Grandfathers & Fountain Pens

[turnero]

What grandfathers can do with their pens - two different possibilities

 

first in Spanish, then in English & German

Edited May 22, 2014 by turnero

[turnero]

[sotto2]

Thanks for the cool vids.

 

My grandfather drove a semi-truck ("big-rig" here in the US) from Iowa to New York City and back once a week until he was 77 years old. He would drive loads of eggs and butter out to NYC and then bring loads of stuff like chocolate and Bazooka bubble gum back to Iowa. We grandkids often ended up with 25 pound bars of high-quality chocolate, or bags of Bazooka bubble-gum that would take two hands to lift. As a kid, that was much more preferable to me than a fountain pen. But as an adult now, I wish he had brought me at least one cool fountain pen. If he had, I wouldn't have so many fillings in my teeth today.

Edited May 23, 2014 by sotto2

[PS104]

Totally agree with everything. My grandfather didn't drive a big-rig but everything else is familiar. My bubble-gum of choice was Double Bubble in addition to the brands where there were trading cards along with the gum. I wish I had passed on the gum and wish I still had the trading cards (all non-baseball). I feel I'm responsible for today's silver shortage. It's all in my mouth. I used a fountain pen in elementary school and I've "recently" just "rediscovered" them. At least I know I won't get any cavities from fountain pens

[welch]

I have set aside Parker 51 sets for my three grandsons: a black English aero, a black double-jewel 51 vac, and a forest green aero. I'll have to wait 15 or 20 years before I give them the pen&pencil sets, but they write nicely.

 

(Just hope fountain pen ink is available!)

Edited May 23, 2014 by welch

[turnero]

[Wolverine1]

Peter- thank you for posting these videos. Much appreciated.

[Algester]

Wow at the age of 12 already heirloomed an MB... OMG... I... the story....

[Journaler]

Thank you for posting this. I'm rather touched by your videos and will consider doing something similar.

[Namru]

My grandfather died 7 years before I was born and the only thing I have of his is some film he hand developed, I even keep an off cut in my wallet. But I have seen his work notebooks from the early part of the cold war when he helped develop large intercontinental radar systems while still an RAF officer. About 20-something years worth of work in my grandmothers closet, all beautifully written, highly important gobbledygook... All written in pencil. He loved his motorcycles, but used his writing instruments.

[Runnin_Ute]

I only knew one of my grandfathers, the other died when I was 13 months old. In life I was closer to my paternal grandpa - because he was around. Golf, whatever. I have memories made with him.

 

My mom's dad on the other hand I don't remember. But I may have a closer spiritual connection with him. I have some things that belonged to him - a Waltham pocket watch that I can date the movement to 1908 and while it isn't accurate it does run, a great writing desk he used in his plumbing business that I helped refinish. It used to be my primary workspace, I need to get back to that place. Ink stains inside the center drawer, that I am glad we never sanded away. A set of business books he owned from LaSalle Extension University dated 1923 - a couple of volumes have his signature in them - in fountain pen ink.

 

All total the physical value of the items isn't very large - the books are probably worth more than the rest combined. But to me those things are priceless. I just wish I had a son or daughter to pass them to.

[turnero]

thanks for the great real life stories!

[turnero]

[turnero]

[turnero]

Giveaway for FPN members

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php/topic/288991-fountain-pen-giveaway-pelikan-140/

[deepak23]

My grandfather gave me a P45 and a Sheaffer 330 when I was in school. Used these throughout school and college. The P45 is still with me happily retired after 30 years of service. The 330 was sadly lost...

[turnero]

in honor of my grandfathers I am doing a series of 29 fountain pen giveaways

 

3 of them are up now

 

https://www.youtube.com/user/0tt0ni0/videos

[spacecoastpenny]

Thanks for sharing. All I have from my grandfather is his eyes. I've been told by many I have his eyes. Being the 35th grand child out of 41 there wasn't much left

Edited April 21, 2015 by spacecoastpenny

[PS104]

My maternal grandfather died before I was born. I was aware of my paternal grandfather, smoked cigars when he came to our apartment to play pinochle and his presence was still aromatically in the apartment . I think the only thing I inherited from him (no pens) was his sense of 'humor'. He would say things like "Someone jump out the window and make Robert laugh"

[gregamckinney]

I was fortunate enough to know both* of my grandfathers. Most of my memories are from my mother's father, Alfred, and nearly all of them are wonderful, filling my eyes with tears as I type. He's been gone many years, but I still miss him so.

Al was a machinist, and my other grandfather, Jim, worked on an assembly line at Coca-Cola. Neither used a fountain pen.

 

While I would love to have keepsakes from both men, I'll take the time spent with them, and the memories any day of the week.

 

*My paternal grandmother was divorced when my father was very young, and I never met my father's father. I consider my father's stepfather to be my grandfather on that side.

 

Regards, greg