[antoniosz]

Post other reasons if you have a suggestion

[Elaine]

Choose 1?

I'd say for me it's a combination of #1,2, and 5

[Bryan]

Though I voted for #2, I'd say #1 would also apply.

Bryan

[Glenn-SC]

I voted for 2.
Then would come 1 then 3.

[wimg]

Hi Antonios,

For me it is 1, 2 and 3, but mostly 2.

Warm regards, Wim

[Ray]

I use a fountain pen for reason 2, but I collect them for reason 1.

Ray

[Bill Dodson]

I voted for #2, Writing pleasure, but I think that #3, Connection with the past, also applies. Particularly the several pens I have that were my great uncle's.

Bill

[georgem]

I voted #1, but it's really 1 & 2.

[randyholhut]

While all of Antonio's reasons have merit (obsessiveness and intellectual challenge come to mind), for me the top three are:

1. Writing pleasure -- Sure, you can write with Bic Stic, but nothing beats a fountain pen when it comes to ink gliding on to a page.

2. Aesthetic pleasure -- Even though my tastes are more conservative than some on the board, the Duofold, the Balance and the 51 and its progeny are all works of art. Even an Esty has more duende than a Bic. Some may consider pens "pocket jewelry" and that carrying FPs seems almost foppish in a era where pens are seen as disposable items one never thinks about.

Then you hold one and write with one, and you're gone. You'll never use a disposable again if you can help it.

3. Connection with the past -- From my 1920s Little Red to my 1930s ebonized Balance to my 1940s Esties to my 1950s 51 and Snorkel to my 1960s 45s and 61s to my 1970s Targa to my 1980s Sheaffer School pens to my 1990s Core to my 2000s Legacy 2, the thought of having 80 years of evolution in pen design and engineering at my fingertips is very cool. History in your shirt pocket!

Plus, unlike a lot of collectables, they don't take up a lot of space and they get used regularly.

This post has been edited by randyholhut: 10 December 2005 - 11:26 PM

[Richard]

I voted for 7 (Other). My reasons for acquiring pens definitely include 1, 2, 3, and 4, but there's what I might call a "meta-reason" that drives much of my acquisition. Since I began repairing pens for other people, I've found that a huge part of the pleasure I derive from them arises out of the pleasure my work gives to others. So if I want to be able to repair Pens X, Y, and Z, I need to have seen and handled them. The same reasoning applies to documenting them on my site. What better way to do these things than by acquiring the pens?

One example of this sort of thing is my flex nibs. The only way I could learn to add flex to nibs in a way that simulates the behavior of vintage flex nibs was to have, and study, and write with, vintage flex nibs. So I gradually acquired an assortment of vintage pens with flex nibs. These are some of 'em:

[JeffTL]

1, 2, 3, and 4 -- I vote 2 since I primarily focus on pens with which I can write, though they are not the whole enchilada. Vintage pens are a bargain; just think for a second ... which is less expensive, a restored Sheaffer PFM from a specialist dealer or a new Montblanc 149?

[Oso]

To me the most important reason for collecting pens is writing pleasure. In fact I did not start out to be a collector and I consider myself more of an avid user. All my pens have been inked. My small collection just happened to me. My first criteria for considering the purchase of a pen is, “How will it write?” It just so happens that a finely made pen, like most things finely made, is a beautiful thing. Like Bill, the connection to the past is also important. I have some pens that belonged to my grandparents. My reasons are 2, 1 and 3 in that order.

[southpaw]

Voted for #2, but #1 is a very close second. I'll get a pen based on #1, but it must have a reputation as a good writer. If I get it and it's not a good writer, it won't stay. So to stay, it's got to be #1 & #2.

[Leslie J.]

Okay, 2 and *6*. I look at my "collection" and wonder how it grew so big so fast. It's under 40 pens, but still, you can only feasibly write with 2 at the same time. That is, one in each hand.

[grasshopper]

No 2 is my most important reason so that's what I voted for, followed equally by No 1.

My other reason for collecting pens - it's just darn .