Very interesting session this evening! I started my fountain pen journey in the 1960s, when I upgraded from a Scripto that I used in elementary school to a Parker 45, which I used through high school. In university, I bought another Parker 45 with an EF nib, that I used to take notes in a pocket size notebook. I bought a Lamy 2000 to write my master’s thesis in 1969. In 1984, I bought a Montblanc 149. It was my “daily driver” for a decade, then one of the pens in my rotation. I still have and use all of these pens, augmented by a range of Schaeffer, Waterman, Twsbi and other pens. I no longer travel with the MB 149, but I often take the Lamy 2000, Waterman Embleme, or a Phileas. My children know how I value these pens, and I expect they will treasure them, as I treasure the Parker Duofold that I inherited from my late father.
Having been brought up with fountain pens, both in school and at home, I had my fill of the accessible type. So when I came back to this magnificent world I began with a Leonardo Mosaico Hawaii and thereafter to a Sailor with a Naginata Togi nib. Absolute joy. Have then moved on, every year one to two pens, either for my birthday or other joyous moment. I cannot get enough of the feeling that a jewel quality fountain pen offers.
I loved this show! I started using fountain pens in 1966. I used a Shaeffer pen/cartridge in my Shorthand class during my senior year of high school. In 2024 I still enjoy writing with my Pilot fountain pens.
I missed your video live, but love watching it today. I started out with three pens. They are all favorites still!! My husband bought me a Lamy Safari, TWSBI Diamond Mini and a Pilot Metro with a CM nib. They are awesome!!! Now I’ve added an Esterbrook Estie and a beautiful Benu as well as many other mid level pens. I have a lovely collection of wonderful pens. I have about 25 to 30 pens and I’ve gifted pens to others. 🥰
Very entertaining monologue, and so true! I laughed at the story of the over-enthusiastic collector who dumps all his previously cherished and expensive fountain pens to switch to collecting typewriters! 😄
Could have sworn I was subscribed, thanks for the reminder! I got into FPs a couple months ago as a way to de-stress and slow down at work. I find that using a FP to mark up documents opposed to using the ballpoints is fun and very relaxing and has oddly allowed me to enjoy my desk work again.
I bought a grail pen (in my book) early on and didn’t regret it at all. I work in a contentious arena (litigation) and I love pulling out a shiny Montblanc Rouge et Noir at the perfect moment. The snake wrapped elegantly around the top sends the right message 😈
I just started my fountain pen collection. First up was a Lamy Safari in Yellow with a F nib. Very happy with it. I am not much of a writer, and mostly just take notes on ordinary paper, some of which will certainly get wet. So, my use case is very far from academia, in fact as far away as one can get. At least I suppose that industrial poultry processing, where I walk about large, noisy, slippery and wet meat cutting machines, ready to hand a large pocket knife, a bright flashlight, and a radio, is quite a distance from the library. But never mind, because the just right fountain pen, nib, and ink will get the job done with style. Love this channel!
I haven't been collecting fountain pens for long. But a lot of things you have said has sruck a chord with me :-) i enjoy your down to earth chatting about your pens and experiences. My collecting started with learning how to disassemble and restore my grandmother's parker thrift pen. It sparked a passion. Being a novice I recognise what you were saying about your thinking at the start of your collecting. I went a bit mad. Retiring early I have more time to spend researching , restoring pens. And of course buying :-) i love my parker thrift as much as my lovely vintage waterman pens and my gorgeous 1980s bourdieu montblanc 146 (wonderful smooth writer). I have bought all sorts, as you say to get a feel for different types of writing experience. A few gorgeous Wahl Streamlines. Modern, old, i love them all. No real regrets so far on purchases. The history of fountain pens is fascinating as well. Im waffling :-) im sure my family members think im a bit sad:-) but who cares :-) Along with my old pocket watches and books I enjoy being a geek:-) who wants to be like everyone else. Great channel. I'll keep watching you from sunny England :-)
I bought two pens over the Black Friday weekend. A gorgeous Ystudio Classic Revolve from Galen Leather that I am totally in love with, and a Kaweco AL Sport in vibrant violet. I already have a regular Sport and a Brass Sport, but I wanted to use a birthday gift voucher, so I waited to combine it with the sale. Turns out I am a complete sucker for modern, minimalist metal pens so I may gift my regular Kaweco to a friend. The AL in violet is gorgeous.
I started my fountain collection in February, but I had been researching since last October. I don’t like “cheaper” stationery items. I never have, so I knew going in I wanted “nicer pens” in my collection. I also knew I wanted a smaller collection because I can go off the rails. I wish that I did not get sucked in buying sailor pro gear and pro gear slims. I sold those. Not my style and the grip section and overall pen size is too small too light. Also returned twisbee, hard to clean. But I set out to have 6 pens with different materials. One resin and bamboo, urushi, metal, cellulose acetate, Blackwood, etc. I’m excited about my pens because I have really thought about them and they are all different. All EF and F nibs though because I can’t be too wild. Lol I like writing small. Your videos actually helped me to keep my collection small in the forefront of my mind and saved me a lot of money and hassle so thank you.
I've just started learning about fountain pens because my wife loves them, and I want to shop for gifts for her with some degree of knowledge. Myself, I'm more knowledgeable about guitars, and wow - much of the advice you give here applies directly to the collection of guitars. Your next guitar needs to be an experience that your current guitars aren't giving you. There's no need to repeat. Also, don't fill up on cheap guitars! Save up and get the one you really want instead of four that scratch an itch. So much applies! Also, thanks for helping my educational process on pens. I've found them to be quite interesting, and the knowledge is a point of connection with my wife. One bit of knowledge I can share in return: éclat = ee-clah 🇫🇷 It looks like it should sound a lot like "eclair," but it's ee-clah. Cheers!
I have had a Caran d’Ache Maddison Set (fountain pen, ball pen and mechanical pencil) in silver for 40 years. I still use them everyday. Caran d’Ache just serviced the fountain pen free of charge. Now I am getting to know the Caran d’Ache 849, which I carry with me everyday. Luv them, no others. A great show tonight.
Awesome episode; really enjoyed it. Excellent points. Live and learn, right? Wonderful to hear Imogen has filled her first journal (would expect no less from Ms. S!) I have all of mine from childhood and they are hysterical to read. Can’t wait for the HS yard sale and Thursday video.
Good words, Dr. Jones. Thanks. How lovely to be able to view the world through the eyes of your eight year old daughter. I raised two daughters (and two sons), and cherish their viewpoints from then and now. Wonderful that you are well into your career and have time, attention, and interest in her that is not gobbled up with professional attaining. Enjoy!
I started out just buying a Twisby Diamond Iris 580 just to see what a fountain pen was. On your recommendation and review I got Pilot Custom 823. Both pens are great but the 823 is an exceptional pen. My Old Teacher used to say, "You get knowledge from those that have it." Appreciate the channel.
Hi, great show. All my pens have different nibs, this adds to your writing skill. Twsbi stubs are fabulous, never had a bad one.🤗 Cheers from Australia.🦘
Thoughts from someone who uses fountain pens only for drawing: 1. Get only demonstrators, so you can see the ink color at a glance. 2. A perfect range of widths includes an EF, a M, and a BB. Plus a full set of Pilot Parallels. Put the Parallel nib units in some shorter pen that accepts the nib unit. 3. For me, what is additionally provided by higher-end pens has no effect on the quality of a drawing. Any decent, non-distracting, reliable pen is perfectly adequate.
Hi Hemingway! VERY enthralling subject this week! I too, wish I had kept my VERY first fountain pen! It was actually a desk pen. You see them for sale frequently on ebay. An Esterbrook desk set with the black glass holder that kind of looks like a large 8 ball. It was a lever fill, I was 9 or 10 years old and knew absolutely NOTHING about fountain pens and ink. Never got it to write, but then, again, I was trying to use it with some weird adding machine ink or some such thing in it EPIC fail! Nowadays,, I have strong suspicion I could rebuild the sucker and get it to write. AAhhhhh, the Pilot Varsity. I had already started with fountain pens and one day at the store they had a Varsity twin pack, one blue and one black. I bought them and they didn't live up to my Parker 51, so I dumped them in the dreaded pen cup, and they were there for years! Back around the beginning of the year I found them in the black hole cup of doom, and the caps weren't even snapped on properly. I dipped the black one in a cup of water, and it started writing! Same for the blue and I used them until the ink ran out. I had seen a video by Brian Goulet that had instructions for REFILLING the Varsity. That worked! I refilled the black one with Perle Noir, and the blue one with Eclat de Saphir and they work great! Look for that video, and you may not need to throw your old Varsities out!! Have a great week!
Your lovely video has made me think back to my first serious fountain - a Pilot Murex bought about 1981 from a technical drawing shop - it was great and was the pen I used in my A Levels at school and University but must have lost it in the 90s. It was stainless steel with an integrated nib , very sleek and looked a bit like Concorde. I see they are still available on eBay and may pick one up for old times sake . Great work Mr Jones - thank you and best wishes from Wales in the United Kingdom.
Enjoyed this content. My collection is currently at 15, but I find myself only using 6 of them consistently. A couple of my pens were purchased when I was new to the hobby and I would not repurchase them if I were to start over today. I don't buy the same pens in different colors, and I don't purchase pens with the same nibs. I'm happy with my collection and, at this point, would just like one more pen...the Pelikan M800 Cream Blue. I know...famous last words.
Very good show!!! Great advice too! I think I agree with it all (sorry, maybe a bit boring). Funny you mention the aspect of different experiences (i.e. nibs, mostly). It’s one of the thing I have tried to do from the start.
I love how you speak about pens like they are people, “you barely met this pen” “ it’s in its little sleeping bag with another pen” sweet, funny stuff.
Please, my advice: NEVER FORGET A PEN HAS A BREAK IN PERIOD. My first pen was boring in the beginning After 4 months It started making this amazing singing noise and sensation. Faber-Castell grip. Just went from a forgotten pen to my daily carry with my sailor pro gear and pilot custom 823 / sometimes switched with e95s
Ah, your first fountain pen. I hope you try and find it and hopefully if you have a ultrasonic cleaner give it the love it deserves. I still have my first which is a speedball with a 1.1 stub perfectly tuned . coworkers would complement my handwriting. Heck, I didn't have a clue on what I was doing but it did peak my interest. then, it was head first at warp speed down that rabbit hole. My speedball has a cracked outer cap but the interior liner is still intact. Funny thing is I ink it up more than my pilot custom urushi. Now that purchase I paid full price for and sadly regret doing so.
Waaaait... You first said to pace yourself when getting into fountain pens. Then later you said to jump in boldly and try different things! Consistency is overrated. But I contradict myself. 😂 BTW, I'm with you on the JoWo nib delivery device thing. If you can't tell the difference when you close your eyes, it's not that different. fd In any case, thanks for making Tuesday enjoyable. Take care and thanks for posting!
A sad story; I very recently pulled the trigger on my first Grail fountain pen. Found a 90's MontBlanc 146 for a good price. Today I got an email from the shipping company. The truck carryin the pen caught on fire last night and all packages in it where destroyed. Noone was hurt, luckily. But no grail for me this time...
IMHO, the key to doing something well in your own style/way, is to learn to relax when you do it. I say this because of a 50+ year history of playing guitar and writing music.
My first pen was a Pilot Metropolitan, but the first pen that really grabbed me was my Noodler's Ahab. Yeah, it's pretty rough, smells funky to many folks, and dries out super fast if you leave ink it, but it writes fantastic and that subtle line variation with the flex nib is really nice.
Can’t wait to watch this when I get some time later but wanted to comment before I do. If I had to start again I would just get a Lamy 2000 for EDC then buy a GvFC PoTY and Nakaya Decapod, perhaps sell a kidney and get a novelty from MB. I can’t justify a novelty pen with the ones I already own being so good already but starting again I would definitely just skip to the top, would cost me no more than I have already spent, I would just have less.
Interesting show. I got into fountain pens when in school when the rotring 600 came out. This BF almost got a pilot justus, but somehow I was unable to get pass the address verification part during the checkout process.
in 2 months I have so far ended up with 10 fountain pens, but with only a little embarrassment... it was mostly to try different 'gateway' fountain pens with EF nibs. now I am trying to discipline myself and get to know the other pens. I am also hoping that by finding a decent pen or 2 that I like using will help me use my Bullet Journal more lol.
Tim- limiting to one grail pen would be like limiting my moods. I currently am journaling daily with three and writing with three others - lists, calendar, diary, etc. and which I pick up depends on my mood of the moment. I could let go of three and be content… but why would I do that? I won’t buy another until I feel ready to retire one of the six. That’s my personal sweet spot. Six. Since I purchased my pilot 823 this summer, I won’t be making another purchase for at least a year.
My first fountain pen was the Montegrappa Harmony (octagonal Symphony ) . Just 2 or 3 years sis I branch out into other brands. TWSBI,Kaweco and Esterbrook and Leonardo. I didn’t make a Black Friday purchase because i simply could not make up my mind which pen I couldn’t live without. Sometimes I feel that maybe I should concentrate on Galen cases to keep the pens properly housed!.
Absolutely love your videos I am a Michigan girl currently living in Australia and love my fountain pens however very hard to find good deals here what’s your thoughts on homemade fountain pens ?
The Carène Reflections of Paris is in my wish list. I already own a Carène Black Sea; it is a real dream! On Black Friday, I purchased a Pilot Custom 743 with a Falcon nib, but shipment is delayed.... I have not received it yet.
I have watched lots of videos before buying pens, especially the more expensive pens. The videos have been helpful but, honestly, I don’t care about all the details of the exact size, comparisons blah blah blah What interests me most, and you alluded to this here, is the EXPERIENCE of writing with it. I want comparisons of how it feels to the user. I appreciate that my views might not align with the person with the pen, but that’s ok. I can agree or disagree. I want to see how it feels to them so I can work out whether it is worth me buying it or not. There are some pens I find more aesthetically pleasing than others. I can work that out for myself ! What I want to know is how it feels. I have no opportunity to try them out in person where I live (and even less opportunity since Covid and the rise of internet shopping) so before splashing out, I would like to know more about the experience. I have, as you have said yourself here, wasted money on (mostly cheaper) pens and I too wish I had gone mid-level earlier. I really resonate with your reflections. Like your idea about focusing on the nib. I am (still) working out what I like best, and which nib to use when. Rising above the dross are Pelikans. Bought one and loved it so bought more. Wish they sold a stub as normal because I love the TWSBI ECO stub.
You might look on the used market. I recently purchased a Pelikan M200 broad italic nib, and a Pelikan 120 with a medium italic nib, both are excellent writers.
I have been agonizing over the Esterbrook Accutron for the last couple of weeks. Appears to be sold out now and my checking account is so thankful for it😂😂
My very first foundation pen was a white parker vector my parents bought me as an Xmas gift when I was a student. I lost it after moving house. I wish I still had that pen.
Focus on your writing, and the fountain pen disappears, and the desire to add another fountain pen to your collection diminishes. The more you write, the less desire you have researching for fountain pens. I ended up on this path, and now I go to pen shows for the comraderie, and perhaps a show ink if it falls with my preferences.
I find the same is true for drawing. 5 minutes in I've forgotten which pen I'm using. Unless it distracts me in some way, which sends it instantly to the "Retired" box.
And it happened again! Absolutely puzzled why all comments appear except any mention of saving inks/pens for your daughter, or a kids’ book about fp you might like to share with her.
@@HemingwayJones argh, of course the vague one referencing those comments gets through! Sumi’s Prize is the book to look up for her, and consider saving some special pens for her in the future. It’s tough to grow up and hear about all the cool things family members had and sold, trashed, or gave away. Especially if your fp passion continues to rub off on her.
I want to thank you again, HJ - your videos helped me start to become more selective, slow down on all the impulse purchases. You helped guide me to my Visconti HSBA a couple months ago. I finally got a Montblanc 149! New old stock that's from 82-85 and I couldn't be happier with it! That was my 45th birthday/Black Friday present from my wife. I have to say you were late on the Pelikan though - I ordered the M1000 a few weeks before you released your video - I had to fly solo without your advice, but it's an absolutely brilliant pen! I think I'm going to settle in with these big 3 for a while (plus my other ~50 FPs) and get to know them before considering another like you talked about tonight. As always, thank you so much for all you do for our community!
I do still have my first working fountain pen, as well as the older, non-functioning basic pens I found in my Grandma’s attic that were part of my inspiration to try using them. I also have a treasured collection of dip nibs given to me when a family friend (my calligraphy mentor) died. What I don’t have are any of the quills I tried to whittle from assorted feathers from the barnyard birds. I have long thought I have too many pens, given that I started out by wanting to have something akin to a capsule collection. Maybe someday I’ll be able to pare down. Meanwhile, as for my crazy collection of JoWo delivery devices, they are important because I used them to learn what girth, length, weight, and shape of pen I like as well as to explore nib sizes (both meaning of size). They have additionally helped me determine which pens are useable by my much-pickier left-handed husband who holds a pen very differently from me. Congrats to your daughter! I haven’t looked back at my oldest journals in a very long time, but I don’t think I filled a journal until around age 10.
Very interesting session this evening!
I started my fountain pen journey in the 1960s, when I upgraded from a Scripto that I used in elementary school to a Parker 45, which I used through high school. In university, I bought another Parker 45 with an EF nib, that I used to take notes in a pocket size notebook.
I bought a Lamy 2000 to write my master’s thesis in 1969.
In 1984, I bought a Montblanc 149. It was my “daily driver” for a decade, then one of the pens in my rotation.
I still have and use all of these pens, augmented by a range of Schaeffer, Waterman, Twsbi and other pens.
I no longer travel with the MB 149, but I often take the Lamy 2000, Waterman Embleme, or a Phileas.
My children know how I value these pens, and I expect they will treasure them, as I treasure the Parker Duofold that I inherited from my late father.
What a wonderful story! Thank you. You have an excellent selection. This was wonderful.
I started out with a Parker 45 and I have several in my collection. Wonderful pens!
Having been brought up with fountain pens, both in school and at home, I had my fill of the accessible type. So when I came back to this magnificent world I began with a Leonardo Mosaico Hawaii and thereafter to a Sailor with a Naginata Togi nib. Absolute joy. Have then moved on, every year one to two pens, either for my birthday or other joyous moment. I cannot get enough of the feeling that a jewel quality fountain pen offers.
I feel as if you have it all figured out, My Friend!
Absolutely!
I loved this show! I started using fountain pens in 1966. I used a Shaeffer pen/cartridge in my Shorthand class during my senior year of high school. In 2024 I still enjoy writing with my Pilot fountain pens.
I missed your video live, but love watching it today. I started out with three pens. They are all favorites still!! My husband bought me a Lamy Safari, TWSBI Diamond Mini and a Pilot Metro with a CM nib. They are awesome!!! Now I’ve added an Esterbrook Estie and a beautiful Benu as well as many other mid level pens. I have a lovely collection of wonderful pens. I have about 25 to 30 pens and I’ve gifted pens to others. 🥰
Very entertaining monologue, and so true!
I laughed at the story of the over-enthusiastic collector who dumps all his previously cherished and expensive fountain pens to switch to collecting typewriters! 😄
Thanks so much. I’m glad you enjoyed it.
Could have sworn I was subscribed, thanks for the reminder! I got into FPs a couple months ago as a way to de-stress and slow down at work. I find that using a FP to mark up documents opposed to using the ballpoints is fun and very relaxing and has oddly allowed me to enjoy my desk work again.
Wonderful! Thanks very much!
I bought a grail pen (in my book) early on and didn’t regret it at all. I work in a contentious arena (litigation) and I love pulling out a shiny Montblanc Rouge et Noir at the perfect moment. The snake wrapped elegantly around the top sends the right message 😈
I love it! You and I use pens the same way. They can give you an extra bit of confidence or express an underlying theme. Love it!
excellent
Funny about the Eco … I have the stub and it’s is easily a favorite! Smooth and stylish!!
So smooth!
I just started my fountain pen collection. First up was a Lamy Safari in Yellow with a F nib. Very happy with it. I am not much of a writer, and mostly just take notes on ordinary paper, some of which will certainly get wet. So, my use case is very far from academia, in fact as far away as one can get. At least I suppose that industrial poultry processing, where I walk about large, noisy, slippery and wet meat cutting machines, ready to hand a large pocket knife, a bright flashlight, and a radio, is quite a distance from the library. But never mind, because the just right fountain pen, nib, and ink will get the job done with style.
Love this channel!
That was my first pen too. In the mango colour
I haven't been collecting fountain pens for long. But a lot of things you have said has sruck a chord with me :-) i enjoy your down to earth chatting about your pens and experiences. My collecting started with learning how to disassemble and restore my grandmother's parker thrift pen. It sparked a passion. Being a novice I recognise what you were saying about your thinking at the start of your collecting. I went a bit mad. Retiring early I have more time to spend researching , restoring pens. And of course buying :-) i love my parker thrift as much as my lovely vintage waterman pens and my gorgeous 1980s bourdieu montblanc 146 (wonderful smooth writer). I have bought all sorts, as you say to get a feel for different types of writing experience. A few gorgeous Wahl Streamlines. Modern, old, i love them all. No real regrets so far on purchases. The history of fountain pens is fascinating as well. Im waffling :-) im sure my family members think im a bit sad:-) but who cares :-) Along with my old pocket watches and books I enjoy being a geek:-) who wants to be like everyone else. Great channel. I'll keep watching you from sunny England :-)
Greetings. Tonight's offering was very useful, l loved it thanks! Ken from Latvia
Thank you, Ken!
I bought two pens over the Black Friday weekend. A gorgeous Ystudio Classic Revolve from Galen Leather that I am totally in love with, and a Kaweco AL Sport in vibrant violet.
I already have a regular Sport and a Brass Sport, but I wanted to use a birthday gift voucher, so I waited to combine it with the sale. Turns out I am a complete sucker for modern, minimalist metal pens so I may gift my regular Kaweco to a friend. The AL in violet is gorgeous.
I'm enchanted and uplifted by Imogen's first journal at seven. 🤍 Much love from Italy, and wishes for many more happy journals to the little writer.
Thank you very much! I thought it was such a wonderful milestone. So sweet what she writes. Thanks for being here.
@HemingwayJones it is. that milestone reached is pure Hope
“You barely met that pen!” 😂❤😊
Right?! So true though.
I started my fountain collection in February, but I had been researching since last October. I don’t like “cheaper” stationery items. I never have, so I knew going in I wanted “nicer pens” in my collection. I also knew I wanted a smaller collection because I can go off the rails. I wish that I did not get sucked in buying sailor pro gear and pro gear slims. I sold those. Not my style and the grip section and overall pen size is too small too light. Also returned twisbee, hard to clean. But I set out to have 6 pens with different materials. One resin and bamboo, urushi, metal, cellulose acetate, Blackwood, etc. I’m excited about my pens because I have really thought about them and they are all different. All EF and F nibs though because I can’t be too wild. Lol I like writing small. Your videos actually helped me to keep my collection small in the forefront of my mind and saved me a lot of money and hassle so thank you.
I've just started learning about fountain pens because my wife loves them, and I want to shop for gifts for her with some degree of knowledge.
Myself, I'm more knowledgeable about guitars, and wow - much of the advice you give here applies directly to the collection of guitars. Your next guitar needs to be an experience that your current guitars aren't giving you. There's no need to repeat. Also, don't fill up on cheap guitars! Save up and get the one you really want instead of four that scratch an itch.
So much applies! Also, thanks for helping my educational process on pens. I've found them to be quite interesting, and the knowledge is a point of connection with my wife.
One bit of knowledge I can share in return: éclat = ee-clah 🇫🇷 It looks like it should sound a lot like "eclair," but it's ee-clah.
Cheers!
Thanks so much for watching! I cut off my guitar collecting a few years back. May have been some inspiration there.
I have had a Caran d’Ache Maddison Set (fountain pen, ball pen and mechanical pencil) in silver for 40 years. I still use them everyday. Caran d’Ache just serviced the fountain pen free of charge. Now I am getting to know the Caran d’Ache 849, which I carry with me everyday. Luv them, no others. A great show tonight.
@@reikiandshamanism6680 Caran d'Ache stands for excellence.
Awesome episode; really enjoyed it. Excellent points. Live and learn, right? Wonderful to hear Imogen has filled her first journal (would expect no less from Ms. S!) I have all of mine from childhood and they are hysterical to read. Can’t wait for the HS yard sale and Thursday video.
Thanks! It’s great to hear about your journals and how much you’ve enjoyed the Show. Imogen is a treasure.
You were bang on with all your list. I will definitely recommend this video to my viewers. Great job as usual.
Thank you, My Friend! I hope that all is well in your world. Always great to hear from you. Thank you!
Good words, Dr. Jones. Thanks. How lovely to be able to view the world through the eyes of your eight year old daughter. I raised two daughters (and two sons), and cherish their viewpoints from then and now. Wonderful that you are well into your career and have time, attention, and interest in her that is not gobbled up with professional attaining. Enjoy!
Thanks very much. Wish you and your family all the best.
I started out just buying a Twisby Diamond Iris 580 just to see what a fountain pen was. On your recommendation and review I got Pilot Custom 823. Both pens are great but the 823 is an exceptional pen. My Old Teacher used to say, "You get knowledge from those that have it." Appreciate the channel.
I love the early 20th century...pre WW2. My favorite architecture and furniture is Greene and Greene...OMG SO BEAUTIFUL!!!
Hi, great show. All my pens have different nibs, this adds to your writing skill. Twsbi stubs are fabulous, never had a bad one.🤗 Cheers from Australia.🦘
Love this video which a wonderful subject. Thank you HJ
.
Thank you!
Thoughts from someone who uses fountain pens only for drawing:
1. Get only demonstrators, so you can see the ink color at a glance.
2. A perfect range of widths includes an EF, a M, and a BB. Plus a full set of Pilot Parallels. Put the Parallel nib units in some shorter pen that accepts the nib unit.
3. For me, what is additionally provided by higher-end pens has no effect on the quality of a drawing. Any decent, non-distracting, reliable pen is perfectly adequate.
This is great! Thanks for the input.
Hi Hemingway! VERY enthralling subject this week! I too, wish I had kept my VERY first fountain pen! It was actually a desk pen. You see them for sale frequently on ebay. An Esterbrook desk set with the black glass holder that kind of looks like a large 8 ball. It was a lever fill, I was 9 or 10 years old and knew absolutely NOTHING about fountain pens and ink. Never got it to write, but then, again, I was trying to use it with some weird adding machine ink or some such thing in it EPIC fail! Nowadays,, I have strong suspicion I could rebuild the sucker and get it to write. AAhhhhh, the Pilot Varsity. I had already started with fountain pens and one day at the store they had a Varsity twin pack, one blue and one black. I bought them and they didn't live up to my Parker 51, so I dumped them in the dreaded pen cup, and they were there for years! Back around the beginning of the year I found them in the black hole cup of doom, and the caps weren't even snapped on properly. I dipped the black one in a cup of water, and it started writing! Same for the blue and I used them until the ink ran out. I had seen a video by Brian Goulet that had instructions for REFILLING the Varsity. That worked! I refilled the black one with Perle Noir, and the blue one with Eclat de Saphir and they work great! Look for that video, and you may not need to throw your old Varsities out!!
Have a great week!
Your lovely video has made me think back to my first serious fountain - a Pilot Murex bought about 1981 from a technical drawing shop - it was great and was the pen I used in my A Levels at school and University but must have lost it in the 90s. It was stainless steel with an integrated nib , very sleek and looked a bit like Concorde. I see they are still available on eBay and may pick one up for old times sake . Great work Mr Jones - thank you and best wishes from Wales in the United Kingdom.
Thank you very much, My Friend! I hope that you get to reconnect with that pen. All the best!
Enjoyed this content. My collection is currently at 15, but I find myself only using 6 of them consistently. A couple of my pens were purchased when I was new to the hobby and I would not repurchase them if I were to start over today. I don't buy the same pens in different colors, and I don't purchase pens with the same nibs. I'm happy with my collection and, at this point, would just like one more pen...the Pelikan M800 Cream Blue. I know...famous last words.
Very good show!!! Great advice too! I think I agree with it all (sorry, maybe a bit boring). Funny you mention the aspect of different experiences (i.e. nibs, mostly). It’s one of the thing I have tried to do from the start.
I love how you speak about pens like they are people, “you barely met this pen” “ it’s in its little sleeping bag with another pen” sweet, funny stuff.
Thanks Man! I appreciate that.
You are so right 3-4 pens a year great information. I plan to do this in 2025. Thanks
Please, my advice:
NEVER FORGET A PEN HAS A BREAK IN PERIOD.
My first pen was boring in the beginning
After 4 months
It started making this amazing singing noise and sensation.
Faber-Castell grip.
Just went from a forgotten pen to my daily carry with my sailor pro gear and pilot custom 823 / sometimes switched with e95s
An excellent point! Thank you for this!
Ah, your first fountain pen. I hope you try and find it and hopefully if you have a ultrasonic cleaner give it the love it deserves.
I still have my first which is a speedball with a 1.1 stub perfectly tuned . coworkers would complement my handwriting. Heck, I didn't have a clue on what I was doing but it did peak my interest. then, it was head first at warp speed down that rabbit hole.
My speedball has a cracked outer cap but the interior liner is still intact.
Funny thing is I ink it up more than my pilot custom urushi. Now that purchase I paid full price for and sadly regret doing so.
Waaaait... You first said to pace yourself when getting into fountain pens. Then later you said to jump in boldly and try different things! Consistency is overrated. But I contradict myself. 😂
BTW, I'm with you on the JoWo nib delivery device thing. If you can't tell the difference when you close your eyes, it's not that different. fd
In any case, thanks for making Tuesday enjoyable. Take care and thanks for posting!
“Some fountain pens get upset stomachs”….. I love it “they are a little crazy”
Thank you!
A sad story; I very recently pulled the trigger on my first Grail fountain pen. Found a 90's MontBlanc 146 for a good price. Today I got an email from the shipping company. The truck carryin the pen caught on fire last night and all packages in it where destroyed. Noone was hurt, luckily. But no grail for me this time...
So sorry. That is tragic.
IMHO, the key to doing something well in your own style/way, is to learn to relax when you do it. I say this because of a 50+ year history of playing guitar and writing music.
Thanks for the insight!
the nib on my Waterman Carene is so smooth and wet. all of those look fantastic.
My first pen was a Pilot Metropolitan, but the first pen that really grabbed me was my Noodler's Ahab. Yeah, it's pretty rough, smells funky to many folks, and dries out super fast if you leave ink it, but it writes fantastic and that subtle line variation with the flex nib is really nice.
Btw, loved loved loved tonight’s topic. ❤
Can’t wait to watch this when I get some time later but wanted to comment before I do. If I had to start again I would just get a Lamy 2000 for EDC then buy a GvFC PoTY and Nakaya Decapod, perhaps sell a kidney and get a novelty from MB. I can’t justify a novelty pen with the ones I already own being so good already but starting again I would definitely just skip to the top, would cost me no more than I have already spent, I would just have less.
Interesting show. I got into fountain pens when in school when the rotring 600 came out. This BF almost got a pilot justus, but somehow I was unable to get pass the address verification part during the checkout process.
I didn’t know about that. Thanks for watching.
in 2 months I have so far ended up with 10 fountain pens, but with only a little embarrassment... it was mostly to try different 'gateway' fountain pens with EF nibs. now I am trying to discipline myself and get to know the other pens. I am also hoping that by finding a decent pen or 2 that I like using will help me use my Bullet Journal more lol.
Tim- limiting to one grail pen would be like limiting my moods. I currently am journaling daily with three and writing with three others - lists, calendar, diary, etc. and which I pick up depends on my mood of the moment. I could let go of three and be content… but why would I do that?
I won’t buy another until I feel ready to retire one of the six.
That’s my personal sweet spot. Six. Since I purchased my pilot 823 this summer, I won’t be making another purchase for at least a year.
My first fountain pen was the Montegrappa Harmony (octagonal Symphony ) . Just 2 or 3 years sis I branch out into other brands. TWSBI,Kaweco and Esterbrook and Leonardo.
I didn’t make a Black Friday purchase because i simply could not make up my mind which pen I couldn’t live without. Sometimes I feel that maybe I should concentrate on Galen cases to keep the pens properly housed!.
Absolutely love your videos I am a Michigan girl currently living in Australia and love my fountain pens however very hard to find good deals here what’s your thoughts on homemade fountain pens ?
Thank you very much for the kind comment! I love the idea of homemade pens. Thanks very much!
The Carène Reflections of Paris is in my wish list. I already own a Carène Black Sea; it is a real dream! On Black Friday, I purchased a Pilot Custom 743 with a Falcon nib, but shipment is delayed.... I have not received it yet.
Excellent choices!
I have watched lots of videos before buying pens, especially the more expensive pens. The videos have been helpful but, honestly, I don’t care about all the details of the exact size, comparisons blah blah blah What interests me most, and you alluded to this here, is the EXPERIENCE of writing with it. I want comparisons of how it feels to the user. I appreciate that my views might not align with the person with the pen, but that’s ok. I can agree or disagree. I want to see how it feels to them so I can work out whether it is worth me buying it or not. There are some pens I find more aesthetically pleasing than others. I can work that out for myself ! What I want to know is how it feels. I have no opportunity to try them out in person where I live (and even less opportunity since Covid and the rise of internet shopping) so before splashing out, I would like to know more about the experience.
I have, as you have said yourself here, wasted money on (mostly cheaper) pens and I too wish I had gone mid-level earlier. I really resonate with your reflections. Like your idea about focusing on the nib. I am (still) working out what I like best, and which nib to use when.
Rising above the dross are Pelikans. Bought one and loved it so bought more. Wish they sold a stub as normal because I love the TWSBI ECO stub.
You might look on the used market. I recently purchased a Pelikan M200 broad italic nib, and a Pelikan 120 with a medium italic nib, both are excellent writers.
Lovely intro
Thank you!
If you ever put another Cher song in my head I will never forgive you.
I have been agonizing over the Esterbrook Accutron for the last couple of weeks. Appears to be sold out now and my checking account is so thankful for it😂😂
The Accutron FP is still available on Esterbrook's website in fine and medium. Sorry. Not sorry. LOL!
Nooooo I missed it again!!!
Guilty of that too
I almost did so don’t worry!
I've missed it so many times that I have to pretend I prefer to watch the recording.
@@ichirofakename 😂😂😂
My very first foundation pen was a white parker vector my parents bought me as an Xmas gift when I was a student. I lost it after moving house. I wish I still had that pen.
Focus on your writing, and the fountain pen disappears, and the desire to add another fountain pen to your collection diminishes. The more you write, the less desire you have researching for fountain pens. I ended up on this path, and now I go to pen shows for the comraderie, and perhaps a show ink if it falls with my preferences.
I'm finding that for me, less is more. I want less pens, and more time with the pens that I really like!
I find the same is true for drawing. 5 minutes in I've forgotten which pen I'm using. Unless it distracts me in some way, which sends it instantly to the "Retired" box.
Hey Hemingway, what are some good options for shopping on the secondary market? eBay? Any others?
I really like Peyton Street Pens!
@@HemingwayJones thanks!
@@HemingwayJonestotally agree! I have spent a lot with them this year; including a Waterman Edson.
@ very nice!
What kind of pen does your daughter write with?
OMG! I love the Wes Anderson pen promo video and yes, the pen looks teeny, tiny! ua-cam.com/video/tUSRyAha37w/v-deo.html
And it happened again! Absolutely puzzled why all comments appear except any mention of saving inks/pens for your daughter, or a kids’ book about fp you might like to share with her.
UA-cam is a mystery. Thanks for watching!
@@HemingwayJones argh, of course the vague one referencing those comments gets through! Sumi’s Prize is the book to look up for her, and consider saving some special pens for her in the future. It’s tough to grow up and hear about all the cool things family members had and sold, trashed, or gave away. Especially if your fp passion continues to rub off on her.
The real question is WHAT glorious fountain pen will you be giving your daughter when she's ready?????
I want to thank you again, HJ - your videos helped me start to become more selective, slow down on all the impulse purchases. You helped guide me to my Visconti HSBA a couple months ago. I finally got a Montblanc 149! New old stock that's from 82-85 and I couldn't be happier with it! That was my 45th birthday/Black Friday present from my wife. I have to say you were late on the Pelikan though - I ordered the M1000 a few weeks before you released your video - I had to fly solo without your advice, but it's an absolutely brilliant pen! I think I'm going to settle in with these big 3 for a while (plus my other ~50 FPs) and get to know them before considering another like you talked about tonight. As always, thank you so much for all you do for our community!
Ha ha - its a FEATURE
I do still have my first working fountain pen, as well as the older, non-functioning basic pens I found in my Grandma’s attic that were part of my inspiration to try using them. I also have a treasured collection of dip nibs given to me when a family friend (my calligraphy mentor) died. What I don’t have are any of the quills I tried to whittle from assorted feathers from the barnyard birds.
I have long thought I have too many pens, given that I started out by wanting to have something akin to a capsule collection. Maybe someday I’ll be able to pare down. Meanwhile, as for my crazy collection of JoWo delivery devices, they are important because I used them to learn what girth, length, weight, and shape of pen I like as well as to explore nib sizes (both meaning of size). They have additionally helped me determine which pens are useable by my much-pickier left-handed husband who holds a pen very differently from me.
Congrats to your daughter! I haven’t looked back at my oldest journals in a very long time, but I don’t think I filled a journal until around age 10.