Writing with an Ackerman Pump Pen (video)

[caliken]

Last year, there were several threads on the "Writing Instruments" forum concerning the Ackerman Pump Pen.

 

Antoniosz wrote an excellent review on the "Fountain Pen reviews" forum in July 2007 with several still illustrations.

 

I got my Pump Pen this afternoon and thought that it might be of interest to show it used in motion.

 

Writing with an Ackerman Pump Pen

 

So far, I'm very pleased with it. I only had to use the pump once - to start up, after which, as you can see, it wrote with no problems.

 

All in all, a good, inexpensive product which means that I can practice flex-nibbed writing anywhere and at any time with a Gillott 303 nib.

 

For further information, find the above review.

 

The music is "Siciliano" by J S Bach with Heinz Holliger (oboe)

 

caliken

Edited October 10, 2008 by caliken

[aNONIEmous]

*swoons* Need I say it?

 

If I didn't know any better, I'd swear you were producing that music with each oh-so-smooth stroke of the pen. I can't get over how easy you make it look, caliken.

[Zed]

Hello caliken,

 

you almost made me regret that I threw my Ackerman Pump Pen some time ago after it - probably after the calligraphy inks I used started to clog the the feed - began to write with such uneven inkflow that the pen became basically unusable. I guess the very reasonable price of these pens does not promise a long-lasting operation, but I am not sure whether I find the pen so good that I will buy another one. I guess I prefer the feeling of well balanced fountain pen with a good flexible nib for practicing copperplate and other pointed nib styles...

 

Still, thanks for the video, caliken! The script and the way you execute it is very elegant.

 

Regards, Zed

[caliken]

 

Zed,

 

I'm sorry to hear of your unfortunate experience with this pen. I haven't had it long enougn to give a reasoned opinion. However, I should mention that I told Charles Ackerman that I wanted the pen fitted with a Gillott 303 nib and that I intended using it with Quink black fountain pen ink only. He said that he would make the necessary adjustments to control and maintain the flow and recently has said that he has improved the performance of this pen, in general.

 

It's so inexpensive, that I considered it worth the risk of trying it out.

 

So far, so good..........but the jury is still out!

 

Thanks for your input.

 

caliken

 

 

 

[Jimothy]

Wow!

 

Where can we all buy a pen like that, Ken?

[Zed]

Hello Jimothy,

 

just go to http://www.ackermanpens.com/ - there you will find all sorts of information about the pens and customisation possibility.

 

Regards, Zed

[HDoug]

Beautiful. And so well coordinated with the music -- do you fit the writing to the music or find the music after?

 

I happen to have just done some research recently on this particular piece. Originally written by Johann Sebastian Bach as a movement in one of his orchestral suites while he was in the service of Prince Leopold of Cothen, he later transcribed it for use as a sinfonia in one of his cantatas (BWV 156). He must have liked the piece quite a bit (and who could blame him) because he also later used it as a slow movement in a violin concerto. That concerto has been lost (sad face goes here). But fortunately, he later transcribed that concerto for keyboard (so the violin concerto could be "rebuilt"). I have to do more research, but apparently, Bach also used it for a movement in an oboe concerto which seems to be the version here.

 

I became curious when I heard it as the roll credit music for the movie, "Blindness." The version used there was the cantata version and featured what sounded like an English Horn, or perhaps an Oboe d'Amore. I have to find the version used for the soundtrack to be sure.

 

Sorry for blathering on but the use of the music struck me as a meaningful coincidence.

 

Doug

 

 

 

[caliken]

Very interesting, Doug. Obviously I'm not alone in considering J S Bach to be the greatest. I listen a great deal to his music and never fail to be amazed by his genius.

 

I try to synchronize my writing to a particular piece of music - it just seems neater that way.

 

The method is simple. I write out the piece and time it - then I find a piece of music I like, near to the same duration. (I have a large iTunes library) I then start the recording and write the piece again, this time to video camera with the music in the background.

 

I've just finished a piece of Gothic writing to a gorgeous Stan Getz recording - I'll post it soon.

 

caliken