Hello everyone. I'm a newbie, not a collector (yet), in the process of learning about fountain pens. Many years ago I got for graduation gift a Cross fountain pen, can’t say which model. What I remember is that it was scratchy and dry. Both the pen and the user had some difficulty writing. Probably it was more the user’s fault, not the Cross FP. So I went back to the ballpoints and the rollerballs. The Cross was put to rest in a corner of a drawer. For some time I have been wondering how it would be to try writing again with a fountain pen at this stage of my life… to give the FP and its user a second chance. So for a few weeeks I lurked around the Web, including the FPN site, learning a bit about fountain pens. The FPN site has been very useful. I decided to purchase a new writing instrument to enter again in the fountain pen realm... without spending a small fortune for admission.
I bought a new Waterman Carene SE Prussian Blue, medium nib, for what I beleive a good price after checking around. I just got a bottle of Waterman ink blue-black. I haven't tried it yet because I'm still writing with the blue cartridge ink included in the box. So far so good with the Carene M/nib. It feels wet but not too much. Glides on paper soft enough with a forgiving sweet spot. Its great for signing documents. Its a wonderful experience for me to write with a fountain pen! For years I've been using a Montblanc Meisterstuck rollerball and the switch to a FP has been exciting!
I'm now looking for a fine or Xtrafine nib inexpensive FP for notes and daily writing. My father passed away a couple of years ago. I found in his belongings a Parker 21 fine nib green barrel, brushed stainless cap with the arrow clip probably manufactured @1960-65. Its unused, uninked in its original box. I don't know if I should keep the Parker 21 as it is or give it a try with some ink and paper. Any opinions are welcome. Thanks.