I have been a member here since August, mostly reading, rarely posting. I've been a fountain pen user since junior high school, using Sheaffers for note-taking off and on. In college I used Rapidographs for a while, and then back to a Sheaffer calligraphic.

Maybe 10 years ago I began collecting old fountain and dip pens, and travelling ink wells. I liked to look at them, and for the most part they went unused, primarily because I had no clue that it was possible to return them to working order. Also, how to fill some of them was quite a mystery! Part of the attraction for me was that my dad had used fountain pens, and I admired his handwriting. I also thought it was cool when he would bring reading home from work, and mark his name off on the distribution list with turquoise ink.

I stopped collecting for a while, but about a year ago the desire struck again, and much to my delight, I discovered that there was all kinds of information on the internet about fountain pens and inks and papers!!!! I first found pentrace, where I learned quite a bit, and then FPN. What brings me back here more and more frequently is not only the information shared, but the respect and support people show each other. I would never have believed I would post to an internet board because of the behavior I see almost everywhere else, but this place is different.

Now I'm in a modern pen phase, and have become happily acquainted with a variety of Pelikans, some with custom nibs, as a result of which I am becoming quite spoiled, and wondering what pen I might try out for some nib experiments so I could learn to tweak nibs on my own.

It's good to be here. Thanks for reading this far!

Maureen

Hi Maureen,

and well, welcome. Even though you've been here a bit longer than I, if you haven't posted, a lot of us really haven't met you.

Like you, I've found that everyone here is nice and helpful and has respect for each other.

Hi Maureen,

I'm glad you like the FPN madhouse. Enjoy your stay !

Denis.

Hey Maureen,

Welcome, welcome, welcome! This is a great board indeed, the only time it isn't friendly is when Keith and I don't agree .

Rapidograhs I used a lot, too, but that was at varsity, for drawing and making graphs - pre-computer age .

Nice to hear you enjoy it here. I'm sure we'll all do our utmost to keep it that way!

Warm regards, Wim

Hi Maureen and welcome to FPN

Yes, FPN is a nice online community and it's good to see that people have noticed the friendly, helpful atmosphere here...not that other places aren't friendly but FPN (to me, at least) seems to be consistently friendly...which is really great.

Maybe you can start a thread on the travelling ink wells (PS. pictures are helpful, if you can post any) you have; I don't know much about the subject, and would love to learn more

Hi Maureen,

Welcome to FPN. I think everyone here is very nice even if one or two are a bit strange like that mad Dutchman who lives under water and that guy in Edmonton who keeps polar bears. Of course the rest of are very normal. Got to rush and finish before they get here with my meds.

best

John :ph34r:

Welcome Maureen!

Glad you delurked. It's a pretty cool place and yes, there's a few oddballs as John mentioned. He and are two of the sane ones.

I too would be very interested in the travelling ink wells. I love ink wells but haven't started collecting them (yet?)

I have to wonder if your Dad was using Sheaffer Peacock ink?

oops hubby is telling me we have to run an errand!

welcome again and look forward to chatting more with you.

Hi Maureen,

Just need to add something here, after the last two replies. Sanity of course is relative. If just two people think they are the only sane ones, I guess you can draw your own conclusions .

Warm regards, Wim

Thanks for all the kind welcome messages!

John - I love your signature quote. (guess that means I'm de-lurking as a nerd too. )

Not sure if I want to touch the madness/sanity topic - I'll let all of you decide where I fit.

Maja and KCat - my travelling inkwells got packed away a couple of years ago in some housecleaning madness. If I can locate them, I'll post pictures.

KCat - Sheaffer Peacock sounds familiar. It would have been an ink available at stationery stores (wish these still existed!) in the late 60's - early 70's. I wonder if there's a way to find out what ink might have been available then.

Best regards,

Maureen

Howdy, Maureen-

And welcome.

I don't know why the folks are so much nicer here, but they are. It's a great place to share information and to meet other people with The Sickness.

I think Peacock Blue has been around since the 50's actually. Someone around here has to know.

Take care and enjoy the community!

Rex

Polar Bear herder checking in to say "Greetings!"

Welcome to FPN, where the ink flows freely and the pens and chatter are abundant.

One note... that Dutchman isn;t as crazy as he lets on although I am sure he will disagree with me on this too.

Cheers!

Maureen,

Welcome! Pull up a chair a cup of Joe and relax! You'll be here a while!


Cheers

Hi Keith,

Says one nutter to the other

Warm regards, Wim