Hi everyone. I've been a FP user since the '80s, but never really got into the more expensive ones. Generally I've always used those Sheaffers you used to be able to pick up at the drug store for a couple of bucks. I've used Watermans and other higher-end pens, but find that the cheap Sheaffer nibs are about the most reliable. I have an old Esterbrook I like a lot, and I picked up a Levenger True Writer that looks and writes beautifully, but has not been the most reliable (I should point out that the nice folks at Levenger have always been very accomodating, though and have cheerefully honored their lifetime warrenty).

I'm not really a collector, though I've accumulated a few pens over the last quarter century. I'm really here to find out more about repair and restoration of the pens I do have.

I started using FPs back when I was in my early 20s because I wanted to be different and to annoy my boss at the time (long story there). I've always been a bit of a luddite. Well, maybe a "luddite Lite". I hate the idea of buying something disposable. Pens that cost a few pennies and end up in landfill just strikes me as, well, almost immoral.

Welcome to FPN. I'm with you every step of the way on the disposability issue. How can anyone care about what s/he is writing if s/he is happy to throw away the writing instrument itself?
Neil

Welcome to the FPNuthouse! Always glad to have another enthusiast on board. It's been commented on many times here that quite often it's hard to beat a good, inexpensive FP. Many of them write just as well as some costing much more!

Enjoy the place and looking forward to seeing you around the boards!

Hi Joe and welcome to FPN!

I have to agree with you on the inexpensive Sheaffer nibs. My No Nonsense nibs are very reliable and not expensive...Wish some pricier pens I own wrote as well Oh, and I have a yellow Levenger True Writer that is fun to write with (and it's a looker, too!) and hasn't given me any problems (touch wood)

I was surprised how pretty plastic can look. I have the blue one and I've gotten so many complements about it. I've also gotten quite a few complements on my Sheaffer drug-store specials (what are they really called, anyway?). They're actually pretty good looking pens too.

Welcome to the fpn! Enjoy the dancing bunnies! :bunny1:

I agree with you on the Sheaffer.

Hi Joe,
Did you mean the Sheaffer 'No Nonsense' fountain pens? There is an excellent article here.

Sorry, no. The pens I'm talking about had a plastic body and a flat topped chromed metal cap. The cap wasn't a screw-on type, either, just a push-on.

Thanks for the link, though.

Oh riiiiight...That school school pen was the first fountain pen for many long-time users I have a few myself. They write well and are very reliable!

Photo here:
Sheaffer cartridge fountain pen (school pen) ca. 1960's

In the Penhero.com article on the Sheaffer 'No Nonsense' pens, you can see an earlier incarnation of this pen in the second photo from the top. It's the red barrelled pen with the chrome-plated torpedo-shaped cap.

Hi,

I have one of those Sheaffer cartridge pens. I believe they actually use either the Aerometric converter or cartridges.

Dillon

That's the one! Thanks for that. And yes, they're great writers, still. I have three that I've had for over twenty years. Think you could say that about a Bic?

Hello Joe and welcome to the Fountain Pen Nuthouse

Welcome aboard and...

Happy Holidays!!