Wow! I just found this site and am simply amazed at how many people are using fountain pens! I have to confess, I have never used a fountain pen (gasp! I know--what loss!) but reading the posts here makes me want to run out to the store right now and get one (albeit it is 11 pm here, so waiting until tomorrow will have to do). Is there any general brand I should start with that is easy on beginners? I will search the board for ideas once I am finished typing.
Although I am obviously inexperienced with the proper pen to use, I have long since been a fan of looking at other people's handwriting - it simply fascinates me how many unique styles exist! I recently read Reginald Piggott's Handwriting: A National Survey and have been inspired to try something similar. Now 50 years after Piggott's book was published, I am conducting another survey to archive the current status of handwriting. I am seeking handwriting samples from anyone who wishes to write a few (or more words) and send it my way.
All the samples I receive are posted online and sorted demographically. If you would like to contribute a writing sample (please do!) or if you simply want to view the progress of the survey as it unfolds, all the details can be found here:
http://scribblefan.blogspot.com
Or, if you don't wish to go to the site, handwriting samples can be sent here:
scribblefan
P.O. Box 5671
Lynnwood, WA 98046-5671
USA
(If you're tech savvy, you can email a scan or picture directly to me at scribblefan [insert @] gmail.com )
In the meantime, an update on my first use of a fountain pen is certainly in order...I'll keep you posted!
Mark
Full Version: Hello from just north of Seattle, WA
Welcome to the forum. There is a thread already running with handwritten samples in this forum, take a look here:
http://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/in...hp?showforum=12 .
Don't take breakfast. Go nearest Fp store and grab a Pelikan Pelikano or a Waterman Kultur or a Lamy Safary/Al Star. And then come back, once you've lived!.
http://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/in...hp?showforum=12 .
Don't take breakfast. Go nearest Fp store and grab a Pelikan Pelikano or a Waterman Kultur or a Lamy Safary/Al Star. And then come back, once you've lived!.
Welcome to FPN.
QUOTE(scribblefan @ Feb 16 2008, 07:58 AM) [snapback]515862[/snapback]
Is there any general brand I should start with that is easy on beginners?
Welcome to the forum!
Some good inexpensive beginner fountain pens are the Lamy Safari and the Pelikan Pelikano (or Pelikano Junior). But there are many others.
Regards
Hans-Peter
Welcome from another new member
Welcome to FPN! Hope you enjoy the forum!!
Welcome to FPN.
Aloha scribblefan, e komo mai (come in and join us). Coincidence: I bumped into your blog just last night and will be sending in a sample. I loved looking at the samples posted on your site. People's personal handwriting can vary so much -- I find that so fascinating for some reason.
I also just finished reading Rosemary Sassoon's Handwriting of the Twentieth Century. The link is to a GoogleBooks excerpt so you can get an idea of what it's about. The book is aimed at an academic audience -- educators or those who have to determine a handwriting curriculum etc. -- but it was an interesting read for me. Although Sassoon started out as a calligrapher, she has a very appreciative attitude toward personal variations in handwriting, and the kinds of shortcuts and workarounds people employ in their own writing. About determining what kind of handwriting to teach, she says, "Planning should start with the final product -- the kind of writing a school leaver needs -- and then educationists should work backwards to achieve this."
Some of her ideas would get her in trouble here at FPN: "If we accept that handwriting is going to be more for personal than public use and scrutiny, then surely we should be thinking about what kind of handwriting is needed. Adult handwriting at its most efficient, will seldom include every single letter in a long word. Letters and whole strings of them, are often only indicated, yet the words are still recognizable. Once the first part of the word is clear, word endings can trail off into a barely legible scribble..." Heresy!
Anyway, again welcome. If you haven't done so already, I'll post a link to your site in the Penmanship topic.
Doug
I also just finished reading Rosemary Sassoon's Handwriting of the Twentieth Century. The link is to a GoogleBooks excerpt so you can get an idea of what it's about. The book is aimed at an academic audience -- educators or those who have to determine a handwriting curriculum etc. -- but it was an interesting read for me. Although Sassoon started out as a calligrapher, she has a very appreciative attitude toward personal variations in handwriting, and the kinds of shortcuts and workarounds people employ in their own writing. About determining what kind of handwriting to teach, she says, "Planning should start with the final product -- the kind of writing a school leaver needs -- and then educationists should work backwards to achieve this."
Some of her ideas would get her in trouble here at FPN: "If we accept that handwriting is going to be more for personal than public use and scrutiny, then surely we should be thinking about what kind of handwriting is needed. Adult handwriting at its most efficient, will seldom include every single letter in a long word. Letters and whole strings of them, are often only indicated, yet the words are still recognizable. Once the first part of the word is clear, word endings can trail off into a barely legible scribble..." Heresy!
Anyway, again welcome. If you haven't done so already, I'll post a link to your site in the Penmanship topic.
Doug
Thank you all for the warm welcomes!! I am going to have to locate Sassoon's book as I am interested in hearing her thoughts on what writing schools should employ. It feels to me that many schools teach what has been traditionally taught instead of what I feel should be the primary focus: a hand that is neat, legible, and least prone to degeneration over time. If we want a legible society, shouldn't we be teaching the script that is easiest to keep in proper, legible use? These are just my thoughts at the moment.
I do have good news to report. I went to the UW (University of Washington) bookstore this morning and purchased a Pelikan Pelikano. I would have purchased the Lamy Al Star but being more than double the price of the Pelikano, my wife convinced me to purchase the former. (It should be noted that she is currently having a grand time using the Pelikano as I type this.) I expect fountain pens have thus begun an irreplaceable stay in our household. I especially like the watercolor-like quality of the ink. It makes me wonder why ballpoints dominate the market nowadays.
Anyway, here is the sample of my first use of a fountain pen:
Click to view attachment
I do have good news to report. I went to the UW (University of Washington) bookstore this morning and purchased a Pelikan Pelikano. I would have purchased the Lamy Al Star but being more than double the price of the Pelikano, my wife convinced me to purchase the former. (It should be noted that she is currently having a grand time using the Pelikano as I type this.) I expect fountain pens have thus begun an irreplaceable stay in our household. I especially like the watercolor-like quality of the ink. It makes me wonder why ballpoints dominate the market nowadays.
Anyway, here is the sample of my first use of a fountain pen:
Click to view attachment
Hi Mark!
Welcome to FPN! I will have a look at your site.
While you're at the UW bookstore, on that same street (University Way) there is another store just a few doors North (if I remember correctly, maybe it's South) on the same side of the street that is sort of an Asian gift/variety store. When you walk in, just past the counter, on the right-hand side of the store there is a display of Apica notebooks. (Sorry for the silly instructions but it's Ali Baba's cavern there and otherwise you may not see the notebooks.) They are GREAT notebooks and very fountain-pen friendly. They will do wonders with your Pelikano.
Enjoy!
Welcome to FPN! I will have a look at your site.
While you're at the UW bookstore, on that same street (University Way) there is another store just a few doors North (if I remember correctly, maybe it's South) on the same side of the street that is sort of an Asian gift/variety store. When you walk in, just past the counter, on the right-hand side of the store there is a display of Apica notebooks. (Sorry for the silly instructions but it's Ali Baba's cavern there and otherwise you may not see the notebooks.) They are GREAT notebooks and very fountain-pen friendly. They will do wonders with your Pelikano.
Enjoy!
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