I discovered this forum a few months ago while I was searching for ink reviews, and I've been lurking ever since. I've been really enjoying reading along, and learning a lot, so I thought it was high time I introduced myself.
I'm 27, living in State College PA, and have always loved all things pen and paper related, especially fountain pens. I remember getting my first Pilot Varsity pens when I was maybe 9. Since then, I've really never wanted to write with anything other than a fountain pen, although it's still necessary sometimes. I moved on from the Pilot Varsities to various Sheaffer cartridge pens and other cheap pens that could be had at Staples and the like, and then from there it was a steady climb to better and more expensive pens.
Here's a mostly complete list of my 'collection' as it stands today:
- Waterman Phileas – Blue, M
- Pilot VP - F - Blue with Rhodium trim (my daily use pen at work)
- 2 Dipless Esterbrook Pens with matching 444 inkwells (one clear and one red), as well as two 407 inkwells. These are some of my favorites, and were acquired from my summer job in high school/college -- an insurance company in my hometown. I found them in the basement of the claims department on their way to the dumpster. I've got one of the 444's set up on my desk at work – it currently has the 9556 nib that it came with and Noodler's Standard Brown ink in it.
- Wing Sung Toothpick Sleek -- black (lives in my checkbook)
- Pelikan Clear Demonstrator from Levenger (Currently waiting for me to send it to Pelikan for repair; the barrel is cracked)
- Recife -- forget the exact model, it's the color of jadeite glass and came from Levenger a few years ago, also has a matching roller ball
- Aforementioned Sheaffer Cartridge Pens and other various Sheaffers (a calligraphy set + some others, including one light blue plastic semi-hooded vintage pen I haven't been able to id, probably totaling ~12 pens)
- A couple of glass dip pens, and a couple plastic dip pen holders, as well as a bunch of Esterbrook and other dip pen nibs (my hometown used to have a really great stationary store that had been there forever)
- And my most recent acquisition -- inspired by this forum -- a vintage Parker 45, olive green, which I also acquired a NOS 18K Gold Accountant nib for
In general, the finer the pen writes, the better I like it (I also use a 0.3mm mechanical pencil). Thanks to this forum I'm currently trying to decide which XXF or XXXF Binder nib I'd like to start with (I'm debating between a nib unit for the VP or for the Pelikan once it gets repaired). This place is dangerous!
I was totally thrilled that day, but I think my supervisor thought I was crazy when I asked if I could take the inkwells home rather than throw them away. We were cleaning out and destroying this mass of stuff that had been accumulating in the damp, moldy basement of the claims department for who knows how long, but the inkwells absolutely made it worth it.