Goulet Q&A 164: Infamous Baystate Blue, and the Aging Pen Community
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- Опубліковано 8 лют 2025
- For links to the products mentioned and Brian's answers, check out the Q&A 164 blog post: bit.ly/GouletQA164
In this episode, I talk about fearing the infamous Noodler's Baystate Blue, whether you should buy the Lamy 2000 Black Amber LE or Visconti Homo Sapiens, and how I'm addressing the aging FP community.
Pens/Writing - (5:37)
1) drjfrs- Instagram - (5:38)
I am torn between getting the Lamy 2000, 50th anniversary fountain pen and the Visconti Homo Sapiens Oversize fountain pen and the Visconti Homo Sapiens Midi fountain pen. Any suggestions how to go about choosing one over the other.
Ink - (10:54)
2) weeksie98- Instagram - (10:57)
Hey Brian, I read the manufacturers guide to a few of my pens (I got really bored, okay) and I noticed that they always seem to recommend that you use only their inks, because their formulation is meant to be optimised to the pen. I'm not going to restrict myself to one brand of ink no matter what the manufacturer says, but do you think there's actually something in the idea that a manufacturer's ink will work better in their pens than others?
3) Cynthia B.- Facebook - (18:02)
After watching quite a few of Brian's videos, I now have an irrational fear of Noodler's Baystate Blue ink. Every time Brian mentions Baystate Blue in a video, it's because of an issue that the ink could cause with whatever he's demonstrating (the ink can stain, it's hard to clean, you have to use bleach to clean it out, don't mix with other inks, etc.). If Baystate Blue is so amazingly "complicated", what are the properties of this ink that would make people want to use it despite its many complications?
Troubleshooting - (35:18)
4) reed.thoughts- Instagram - (35:21)
I have different piston fillers which include Montblanc, twsbi, and others... But it.seems sometimes ink gets past the piston's seal. How can I remedy this? Not how to clean it, but how to prevent this from happening at all!!
Business - (40:25)
5) The Pen Penchant- UA-cam - (40:35)
Hello, Brian and crew! First of all, thanks for all of the wonderful work you do for the FP community. It has been a pleasure to see your business grow before our very eyes over the years. My question for you is what would you like to see in fountain pen review content? Anything you're not seeing but would like to? Thanks, and keep up the fantastic work.
6) Matthew Beddow- UA-cam - (45:45)
Recently i've been discussing the future of Fountain Pens with a Reviewer 'Larry Berrones' and a question that came out of that discussion was : Do you have any Metrics to measure the age of people purchasing Pens and Ink , obviously this is very important to know if you're going to project sales over a long period because if the Data suggested that it was mostly older people as a percentage then eventually the sale will decline ,without being morbid,as these older people get too old to write or pass on. I am concerned , as many of us are, that the fountain pen may decline and possibly disappear if the market shrinks. If you could answer that one i love to understand what you currently do measure and what your thoughts are.
QOTW: Have you ever actively recruited someone into fountain pens? Whom? - (50:34)
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Regarding the feared death of the FP world, I believe you are correct that instead of dying it is actually reviving, and the internet is in large part the catalyst for the proliferation of FP interest. Last year I attended the SF Pen Show and I saw a lot of younger people excited to be there. Your company has done a ton in sparking an interest in FP's. In fact you all are in large part responsible for getting me hooked. Now, I am working on producing the next Grail Pen!
Yeah, I think the internet is getting a younger audience involved as well. Stumbling across YT videos on fountain pens, suddenly they're hooked. - Colin
It seems my generation, being around the 16-23 range, is really into "aesthetics" which may also be part of it. I can only speak for myself but whenever I bring it up in group chats it's a pretty well known topic.
According to me , i dont think fountain pen will ever be past. I am 29 years old and do lots of writing. I used to use ball point pens, but untill last year i came accross the metropolitan. Now i own every pilot gold nib fountain pens and sailor pro gears. My personal favourite , the custom 823 . To me fountain pen are not just a writing instruments. Its a feeling of writing. The way the ink flows through the nib to the paper, it seems like its not the ink , its my positive energy that flows. Its kind of a meditation stuff for me. Specially happens with my custom 823 , i can keep on writting for hours. My ink bottle lasts hardly 50 days. Now i came into fountain pen through metropolitan and ended up with falcon ,823 , 912, 74, elite , vanishing point and sailor pro gears. I think this industry could bloom if they make some more creative entry level stuff with some funky features like flex nib or some piston filling stuffs , specially PILOT because i am a die hard fan of PILOT. Then i think lots of people will step up and end up becoming a fountain pen user like me. The metropolitan needs some modifying or pilot needs to bring fresh models in entry levels. Fountain pens are like addiction, you have to catch it the first time and then fountain pens will automatically catch you.
I am sixteen, and I just recently got my first fountain pen, and I've taken notes with it in class, and I have gotten most of my circle very interested, and some of my teachers actually are quite nostalgic and they miss their old "cartridge pens". I think the FP culture is coming back
@@Gouletpens It's great to see the younger consumer getting engaged with this world, with reviewers such as JPL offering their perspective on a pen from actually using it out in the field, sitting exams with it, living with it. I'm 53, hated FPs as a child and only rediscovered this world within the last year. The stereotype would be that I'm in the majority of FP users - old and grey - so I find it invigorating that I may actually be in the minority.
I use my fountain pens at work along side my travelers notebook and they have caught the eyes of the President & CEO as well as the Director. Needless to say, they are both converts and have obtained quite the collection. I have also purchased fountain pens for family after they have expressed admiration for mine. Gotta love it!
Fountain pens can definitely be eye-catching and set a good impression. Curiosity can get people asking all sorts of questions about the pens. - Colin
kids sharing their eggs - that started my day on a high note right away. So sweet!!!!!!!
I walked into a paper company in Portland, Oregon that happened to have a pen counter when I was 17 years old. They had some FP's on the desk to write your email down for their newsletter and when I wrote with that pen it was like I was rediscovering something that I had forgotten! It just felt right. After that I found you guys on UA-cam and have been hooked ever since. I've tried to get other people interested, even gifting bottles of ink and pens to friends for holidays, but nothing has stuck yet. I just started a job at a local bookstore and my manager actually has a fountain pen tattoo, so that's been awesome, but alas, no conversions yet!
Very cool! Thanks for sharing with us and keep sharing the fountain pen love!
I just got my first fountain; a Pilot Metropolitan Fine; and I'm so excited to spread the joy of fountain pens to everyone at my school. I've been loving my experience with writing with my pen
It's sure to catch a few eyeballs. People can't help but ask questions about them. - Colin
The fountain pen bug got me really good when I found out my girl friend was interested in one when she saw her college professor using one. I set out to buy her one but I didn't know anything about them, and I definitely did not want to get her a crappy pen. I came across Brian's videos and discovered this cool community where all my questions were answered. I bought her one and she loved it. "But scolded me when she found how much her faber castel cost". But then I ordered an eco for my self because I couldn't let the urge of using one go. Then it went down hill from there haha thank you guys for the infotainment. It's great. Also you can see the you tube statistics to find your age groups that watch these videos.
That's a good point, haven't checked the YT analytics, looking at them now... In the past month, 37% of our audience is between 25-34. It's all adding up now. :) - Colin
QOTW: For one of my artist friends, I picked up the empty ink sample vial set from you guys and made samples of my bottled inks and shipped them to her along with pens i no longer needed. I have so many bottles of ink, I would never use them up in a lifetime unless I started doing illustrations and paintings full time. The pens were mostly Preppies and an Ahab. Great pens, but in the case of the Ahab, I can't stand the smell haha.
Another friend I sent a Lamy Vista with a convertor I customized for them.
Sharing is caring. :)
Another great video - I agree with you that younger people are getting into fountain pens. On all the blogs I follow people have noticed a seismic shift in the crowds that attend pen shows, now tilting toward younger people more attuned to social media and many of whom never used pens in the past. I have 'converted' several people while on mission trips to Haiti the last two years. Tuesday nights have been "Play with Pens" night, and had ten or so different pens with different paper, and have given away pens to those who wanted them. Had two or three people (out of the ten or so that participated) each year who became fountain pen enthusiasts, and several more each year who fell in love with the Retro51 rollerball (they'll eventually come around). Keep up the good work!
Kids sharing is Adorable!!!! That's definitely the stuff you'll remember and cherish later in life. I too was nervous about the infamous Baystate blue, but you kept talking about it over and over that on my last order from you guys I held my breath as I added a sample to my cart. As soon as I got it on paper I was in LOVE. The vibrancy reminds me of a neon sign. It is absolutely beautiful. And it will always be a staple in my ink lot.
Thanks for the question of the week! So I have only been into fountain pens for 3 months or so, but in that time my collection has grown to about 9 pens already. On the other hand I have been studying ambidextrous cursive handwriting for 5 years and teaching others how to become ambidextrous through cursive script for 3 years. During this last 10 week quarter I decided to award my top two students with their own starter fountain pens (Pilot Met) and they absolutely love them. So, that's how I have spread my love for handwriting. Next academic year I plan on hosting competitions at the college I teach where some very nice fountains pens will be awarded :) I have also been getting many requests from my prison students to teach a calligraphy class, but the traditional dip pen nib method and the necessary ink jar is considered contraband because it could be stolen for tattoos; so I've been eyeing grants to fund a set of noodlers flex pens to further spread my love for fountain pens! :D But for the most part I keep either my Visconti Bronze Age, or Red Pilot Falcon on me to show my love for the pen.
I "recruit" people into fountain pens all the time. My students in the university see me writing with them every day (I carry two in my shirt pocket and 10 more in an Aston case) and they are curious. And when time permits, I let them try one out (usually not a more expensive pen or one that requires more careful pen orientation), and they enjoy it. Further, for motivational "perks", I give away 3-5 pens per quarter--mostly cheap Baoer or Jinhao pens all inked up, the latter often fitted with a Goulet nib. And then I give them one of those Goulet business cards, for their own purchase of more ink and for online FP 101 education.
Well, that's pretty awesome! You're like a volunteer Goulet brand marketer. We appreciate the support, and keep spreading the FP love. - Colin
Interesting question about the future of fountain pens. I think if fountain pens haven't disappeared by now, they aren't going to. The Internet and innovative inks from Noodler's reignited my love for these pens after decades of having too much work and too little time to pursue the hobby. My octogenarian mother, who still runs her own business, can't figure out why anyone would want to use a fountain pen when there are ballpoints.
I got into FPs through watches and have been in this hobby a year in June(I am 23 BTW). Watches led to EDC, EDC led to a Parker Jotter, Parker Jotter led to Safari, Metro, 580, and now a 2000 which I will order this weekend (deciding if F or M, all mentioned pens are F.). I use FPs now to journal in my Rhodia web and write stuff at work on crappy paper. I think the greatest joy for me besides the actual writing is the design and industrial build of these beautiful products. So that's my FP story!
Brian, although I'm older (age 60), even though I've recently started using fountain pens again, I've met a lot of younger people (20s-30s) getting into fountain pens. I agree with you, this is great. I think your educational videos are wonderful, they make fountains accessible and more approachable for people who are curious and have no prior experience. I agree that it's important to recruit new people into the hobby and to always have affordable pens available for beginners and those on a budget (I myself will probably never buy a 'high end' pen.)
The "hands-on" nature of this video was exceptional. With or without the gray screen, I thought this one was very well done. As for QOTW, I have actively recruited a few people, my wife being the first.
Nice question of the week...I do know of 6 people I have inspired a great deal to use fountain pens. Three I met while traveling on a plane about 5-yrs ago and we still keep in touch. We did not know each other before and they are huge TV producers in Los Angeles so I was surprised and fortunate to have met them myself - all because of whipping out my fountain pen during the flight and they noticed it. And also three of my wonderful friends. And we all love Goulet Pens! And maybe that board could be a little smaller...might be easier to work around for you. As always, thanks for all of the great information you provide!
That's awesome to hear, and what a cool story! Meeting people on a plane is always an interesting experience. - Colin
Hey Brian, I'm 26 and first got into fountain pen at 18 when I was a foreign exchange student in Germany and picked up a Lamy Safari from the corner stationary store. I quickly fell in love with the improved writing experience. I have turned 3 people on to fountain pens and just gave another friend a Nemosine Singularity last night funnily enough. I think as digital mediums become more and more ubiquitous, hand writing will become relegated to something done by hand writing hobbyists and they, wanting to maximize their enjoyment of their hobby will increase fountain pen use, if only relatively to ball points and roller balls.
(Slightly behind in the Q&A) I spread my love of fountain pens to a friend of mine who had never even seen one before. She now loves them! I've also brought them back to a few friends who grew up in other countries and used them in grade school. As a doctoral student, I use my fountain pens every day!
i have to say,im 28 and i came from the EDC community searching for bolt action pens, then trying to find more brass pens and found your videos on karas kustoms, and you got me interested in FPs just because you were excited by them. prior to that, i knew nothing about fountain pens at all, but within 4-5 days of just marathoning a bunch of Q&As and tutorials, i felt like i knew enough that i could feel confident using one and ive been hooked ever since. ive noticed quite a bit of people on the EDC reddit are also getting into FPs, especially since in the EDC world it seems like were having this renaissance of going from "we need the most tactical gear ever" to "lets just be prepared, and have nice stuff that can last", it doesnt hurt that karas kustoms has gained a lot of trust in the EDC community from their bolt action
i say that because theres a lot of EDC people getting into FPs, two worlds that dont seem to have anything to do with each other, just because of the internet and things can explode from there, kinda like how fidget spinners are super popular with the general public now, and that has a lot to do with the EDC/gun/knives community and companies and i can see that happening with some other community too and in turn mixing of demographics
Yeah, I've seen some crossover as well. Especially with something like Karas Kustoms with its durability. The 'Buy It For Life' crowd also goes it as well. - Colin
Hi Brian thanks for the great video, I love your demonstrations and the grey board works well for me! I'm one of your 55+ pen lovers and introduced my 18 year old niece to fountain pens, she's a believer now. Greetings from the Netherlands!
I've been spreading the influence of the fountain pen to people at school. Who by the way are too lazy to go out and get their own fountain pens
Well, when they come around to it, you'll be there to help educate! They can grab a Platinum Preppy for under $5. - Colin
Most people are too lazy to fill a pen or properly clean it. Also, most people in school are broke so they go for a cheap ballpoint pen. A fountain pen can last a lifetime but a lot of people don't have the money to invest up front for pen and ink.
Danielle that’s where birthdays and Christmas come in 😏😏
My daughter has a group of friends at school who share ink and try out each other's fountain pens. I have enjoyed using such pens since high school. That's the age of my daughter when she started to enjoy them. Now she shares her ink finds with me.
Everyone I know that uses fountain pens does so because of me, I spend way too much time telling people how great they are, and I'm known as the pen guy at work.
Also, I am a fan of the board. As much as we all love seeing that smiling face, being able to see fine details on whatever it is being displayed is much easier with it. Plus, it keeps the camera focused on the item better.
Huge fan, keep up the great work.
I'm working right now on converting a friend of mine, and I think it is working.... I raved about my Lamy Al-Star, all inked up with "Alexander Hamilton", let her play with it, and then got an email just the other day letting me know that she saw someone ELSE writing in purple ink with their foundation pen and had to ask what ink it was... I think it is only a matter of time.... maybe I'll push her over the edge with a pen for her birthday!
Once you start noticing inks, it's already a done deal. :) - Colin
Brian, I like the gray background a lot! The only way to do it better would be to rig a second camera overhead with a closer focus / tighter field of view, in the way Matt from The Pen Habit does. Would that be very difficult to implement? Cheers, I watch the Q&A every Saturday morning here in Brazil. my favorite show!
Thanks for watching & the support! We're still fine-tuning exactly how to get those shots, so we'll keep brainstorming. Good feedback! - Colin
as a 19-year old who knows quite some same-aged people that use fountain pens, I can say for sure that it won't 'disappear'.
It is true that with the arise of the (cheap) and conventional ballpoint, people who just use the first thing to write with have switched. However, those that want the experience of a fountain pen will use a fountain pen, no matter their age.
That's an excellent point. Those you want an elevated writing experience, they'll turn to fountain pens. - Colin
I've recently discovered the fountain pen world (~ a year and I'm 25 y.o) and since then I've been fascinated by it. For Christmas I bought a Pilot Metropolitan (fine nib) for my boyfriend and he seems to like it a lot. I can't say for sure if I've "converted" him but I've certainly made him see that there's better pen in this world !
Yeah, even if their journey ends at the Metropolitan, it's still fun for them to relate as you talk more about fountain pens. - Colin
Brian! Thank you for taking my question!!
Yes, there is so much ink behind the piston (specially on one of the MB 146) that it leaks through the back and doesnt fill up properly.
The other pens i just disassembled, cleaned and lubbed. I just wasn't sure if the issue would come back. I assumed a lack of lubrication could wear faster or even deform (in extreme cases).
Thank you for the answer!
My first thought on reading about an "aging" group of FP users was, "Who is he talking about? What's this aging business?" My second thought: I will be 70 in a little less than two months! :-) I just can't get my head around that, and I refuse to even make the effort. I do like your expression of "life experienced"!
I bought a bunch of ink samples from you several weeks ago that included Baystate Blue. As soon as I saw it on the paper, I had to have it. Just after buying a 4.5-oz bottle, I started seeing your videos about the "issues". I don't care - it is the most wonderful blue I have ever seen, and I will be happy to clean my pen more regularly and will dedicate an Aurora Optima that is also an intense blue (my favorite color as well, by the by) to this ink.
i just give my applaud to your efforts. 51:57! I don't know well about Baystate but I only know you are very hard-worker, and this inks looks nice to me!
I'm part of the time challenged generation... Have less years than a younger person 😂... But from social media exposure and interaction I do see so many more students and younger people who are enthusiastic and users of fountain pens in their daily lives... That's a great thing for the community... It's efforts like today with the demonstration around fountain pens and not forgetting that there are always new people, irrespective of age, who want to try fountain pens, that lowers the barriers to usage. Also the more people who demonstrate and use fountain pens for sketching, bullet journaling, sketch noting and so on expands and demonstrate the versatility of this thing that produces a controlled leakage of ink on paper, the more it enables others to try and start using it. So thank you for your efforts and inputs Goulet Team !
That's a great point, showing the versatility of fountain pens. It's not some expensive stuffy writing instrument that can be in some peoples mines. It can have practical use and I think bullet journaling has really show that in particular. - Colin
Hi - just wanted to say thanks for all the great content from this channel. I'm yet to purchase anything from your store (sorry) - but I'm sure I will soon. Really appreciating all of the enthusiasm, information and energy that goes into these videos. Thanks!
Thanks for support! Even if you're just a subscriber & viewer, we still appreciate it. :) - Colin
From the time I'm watching this, it has 0 dislikes! Gotta love the FP community. Not to mention the great video guys; keep it up!
Thanks, that is pretty surprising, there's always 1 or 2 people that throw a dislike on anything. 196/0 is solid! - Colin
Love the close up camera work! I find it helpful.
Some really great content this week, Brian! Really enjoyed it. I love the board thing that Jenny helped you rig up- I wear glasses and anything that helps me visually gets a thumbs up. You also made me feel less worried about getting some Noodler's Baystate Blue. I've always been a bit wary of it, as I'm a big fan of demonstrators. Now that I know what I'm dealing with and how easy (but annoying, lol) it is to clean out, I might consider getting it.
QOTW: I have influence two people. My niece, who really likes them, but isn't quite ready to get into it intensely. Plus, my sister would kill me, the expense alone is a concern, of course. And my best friend Sarah. She's quite a bit younger than myself, in her early twenties and has fallen head over heels with beautiful pens and ink, like myself. She's even gotten her little brother into them.
Thanks for watching & support, we really appreciate it! That's awesome to hear you're spreading the FP love as well. :) - Colin
great set up...the gray back board really works better.
First off, thank you for the videos! Coming from a newbie to the FP hobby can say that your business model and use of social media was a huge factor in my newfound hobby. And for that, I can't thank you enough. (although my bank account would beg to differ) I am one of those people who bought pens with the intention to give them to my friends. As of today, I have converted two others to the FP world. Let the evangelisation continue! As far as the board is concerned, I personally don't mind either way. If anything it may be distracting to the ultimate purpose. (ex. "Sorry guys I can't see what I'm doing, I have to look through my monitor") At least in my personal opinion, I continue to religiously watch Goulet Q&A for the information and to just recharge my tenacity and love for the hobby. Short answer, I don't' mind seeing your stubble close up. lol
Thanks for the feedback & support! Glad you found your way to us and that's awesome you've gotten a few others into the passion. :) - Colin
I bought my best friend his first fountain pen for Christmas and they have since ordered from Goulet several times. Started a co-worker on Metropolitans.
Nice, the Metropolitans are great ways to spread the FP love. - Colin
I think the bujo and brush lettering craze on social media helps with FP exposure to younger folks. I've seen lots of social media users with the mint Kaweco especially.
Everyone in my office thinks fountain pens seem "too hard" or "complicated" to write with no matter how much I tell them it's not, so no converts yet! They all do think my pens look cool though.
Yeah, Instagram in particular has really brought the FP world to the younger generations. Love seeing the video videos pop up on my explore page, always piques my curiosity. :) - Colin
I bullet journal myself and belong to several bullet journal groups (although I'm 60). A lot of the younger bullet journals are very open to trying fountain pens for the first time and using them in their journals. The subject of starter pens comes up quite often. :)
I actually got brought in by my best friend Matt. And in the process I got him into paintball. It's pretty funny that we got each other into expensive hobbies.
Colorful hobbies too, ink & paint! - Colin
evil idea: paintballs filled with baystate blue
I finally bought Baystate Blue ink. I read up not to mix it with anything. I cleaned up my Cross Radiance fountain pen - wiped down feed and nib and all. Cleanly. The pen and the ink write well together. This pen is easy to take apart and clean out, so it's been perfect for bay state blue
First, thanks Brian and the Goulet Pen team for answering my Baystate Blue question! I'm going to get a Platinum Preppy and a couple of samples of the ink to use in an eyedropper conversion in my next order.
QOTD/Demographics: I was talking on Facebook about pens, and my Godson's mom said that apparently all the kids where my Godson (age 14) and his brothers go to school are obsessed with pens. One of the teachers has a ton of fountain pens that the kids can use in class (from the sound of it, they're Pilot Petits), and the kids collect pens - including fountain pens - and trade them with each other. My Godson's brother's pride and joy is his Jinhao X450 in red.
After a sample of Noodler's North African Violet stained my first demonstrator, I dedicated a pen to it when I purchased a bottle. Would bleach be a better way to clean NAV as well?
I especially appreciated the ink questions this week. Even though I've been watching Q&A for over a year, I still learn something every time.
QOTW: My best friend is a writer, so for her birthday last year I purchased a turquoise Pilot Metropolitan and a bottle of Diamine Marine from The Goulet Pen Company and gave it to her as a gift. She doesn't write with it a lot, but she does enjoy using it for notes and journaling from time to time. I hope in time that my young son will be interested in fountain pens. I've purchased a Pilot Kakuno in his favorite color for him to try this summer.
Yeah, either a bleach mixture or pen flush could help clean out NAV. It's certainly worth a shot. That's a great gift combo, I know Brian loves those 2 together. - Colin
QOTW: My niece. Back in the 80s when she was in high school, I gave her a fountain pen for her birthday. She used it back then and eventually put it aside. A year or so ago I was talking to her about having her grandmother's pen (my mother's) Snorkel restored. Somehow it revived her interest and she has become a user again.
I think the thing with "converting" and "recruiting" people into the fountain pen hobby is to get them one to start with (even a cheap Pilot Varsity or Platinum Preppy). I was once a disbeliever until a friend of mine got me a Lamy Al-Star as a Christmas gift, and I was hooked.
The hobby is hard to understand from an outsider point of view so I think no amount of just words would convince them on their own unless they can experience it for themselves.
Getting to watch FP videos won't move the needle, but have them write one sentence with it and suddenly they have an interest. - Colin
QOTW: I kinda got my dad interested in fountain pens. When I made my second purchase it sort of reminded him of how his dad use to sign checks with a fountain pen. So for Christmas I bought him a fountain pen and he signs checks with it and stuff.
QOTW: Many of my coworkers notice that I carry around a different fountain pen each week. A few ask me about them and the various inks. About 2 or 3 got interested enough to ask where one procures said pens. I gave several options but put Goulet at the top of my list. I have found that when you mention fountain pens, most people say "Oh, like a Montblanc?" I have tried to educate these folks to let them know that fountain pens can actually be affordable and go far deeper than Montblanc.
I recently (for around half year) became a fountain pen lover, and use mostly fountain pen for everyday writing now. They are just awesome and soo fun. I am dragging my boyfriend into this, and he's kind of using fps now 😂
That awesome to hear! What's your go-to fountain pen these days? - Colin
I have tried so many pens during the short 6 months! My current favourite is Lamy 2000, just love how smooth it writes and its classic design!
My son has already borrowed at least two pens; my granddaughters have "relieved me of the burden of" five. And they USE them, not just look at them. Their friends like them too. And Baystate Blue is the !!!! Love it.
Ha! Such helpful granddaughters. 'Relieving of the burden', love it. - Colin
I'm in the process of converting my boyfriend. I gave him a Metropolitan and some ink for his birthday last October, and a week ago he bought himself a Lamy Vista and is loving it. I'm just excited I have someone to ramble fountain pen talk at who gets it at least a bit. :D
Yes, having a 'partner in crime' with fountain pens is awesome. Talking about the different inks & pens is half the fun. :) - Colin
Yesterday when I watched this I didn't think there was anyone I had influenced to buy a fountain pen. Then I went to my boyfriend's house and he shows me the two fountain pens he just purchased. This after years of teasing about my pens!
Ha! Better late than never. :) - Colin
I've been trying to bring people over the "fountain pen boat" for a couple of years, since I am a history teacher. I'm glad to say that I've make my students, at least aware of them, and I am responsible for a couple of fountain pen addictions among my students....
great demonstrative video, brian... am wondering if the screen would be better if it were white or a lighter color....
I did not grow up with FP. I got into FP about a year ago. I started in FP because I was interested in whether people still used FP. I looked on UA-cam and I found his videos. I found out that FPs are still made and I could buy a disposable one for a few dollars. I tried it out and I wish I knew about FP years ago, I struggle to write any more than a sentence or two before my handwriting becomes illegible. If I was introduced to FP in school it would save me multiple painful writing assignments through the years. I love Foutain Pens and use them almost exclusively, I also shop for Fountain Pens and supplies at Goulet almost exclusively. Also, in my opinion, kids should learn in school how to write in cursive, and how to use a typewriter.
Most of the people I know who are into fountain pens are 25-40 years old and did not grow up with fountain pens, so I think it is making a come-back in the US . I think at that point you have the disposable income to support the hobby, but the interest may come earlier. I work at a college and constantly show off my pens and ink!
Canada too. :)
I am in several planner groups on Facebook that seem to be made up mostly of young people who are very interested in fountain pens if not already using them. I am one of those “mature” people who used fountain pens in school many years ago. As to the QOTW, my daughter-in-law showed interest in what I was using when she saw me writing one day. I got her a Jinhao X450 for her next birthday with some cartridges to get her started.
I'm a teen and I know loads of people who use fountain pens, especially in primary school. Perhaps it seems like there are fewer young people in the community because younger people are less like to have expensive pens and post about them on the internet, because it may not be their primary hobby. I could be wrong, of course.
Yeah that's possible. It might not be a hobby just a writing utensil to some. - Colin
QOTW: I started with a Sheaffer no nonsense (calligraphy set) and moved on to Pilot Parallels/dip pens, but got a Lamy for a gift because...I guess they thought fountain pen = calligraphy. But since then, I've been getting more into fountain pens. I was recruited by accident.
Edit: I like the board setup- it makes seeing the demos a lot easier with a consistent background.
I teach 5th grade Sunday school at my church, and the kids in my class were interested in my pens. I started bringing some cheap pens for them to use in class. There is at least 1 kid that I think might stick with fountain pens.
That's awesome. Would love to see more kids using fountain pens, so thanks for sharing the FP love! - Colin
QOTW - I got my son into FP's not too long ago. It's interesting that I didn't even have to try to convince him. I think my new found enthusiasm is what sparked him asking me to make him a fountain pen. He showed me the style and the barrel materials and I went to work. Since then he has commented about how he doesn't like using ballpoints especially anymore. I'm moving into making my own non-kit FP's and my wife is the skeptical recipient of my first try. She wasn't supper impressed, but I think with a better nib she will come to love it. My daughter's B-day is next week, and I recently purchased a Twisby Eco for her with some blue ink samples. We'll see if it takes. Right now she's pretty loyal to a rollerball I made her a while back though. My son likes Turquoise, so I also bought him a Lamy Pacific for his next B-day.
Update: My daughter loves her new Twsbi Eco (M)!. The first thing she said as she opened her gift was, "Oh cool, I'm also now a fountain pen geek!" There was a tad bit of disappointment with me in that if she didn't like it I would end up with it. Guess I'll just have to buy one for myself, eh? So, I've recruited two thus far. The wife will be more of a challenge ;)
QOTW: Oh yes definitely, I never hesitate to let my art peers try out my pens whenever we hang out. And since I often post on instagram drawings and writings including my pens in the photo, people occasionally starts asking about the pens I use. I've also given my little sister a metropolitan as a xmas gift, because she wanted one after trying out mine and discovered how nice it is to write with. I think more people would get into fountain pens if they were more aware that there's a lot of inexpensive pens out there to use. Because the first thing I hear from people is "oh I'm too scared to use one of those super pricey pens!" because they think most fountain pens cost you an arm and a leg.
Also I can definitely say that more and more people of my generation (millennials - mid 20's to 30s) seems to find interest in fountain pens along with stationary in general. It's either thanks to trends such as bullet journals or seeing their favourite artist on instagram draw good art with a fountain pen, actually I see younger people use the pens more for drawing than writing - and that might be one of the things that makes people get into the hobby. Not to mention, once you've got a fountain pen you do use it and don't throw it away.
QOTW: For Christmas last year, I gave my best friend his very first fountain pen. He's been using it whenever the need arises and enjoys it, but it doesn't seem like he's very taken to the hobby. Oh well, more for me! >:D
EDIT - Speaking of troublesome inks, I'd like to ask; how safe exactly are iron gall inks such as Rohrer and Klingner Salix/Scabiosa or the Platinum Iron Gall inks? What are the proper precautions I should take with IG inks? I'd like to try them at some point, but I'm nervous about loading them up in one of my Pilot Metropolitans due to the stainless steel nib and metal agitator in the converter.
We hope to have a full fledged educational video on iron gall inks in the near future, but I would treat them similarly to shimmering inks if you use those. Just maintain a regularly cleaning schedule and you shouldn't notice any issues. The metal in the pen wouldn't be impacted either. - Colin
Thank you for the response! I'll look forward to that educational video too!
The question broadly about what can be desirable in a review is a good one. Personally, it is just an almost throwaway phrase but I like when a reviewer says they "enjoy" something. They enjoy a nib, enjoy a pen, they'll pass on an item to someone else so they can enjoy it. I think this differentiates someone using the item as a means to an end, versus a person interested in the means. If they're enjoying it then I stand a better chance of enjoying it too. I also prefer comparative assessments rather than mere statistics. This pen is 15 grams. Ok, is that... Good? This pen is about the same weight as that pen.... Infinitely more relatable to me.
I've mainly gotten two classmates into fountain pens because of stub nibs. One likes to borrow one of mine for the ink's resistance to bleeding in multiple layers of watercolor or alcohol based art. She also has the pilot parallels and has gotten into dip pens after using mine. The other classmate has a pilot varsity and some Pentel tradio pulamans, which I think are felt tipped....but at least he has something besides ballpoints?
Apologies if this is the wrong place to leave a question.
A few weeks ago I ordered a sample of Noodler's Liberty's Elysium to use with my Pilot Metropolitan (fine) . I love the color, it shades beautifully! The problem is that if I leave my pen unused (even if capped) for more than 5 minutes or so, the ink dries into a less beautiful gunk that clogs the tines and the areas around where the nib touches the feed, and it makes the pen unusable until I floss it with a brass sheet. I tried ordering a second sample and had the same result. I noticed that some of the negative reviews mentioned similar issues, but I imagine if it was a common issue that more people would mention it. I was hoping you could recommend a solution or at least help me identify the problem, as I'd really love to use the ink as a daily carry. Thanks in advance!
It's not a frequent issue, but something I've heard of happening with Liberty's Elysium. It can adhere to the fins of the feed which causes these flow issues. One fix that I've known to work pretty well is to use an Eel ink from Noodler's. These are lubricated to help with ink flow, so after that, when you switch back to LE, it shouldn't clog nearly as much. It's also a highly saturated ink, so diluting it with some water could work as well, though the color might lighten up a bit. - Colin
QOTW: I have tried to get my three Daughters into fountain pens with no success at all , even though one of them is very big on writing as she wants to become a journalist, she prefers Ball points and so i've found her some great ball points and note pads to encourage the writing aspect at least. My Children are all grown up now the youngest being 18. I did manage to get my sister into writing with them more , she had some pens that wrote poorly so i tuned them for her and she was astonished at how good they really can write if tuned correctly. I guess the short answer is not really ! Although i continue to fly the FP flag and will lend or give away pens to anyone who's interested in the hobby that i come across.
Thanks for the great answer to my question i understand Metrics are a taboo subject but i figured you must have your finger on the pulse and its encouraging that you are so positive.
Thanks Brian
PS The board although it does make it easier to see looks awkward , maybe a micro camera for those type of shot you could switch to would be a better option?
So about your grey board thing... it's a great idea. Just make it narrower, yeah? I mean, you're never going to have a pen as long as that board is wide, right? It will be less awkward for your arms. And you can consider whether it needs to be as tall? It could be tall enough to be in front of your mouth, but not your eyes? Would that help? I know you can look at a monitor, but if you can look down at the pen, too... what do you think? That's a fine line for the screen shot on the height thing, I realize. But surely, at any rate, you can make the board narrower.
QOTW: I've been using my pens at work (and at home, but I live alone so that's not particularly useful), and I occasionally get comments about them - "what is that? That's cool!" and that sort of thing (One coworker even asked if I was using a Pilot Metropolitan - I wasn't at the time, but at least he knew enough to ask the question.) I've let some of my coworkers try the pens out, and they're almost always very impressed...so I gave a Metropolitan to two of them at the holidays last year. One took to the hobby and has since acquired a vintage Parker calligraphy set and a LAMY Vista; the other was a bit intimidated by the pen and (as far as I know) doesn't use it - it may have something to do with her being left-handed, but I really don't know. I've also given a couple of pens as gifts to friends I thought would appreciate them, though I've had no feedback on what happened there.
You used bleach in your demo of cleaning out Baystate Blue. I have heard from another source that it is good to use ammonia and water to clean out pens (particularly vintage pens that have sat unused and have caked on ink). Is Ammonia a good all-purpose flush for modern pens, and subsequently, is bleach only advisable for cleaning pens where the ink is super saturated? Which would you suggest for cleaning a pen after using J. Hernin Emerald of Chivore?
Gordon Blanchard Bleach is really only necessary for the Baystate inks. Most commercial pen flushes are a mixture of water, ammonia, and a surfactant of some sort. If you want to mix your own, a good recipe is 1 part ammonia in 9 parts water (to give a 10% solution) with 2-3 drops of liquid dish washing detergent added. That should take care of most inks if water alone is insufficient. Emerald of Chivor and similar shimmering inks are special cases because of the particulate matter they contain (the gold or silver that gives that sparkle and shimmer) - solvents alone are sometimes insufficient and you may have to physically remove the nib and feed (if possible) to get that material out of your pen. An old soft toothbrush works well for that purpose. Hope this helps.
That is perfect, thank you sir!
I have only been a couple of months into Fp's but already bought my mom a lamy al star. She obviously knows how to use them and thinks it's funny how they are "making a comeback". I stumble upon the FP hobby by way of another "revival" hobby, the safety razor, so I guess some of the saying "the old is better" is true.
Baystate Blue is waterproof. I personally have experienced zero issues with this ink.
I am just getting into Fountain Pens and I am dragging my eldest grandson(young teen) with me. We started out with a couple inexpensive Jinhaos and are working from there. My grandson (a southpaw) likes blue ink and I am looking at surprising him with Noodler's Baystate Blue in a blue Jinhao X450. That is what has gotten me to your post here today. So is that Baystate Blue going to dry fast enough for him to use writing left-handed? Thanks for the videos, they have helped shorten the learning curve.
Baystate Blue has a pretty good dry-time, so it may work for a leftie. Noodler's Bernanke Blue (www.gouletpens.com/noodlers-bernanke-blue-3oz-bottled-fountain-pen-ink/p/N19067 ) might be a good option for him as well as that's one of the fastest drying inks out there! - Colin
one question i have is this - i struggled with my purchase of the visconti divina metropolitan. being a midi sized pen, it's something that there is very little info on, and i don't think there is any online coverage of the midi divina pens at all. could you do a quick conparison between it and the regular homo sapiens (in particular the size and feel of the nibs?) the nib nook and size comparison tools are good, but still feel a little intangible, whereas setting someone hold and use it, is much better.
That might be something we could put together. Visconti's products are always changing, and what we decide to carry is changing as well, so it's hard to create an evergreen video with Visconti, but this could be a possibility. Good feedback! - Colin
QOTW: fountain pens are pretty popular with the teaching community because of all the grading, correcting and annotating we need to do. I have personally been more inspired to use fountain pens again while working as a teacher. It does tend to influence other too when we're all sat in a line marking and using fountain pens. Also, there are lots of teachers who buy the fountain pen they were never allowed to own as a child, the most popular among them being the Lamy ABC in red (Teacher approved!)
Question: What ink would you use (if you were a teacher) to say: HEY! There's a mistake here! But don't feel too bad about it! (so no red or green, preferable)
Interesting question! Is there a color that is preferred for grading? Blue would be my guess then, so a vibrant one like Noodler's Liberty's Elysium (www.gouletpens.com/noodlers-libertys-elysium-3oz-bottled-fountain-pen-ink/p/N20001) or Diamine Blue Velvet (www.gouletpens.com/diamine-blue-velvet-40ml-bottled-fountain-pen-ink/p/D2001) could be good options. - Colin
Thanks for the reply. Blue wouldn't work because the students use blue and black mostly.
What about a lovely purple? Diamine Imperial Purple and DeAtramentis Lilac look really nice and punchy without the negativity associated with red.
So what's left on our color palette? Purple & orange? The other commenter, Amy, has some great purple options. As for orange, maybe Noodler's Habanero or Diamine Autumn Oak. - Colin
The backdrop works great. A white one may work even better??
I think a white background causes issues with white balancing for editing, but I could be wrong. I'll pass it along! - Colin
I agree that the backdrop works fairly well. What about a separate vertical camera for close-ups? Certainly more expensive than the backdrop, but perhaps worth the expense?
how does the two for one jinhao work? do we get to choose which one or do you randomly give one?
Unfortunately, it's expired now. But it is a deal we have historically run a few times a year. Basically, just add 2 Jinhaos to your cart. You pay for the more expensive one, and the 2nd is discounted at checkout as free. - Colin
I'm tweeting and using my Instagram to show what I'm doing with my fountain pens as a writer. I tend to write better on paper, like now with a short story that will be about 3000 words. It's getting way more attention than I thought it would, not because I want to market my books (well okay, I do), but also because using fountain pens are a new hobby... and thanks to your company, I now own eight fountain pens. It's almost as bad as my yarn habit. I also happened to get my brother a Pilot Metropolitan with some Noodler's Black Eel, and I think he's a convert now too... and he called me a pen freak last night.
So yeah. I don't think anyone has to worry about this going away. I'm a strange creature already as a writer. My pens are helping with it.
That's awesome your accounts are picking up! What's the handle, would love to check it out. I think Instagram, in particular, is really gravitating towards these writing or handwriting pictures/videos. Bringing new life to it all. - Colin
On Instagram, it's maram1986. I just posted a photo of the short story and pen. XD
Love my Baystate Blue. Dedicated pen for sure.
Of course I ordered the exactly the wrong pen/ink combination (Lamy vista/Baystate Blue) last week for my first entry into the refillable pen wormhole.
It's not a 'wrong' combination. Baystate is still a great ink, just remember to clean it out regularly. - Colin
The huge board is kinda awkward. Would it be possible to wear a solid color polo shirt and use your torso as the "board"?
Hmm, that could work too. Still working on the kinks on this. Good feedback. - Colin
In reference to the zooming, honestly, I think it looks a little more awkward having you clumsily do stuff from behind the screen. I don't know how much of an investment it would be, but maybe having an overhead camera for zoomed shots would be a good compromise.
That's good feedback. We're definitely looking at various options, so bare with us as we test things out like this. :) - Colin
I plan to ink my new TWSBI Vac700R with baystate blue, and if I plan to clean it with bleach and water, will it harm the pen? Thank you!
Even with Baystate Blue, unless it's in the pen for months at a time, I think water & pen flush should be able to clean it out. You can really take apart the TWSBI, so that helps. In general, I try to shy away from bleach. - Colin
QOTW: Active recruitment? No. However, through my daily and exclusive use of these wonderful tools, my 13yo son has started using them daily, and now we get to share this great hobby. It is fun because he and I have different tastes in inks. I think my 8yo might also use them as she gets older, but the jury is still out on her. The other two kids are a much tougher sell, but two out of four ain't bad.
That's awesome you were able to convert your 13yo. What sort of inks does he like, bright & flashy? - Colin
Good guess! His favorite is the Caran d'Ache Divine Pink for its vibrancy and deep red within the pink. He also likes the purple shades in Liberty's Elysium. At a pen show, he got some inks for mixing and created two of his own colors, including "Hulk Green" and "Misdrevas Purple." He and I have developed a little swab book from a Clairefontaine notebook.
A friend of mine was intrigued by my Pilot Parallel impulse buy. I'm trying to push a Parallel or Metropolitan stub on her.
Parallel is the best impulse buy. Such a unique design and writing experience. - Colin
Ten dollars! I got a converter with it, too, so once the stock cartridge runs out, I'm loading in some Baystate Blue. And because this pen is ten dollars (!!!), I can do so guilt-free.
Hi Brian and crew, I'm a newbie in the fountain pen world. I've been watching your videos and following your Instagram.
I followed your suggestion for fountain pen for newbie.
So far i have pilot metropolitan ( 1 fine nib and 1 medium nib) , jinhao x750, jinhao 159, jinhao 599, jinhao 250 and parker IM (it's a gift), i love all of them.
In my country metropolitan cost $12 and prera $40, i tried my friend's prera, and it feels quite similar with metropolitan even though the price difference is quite significant
My question is, what should i buy next, in around $30-$100 that would give a huge 'feel' difference?
Love all your videos. Cheers.
I think a TWSBI pen could be a great option. The nib (especially if you go with a 1.1mm stub) feels a lot different than both Pilot & Jinhao and they come with either piston or vacuum filling mechanism that give it a different feel. For any huge improvement on the writing experience, a gold nib pen would be the way to go (though outside of your price range): ua-cam.com/video/2lShhpHfApg/v-deo.html. - Colin
The Goulet Pen Company Alright, i'd try TWSBI pen. I don't think I'm ready to try gold nib yet but thanks for the suggestion Collin. Cheers
QOTW: I kinda recruited my wife, but I think it was more of a gentle nudge. She was somewhat interested before we both jumped in. I had used fountain pens for years. Now, at every opportunity, she recruits. Every opportunity.
I work from home and am not out all that much socially, so I have gotten one person at work into it, and if there are others, I don't know. If I'm asked about them, I'll try my best to. 😉
A gentle nudge works all the same. Some people need the push. :) - Colin
about the close -ups, it's awkward for you obviously, why not setting up an overhead camera in close up already, just have an extra monitor for it, you get the idea . :) still QandA is like a regular FP class for the community ;)
Yeah, we're still brainstorming on this and logistics behind it. 2nd camera could work, thanks for the feedback! - Colin
According to me , i dont think fountain pen will ever be past. I am 29 years old and do lots of writing. I used to use ball point pens, but untill last year i came accross the metropolitan. Now i own every pilot gold nib fountain pens and sailor pro gears. My personal favourite , the custom 823 . To me fountain pen are not just a writing instruments. Its a feeling of writing. The way the ink flows through the nib to the paper, it seems like its not the ink , its my positive energy that flows. Its kind of a meditation stuff for me. Specially happens with my custom 823 , i can keep on writting for hours. My ink bottle lasts hardly 50 days. Now i came into fountain pen through metropolitan and ended up with falcon ,823 , 912, 74, elite , vanishing point and sailor pro gears. I think this industry could bloom if they make some more creative entry level stuff with some funky features like flex nib or some piston filling stuffs , specially PILOT because i am a die hard fan of PILOT. Then i think lots of people will step up and end up becoming a fountain pen user like me. The metropolitan needs some modifying or pilot needs to bring fresh models in entry levels. Fountain pens are like addiction, you have to catch it the first time and then fountain pens will automatically catch you.
Does your online shop have shipping in europe?
Yes, we do ship to most countries in Europe. You can read more about our international shipping options on our FAQs page: www.gouletpens.com/faq?tabNo=1 - Colin
The Goulet Pen Company thank you
Brian, what did you do to shed all those pounds?
Brian actually has a video on his weight loss if you want to check it out: ua-cam.com/video/e8V_u8BmflY/v-deo.html - Colin
I dunno I don´t really care about seeing Brian´s mouth in the background :D I feel like it would be more helpful if Brian could actually see what he's doing (like not through a monitor).
Yeah, not sure how practical the board will be. Just trying a few things out! - Colin
The Goulet Pen Company nice that you're asking for Feedback though :) who knows maybe others really dig the board. you guys are cool anyways :D
QOTW: My best friend Amanda, @jellyfish_gone_wild on Instagram (seriously go follow her) comes over once or twice a week to trade inks and write stuff with fountain pens. We journal and doodle and take notes a lot. I work in tech support and she is a phlebotomist. There's a lot of material to work with. And when I showed her the amazing experience of smooth writing pens, that was it for her. She's down the rabbit hole just as bad as me. C: but the plus side is having a pen friend to see in person all the time. My trying to get my blog Inkwell and Whimsy off the ground was discussed over pens and tea one week with her. She -gets- it in a way only a fountain pen nerd gets it, even though all I did was let her write random words on good paper with a lamy safari -once-. C;
That's good you have a 'partner in crime' when it comes to fountain pens. Trading inks sounds like a lot of fun. - Colin
I mailed my friend a Pilot Metro and she's now hooked... but she's even more broke than I am, so she can't indulge as much as she wants!
Well, the Metro is a good place to start either way! That was my first pen & I still love writing with it. - Colin
I am 29 and just got into fountain pens. Got my 26 year old girlfriend into them as well and just got a 19 year old into them who just ordered her first fountain pen from you. A blue pilot metropolitan
Nice job, spreading the FP love! - Colin
I got my wife into it. She loves em, just not as much as me! I use em every day at work, and she grades papers with em.
2 things, I prefer not to have that board in front of his face. It's awkward for him and it's just not the same. To add to the last question with the fountain pen community getting old... I actually got my friend and her daughter who is 14 to use fountain pens. It seems that I started a trend in my friends classroom and now half her students are using fountain pens; these are 4th grade students too.
How to sell your ink? Tell other ink may ruin a pen.
looks really awkward. Can't say your face in the background was really a problem for me though.
Good feedback! We're just trying it out to see what works. - Colin