Started using fountain pens in Catholic grammar school in the early 60's...the cheap Schaffer cartridge type were required for the Palmer method, Whatever possesed those poor nuns to believe that whacking your knuckles with a ruler would improve your penmanship is beyond me!
Picked up the habit again in college...the station manager/professor who ran our FM station used them, so i dug out one of those old Shaeffer's and had at it. My "jones" didn't really kick in until my ex, who was running her own small ad agency, had me writing copy for newsletters 5 nights a week (on an old 8086 PC...that'll tell you how long ago that was...) and gave me a Mont Blanc Meisterstuck for Christmas one year. She's long gone (her idea...) but the pen's still here.
My Mom is an inveterate antiquer and, when she got wind of the interest, started looking through all the junque stores in CA and the occasional estate sale she'd help run. A collection was being born.
Today, the collection runs to about 75 pens, ranging from cheap advertising pens for funeral homes from the 30's to a prized 1923 Sheaffer Lifetime (the first one irestored w/ new sac...) Have also managed to bust a couple in the repair process. Oh, well...gotta learn somehow!
Day-to-day pen changes frequently. Right now, it's a Waterman Expert Millenium, a 90's Duofold Centennial and a nearly indestructible Parker 25. Newest acquisition is a 50s-60s Waterman CF that i'm seeking a part or 2 for.
That'sa my fountain pen story...hopefully with many more chapters to be "written".
And, if anyone can solve this equation - "Methadone:Heroin as ___X___:ebay", well, i'd like to know what "X" is...
Mark (Redwings)
Mark
Martin says FPNut House I call it FPN society 
Whatever,have a seat and enjoy yourself!!!