About a month ago, I went to a fund raiser for a local nonprofit organization. They had the usual silent auction and I went looking for a decent soprano ukulele (guess where I live). Historically speaking, I'm no good at silent auctions -- I never submit the winning bid. At the last silent auction I attended I got into a bidding war over -- you guessed it -- an ukulele. It just went beyond what I could pay. The winning bidder cradled it in her arms and played some beautiful chords as she walked out, so I wasn't too disappointed.

But I digress. This silent auction didn't have an ukulele. Didn't have much I really wanted. EXCEPT... I saw this MontBlanc Limited Edition Franz Kafka set (fountain pen, pencil, ballpoint), in box, and the fountain pen was uninked. Hmmm... a couple of decades ago I had gotten into handwriting, letterforms, pens, and what not, and I knew a regular old non-LE Montblanc went for a lot. I never owned one before, although my mom had bought me an MB rollerball about 25 years ago. Okay, the reserve on this set was... $225. Wow, so I wrote down "$225". But when I came back a few minutes later, someone had written "$250." Hey, it was for a good cause -- I wrote down "$275".

And so it went until I ran up and entered "$325". Guess what? I went home with a boxed (with papers), Limited Edition, Montblanc Franz Kafka set! Yes! Little did I know what weird transformations would come over me in the coming weeks.

I didn't know what these things were worth. I just knew that I had gotten a good deal. When I got home and did some research -- O My God!

The immediate temptation was sell the set. I could have made quite a killing. Oh no, not me. If I sold the set at a profit, all I'd have is money. That would go away and I'd just be back where I started. Hmmm... I wonder what that fountain pen is like to write with? Wouldn't I be a smart guy to keep it? I mean, to have something so cool for so little as a testament to my good luck -- wouldn't that be something?

And the pens were so gorgeous! Deep, blood red, wine red, deeply translucent. How... Kafka-esque! Yup, I got some Private Reserve Midnight Blues and inked the thing and started writing on every piece of paper I could find. I'm filling pages and pages with deep blue noodles of nonesense.

That was just a month ago. Unfortunately, there is only one really decent pen shop in Honolulu. The unfortunate part is that it's only two miles from where I live. I'd estimate about four minutes by car. Well, I can't take the Kafka to work -- aloha shirt pockets aren't deep enough -- so I had to look for an "office" pen. Something not too expensive that might get dropped or "worked." Something... cheap. Okay, the Lamy Vista (with the red knobbed converter) only comes out to $30. It's such a great writer and the dark ink and red converter look so cool through the clear body. That went to the office in my pocket and to a conference. Wonderful.

But, you know, I'd heard so much about Pelikan pens, and a true piston filler would be so... so interesting, no? Well, I had to try a "cheap" Pelikan. So I ordered a M200 (amber) Well, like the others, it writes great! Pieces of paper were filling up with blue noodles everywhere I sat down.

Well, you know the problem with the Pelikan as an office pen is that the cap is a screw on. Now this is very nice, but as a truly utilitarian device, not ideal.

Yup. I went back to Honolulu Pen Shop and had to get a Pilot Vanishing Point retractable fountain pen. Had to. Really had to. And like the others, it writes great!

The pen shop has some really gorgeous Duponts. A pen with some heft would be such a pleasure to write with. I'm ruined for life.

Doug

Hi Doug,

Welcome! Like most of us, you have it bad. First, it starts with pens. Once you have a few you'll progress to an ink addiction. Unfortunately, you'll find no cure here.

Scratch that last sentence. It should read: Fortunately, you'll find no cure here.

Hi Doug
Welcome to the FPNnut house You have got very nice pens and killer deal on the Kafka.Pelikan M200 is flavour of the year(s) until it discontinued.Namiki VP great pen too.I have never used one but the retractible nib looks cool

Take Care and Welcome again,

Emrecan

Hi Doug, and welcome. I started out like you, with one nice pen, but I was afraid I would lose it at work, so I bought a cheaper one. Then I thought a mid priced pen would be nice. I'm not sure what happened, it's sort of foggy, but all of a sudden I have LOTS of pens. They seem to be multiplying before my very eyes with no end in sight. It's a good thing I like pens so much. Enjoy!

Welcome!

Someday you might be into stationery, so I'm warning you.
For me it started when I saw a Core. I wanted one, so I asked if anyone had a Core they didn't want. I got it with a Wearever. And a Sheaffer cartridge pen. I sold the Sheaffer to Dillo, sho has a Sheaffer collection. I bought a Kaweco and ordered another Core. I sold the Kaweco. Then someone gave me an Online. Then someone gave me a Retro 51 and I'm love. And a Waterman Phileas. They are multiplying before my very eyes!

Welcome! Yours is a wonderful story! You've got it bad and that can only be good. Excellent work with the Kafka and the other 'necessary' pens. Pretty soon you'll be buying them just so you can have all the inks you have fallen in love with loaded and ready to go at a moments notice

Yes, Doug, you are ruined, but it's not too late! There is hope, but you must act quickly - don't stop to think, just do what I say. Box up the Kafka set, PM me for my address, and ship it. You must burn your bridges - don't even bother putting a return address. This is your only hope, so act now!











In case that doesn't work, welcome to the oh-so-appropriately nicknamed FPNuthouse! Very nice deal (or was it steal) on the Kafka. Don't blame you - would have inked it myself. Of course, the very least you can do is take some nice pics and do a review for us - at least let us drool on our screens over your good fortune. See ya around.

...and who would have thought that this "metamorphosis" would happen so quickly...

Welcome to FPN, Doug!
I loved the auction story---what a great find!
The Kafka MB is a looker indeed and there is a great article about it here you might want to check out, if just to see Bill Riepl's fabulous photos of it:
Sylophiles review of the Montblanc Franz Kafka fountain pen (<--click link)

Congratulations on the auction win...Enjoy your pens!

Doug,

Welcome, just give into it, there's a good chap, you know you will feel better.

Enjoy FPN

Rgds,

Jim

GREAT STORY

Hello Doug and welcome to the Fountain Pen Nuthouse I am sure that you will love it here and gain a lot of knowledge about pens, and maybe even attend a few pen shows. Likewise, we have a section with great ink reviews on this Web site and I am sure you will find some new inks that you will fall in love with.

Welcome aboard and...

Happy Holidays!!

Hi,

Welcome!!

Dillon