Just had to do it.

Couldn't resist.

With a handle like Viseguy, the opportunity was just impossible to resist, so here I am, posting a welcome message before you even arrive to introduce yourself.

Welcome to the FPN Viseguy! I'm sure you'll feel right at home, particularly since you'll likely find many other viseguys (wannabes at least) around.

As one of the more certifiable members of this madhouse, I can attest to the fact that a sense of humour seems to be a required character trait, and everyone here appears to have a generous amount at their disposal.

Hope you enjoy poking around the site, and I'm looking forward to reading your posts...

Best regards,

Gerry

Thanks, Gerry! Nice to be here.

I'm based in NYC, work a few blocks away from FPH. Have about 20 FPs, mostly modern (Aurora, Lamy, Omas, Pelikan, Waterman, Sheaffer, Levenger, Hero, and a passel of rOtring Cores). I favor B and M/B nibs, though I do have a couple of Fs. Five of my pens have "Mottishawed" nibs, and these are my favorites. I also have a "Binderized" Waterman Phileas 0.8 mm stub, which is a real pleasure to write with. Current go-to pen is an Aurora Optima Black Ice with Mottishawed B nib, flow customized to 6-7 on John's scale of 1-10.

I like playing with inks, especially Noodler's. Have done some interesting Noodler's mixes (at least, I think they're interesting), which I will write about when I get a chance. (Roger just posted some scans of my "Lapindigo" mix in the Ink Reviews section.)

The handle comes from my "patented" way of getting ink out of a bottle and into a pen when there's only a little left in the bottle. I put (the preferred verb is slap - but don't take that literally!) the bottle in a desktop vise, which allows you to tilt it any which way to get at those last few drops! This leaves both hands free to fill the pen, and you don't have to worry about knocking the bottle over (but see caveat below!). It's neat. If you try it, be sure to secure the bottle in the vise with the cap still on. Only remove the cap when you have the desired angle.

One caveat: Do NOT overtighten the vise!!! I have found out the hard way that a bottle of Noodler's will crack like an egg given enough pressure. I have the Iraqi Indigo stains to prove it! (Of course, it had to be a bottle of the expensive waterproof stuff that broke!) It ain't easy being a Viseguy....

Thanks again for reaching out.

--
Viseguy

Hi Viseguy,

Welcome to the board! You got here despite the slight problems after all! And as you noticed, some of your peculiarities were already known here before your appearance here . Just thank your friend RB (and that's not Richard Binder ) for that .

I see there is an important modern brand still missing from your impressive list, so I guess Roger and I wil have to convince you to try that out too! Even more so, because you're into italics .

BTW, you did miss a chance with the name of that mix, you do realize that, don't you? It could have been Indi-lap . Naah, too late now. Can't change it anymore. Lapindigo it is .

I hope you'll enjoy it here, at least half of my share, and you should have a great time here!

Warm regards, Wim

How 'bout that? I thought you were merely transliterating the "w" in "wiseguy" to the "v" so that it would be pronounced as a German would when faced with that opening "w". Live and learn!

It hurts to even think of breaking a bottle of ink, though if we handle them long enough, it will happen. I like to conjure up the image of Nathan's workplace. I have seen a picture of him working at a desk, but that picture had to be fudged. His regular desk must be a sight to behold!

Welcome Viseguy!

Please forgive me for thanking Roger for your Lapindigo report--I should have thanked him for posting the report! Thank you for the experimental work! I enjoy mixing inks, too, and am well aware how time consuming it can be getting a mix "just right" and cleaning extra pens you've tested it with.

Hope to see lots more good mixes and reviews.

Best,
Ann

Now wait just a dog gone minute here, Ann. It was, indeed, Viseguy's mix. But I did, after all, have to mix my own and write (such as it is) the report! NYC and southern AZ are not exactly proximate enough that I can just pop over to Viseguy's palce and pick up his mix.

The way we're going to get Viseguy to post reviews of his concoctions is to intimidate him into getting a scanner at the house. My bet is, that when he gets to reading the splendid Ink Reviews on this board, he'll do what is necessary to get his mixes into the mix.

Yes yes! Kudos and full credit to Roger for the Lapindigo review. I was just the instigator.

Hi, Viseguy! Nice to meet you.

I have a question about this:

Being relatively new to FPs and already having much more ink than I can use, I haven't actually gotten to the bottom of any ink bottles, so maybe that's why I'm ignorant on the subject. But rather than use a vise, couldn't you just ask someone to hold the bottle for you? You could position their hands until they had it where you wanted it, and then you could tell them to just hold still... I'm sure my husband would oblige if I told him that the alternative was me shopping for a vise!

What a wonderful location. If I lived where you do, I would be in heaven and would have to visit FPH at least once a week. Sadly, I would be broke all the time!

Same here, Ron! Somehow, i also get the feeling that there's just lots in NYC that's fountain pen-related.

Welcome to the Nuthouse, Viseguy! (Didn't someone use a vise as a "persuading" tool in the movie Casino...?)

Fuhgedabouddit!!

Vanessa wrote:

> But rather than use a vise, couldn't you just ask someone to hold the bottle for you?

Uh, Vanessa, the name is ViseGUY! I don't ask for directions. I don't ask for help of any kind!

> I'm sure my husband would oblige if I told him that the
> alternative was me shopping for a vise!

Don't knock it! A vise may be one of the few purchases you could make that he could actually relate to!

And Ron wrote:

> If I lived where you do, I would be in heaven and would have to
> visit FPH at least once a week. Sadly, I would be broke all the
> time!

Actually, FPH is near where I work. In other words, where I spend most of my time! Truth be told, I don't get there as often as I'd like. Yet, for some reason, I'm still broke all the time!

And grasshopper wrote:

> Welcome to the Nuthouse ... Fuhgedabouddit!

Yo, how ya doin'! You wanna see a real Nuthouse, come to Noo Yawk!

Tanks -- I mean, thanks -- to all for the nice welcome!