Greetings from Sweden

February 10, 2005

Hi all,

Claes from Lund, Sweden here...

After having read a few articles (for instance the one about

transforming a cartridge pen into a squeezer, as well as the

one about Waterman France) it was clear that this is a

place for me, a spot where I can learn more.

I am sort of a materials freak (I make my own inks and

illuminating paints, for instance) and I have been interested

in writing equipment since as long back as when the Pen Fancier's

Club was hotter than hot.

During all these years I have been looking for *the* perfect pen.

I've found a few which are close (including a ball point pen and

a mechanical pencil), but... There is always a"but", isn't there?

If only it had another nib, if only it had been black, if only...

Sigh. The hunt goes on.

One of my goals for this week was to use a new fp every day.

Today is Thursday - and guess which fp I have in my breast

pocket today? The same as yesterday. The same as last Monday.

In fact: the same as I had all of last week... So much for plans!

Anybody daring to take a guess or two about

1) Which one? 2) Why?

Have fun!

Claes in Lund, Sweden

http://www.algonet.se/~claesg

February 10, 2005

Hi Claes,

Welcome to FPN. I'm glad you like our little community. We definitely do have some knowledgable people here.

I understand your quest for the perfect pen... a never ending quest I am afraid

As for your pen of the week(s)... a Waterman Edson ?

Denis.

February 10, 2005

Hi Claes!

Welcome to FPN

Nice to see you here...I know we've e-mailed each other back and forth, but I don't think I've mentioned FPN before, so I apologize if I neglected to recommend this (I think) great website!

As to what pen you have been using this week....Is it a Pelikan? As to why....Hmmm, maybe because they have good nibs?

See you on the boards,

Maja

Edited February 10, 2005 by Maja

February 10, 2005

welcome to FPN, Claes.

I would have guessed Pelikan - but not for any good reason other than it's a popular brand and one of my favorites.

Some pen videos · February 10, 2005

Hi, and welcome to this corner of pendom.

I think you have a pen with an XF nib

February 12, 2005

Thanks!

Well, regarding my present favourite fp

(still in use today!!!): no. Quite another

brand - but Antoniosz is close regarding

the nib size...

[Haven't seen this one in an XXXXXF yet ]

Its successors can be had with "Accountant"

as well as "Needlepoint" nibs, though (Hint! Hint! Hint!).

Have fun!

Claes in Lund, Sweden

http://members.shaw.ca/feynn/ · February 12, 2005

It sounds like you are using a Waterman pen like a 1940's Commando.

Welcome to FPN Claes.

February 12, 2005

Hi, Claes,

It's good to have you over here.

For those who don't know, Claes does absolutely exquisite calligraphy and illumination, which should give James Pickering someone with whom to converse at a different level from the rest of us scribblers. He also, Denis will like to know, is a lover of fine cheese and of good wine, Kevin (winedoc), take note.

I wrote to Claes over twenty years ago after he submitted a list of pen companies that Cliff Lawrence published in a Pen Fancier's Newsletter. The correspondence ended due to my laziness shortly after, but last year we reacquainted ourselves via the Internet.

Claes' enrollment makes of this list quite a distinguished gathering place.

Now, Claes, that illustration you're using, is that just any dragon or Jormungand?

Take care,

Rob Astyk

February 13, 2005

Ho-hum - thanks for the flattery, Rob!

The C-dragon is one of an illuminated series I made to experiment

with different painting mediums - from water colour to gouache to

egg-yolk-tempera (not egg-*oil*-tempera!) to al-fresco [can you imagine

an illuminated al-fresco envelope?] to modern acrylics. It was great fun...

All of the these dragons have a name - the C one is called "Cracker", because

he is made using a modern acrylic crackle medium. Here, the top layer

crackles, and the paint from the bottom layer shines through in a pseudo-

randomized pattern.

To Capital Keith, who wrote ...Waterman pen like a 1940's Commando.

Did Waterman use the same nib names as Parker? I thought P was

about the only one to offer 'Accountant' and 'Needlepoint' nibs?

Have fun!

Claes in Lund, Sweden

February 17, 2005

Hi Claes

Long ago I bookmarked your scriptorium. Simply wonderful letters and plenty of information for the budding illuminator.

I have discovered that there is no perfect pen, wouldn't you just know the parameters keep changing! About the time I decided that the Sheaffer Snorkels were perfect examples of extra-fine point pleasures for use at work, I lost my job. Upon becoming a full time student again the search for the perfect pen was renewed by necessity, the snorks just didn't work quite as well as I thought they should or had worked before.

Now, as a student taking pages of notes, I find the perfect pen is a Pilot Vanishing point with fine nib, followed by a XXF sheaffer open nib snorkel, followed by a XF Lamy Safari and so on. I've decided the only thing wrong with my perfect pen is the inks. Change the brand, color or blend of ink and the whole system is kaput!

Anyway, I'll bet you use a Sheaffer--or at least I hope you do!

David

http://members.shaw.ca/feynn/ · February 17, 2005

Claes - Waterman made nibs that were designated and stamped as "Accountant"... these are extremely firm, fine, and smooth nibs and I have seen them on Waterman Commando pens.

It's one of those things where I might have to break out the camera and post a pic or two.