Greetings from Nicholasville, Kentucky, 10 miles South of Lexington and getting closer every day.

I've lurked here for a few weeks. I would run web searches on various FP-related topics, and would inevitably end up here--and inevitably find good advice and cheerful company.

I enjoyed using fountain pens in school. But when I was writing for newspapers I did most of my writing with a typewriter (I know, I'm dating myself), then a word processor. When I started practicing law, I continued to use the word processor. I would lament the deterioration of my handwriting. But earlier this year decided to do something about it. I started practicing calligraphy (having no idea then that calligraphy and handwriting are only barely related). Experimenting with dip pens, markers, etc. led me back to the fountain pen.

I don't consider myself a collector; I can't imagine buying a pen and not using it. So far I have several Parker Sonnets, with 14k nibs and steel nibs; two Sheaffer Preludes, one with an oblique nib, the other with cursive italic; a Pelikan 400, a Sailor with a music nib that I'm still learning to use; and a Namiki Vanishing Point with a cursive italic nib. Right now the favorites arethe VP and the Sheaffer with the oblique nib.

It's good to be among like-minded folks.

Barry[SIZE=1]

Welcome Barry! You're right about being among like-minded folks. Here we just plain FPNuts! See ya around the boards!

Hi Barry and welcome to the FPN! I am sure that you will find the people on this Web site very informative and friendly. Pull up a chair and join the party.

Like you, I remember typewriters very well and used them in high school, then moved onto a word processor, and PCs in college. Gotta love modern technology when it comes to being a professional writer.

Mornin' Barry,

Boy, that's beautiful country you live in. Lots of years ago, I used to fly my daughter and two friends of her choice there for the yearling sales. Neat experience seeing those Derby hopefuls being sold. This was during the stretch of years when the Japanese buyers were coming into the market and bidding up those horses to previously undreamed of prices.

This board, probably more than others, will feed your desire to accumulate and maybe collect. Pretty soon it'll become a full fledged obsession!

Welcome

Welcome on board, Barry. Everyone I work with does all of their writing on word processor, and I'm just about the only one to do everything by hand first. I wouldn't have it any other way, even when people who are 30 years older than I am call me a dinosaur.

How do you find the Sheaffer Prelude, by the way? I'd never really thought about them too much, but, coincidentally, one of them caught my eye in a pen shop this morning, so I'm keen to hear more about what they're like. Did you get the nibs altered by someone, or can you buy oblique and cursive as standard with modern Sheaffers (I only have an old Admiral)?

Neil

Thanks. It is a pretty place to live, especially this time of year. I grew up in Louisville, and enjoyed going to Churchill Downs (althoug never made it to a Derby--too crowded). But the Keeneland track has CD beat by a good margin.

The yearling sales are starting to pick back up. It's not so much the Japanese as sheiks from the UAE doing the big buying these days. The last meet set another record.

Thanks for the welcome.

I enjoy both the Preludes. I found them both on e-bay for around $10, then I purchased the nibs (a right oblique, and a cursive italic) from pendemonium for about $30 each. So for less than the price of a new Prelude, I was in business.

Of the two, I enjoy the oblique the most. It produces something like a calligraphic line, although it's not broad enough to be pronounced--which is probably more appropriate for everday handwriting anyway.

I have not--yet--had any nibs custom ground. But I'm preparing to ship two pens off today to fellow FPNer Dillon. There are some nice testimonials about his work here, so I'm looking forward to getting them back.

Barry

Thanks for the information, Barry. Enjoy the new nibs!

Neil

Hi Barry and welcome to FPN!

I too have a Namiki VP with a cursive italic nib (is yours from Pendemonium, too?) and it's a great writer. It was my first ground nib so I was delighted with the results.

Yes, this nib is also from Pendemonium, and I have been pleased with it as well. Even the Namiki nib that came with the pen was a smooth writer.

But for some reason--and I don't know enough yet to know why--the oblique nibs seem to suit me better than the italics.

I guess it depends on how you hold a pen to paper. Everyone is different, so it's nice to have the option of a nib that is not cut straight across. I read on a few sites that lefties tend to like oblique nibs....