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Piano.player
10
Sep 3, 2018
This is a fun thread to read. Here is my (more detailed) response.
I’ve used fountain pens for over 50 years, and accumulated more than a hundred pens.
Fountain pens are like screwdrivers: different pens are great for different uses. I need pens to take rapid extensive notes. I like pens that can add a flair to my signature. I like pens that can write a beautiful thank you or condolence note. I like historical pens. And, I like pens that work as jewelry. (My wife has her necklaces.)
Good note taking pens have smooth, fine, relatively wet nibs. Good ink capactcity is a big plus. Not much line variation, but they start right away every time with no pressure on the paper. Some people describe these as “nails.” There are a lot of good pens in this category. Some of my favorites are Sailor, Platinum, Pilot, Pelican, Lamy, Cross, and Parker.
My favorite signature pens or thank you note pens are the flexy nib pens. Nothing flexes better than a vintage Waterman, but these pens suffer from age, leaking, and cannot travel on an airplane. I have also had custom made flex nibs from Richard Binder or Montishaw. The Pilot Custom Heritage 912 with the FA nib is my best modern flex nib.
The italic, stub, or music nib pens also give great line variation. (Italic type) The flex nib works on pressure. The italic type nibs create line variation depending on the direction of the stroke. Good for signatures or thank you notes. Italix, Bexley, Sailor, Pilot, Parker, and Platinum make great versions of these.
I like some historical pens. The Parker 51 makes a great nail pen. Ring fillers, vacumatics, eye droppers and others have been fun to use and to admire the interesting filling systems.
Jewerly pens are pens that I like to wear just for their looks. (Sometimes they are good in another category). Bexley makes interesting colors, and has great nibs, I also love the look of my Leonard Bernstein Mont Blanc, and sterling silver pens. Also in this category are special pens to commemorate life events. A favorite is the custom Kullick Jerusalem Wall sterling Parker 51 with my wife‘s and my name cast for when we got married.
A special category is travel. When I have to travel for work my favorite pens are the Cross Townsend or Mont Blanc Traveler. These modern cartridge pens can store an unused cartridge in the back of the barrel. A handful of cartridges, and your good all week.
I almost always carry four pens: A flex or italic for signature; Two good smooth writers; and, a ball pen to lend a friend.
Bob_the_Wino
14
Oct 18, 2018
Piano.playerI believe you mean Mottishaw, my good fellow.
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