You know, if you have never written with a good fountain pen, you've missed something.
You know, if you have never written with a good fountain pen, you've missed something. This is a wonderful article from Antique Trader Magazine that can tell you why.
http://www.antiquetrader.com/antiques/collectibles/putting-pen-to-paper-with-distinction/#.WaWLGRM_43s.google_plusone_share
http://www.antiquetrader.com/antiques/collectibles/putting-pen-to-paper-with-distinction/#.WaWLGRM_43s.google_plusone_share
A thorough and very interesting article! Love fountain pens.Years ago I sat in a meeting, ill prepared, and needed to write a note. I asked the person next to me if I could borrow his pen for a second. He had a horrified and hesitant look on his face when I realized he had a Montblanc. To his great relief, I just said, "Nevermind". I remember the care with which my dad would fill his pen, and later, those Sheaffer cartridges. Really nice post, thank you!
ReplyDeleteI used to collect fountain pens. However I gave up on that when essential tremors made the writing look terrible. As they have receded some since then, I might try writing again with a fountain pen. Especially, if I could find on that writes well, and dries quickly on 'NCR' type paper.
ReplyDeleteThank you Ann Kennedy for sharing that story. It reminded me of one my father related years ago, of when he was in grade school. He found that he had let his pen at home one day, and the cute little Redhead that sat in front of him offered him hers for the day. He returned it at the end of the day sure that she liked him as much as he liked her.
ReplyDeleteThe next day, she wouldn't look at him, not once all day long. That was a Friday, and he recounted that he suffered through the weekend and dreaded Monday because he didn't know what made her so distant in such a short time.
After she ignored him both in class and on the playground he summoned up the courage to find out what had happened.
"You ruined my Pen!" Was her answer. "It doesn't write the same anymore and I have to use a pencil for a long time now." (apparently her pappa decreed this for lending her pen to a heavy handed boy!)
Dad made good on replacing her pen with a new one, although it took him weeks to earn the 8 cents it cost.
He didn't really understand till years later why he ruined her pen but his worked just fine, and why earlier when he tried to give his pen to her to make up for his crime and win her favor back she said it felt funny too.
Dad was a Southpaw, and the difference in right handed pressure and left handed pressure makes a difference on the pen nibs.
So yes Ann, I can see why the Montblanc owner would perhaps be horrified if he knew what could happen if he lent it to a "Heavy Handed" young lady.
Oshi Shikigami. Hum, google "fountain pen nib replacement" to get an idea of what you may like to use, then go to The Fountain Pen Network Forum
ReplyDeletefountainpennetwork.com - Fayetteville Fountain Pen Club
you can inquire as to what would be best to use. (they have a store also) I know they would not give you bad information.
You should try it again, I used to do beautiful Calligraphy work until my fingers became arthritic. That did me in on my knitting too darn it, but I can still type so it isn't so bad. : )
Margaret Siemers That wonderful story beats mine by a long shot! It would never occurred to me that a left hander would damage the pen of a right hander! And while we're on the subject, here's the explanation of my dad's fountain pen and how it came to be:-) It was used for his lifetime. Scroll to the bottom. annbkennedy.blogspot.com - February 27, 1943 Back in New Haven, NYC and The Pen
ReplyDeleteOshi Shikigami Oshi, you might find success by using a pen on padded surface in order to have more control. Hard, slick surfaces under a paper are a challenge. The other option is to wrap the pen in rubber bands to increase its width a bit, and give better stability. Last, I know some people have had success by putting a little weight on the hand while writing, like a bean bag or a small ziplock bag filled with sand.
ReplyDeleteMargaret Siemers and Ann Kennedy, thank you both for the suggestions!
ReplyDeleteI have always preferred the large, even 'fat' pens. If I can get an italic nip, I do. In fact I have had a few "music" pen nibbed pens as well. (They have a wide nib that can, by rotating, do exquisite variations on line width.) Something like hard felt or rubber, makes an excellent backing for the paper. And the paper itself, WOW tons of variations and success...
I have not tried the extra weight. I would figure the extra weight to afford more inertia for the tremors? Sound quite possible.
I shall be checking into these links to see what I can come up with! Thanks on that.
I should share with you, that I was back in the '90s, an official "Parker Pen Co. Beta Test Site." I was having problems with the gold engravings on the pen becoming discolored and disintegrated.
After contacting them on their lifetime guarantee, on their fountain pens, and sending them results of pens only had for a couple years, they asked if I would be willing to beta test, new materials used in the gold plating, for longevity, in my hands.
They sent me free fountain pens, to keep. And all I need do is give them feedback on the wear.Talk about fun! ;-)
Oshi Shikigami You have done it all! Honestly, you are a ton of talent! I think you were on to something good. Let's all try this and see if we can get a lifetime supply of something we like:-)
ReplyDeleteWooT yuppers! One of most fun jobs, ever. LOL
ReplyDeleteMy current pen of choice is my Fisher Space Pen, but not so much for the luxury of it. It's more for the history and geek cred :-) . It is a pretty nice pen too.
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My current pen of choice is my Fisher Space Pen, but not so much for the luxury of it. It's more for the history and geek cred :-) . It is a pretty nice pen too.
ReplyDeletehttps://lh3.googleusercontent.com/Tsj56e8ZTB86WFwWX_p9Z-Q_cLgyY2n6-MjuZLWY4401a_icD0x-EtCRVaaGczGRDV7Owxjy1Tf1KCNH2Te7bars3aHU75k4bttU=s0
Ann Kennedy Thank you Ann, but were it not for your excellent story I wouldn't have thought of mine. It is funny that the nibs were so reactive to the writers movements, and hand pressure, but they were. I think it's part of why I have always enjoyed using them. Although these days I am most likely to use my Cross Ballpoint Pen. It has a wickedly thin barrel, and as my hands became more arthritic I wasn't using it. Not till I read someplace that one can correct that by padding the barrel as you said. I found a hair scrunchy, (flat, not puffy) when wrapped around the barrel worked just fine. Now they make "helpers" that are soft foam.
ReplyDeleteI am going to go read the story on your Dad's pen as soon as I finish catching up here. Those stories...I can't hold a candle to. Always wonderful.
Not only has Oshi Shikigami done a myriad of fascinating things Ann Kennedy, she seems to have an abundance of luck too! Our Oshi tends to be in the right place at the right time, as they say.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad about that Oshi, as we all benefit from your knowledge and expertise that you so kindly shares with us. So it is nice to be able to do a small thing for you.
Steve Hart lol Geek Cred, I can't say I remember hearing it quite that way before, but I agree it is worthy of gawking at and the history behind it is, in itself, right up there with Eclipses, Mariner 2, and planned trips to Mars. If you know of a link that will let the interested read about it's history, please do share here. (then the rest of us Geekie folks can exclaim "I'm not worthy!" ; )
ReplyDeleteMargaret Siemers It's just so nice to hear from you! So very nice!
ReplyDeleteAnd you will see and hear me more. Perhaps not everyday yet, as I am learning to pace myself still. And thank you, I have missed you too.
ReplyDeleteMargaret Siemers Here's a little space pen history: smithsonianmag.com - The Fisher Space Pen Boldly Writes Where No Man Has Written Before
ReplyDeleteMargaret Siemers Thanks so much for your comment on my blog. To answer your question, that pen lasted for at least 60 years. I don't have it, but I wish I did. I'm certain that my mom agonized over whether or not they should pick up the pen, worrying that someone might come back to the place it was lost, and not be able to find it. Anyway, this whole conversation started me thinking about my parents' desks. I can still see the contents of the top drawer in my mind and how ordinary I used to think it was, but now I would love to handle those old rubber bands, paper clips, letter openers, address labels, and stamps. Thanks again Margaret Siemers!
ReplyDeleteSteve Hart read the story...."I'm not worthy, I'm Not worthy!" Honestly, all jokes aside it's a wonderful pen with a cool history behind it. Thank you for sharing with us.
ReplyDeleteAnn Kennedy, those memories are precious to us and good for us, or so I am told when I read up on things like that. And nothing is sweeter than when we remember our youth, and the familiar things that went with them. So I thank you for the stories of your parents, because the life they had can be remembered by so many of us as seen in our own parents. Our past lives have shaped us into who we are, and sometimes with the internet, and the fast pace of life we strand ourselves on an island of emotional distress. One just needs to look at the evening news to know that is true. So it's all good, and it all had interplay for each of us. I think this is why I love this community so much. So many stories to bring back memories. So thanks back to you Ann Kennedy
ReplyDeleteWhat Margaret Siemers said, above. I could not of said any better...
ReplyDeleteOshi Shikigami thank you too. And I hope you will be safe if the latest hurricane hits land in Florida. She doesn't sound like she will be a lady at all.
ReplyDeleteGotcha. I am contemplating taking my flight of dragons to NC, to be with my brother... But am not at all happy about the prospects or the move.
ReplyDeleteI hope you do, and I hope you have a safe trip. Being with family is always nice, but nicest in times that could be heartbreaking otherwise. I vote go, and soon as you can. hugs.
ReplyDeleteMargaret Siemers Thank you for your kind and wise thoughts here.
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