New Convert to Fountain Pens

[Daly de Gagne]

Silly me, when I gave up booze 18 years ago I thought my addiction to liquids and their containers had ended. Then last October I discovered fountain pens (I had used them in school and once or twice in my early adultery) after reading about them on the Getting Things Done group I run, and a few other groups. And with fountaiin pens came the inks -- oh, those inks!

 

Having seen the photographs of his collection on Andy Hoffman's blog page, I realize there's potential for my new found addiction to fountain pens to get much more serious. I started with a blue medium nib Phileas purchased from a local office supply store that was selling off its fountain pens of colour, thinking that everyone really wants a black pen.

 

I loved the Philease -- could not believe a pen could write so well. So, since then I have purchased (mostly from Sam and Frank at pendemonium.com) about four more Phileas pens, and a few Lamy Safaris. I have also bought locally a black Phileas medium, two Pelikan Futura pens, a Shaeffer, and a fine nib Rotring (that doesn't seem to want to write using a Pel cartridge). All told, I have about 15 pens.

 

The rest of my life involves emergency response and liturgical work in spiritual care at a tertiary care hospital, and as a psychotherapist at a large not-for-profit inner city agency. I love to read murder mysteries, and to read material related to my work. I am losing about 30 pounds, getting back into running, and preparing for a 10-mile ritual/ceremonial walk with a 16-year old therapy client of mine.

 

I love to write on topics related to spirituality and therapy. Since getting hooked on fountain pens I find that I am writing more, and of a better quality. It had been a long time since I really enjoyed writing longhand, having got so accustomed to the computer.

 

The FPN looks great, and I'm looking forward to being involved here.

 

Daly

 

Discuss and learn about David Allen’s Getting Things Done:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Getting_Things_Done/

[mike1]

You are most welcome here. I have taken up the fountain again as well and it has led me to the edge and I fear falling over. Luckily for me and my pocketbook, I'm married to the voice of reason. She brings me back down to reality and so I am saving to get that really great pen to add to the others I already have. Be advised that pens can be addictive.

[Dawn]

Hi Daly

 

Good to meet you ..... and welcome!

 

Dawn

[meanwhile]

Silly me, when I gave up booze 18 years ago I thought my addiction to liquids and their containers had ended.

You don't drink COFFEE????

 

A couple of pens that might interest you as next steps and easy to get off ebay:

 

- The Kultur - a Phileas variant with the same great nib that you can buy off ebay in translucent finishes, easy to convert to an eye dropper pen (use the FPN search facility to find out how and why) - $15

 

- Esterbrook J pens - a great writing very reliable vintage pen you can pick up for only $20-ish

 

- The Hero 329 - $20 for THREE - nibs can be tricky, but you you can fix that in a couple of minutes using the "brown paper bag trick" (again, search FPN)

 

When and if you're ready to spend more a little more money (say $70) ask for help about buying a vintage Balance, 51, Vacumatic, or Targa - these are the classic "safe" first time buys (other than the Estie) and probably outwrite any sanely priced modern pen.

 

Oh - and if you're not using them, you might want to ask (or search) about using converters and bottled ink - it can be cheaper than using cartridges and the colours are more fun.

[Judybug]

Welcome, Daly!

 

I love the Waterman Phileas, too. I have a blue medium point and a black fine point. My collection consists of about 10 pens, and I use them all. Two new ones will be arriving in the mail soon.

 

I know you will enjoy the wealth of information on FPN.

 

Judybug

[Ruaidhri]

Hi Daly,

 

Welcome aboard.

 

Mike is lucky to be married to "the voice of reason" - my wife Sheila also collects pens (especially mine )

 

Regards,

Ruaidhrí

[Daly de Gagne]

Silly me, when I gave up booze 18 years ago I thought my addiction to liquids and their containers had ended.

You don't drink COFFEE????

 

A couple of pens that might interest you as next steps and easy to get off ebay:

 

- The Kultur - a Phileas variant with the same great nib that you can buy off ebay in translucent finishes, easy to convert to an eye dropper pen (use the FPN search facility to find out how and why) - $15

 

- Esterbrook J pens - a great writing very reliable vintage pen you can pick up for only $20-ish

 

- The Hero 329 - $20 for THREE - nibs can be tricky, but you you can fix that in a couple of minutes using the "brown paper bag trick" (again, search FPN)

 

When and if you're ready to spend more a little more money (say $70) ask for help about buying a vintage Balance, 51, Vacumatic, or Targa - these are the classic "safe" first time buys (other than the Estie) and probably outwrite any sanely priced modern pen.

 

Oh - and if you're not using them, you might want to ask (or search) about using converters and bottled ink - it can be cheaper than using cartridges and the colours are more fun.

Oops, must be in denial -- that's an addict's thing, eh!

 

Just happened to forget the coffee. Couldn't live without it.

 

Daly

[sonia_simone]

Welcome Daly! Do you ever hang out over on 43folders? There's a small and frenzied group of FPers over there. (Some of whom are probably participating in your group.) GTD is my other acronymal addiction.

 

Another good resource for the Kultur (basically same pen as the Phileas but slightly different, simpler body) is isellpens.com, who has them for the princely sum of $13 if I remember right. A transparent purple one is caaaallllling to me. I haven't bought anything from them yet, but many here have and speak well of them.

[southpaw]

Hello and welcome aboard Daly! Hope to see you around the place.