I thought that after being here for several months and quite a few posts it would be polite to finally take the time to introduce myself!!! I am a young 50ish anglophile whose hobbies include mechanical watches,English cars(although I don't currently own one anymore but have decided to get another one),history and current politics and events,and also FOUNTAIN PENS. I am now living on the west coast of the US but hope to move back to the middle in about a year. I hope to get back to England for a visit in the next couple of years as it's been quite a few years since I was there. I really enjoy this site and think everyone here are great. A belated hello!! 221bbakerst

Well, a belated hello and welcome aboard! Glad you decided to introduce yourself - thanks. See you around.

Welcome

hi sherlock,

welcome--who is your watson?

welcome, and make yourself at Holmes.

Glad you decided to join us. Welcome to the board

Salutations. That's quite an array of hobbies you have. What pens are in your collection? And how did you get into FPs?

I don't really have a collection in the way that a lot of the people on this site do. All my pens are relatively new except for my Parker 75 that I have had since it was new. I got it for Christmas in about 1965 and a 1930's Croxley with a soft fine nib I recently got from Andy of Andy's Pens,UK. It really is beautiful in a grey and black marble in a Shaeffer balance shape and writes like a dream. I have in addition 2 Aurora Ipsillon deluxe, A Waterman Laureat, A Waterman Phileas, a Waterman Charleston, a modern Conway Stewart 58 in Ex fine,a modern Conway Stewart Dandy in Ex fine and a few other no account pens that I've accumulated. My original Parker Duofold in red and an original Shaeffer Balance Lifetime in Green and black marble, both from my family, were "five finger discounted" from me by an ex-wife. I plan to replace those when I find the right pens, but I think I will mostly concentrate on vintage English pens from now on...and oh yes I want a CS Nelson.

I forgot to answer your other question....I've always liked fountain pens and have written with them since about the third grade but I got sloppy and started using a lot of ballpoints until about three or four years ago...about the same time that I rediscoverd mechanical watches and got fascinated with the craftmanship and what it takes to make the beautiful "engine" that powers them. There has been an explosion of interest there also. I started appreciating the art, beauty, and pleasure of using fine pens all over again...the pleasure that a keyboard or Bic stick pen just can't give one. Quartz watches and Bic pens do their appointed tasks just fine but I don't feel there is any "soul" there, no essance of what those objects are all about. There now, the philosophy lesson is over for the day!!!!

Hello and welcome aboard the FPN forums, and feel free to pour yourself a cup of coffee and enjoy the atmosphere.

Hope you like the West Coast though. Whereabouts are you along it? If you're in Washington, then there's a few people here from that area or, if in California, then you're in good company still. I am English, living in Manchester, near the North West coast of England.

What cars did you have by the way?,

I had an early model MGB which I completely rebuilt including new leather which I did myself in a beautiful oxblood color. I drove that one for about 25 years as a daily driver and it was a wonderful motorcar. I still wish I hadn't parted with it. I also had a TR3 and an Austen Healy 3000,MKlll. With proper maintenance and common sense I found all of them reliable and lots of fun. None of them ever stranded me anywhere,although I "limped in" a time or two when something went wrong. My Mazda MX5 "Miata" is more modern and all but the others were more fun.

Hi, glad you're not sneaking around the board any more!!