Hello!

You could possibly guess I'm living in Australia Currently residing in Brisbane, Queensland, in my final undergraduate semester at university!

I may as well confess that it's been some 5 years since I owned a fountain pen, the last being a Parker Jotter I believe (don't remember the exact model). I remember it being messy... and with a HUGE line. I write small most of the time, so I have been put off since then. All this kind of struck me as odd a week ago, because I'm also a self-taught (my way of saying not very good ) calligrapher, I spend my hobby time writing with a dip pen for crying out loud! Surely there must be a fountain pen for me! I happened across this absolutely wondeful forum while looking for pen reviews.

I took the plunge in a vintage manner... after reading the rave reviews of various Pilot pens, I took the plunge and bid on a Pilot 2A on Ebay. I also found a very very cheap vintage Eversharp (AU$5!, wouldn't you have bid?), couldnt restrain myself there The engineer in me loves the simple appearing, yet difficult to get right mechanisms of fountain pens, the calligrapher in me loves the clean lines, variety of inks, and expressiveness of these pens.

I took delivery of both pens today, and I'll hopefully be writing reviews for them soon! Probably a little pompous of me, but I'd love to give back to the forum thats got so many great reviews of pen and inks!

The bunny emoticon is too cute!

OK, I'm really rambling! Time to end the post before I convince everyone I'm really insane!

Edited: for spelling

Welcome Ged!

Glad you've joined us here - you'll have lots of fun, and learn so much.

When the time comes for new pens, you'll be surprised to see how much of a mark-up they have in AU. Many Aussie's buy online for more choice and better pricing.

Edit: I'm in QLD too - CQ.

Aussies everywhere

I'm loving both my pens already! The Everhsarp someone had mistreated, they left a cartridge in it to dry out. Disassembling, some mild ammonia solution, a bit of scraping with an exacto knife, and hey presto the ink flows! I was shocked by the Eversharp... it's marked an M but has what I would call a fine line, a bit 'toothy' and slightly dry, but it writes well on cheap notepaper! Here I was thinking Parker only made fatty nibs for cheap pens! The Pilot is a beauty, it's also older than me and has a smooth fine line.

Pelikan 4001 Black in the Eversharp and Shaeffer Skrip Sepia in the Pilot! Away we go.

I think I've been bitten by the bug... pretty badly. I ordered a Waterman Kultur in F and a Rotring Esprit in M.

Welcome to FPN. I visited Brisbane in '68. I enjoyed my visit and hope to return someday.

Welcome to the FPN. If you spend much time around here, my bet is that you'll be reviewing MANY more pens in the near future! Enjoy your stay.

Welcome Ged to FPN,

a word of caution: destroy all your credit cards whilst you still can. When the bug kicks in, you'll be sorry you didn't.

I've heard Brissie is nice, but I haven't actually managed to get there, for some reason or another. As Laura (Phthalo) said, try pens locally, but - especially if you want to indulge in more pricey ones - buy globally.

Too true versus, I'll have to send my bank a note to stop any pen related transactions... well maybe not

I'm waiting for my Kultur and Esprit with great eagerness! I bought them from lewertowski on Ebay, 8-24 days postage time Why is France so far away!

If all goes well, I'll be a graduate in 13-14 weeks... I intend to buy something delicously pricey then A good incentive to do well in my exams I think!

Yay! Deliciously pricey!

Whoops...sorry - was living vicariously for a moment there.

I got a package from France the other day; it hadn't taken too long at all, maybe two weeks? It'll be fine.

Brisbane? City of the Go-Betweens! Welcome!

Regards,
Eric

Thanks for the welcomes

Sadly my package from France has been delayed... someone opened it up and nicked the pens

On the bright side, I had gotten insurance for them, so no fuss, Lewertowski (the Ebay seller) has been excellent with communication and replaced the soft blue Kultur with a Cristal demonstrator at my request.

Time to reset the postage date and start waiting another 2-3 weeks. Must... learn... to... be... patient!

Hi Ged! I have family in Sydney myself. Glad that seller is cooperating and making you happy!

Sorry to hear about your shipping problems. I just got two Kulturs in the mail from Lewertowski this week.

Hope to visit your beautiful country one day - Australian girls are amazing!

Hi Ged,

2/3 weeks is for the big packs, for a small pack it take usually less than 10 days, you will receive the roplacement pack soon, don't worry.

J.M.Lewertowski

Haha! I thought your name looked familiar in the Ebay seller! Now I remember where I saw it before... right here on FPN. He isn't paying me to say this, but Lewertowski's a great seller! Much recommended.

I'm trying to be patient, heheh. The waiting is the hardest part!

Oz is a nice place for a visit and Brisbane's a great place to live It's a pretty big country, and each city has its own unique character.

Hi Ged,

Welcome to the forum, and to the Vintage Pilot Pen club! The 2A is a nice, dependable pen. If you're interested in obtaining additional vintage Pilot pens, you'll find that there are a few Japan-based FleaBay sellers that routinely have them available (kamakura-pens, soundboy_jp, tokyo_russ). Also, I've become a bit acquainted with various models so I'd be happy to answer any of your questions.

Regards,
~Gary

Hmm, I've heard of The Saints, but never heard the The Saints, if you know what I mean!

MYU, I've been looking around online for vintage Pilot's. Most of them are beyond my students budget /cry I'll grabbing whatever is in the budget though, and a 78G will stave off the addictions pangs for a few more weeks. (hmm, if I admit to being addicted, should I go into therapy?)