I'm so glad to have found this site. The creative juices it has stirred in me (and I'm a writer, so creative juices are what I depend on) have surprised me. I have written with computers and years and years, decades actually, and have forgotten how easily words come when I put pen to paper. Especially fountain pen to paper!

Currently, I have only a Pilot Varsity and a Waterman Lady Charlotte (which I don't much care for) from a past life. I just ordered an Eversharp Transitional J, and am eyeing a Pel 200 and a VP. The inspiration from any FP that flows seems about the same - we'll see if that's true as I get into more sophisticated pennery. I need to found out what difference the nib work done by messrs. Mottishaw and Binder makes in the writing experience.

However, my question is about your thoughts on what be the best weapon would be for taking notes during the plays and concerts I review. Needs to be discrete, of course, easy to keep at the ready. The Pel suggests itself because it's relatively small, the VP because I it's retractable.

For the last four years, I was editor in chief at a large monthly newspaper for seniors (55+), but was recently let go as part of a youth movement (I'm 60 - go figure). And then, licking my wounds and looking around for what to do next, I found this site. My only regret is that I wasn't let go sooner so I could have made it to the L.A. Pen show!

Laurence

Hi Laurence,

Welcome.

Having bought a pen from John Mottishaw and company I can highly reccomend his services, both as a pen seller and as a nib tuner. For your note taking I think you would be well served with a Pel 200 from John.

Jim

Welcome. A Namiki Vanishing Point came to mind right away for your situation. It's a wonderful, reliable pen.

Hello and welcome to FPN!

As to a discreet pen for note taking, the VP is an excellent choice provided you can handle the clip placement. For most it's ok, for others - it's a deal breaker. I'd suggest finding a store or another FPNut who has one that you can try.

Once you move past the VP, then your choices expand exponentially. Discreet, IMHO, is more a function of style than size. I have what I would consider a discreet pen, yet it's right at 6 inches capped and 7 posted - that pen is the Danitrio Glossy Raw Ebonite Densho.

If you move to vintage, then your options expand even more. There are many vintage pens that look very "normal" (translated as similar to RBs/BPs). Parker 51s, Snorks, solid color Sheaffer Balances (modern and vintage), and of course Esterbooks.

Really, for what you're wanting, it's a wide open playing field. In most cases, people won't even notice what you're writing with, so use what makes you happy.

Just what I expected - lots of very helpful info and sympathetic emotion (discreet - and excuse the misspelling, esp. from an editor! - is definitely more in the mind). The clip placement has held me back from buying a VP before, as has the bulk of it (the decimo sounds so more right for me but who knows if it will come out here, if ever) - but I will try it out again - it certainly makes sense.

If I get the Esterbrook today or tomorrow, I can try it out. It could make me feel like a critic in a film noir flick, esp. with my exotic Russian wife. I've tried to find out from her mother about Russian FPs but she doesn't seem to know anything.

While I understand your suggesting a Danitrio for what I'm reviewing Sat. night: a musical called Little Egypt - it turns out that it ain't the Egypt you might think:

"In southern Illinois three rivers meet: the Wabash, the Ohio and the Mississippi.As different as those three rivers, the three Waltzes, mother Faye, former prom queen daughter Bernadette and overeducated daughter Celeste, fight the crazy currents of love in the wondrous, strange and comic love story Little Egypt. The play finds it's heart on the ragged edges of Cairo, Illinois, where a lonely mall security guard and a brainy, misfit young woman meet."

So, I'm forgetting the Danitro. Maybe if they assign me to cover the Golden Globes or the Academy Awards next year …

Southpaw -

I just saw the posting for the Danitrio Ebony - and see what you mean. Too rich for me these days but would have been perfect!

Laurence

Not the VP if you're taking notes during concerts and plays -- the "click" when you retract the nib during writing pauses makes noise! As I self-consciously have noticed during serious, quiet meetings when I had my VP...

What is your definition of "discreet?"

Petra

I really appreciate the info about the VP click. I spent some time at a pen store today, looking at various pens, and became concerned about that very thing. Obviously, uncapping a conventional FP is going to be much quieter (duh!), but it hadn't occurred to me before. I also tried a Pel 200 and was delighted by its feel and response.

I'm starting to understand what role experience plays in understanding myself as a FP person. All the qualities that I delight in reading about and imagining abstractly are slowly (very slowly!) coming into focus for me as an individual. I mean, I've been playing, listening to and writing about music for about 50 years now and being able to grasp what is going on and describing my feelings and judgments is so integrated into who I am that it is like breathing.

At this early stage, I am finding that I prefer a wetter flow and a broader line. I don't really have a clue other than intellectual about how the steel vs. gold nib affects this (not to mention stubs and customized nibs by folks like Mottishaw and Binder), or whether I will ultimately prefer a heavier or thicker pen (the Pel felt small but appropriately so). The question of inks will, I think, remain in a parallel universe for the time being.

After receiving the Esterbrook J (not bad, but a little too fine for me), I had thought to start with a Pel 200 and a VP, but now, esp. reading your passionate endorsement of gold nibs, I'm wondering whether I'd be better off with investigating the Hero 100 and going for one of the Pel 250 series (I think Swisher has an amber one) or waiting til I know more (please, no, no, no!). Glad you folks are out there talking so I can at least get an idea of how much I have to learn.

Laurence

On the Esterbrook being too fine, are you referring to the line width or the pen width? I'm guessing line width. Fear not - Estie nibs are interchangeable! They even have stubs and flex (really semi-flex) nibs. What's the number on the nib you have?

Might I suggest you check out Richard Binder's website, www.richardspens.com, click on "Reference Info" on the left, scroll down to "Nibs, Feeds, and Filling Systems," and select "Nibs: The Renew-Point by Esterbook." It lists the different model nibs and what they are.

Happy hunting on your newest addiction - Estie Nibs!

Estie nibs, indeed! I found the list on Richard's site and then found a list of nibs for sale at PenKreations. I've got a 2668 (firm medium) in the pen now. I may try either a Flexible medium or a Medium stub. What fun!

Thanks for pointing me in the right direction.

Laurence

Welcome aboard. For writing quality, I think any of the pens you have here described would work out for you. Best of luck with the decision.

Thanks for your encouragement.

Looking back through the archives, I see the 200 and VP come up often as practical choices. Odd how these choices, and others, manage to overlap without the apparent possibility of definitive resolution. Must have something to do with game theory.

Laurence

If you know the piece well enough to be writing about it, you'll be able to "click" in the correct place. (smiley face guy goes here)

Actually, either would be great. I have both and they're both great writers. I only have 7 pens, but I think each one is the "greatest" writer while I'm writing with it. Then I pick up another one and it becomes the greatest writer. As they say, it's all in the wine.

But seriously, it's a trade off between the "click" and having to keep decapping the M200. You have to keep it capped to keep the nib from drying out, and sometimes words evaporate quickly. Let's see, what was I saying? Oh yeah, it's all in the wine...

Doug

I would be ungrateful if I didn't follow up.

I have reviewed two events this week and they should be published in the next few days. As soon as they are, I will provide links so you can read them.

For the first, a cute litte sitcom cum musical called Little Egypt, I brought along my Transitional J and, as a backup, a generic gel pen. The latter did the note-taking work since I didn't properly fill the former.

For the second, the L.A. opening of a national tour of Stomp, I took the J, this time properly filled, a cheapo Shaeffer caligraphy pen that I bought on the way (and, of course, the gel). Writing in a Moleskine notebook, I used the two FPs interchangeably and both performed.

Assuming I get more assignments, I hope to have on board a VP since the cap off, cap on routine doesn't work for me during a performance (damn the clicks!).

I'm not sure it would be accurate to say that notes taken with a FP are any different than those taken with regular pens, but I like to think they are. And it is the notes which make the reviews possible.

I am finding out something about my likes and dislikes. I am enjoying the way my Lamy 2000 lays down it M lines, and I like the way the J scratches out whatever my brain manages to wring out. I even like playing with the Shaeffer's calligraphy nib, such as it is, and I am starting to wonder about those italic and music puppies.

Mostly, I am still reading what you have to say and learning not only about FPs but also about writing style and even life. Thank you all!

Laurence

Welcome Laurence.

I'm in LA, too. Looking forward to more posts from you.

Cheers,
Laura

I'm 60 and I can't remember what pens we used in grade school. We must have used pens. I'm going to dig around ask some of my high school buddies.

L

Here's the review of Stomp I wrote based on notes made by both the Sheaffer calligraphy pen and the Transitional J: http://snipurl.com/qcmd.

LV

Thanks for the link. I enjoyed your review. The Pantages is in my neighborhood. I didn't realize that was what was playing there. I have to walk down Hollywood Boulevard more often.

Nice to see you getting helpful information TWG, especially from our Southpaw. I was going to ask what you write in at these reviews, but you've just answered my question. Do you use other well known writing journals etc like Clairefontaine?

I haven't tried any other journals yet, but I am sure I will. The experience of putting ink on paper is so seductive I can't resist.

And since I will soon start a short story, I will have an opportunity to experiment. Any suggestions for the best short story paper? I prefer writing on only one side of the paper, so I can make notes on the facing pages.

BTW, I received my VP yesterday and it is truly wonderful (the med nib) although I'm not crazy about where the clip is (the noise of the click won't be a problem during performances). Does anyone have experience with the oblique nibs that require you to turn the pen so that the clip doesn't get in your way?

Hi and welcome. Sorry to hear about that youth thing and your job but rest assured you are not alone. When my children attended Cardozo High School right here in N.Y.C. I attended open school night. Since I am a licensed H.S. English teacher, J.H.S. English teacher and Common Branch teacher, I stopped in to speak to the then chairman (older man) of the English Department. My resume is impressive but he told me in no uncertain terms that he did not want a seasoned teacher. What he was looking for was a 22 year old. The man actually came right out and said that to my face. A colleague of mine (also an experienced teacher) was told the same thing by the older male chairman of the Forest Hills High School English Department. So you see, this "nonexistent" age discrimination is all over the place and it stinks...nuff said.
Anyway, welcome to our world where you will find a wonderful and friendly group!

Hello Wolfgang, and welcome to the FPN!

It's true enough what Playpen has said. Even though I should have known better, since I did edit a newspaper for four years that dealt with precisely these topics!

However, I've also found that there is some good with the bad, especially the stories about doing what you love.

Fortunately, I have the support of a fabulous wife whose fabulousness grows from day to day. Amazing--and to think that she picked me out!

Of course, the FPN network has also been of inestimable help in maintaining some stability (except when said, otherwise fabulous wife, notices a new acquisition). The network is everything that the internet was created for: knowledge, passion and compassion.

Now, if I could only find the perfect ink color: something, presumably (but not necessarily) in the red family, to complement Aurora Black and Lamy Blue.

And, of course, the perfect pen. But that I'll leave for another time.

Ah, the perfect pen... that would have to be the Parker 51.

That's what I've been thiking, but I've got this "61" with such a luscious med. nib that I wonder … and then there are a few Sheaffers that ask for equal time.