Hello all,
I am new here and I live in San Diego county. I have been a fountain pen user since I was in 6th grade (1972) and I bought two sheaffer's at the local Thrifty Drug store. I still have those two, in fact my 9 year old and my 7 year old use them now, they love the fact they get to use "Daddys" pens. So I am working on getting the next generation started here. lol.
I have in my collection,
1. Waterman Carene, broad nib my favorite pen,
2. Waterman Charlston, medium nib a beautiful pen that writes very nice
3. Waterman Expert medium nib a great writter and a workhorse for me for years
4. Waterman Hemisphere fine nib
5. Waterman Lauriet Fine nib Black and gold (This was my first "nice" fountain pen
and a gift from my wife back in 1992)
6. Waterman Lauriet fine nib with a black and siver swirl finish (this one really
writes nice)
7. Waterman Phileas fine nib (Don't much care for this one, too scratchy)
8. Namiki/Pilot Vanishing point fine nib- Fun pen but seems a bit tempermental at
times and the fine is VERY fine
9. Monte Verde Invincia fine nib Beautiful pen, rose gold with the carbon fiber
barrel nice writer
10. Parker 51 vintage, fine nib, This was my first vintage purchase and I was not
disappointed, great writer and fun to use writes very fine line.
11. Parker 51 vintage fine nib this was my second vintage purchase, little thicker
line on this one.
12. Parker 61 fine nib vintage with capillary fill, this was an ebay purchase and got
it cheap, works beautifully but is very hard to clean the capillary filler system.
great shape .

I also have some low end Parker and Cross fountain pens, the drug store models Parker vectors etc. and some I bought just because they look good, but they are not great writers.
I look forward to gleening information from all of you. Thanks so much.
Johnny

Hello and welcome to the FPNuthouse Johnny!

Based on your intro, it looks like you'll fit right in. I'm guessing you like Waterman FPs . Perhaps one day you'll review a few of them for us.

It's very cool that your children are using some of your veteran pens.

Hello from a fellow Californian ! Your uninterrupted fountain pen usage impresses me greatly.

Thanks Goodwhiskers and Southpaw... I am gonna have fun in here!

I certainly hope so Johnny. And, while I think of it - do you know Ron Meloche? He's in the San Diego area, and I believe has organized a pen club there. Why not drop him a line and inquire?

Ron Meloche [rmelo12089@cox.net]

And say hi to him for me. I visited last August when I was in SD for a conference, and enjoyed several hours of extremely interesting pen chat. Fascinating fellow.

Introduced him to George, 'Big Nib' from our pen club here in Canada who visited a few months later. Quite a coincidence - him receiving two visits within a couple of months from people living almost as far away from SD as you can get in North America - well, I exaggerate - but only a little.

Gerry

Gerry, Thanks. Funny you mentioned Ron Meloche... I saw him listed on a another website under pen repairs and I emailed him early this morning. Waiting for his reply. When I get it I will tell him hello for you. I will be going to his gallery on tuesday.

Wonderful. I'm sure you'll enjoy yourself immensely. I know I lusted over some of the equipment he's got tucked away in the back of the shop - like the nice little Sherline lathe for example...

Gerry

Welcome!

Lovely young ladies in your Avatar.

I'm also in San Diego, Carmel Valley to be precise. My reintroduction to FP's was a Waterman Phileas and it's been escalating ever since.

There is a lot ot learn from the experts here so ask lots of questions, give lots of answers (and they will tell you when you are wrong.)

Andy

Hey there!!

Greetings and welcome to the most friendly pen network on the internet!!! I see that you are a blues man?? Right on!! Welcome aborad and make yourself comfortable. Glad to see more poeple from California here!! Im right up the coast from ya, close to Pismo Beach!!

Speaking of ROn Meloche, I just recieved my Stipula Saturno from him because it needed a new sac. He does wonderful work on both mine and my Dad's pens!! Very quick and thorough!!

Looking foward to Pen and music conversations!!!

TNS

Hello Noble Savage and Andy, Thanks for the kind greetings.
Andy those are my little ones in the avatar, they love fountain pens too!
How do you like your Phileas? I am not too happy with mine, it is a dry scratchy very fine writer, glad that wasn't the first fountain pen I ever bought. I may have never bought another after that... it must need some work or something.
Andy I hope your mom is doing better! You have a nice blog!
My sister and her family live in Carmel Valley. I am in your neighborhood often!

Noble Savage, yes I have been doing the blues thing for some time now. Love that stuff! I look forward to pen and music talks with ya too. I am hoping I will get over to Ron's Gallery tomorrow. I have a few things to get done but it is third on my list of things to do! Thanks for confirming his repair work.

Hi,

Welcome!!

I can fix up your scratchy pens if you wish.

Dillon