G'day all,

I am a new collector from Australia. I've only been interested for about 3 weeks, thanks to a friend introducing me to her pens and the pen sites online. Now all I think about is pens pens pens

Seriously though, I am loving every minute searching the net looking for bargains to start my collection off. So far I have a fully restored Conway Stewart Vintage Dinki pen and pencil set (on it's way from England), a Parker Inflection (on it's way from Canada), a Platignum Vintage (on it's way from Vic, Aus) and a book about collecting (on it's way from Canada also).

I can't wait for just one of them to arrive, I don't think I can take another day of coming home from work to find none have been delivered

I just want to hug them and write with them lol. I got it bad aye.

Anyway, I was very pleased to find your forum and I can't wait to learn from you all. It sure isn't that popular here in Aus, as far as I can see. Not one book in any of the bookshops I trecked over the weekend and only one pen shop in town, with outragious prices too.

What do you think of my first few choices I purchased?

Cheers,
Trace

Welcome Tradle!

I am also a newbie to the fountain pen world and this forum. I fully understand the impatient waiting for your new fountain pens that is taking place!
I wait impatiently for all my deliveries! In fact I have one now that I'm waiting for, a Parker 51 pen and pencil set.

I don't know anything about the pens you purchased, as my true love is the Parker 51. 9 But I'm sorry to have to break the bad new to you that your purchases probably won't be limited to pens. It will soon include different inks and papers!
Welcome to the addiction!

Welcome!

FINALLY - someone else who likes CS Dinkies!! (At least, I hope you do, once it arrives!) Was your Dinkie set an ebay purchase or from a UK website? There's lots of Dinkie pictures and information around the CS forum if you trawl back through the posts.

Andy

Hi all,

Thank you so much for your welcome.

Rosey, I know already what you mean, I am looking at inks and paper. Looking for a nice journal at the moment.

Andy, there is something about the CS that I love. I, too hope I adore the Dinkie when it arrives, I'm sure I will. I bought it from a UK site, a really nice fellow who restores them.

Wish me luck, I feel today is the day the CS will arrive. Off to work now, gotta earn some dough so I can buy more lol.

Cheers,
Trace

Hi Trace

Welcome! Its nice to see another Aussie collector.

I hope that you enjoy this forum and learn heaps, I have since I have been here which is only a short while.

Look forward to chatting about pens with you!

Cheers
Dawn

Thanks Dawn,

Yes, it's good to know there are other Aussies in love with pens.

I, too, look forward to chatting with you more.

Cheers,
Trace

Welcome to FPN. The group here is very kind and helpful. Take advantage of this FP resource.

Hi Trace and welcome to the FPN! It's safe to say that the pen bug has bitten you severely and the ONLY cure is to buy more of them, attend shows, and yes, visit the local pen stores as often as possible. We will try and help with meaningful therapy by showing you all the pens you don't have in your collection. Of course this may drive your spouse insane, but you will never have to worry about never having another pen to write with ever again.

Hi Mike,

Thank you and yes I fully intend to make use of this wonderful resource. love it !

Hi Ron,

Loved your post, gave me a chuckle. Can't wait for the meaningful therapy to begin

I wish I was able to attend shows but it's apparent there's no such thing here in Aus and it's a little too far to the US or the UK. I was in the UK year before last and I'm kicking myself now that I didn't have this obsession back then. Would have loved to check out the pen shops in London and I know they have pen shows over there too.

Yep, not a pen show in sight downunder. I must recruit recruit recruit and perhaps change all that.

Thanks again,
Trace

Hi! Good to see another QLD'er...I'm in CQ.

Nice purchases - the Dinkie is a very good pen. What kind of nibs do you tend to like?

I found a couple of nice journals from a Gold Coast company called Sklew. A lot of newsagents carry the line, or I think you can e-mail them for mail-order and a list of places that carry their stuff. I have one where the paper is a bit 'waxy' - I like it, because there is no bleeding etc, and my pens tend to write a bit finer. The downside is the ink takes a little bit longer to dry. Still, they are nice items.

Anyway, welcome aboard!

Brilliant, all the Dinkie lovers are coming out of the closet now!! How many more can we entice - a dedicated Dinkie forum, maybe?!

Trace, I'd like to see a picture of your set when it arrives!

Andy

Hi Phthalo,

Nice to meet you. I thought I had it bad in Brisbane but must be even harder for you in CQ. Halelujah for the Ineternet I say. Thanks for the link to the journal site, will have a close look at that. The prices look really reasonable too. As for nibs, I am so new at this that I don't really know yet. My partner has 2 pens, one has a medium and the other has a broad. I like both but think I prefer the medium. Not tried a fine yet. What is your fav?

Hi Andy,

I will definitely post a pic of my beautiful pen set if and when I get it, I truly thought it would be here today but alas still none have arrived. I'm bearly hanging in there lol.

I can't wait to try out this pen and as I use a pencil all day at work, I can't wait to try that too.

You will hear the screams when they finally arrive

Trace

I can remember when the ABC, did feature story around 20 years ago about pen collectors and a show that was held in Melbourne. I was not into collecting fountain pens back then, like I am currently. However, listening to the ABC via shortwave radio is always a lot of fun for me, but I have not heard them do another segments on pens since then.

I did find the Melbourne Vintage PensWeb site. However, the Web site for the Melbourne Pen Show is not active anymore. Nevertheless, I am sure you will find some pens you might like on the first site.

Maybe you should start a local pen club of your own?

Hi Ron,

That's not a bad idea. Better wait until I have a bit more experience and when I actually have some pens

I have visited the Melbourne Vintage Pens site. I think it's a great site. It appears to cater for the US market though as their pricing is in US dollars, put my nose out of joint a tad

I would definitely think about making the trip to Melbourne if they ever had a show again, thanks for that info, will keep an eye out for that.

Trace

Hello and welcome aboard!

As to your choices, if you like 'em, that's great! As to the Dinkie, I prefer larger pens, so that one's not for me - but that's just a personal preference issue. Lot of CS fans around. Maybe you'll post some pics of your pens soon.

Enjoy the place and hope to see you around.

Thanks Southpaw,

I hope you liked the pic I posted in the CS section. Looks like it wasn't a Dinkie after all.

Oh well.

Trace