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I've Been Assimilated

Dadof8

By Dadof8
in Fountain & Dip Pens - First Stop

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Dadof8 Near Mint

Dadof8

Posted
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About 3 weeks ago, I suddenly became interested in FPs again. Why? I don't know. I had an old Sheaffer that I bought about 37 years ago when I was 10 years old when I was in the fifth grade. About 3 weeks ago, I found cartridges for it, loaded it up, and it worked. It is an el-cheapo, but I think it writes nice. I've been writing in my journal and taking notes at work and church (I'm a prodigious note taker) and marking in books as I read. I have pretty much been using this pen exclusively for the past 3 weeks.

 

Today, we had to have our daughter at the hospital for out-patient arthroscopic surgery. We got up at 4:15 to be there by 5:00. As I was waiting there, I reached in my pocket and realized I had left the FP at home. I had a BP (Parker refill type) in my computer case, so I used it today.

 

The BP use to feel so smooth and put down a good line. I could hardly believe how poor this pen wrote. I WANTED MY FP! I went straight to work from the hospital and had to use the BP all day. Now I know why all of you have multiple pens and leave some at work.

 

I've asked for a fountain pen for Christmas - a Waterman Phileas in fine point. (I'm pretty sure I see the right size box under the tree but we will see.)

 

Just yesterday, I had the winning bid for a Rotring 600 Newton in silver and fine nib. It is coming from France so it will be a while. I can hardly wait to get either one of these.

 

Anyway, I'm hooked and am not looking back. I don't know if I'll ever have the fancy collection that most of you have, but I think I will have some decent writing FPs. (Being an engineer, I'm more about functionality than esthetics.)

 

By the way, I'm already plotting for a Vanishing Point in probably EF and blue carbonesque. See, you guys have gotten to me already.

 

Anyway, thanks for all of the knowledge I am getting from this site. I've been lurking here several weeks absorbing it all.

 

Dadof8

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southpaw Donor Pen

southpaw

Posted
Posted

Dadof8, welcome to FPN! Doesn't take long for the FP Craze to enter your blood stream and, once it does, it quickly takes over! FPN is one of the prime means of spreading FPC, and there is no antivirus, no antidote. Writing with BPs only makes it worse! See ya around.

 

BTW, I'm guessing by your username you have 8 children, correct? B) .

"But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Rom. 5:8, NKJV)
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davyr Rare

davyr

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welcome dadof8! i know whatcha mean about going back to ballpoints - it just feels so, lousy. i like my vp a lot, but you may want to try before you buy, as some hate the clip placement.

"i love the smell of celluloid nitrate in the morning...you know, the smell, that camphor smell, it smells like...victory."

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Mike Rare

Mike

Posted
Posted

Welcome to the addiction. :) It sounds like you have one of Sheaffer's ubiquitous school pens, which are quite possibly the best-built cartridge pens ever made. Even after twenty years in a desk drawer or attic, pop a cartridge in and they're ready to go. Certainly a popular introduction to "real" FPs, and for a lot of people of a certain generation, it's the only FP they've ever used.

 

Let us know how you like the Rotring, when it arrives. They get overlooked a lot by all the Pelikan snobs here ( :) ), but I like 'em, though I haven't tried that particular one yet.

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Brian Anderson Collectors Item

Brian Anderson

Posted
Posted
Isn't it wierd? I even saw a very shiny, expensive car of some make or another today and thought 'Oooo. That would make a cool pen design."  It's insatiable.

Yeah, I've done that too. One time while shopping for cars for my wife it was, "That's Esterbrook copper, that one's Esterbrook Blue..." And that was my wife saying that. :)

 

Welcome dadof8. Say it with me, Resistence is Futile. We don't need large collections to enjoy this hobby. Just one pen that writes well. I hope your christmas package turns out to be everything you hope for!

 

Best-

Brian

www.esterbrook.net All Esterbrook, All the Time.
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Bear NOS (New Old Stock)

Bear

Posted
Posted

Welcome Dadof8. As a dad of two, I wonder that you find time to write anything--except checks.

 

My VP is my everday favorite. The only issue I have with it is that the ink capacity of the convertor is limited, and because I use it so much, I have to refill often. Not a problem unless I'm out of the office and away from ink bottles.

 

One word of warning: If you're just getting back into FP's, be aware the nibs in Asian pens (like the Namiki VP) tend to run smaller than what you're used to seeing if you use your Sheaffer as a guide. What they call a F may be closer to the EF you're looking for.

 

Have a good holiday.

 

Bear

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OldGriz Donor Pen

OldGriz

Posted
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RUN AWAY... RUN AWAY... LEAVE THIS DEN OF MADMEN ..... :P :P

I came here to see what commercial fountain pens were about, since I make custom wood and acrylic fountain pens....

I have since started spending the hard earned money I make producing brand new pens on old pens.... why would any sane person do this.... :bonk: :bonk:

Not only that by my 7 yr old daughter is now looking at old pens with me.... :doh: :doh:

 

Please for the sake of your sanity and your children's college fund....

RUN AWAY... RUN AWAY... :P :P

 

OK, actually it is not all that bad... and this is one of the nicest bunch of people on the net... they are willing to answer even my stupidest questions without making me feel like a fool....

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garythepenman Extremely Rare

garythepenman

Posted
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Dadof8, yep you've been assimilated all right. I'm sure the Borg planted some nano technology in my brain as I am always thinking of FP's.

This forum is definitely the "collective" as we all tend to think the same thoughts..well mostly anyway..FPN is brilliant..It makes me feel normal knowing I'm not alone in a world (or should I say "cube") of fountain pen enthusiasts.

This place is a bit like Hotel California..once in you can never leave..

Welcome, you'll be here for a while.

A wizard is never late, he arrives precisely when he means to.

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aircraft_electrician Rare

aircraft_electrician

Posted
Posted
Anyway, I'm hooked and am not looking back. I don't know if I'll ever have the fancy collection that most of you have, but I think I will have some decent writing FPs. (Being an engineer, I'm more about functionality than esthetics.)

Dadof8, welcome to our world of addiction!

 

As an engineer who prefers function over form, you've got to get one of Sheaffer's snorkel fillers. Not that they're bad looking pens, but they are one of the pen industry's greatest engineering achievements, at least in my opinion. As far as I'm concerned, the Vanishing Point is the only pen that come close to being as ingenious as the Snorkel. They are also great writers. Even though they can usually be found in good condition for less than $50, they were once Sheaffer's top of the line pens, so they write like much more expensive modern pens.

 

Again, welcome to our forum!

Tom

A pen is a good deal like a rifle; much depends on the man behind it. Paraphrased from John Philip Souza

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Guest Denis Richard

Guest Denis Richard

Posted
Posted

Welcome Dadof8,

 

Be assured that will do anything to keep you in the collective, and to go with your chosen handle, you shal now be known as eight-of-nine. :D

 

Denis.

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FrankB Donor Pen

FrankB

Posted
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"dadof8" welcome. This pen thing is a slippery slope, but it is a wonderful hobby that has enriched my life immeasurably. I hope you reap similar benefits.

 

As a side comment, I am quite taken with the simple fact that so many people are catching the Startrek TNG references. If we put certain elements together what do we get: Startrek, computer competence, an affinity for fountain pens? Hello? Does this combination make sense?

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Guest Denis Richard

Guest Denis Richard

Posted
Posted
As a side comment, I am quite taken with the simple fact that so many people are catching the Startrek TNG references. If we put certain elements together what do we get: Startrek, computer competence, an affinity for fountain pens? Hello? Does this combination make sense?

I think it whispers geeks !... :D

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aircraft_electrician Rare

aircraft_electrician

Posted
Posted
I think it whispers geeks !... :D

I think it's a bit louder than a whisper!

A pen is a good deal like a rifle; much depends on the man behind it. Paraphrased from John Philip Souza

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garythepenman Extremely Rare

garythepenman

Posted
Posted
"dadof8" welcome. This pen thing is a slippery slope, but it is a wonderful hobby that has enriched my life immeasurably. I hope you reap similar benefits.

 

As a side comment, I am quite taken with the simple fact that so many people are catching the Startrek TNG references. If we put certain elements together what do we get: Startrek, computer competence, an affinity for fountain pens? Hello? Does this combination make sense?

I've no idea about this Startrek TNG thing, I just came out of warp 7, went to impulse engines, scanned for lifeforms, filled up with dialithium crystals and visited a pen shop in the 1930's on the holo deck.

Now where is that Vulcan obsidian black lava ink ?.

Happy Holidays

A wizard is never late, he arrives precisely when he means to.

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Blorgy Rare

Blorgy

Posted
Posted
Welcome Dadof8,

 

Be assured that will do anything to keep you in the collective, and to go with your chosen handle, you shal now be known as eight-of-nine. :D

 

Denis.

Your distinctiveness will add to our perfection.

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VikingWriter New

VikingWriter

Posted
Posted
Your distinctiveness will add to our perfection.

 

LOL!!

 

garythepenman, I am most certainly enjoying this pen. It's bloody marvelous after years of ballpoints.

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