I live in Austin, Texas where it was a very cold 45 degrees F (with wind chill felt like 32 degrees F). I actually stayed in Austin after not completing college (boy was that the wrong major) to stay away from the heat of South Texas (Kingsville near Corpus Christi).
I believe we moved from pencils to pens in fourth or fifth grade and there was a large (probably the pint not the quart, but to a 9 or 10 year old it was big) bottle of Skrip blue on one of the book shelves for the students to replenish their pens during the day.
Though the BIC stick became the standard in Junior High and the Flair in High School (both relatively new to the American market). I kept my fountain pens for home use. I also took up calligraphy in seventh grade only to get distracted a couple of years out of high school.
I have always maintained a stash of fountain pens (mostly school pens) but my first decent pen was a Fountain Pen, Ballpoint, Pencil set I bought with my High School graduations gifts, plus a little help from dad. Unfortunately the Sheaffer Silver Imperial Fountain pen had a medium tip and I quickly learned that I did not like that tip for most handwriting task.
When I took up sketching with a fountain pen I used Osmiroid sketching nibs. Both are worn, one beyond usefulness.
For a while I was a draftsperson and one of the common complaints amongst draftspersons is that the better you get at lettering the worst you handwriting becomes. So at that point I was mainly using Koh-I-Noor and Rapidograph but I also used a Parker convertible (F/EF) until I forgot to take it out of my back pocket one day and the little threaded part no longer would stay in the section.
Though I mainly used pencils when I was a Programmer / Systems Analyst / Database Administrator I always had a fountain pen for meetings and drawing (doodling). But pencils did figure highly in my attitude towards the fountain pen. In the following photograph the top three pencils hold 0.3 mm leads. The red and the white one were mainly used for layout work in drafting. I took really small light notes on drawing and elsewhere with the green one.
It was watching coworkers try to write with the green one that convinced me to never leave a nice pen where anyone could get to it. Fortunately the one time I had someone call me down for not being willing to let them use my Rhapsody our supervisor was the person who said, "You never let anyone else use your fountain pen." It was the only nice thing she ever did. By the way not one of these pencils is under twenty years old.
Well I have alluded to owning a Waterman Rhapsody (Mineral Blue FP/BP/P) and an Opera elsewhere. I also have an Expert (not II), Silver-plate Exclusive, and a Laureat with a corroded nib. All of these are packed for future use.
Also packed are things like a Sheafer Torsades, Triumph, and a couple of “Fashion Pens,” as well as several school pens and the Silver Imperial set. Other scholastic items include a couple of Esterbrook Js, some Osmiroids (including a music pen). I also have an awesome Bug Green Cross Solo Sport (my wife hates the color).
I also have a couple of Parker Sonnets, but they seem to dry out too fast. Oh and two Pelikan 120s and a MC 120 calligraphy deluxe(?).
Well here is the list of my current group of in use fountain pens: Actually one of these is not here yet, but should be tomorrow or the next day.
Aurora Ipsilon Yellow Fine
Lamy AL Star blue aluminum Extra Fine
Lamy Safari charcoal Fine
Lamy Vista clear Extra Fine
Omas 630 Black-Demonstrator Fine
Pelikan M400 Green/Black stripe Fine
Pilot Elite Aluminum / Pink Fine
Sheaffer Balance II Cobalt glow Fine
Waterman Lady Agatha Blue/Violet Fine
I was using a Sheaffer Balance II Millennium pen until recently but it bounced on my desk and needed to be readjusted. I am also having the nib reground to a duo-point. It should be great. I really did love that Parker Convertible.
Oh here a picture of the Silver Imperial Set (1971). I started using it again while I was a draftsman only to quit when I dropped the pencil a second time.
I edited this introduction to add what it is I do now. My main function is that of full time parent. I have three boys, two in school (5th and 1st) and one at home (4 year old). A couple of years ago we were still homeschooling and the one place I need to do remediation is my oldest handwriting. So any suggestions would be appreciated.
I also lead a church choir and if I have time (not recently) I do tatting (a type of knotted lace). I also used to draw and paint and I am preparing a program for the kids for this summer.
A previous pen supply order qualified for a free Pilot Varsity so I can now let my sons use a fountain pen without having a heart attack. The oldest one also keeps looking at my dip pen collection, hopefully as a tool and not a weapon. Well we are all guys here.