of dozen ball-point pens that various drug vendors brought to the doctors office she works in, each one advertising some variation of a male enhancement drug. One of the pens even folds in half, and when you click it, the lower half raises! It's pretty funny to see, so hopefully you can get a visual of that.
Brian sent me several fountain pens to try, including a Parker 21, Parker 51, and a Pelikan, as well as a couple of inks. Brian thought the hooded nibs of the Parkers would be better for me to try first, as they more closely resemble the look and feel of a rollerball. Since this was all new to me, he even got on the phone and talked me through the first ink loading when they arrived.
WOW!!!! I love these pens! Brian was right, the Parkers do feel somewhat similar to a rollerball, but I love the smoothness of the nib on paper. Apparently the fountain pens I tried as a kid were not good quality, as I remember them being scratchy to write with, and too flexible when you touched the nib to paper. These pens aren't like that at all. The nibs on the Parkers are very smooth when writing, especially the Parker 51. I was concerned I wouldn't be able to write as fast as I normally do when taking notes in meetings, but that's not a problem at all. I do, however, find myself taking more time when I can, just because I enjoy it so much. In that respect, it's similar to wet-shaving. I now enjoy taking my time with my DE, rather than rushing to get done like I used to with a cartridge.
The nib on the Pelikan is one that Brian had specially ground by Richard Binder, a renowned fountain pen "expert", that will write in italics when you hold it the regular angle, and writes a very fine line when you roll it over and turn it "upside down" on the paper.
"Torn Between Two Lovers" refers to the amount of time I have spent the past few weeks not on my beloved B&B, but searching the net for fountain pen sites to learn as much as I can about this fascinating new (to me) hobby. The Fountain Pen Network is a great site, very much like B&B as a place to learn, although it doesn't have the sme sense of comraderie that we enjoy here on B&B. And like wet-shaving, you need to try it for yourself, not just read about someone else's experience.
I still have much to learn, and look forward to doing so, about fountain pens. But I'm convinced that I won't go back to rollerballs. The FP's are just too cool! I'm already planning for my "fountain pen den".
Oh, and Brian has already tempted me with vintage watches, too. I only have three watches now, an Omega Seamaster, and one black and one orange Seiko Monster. None are vintage. But I have always liked watches, too.....
Thanks Brian! And no, I'm not being sarcastic or joking this time. Seriously, thanks Brian!
During this past year, Brian and I became friends here on B&B, proving that a yankee from New Jersey and a redneck from Texas can not only co-exist, but can enjoy each other's friendship! Brian recently asked me if I was interested in fountain pens. I've always loved pens, or as another friend calls it, our "pen fetish", but have avoided fountain pens and use strictly rollerball pens. My sister-in-law, a nurse who knows I love pens, even sent me a couple of dozen ball-point pens that various drug vendors brought to the doctors office she works in, each one advertising some variation of a male enhancement drug. One of the pens even folds in half, and when you click it, the lower half raises! It's pretty funny to see, so hopefully you can get a visual of that.
Brian sent me several fountain pens to try, including a Parker 21, Parker 51, and a Pelikan, as well as a couple of inks. Brian thought the hooded nibs of the Parkers would be better for me to try first, as they more closely resemble the look and feel of a rollerball. Since this was all new to me, he even got on the phone and talked me through the first ink loading when they arrived.
WOW!!!! I love these pens! Brian was right, the Parkers do feel somewhat similar to a rollerball, but I love the smoothness of the nib on paper. Apparently the fountain pens I tried as a kid were not good quality, as I remember them being scratchy to write with, and too flexible when you touched the nib to paper. These pens aren't like that at all. The nibs on the Parkers are very smooth when writing, especially the Parker 51. I was concerned I wouldn't be able to write as fast as I normally do when taking notes in meetings, but that's not a problem at all. I do, however, find myself taking more time when I can, just because I enjoy it so much. In that respect, it's similar to wet-shaving. I now enjoy taking my time with my DE, rather than rushing to get done like I used to with a cartridge.
The nib on the Pelikan is one that Brian had specially ground by Richard Binder, a renowned fountain pen "expert", that will write in italics when you hold it the regular angle, and writes a very fine line when you roll it over and turn it "upside down" on the paper.
"Torn Between Two Lovers" refers to the amount of time I have spent the past few weeks not on my beloved B&B, but searching the net for fountain pen sites to learn as much as I can about this fascinating new (to me) hobby. The Fountain Pen Network is a great site, very much like B&B as a place to learn, although it doesn't have the sme sense of comraderie that we enjoy here on B&B. And like wet-shaving, you need to try it for yourself, not just read about someone else's experience.
I still have much to learn, and look forward to doing so, about fountain pens. But I'm convinced that I won't go back to rollerballs. The FP's are just too cool! I'm already planning for my "fountain pen den".
Oh, and Brian has already tempted me with vintage watches, too. I only have three watches now, an Omega Seamaster, and one black and one orange Seiko Monster. None are vintage. But I have always liked watches, too.....
Thanks Brian! And no, I'm not being sarcastic or joking this time. Seriously, thanks Brian!
