Do People Still Use Fountain Pens?

I have the worst luck when it comes to pens. I keep one in my car and it is always out of ink(simple ball point pen) I keep one in my bag when I go out and run errands and again, it always seems to give me trouble. I've seen some absolutely beautiful fountain pens but fear them because of them usually leaking. I'd like to find an elegant classy looking pen(fountain or ballpoint) that is dependable and that will last. Any suggestions?

The BIC-Z4 Roller is the epitome of writing. And cheap enough that I have the hidden all over the house, office, car, etc.

general (old-fashioned) correspondence and greeting cards, but a handful of cheap disposable ball-points are probably better for carrying around. Also, losing a ball-point pen is no big deal. I bought myself a nice fountain pen a few years ago -and after the novelty wore off, it was just another ponderous trinket.

Fountain pens are probably best for people who actually enjoy writing -and who have good enough penmanship to show for it (IHMO).

but the ink leaked and ruined a tan leather purse.

Seriously, they are the shizz.

I agree. I love the way a note or letter or card reads when written with a fountain pen.I wish I could write in calligraphy.I tried a fountain pen and made a mess. I also found that I had to refill it a lot. I thought perhaps I was not doing something or needed help.Thanks for the advice.

Contemporary pens are way more leak proof than the older or vintage pens. Parker consistently makes pens that last and don't leak. Even the old Duofolds from the 1920's in my collection don't leak.
Namiki makes a Vanishing Point pen that is very reliable and sort of like a ball point in that you push a button on one end and the nib emerges or retracts. They run around $140.00 on line. Parkers can run up to $2,000 or more.
I own and use over 100 fountian pens all different brands and ages. If you use a washable blue ink like Quink washable blue you can get rid of ink stains easily and quickly.

That being said the most reliable pens I know of are Papermate disposable ball point pens. They're dirt cheap the ink runs forever when you need it and you'll lose it before you run out of ink.

:P

Can't afford soot.

Quills are the classiest pens.

1980s.

I found some recipe cards I wrote in Junior High Home Ec. I still remember hoping the fountain pen wouldn't leak.

Have a collection of them that I slowly rotate through. I even have one that is also a iPad stylus. I also keep a collection of colored inks.

I've had Sheaffer, Osmiroid, & Parker. Osmiroid is the one to use for cartoons (I'm not the greatest, but I enjoy it) & Parker is the smoothest for writing. Sheaffer used to be the most available & cheapest.

I'm interested in the iPad stylus you mentioned. Think I'll look it up. :)

Monteverde Invincia Stylus Fountain Pen - Black Fine
http://www.fahrneyspens.com/Item--i-251144S

I really enjoy it, but then I also enjoy many of the Monteverde pens I have.

They can be expensive and hard to find but I love them (and have never had a mess or leak )

I think they are beautiful and would love to start a small collection of them.Mont Blanc I hear is one of the best. I LOVE this one

they also sold Mont Blancs. I'd forgotten about that brand until now :hi:

Better off with a good quality pen from a company like Monteverde

How could that not feel exceptional when writing?

and Wikipedia proved me right, again! :D

Fountain pens today

And, technically, a "technical pen" works in a similar way as a fountain pen, and is still used by both artists and drafters :)

the don't last long at all - the secret is to have a dozen of them around so you can always find one that works at any given time

OK,so if I have a fountain pen in my office and one in the kitchen and then say one near the telephone,do I have to worry about the ink drying up over time? Can keeping ink in them without using them everyday or every week be bad for them? I think my biggest fear is they will leak or leave a mess. For that reason,I don't want t keep one in my bag or in the car.I'd love to find a really nice looking pen to use and there is a lot about the fountain pens I like but have this fear at the same time. I think what I may have to do is just go out and buy a cheap fountain pen and some ink. Fill it up and just try it out and get the feel and get comfortable.

I also used a fountain pen in HS and college. I've looked for fountain pens when I've been in stores, recently, but haven't seen one among the dozens and dozens of types of pens available out there. I'm sure that I could find them on-line, but aren't they sold in stores anymore? :shrug:

no ink cartridges to be seen on the racks. The art supply stores I've been to had only a few selections. It's best to order online for a quality pen.

The fact that there were none of those in the pen section indicated to me that there were no fountain pens in the entire aisle... :(

And thanks! I'll check an art supply store. I can only think of one in my area, but they have lots of really old items... :) :hi:

Edward's usually has a good selection. Art supply stores sometimes do as well.

Many of my Lamys and Watermans were under $40 and none of my fountain pens are Chinese-made. Even my gel-ink pens are Japanese-made.

ten pack - they really did used to work, used to last - now it is hit and miss

His user name is Stinky the Clown. He's not 'round as much as previously, but perhaps he'll check in. He's been collecting them for a while and knows a lot.

I asked my husband for you because he has some and really enjoys using them for writing in his work. He said you can get a fountain pen for about $25.00 but they are not worth it. Better to spend more to get a quality pen. He has had Schaeffer and Waterman pens, but right now mostly uses a Waterman. They are a US company but the pens are made in Paris. One he has that he really likes is called the "LeMans Mineral Blue" (he has the same in a ballpoint pen). It's out of production now and he paid about $120.00 for it some years ago. He said sometimes you can find them on Ebay, prices vary, watch for a good price. I think there is also a Mineral Green and Red LeMans. He said you need to get one with an 18K gold nib, as stainless steel ones don't flex right and probably aren't as pleasureable to write with either. His pen has a gold nib with iridium plating, I guess for reinforcement and to protect/strengthen the nib. He doesn't have problems with it leaking but he said that if you ever bring one on a plane you need to keep it vertical otherwise the change in altitude could push the ink out and make a mess. Good luck finding a pen.

Way back in third grade we learned cursive writing in pencil until we were good enough to use a scratch pen. The desks back then had inkwells. Scratch pens required a light touch that many, especially boys, couldn't manage very well. If pressed too hard the pen point would catch on the paper and ink would splatter. Once the scratch pen was mastered we were allowed to use our own fountain pens. Ball points didn't come into use until the mid-1950s.

... some handmade ones with German-made nibs - none leak. Just keep them upright.

And yes, I use them.

fountain up.

I spoke to a friend who use to use them a lot and his advice is this. A) Get a pen tray because they can leak. B) Keep them upright and C) Plan on using them on a regular basis. Filling it with ink and then using it occasionally is not a good idea.