Hello from South Bend, Indiana. I found this forum from my brethren and sistren at the Badger and Blade wet shaving forum. Some of the folks there also collect and write with fountain pens and {reintroduced} me to fountain pens through some of their threads.
I owned a nice fountain pen about 30 years ago as a young Marine in San Diego. Figured if I had to write letters, I'd do it with style! Man, I wish I coud find that pen now.
Through the B&B forum and reading around here, as many have stated, I have learned quite a bit in the few days I've been hanging around here. Such as, good pen to start with if budget will allow is a Lamy 2000, Pelikan M200 or something called a Parker 51. Some people say that no one should be without a 51. O.K. Also less expensive pens like the Safari and All Star.
Then I read a really interesting thread about bidding on e-Bay and the neat little tools you can use to pretty much ensure winning a bid on something you want. Something about the program watching the item for you and bidding on it for you in the last few seconds. Neat, I think. That must be part of why I haven't won any of the 11 bids for 51s AI put in. Several were just a dollar over mine at the end. Hmmm!
I've read about some of the auction sellers to avoid, like the one that really expounds on his description and really inflates the price/value of his extremely RARE pen.
I've read some about restorations, restorers and reputable vendors.
I haven't even gotten to inks and paper and nib sizes yet. I think I have DAIN BRAMAGE !!!
Well, as luck would have it, tonight I did get two 51's off ebay without the neat little programs. I can see their value, so I don't even want to start that up again......yet. Mr. Binder, if you are reading this, I may be giving you a call and some business in the not too distant future.
I fully intend to use ( at least right now) what I buy. I understand that not everyone is happy with a 51. Thats o.k. But with all the good I've read, I certainly look forward to trying them. I understand they are durable, and as I drive a truck picking up large "green" colored dumpsters and going back and forth to the landfill, I'll need something rugged and not too pretty, not a display pen. That can come later. I'll be using it to write out tickets, the self copying triplicate type. Also my writing at home.
Tell 'ya the truth, I'm am psyched!! I'd been looking around here for a couple or three weeks before I joined. You know, checking things out.
The hook was the thread started by the gentleman (sorry, can't remember his name at the moment) who offered a 51 tester to go around and it apparantly got ripped off early into its travels. The people who stepped up to offer their own 51s in its stead was inspiring. These are the kind of people I want to hang out with. Same with the folks at the Badger and Blade.
So, I look forward to reading and learning more from you folks, and pathetically trying to control the A.D.'s which I'm sure are about to rear their ugly little heads any minu....too late.
Anyone have any suggestions on inks or papers to test drive these two (first two) pens on. Ohhhh gawd, here we go!


Kevin

Greetings and welcome to the slippery slope of fp collecting....

Welcome, Kevin!

Welcome to FPN.

Welcome. You think you know what you want...... but you dont!!! Buy the lot

Welcome to FPN!

Welcome and Semper Fi

John
(proud son of an Iwo Jima Marine)*


* No offense intended to those in the Pacific Rim with whom we have made peace. I just love, respect and miss my father and all he stood for.

Welcome, from Argentina

Welcome to the forum...

Best thing to do is take a look around the forums as there are bunches of paper & ink recommendations out there. And truth be told the combination of pen, ink & paper is one of the greatest hunts out there! What's good for me might not be for you.

So welcome and get going!

Kurt

hello Kevin!!
Welcome to FPN,and greeting to you from Ann Arbor,Mi, home to the Wolverines!!!!
Please make yourself at home,and there is a lot of great info to be found here. Just takeit easy,and your head wont hurt too much:)

BTW, are you a Fighting Irish fan? Sorry y'al lhave had a few bad years, hopefully the 2008 season wil l be much better. maybe the Irish will also beat my Wolverines who a bit shaky with a new coach.
-Sid

Welcome kev! Good to see another Hoosier here. I'm new too and the information here is overwhelming! As for pens, you can never go wrong with a Pelikan. They're my favorite and I'm sure many will agree with me on that. Have fun and enjoy building your collection.