Family Addiction?

[Wandering Man]

I'm afraid I've started a downward contagion.

 

First, I introduced my son to fountain pens. I didn't really expect him to become interested, because he had begun using an iPad for things related to work (he's a Methodist Pastor). But when I showed him my new hobby, he was interested. He said that he found that writing his sermons out by hand gave him more clarity, and so he had abandoned his iPad for inexpensive ballpoint and more expensive rollerball pens.

 

I was going to give him a Platinum Preppy to start with, but as he began to get excited about the pens, I realized he needed something more. So I gave him my Parson's Pen with a stub nib, and a bottle of Waterman's Intense Black.

 

The next I heard, he had bought a Sheaffer Sagaris.

 

He accompanied me to the Dallas Pen Show, and bought another pen.

 

He and his family are visiting this week. He said he has learned that he really prefers fatter pens to skinny ones. So, I showed him the Jinhao 599's that I have been using as give-aways, and gave him one.

 

My (almost) 11 year old granddaughter showed an interest. She has apparently been practicing with her daddy's fountain pens at home. Her comment, as she was writing with her father's newly inked Jinhao: "For some reason I always want to write in cursive when I write with fountain pens." And she did a beautiful job.

 

Not to be left out, my (recently turned) 7 year old granddaughter asked if she could try the pen. She is also a master writer with the fountain pen. Nana let her write with the Jinhao she now keeps in her purse, since sister was back at the writing tablet with their father's pen.

 

The 7 year old wrote something that has the feel of free-verse poetry. Although it admittedly needs some work with spelling.

 

This morning the 7 year old has spent most of her time at the kitchen counter filling up pages with the fountain pen. I think she is trying to see how far she can count. The last I checked, she was into the hundreds.

 

Both granddaughters are going home with their own Jinhao 599's.

Edited November 25, 2015 by Wandering Man

[Dickkooty2]

Thank you for this great story!

[deepak23]

You have done them a great favor. Not just by gifting then FPs, but by gifting then the 599 which will force them to adopt the tripod grip...

[Randal6393]

That definitely qualifies you as a candidate for Enabler of the Week. So what are you doing next to ensure your kids remain in the fountain pen fold? But what did you expect, giving your son a decent italic stub with Waterman Black? I mean, that is the standard of daily writing.

 

Good work,

[Wandering Man]

Update:

Daughter in Law has got over her shyness and decided she would like to have one, too.

 

I have now infected the whole family.

[jdllizard]

Update:

Daughter in Law has got over her shyness and decided she would like to have one, too.

 

I have now infected the whole family.

You're like a generous typhoid Mary, only your contagious disease will only lead to good karma and more fountain pen users. Way to go proud papa!

 

 

*edited fer spallin errers*

Edited November 25, 2015 by jdllizard

[ac12]

I did a quick check on the JinHao 599. It seems to be a decent inexpensive starter/give-away pen, for just the kind of stuff you did. And its color/shape is more casual than something like the Baoer 388, which is more business-like. I may have to think about the JinHao 599 for that very purpose.

[Wandering Man]

I did a quick check on the JinHao 599. It seems to be a decent inexpensive starter/give-away pen, for just the kind of stuff you did. And its color/shape is more casual than something like the Baoer 388, which is more business-like. I may have to think about the JinHao 599 for that very purpose.

I had been giving away Platinum Preppies, but wasn't happy with the propriety cartridge, and having to explain to the recipient about cartridges and needing to order them on the internet.

 

Then I stumbled across the thread on cheap Chinese pens and learned about the 599. This is my second multi-pack. My wife and I each have one in our rotation. They come with a converter and will accept standard international short cartridges.

 

At $2 a pen through Amazon, they make a great introduction to fountain pens.

[Sailor Kenshin]

Adopt me!

[Mr5x5]

Well done!

[Runnin_Ute]

Congrats WanderingMan!

 

After a less than ideal experience I had with the 599's big brother- the 159 - which wrote poorly, was too big, fat and heavy (over 50 grams) I didn't know what to expect when I got the 599.

 

I had Art of Art's Nibs (located in El Paso - ArtsNibs.com) do one of his Tomahawk grinds on my TWSBI 580. When the pen arrived in the box was a 599 with a similar grind on its M nib.... It has become part of my regular rotation. I think it probably would have anyway, maybe not quite as much as . I wouldn't hesitate to recommend one. Especially for someone on a budget.

[Buzz_130]

Great story! I need to get a few give-away pens for people at work who are interested. My wife and kids are building their own collection of fountain pens already!

 

Buzz

[jay.is.here]

great story

[ac12]

I do the pen give-away, and what I find ammusing, is that a pack of ink cartridges cost more than the pen.

I need to check out those BULK cartridge sellers, and hope their ink is at least decent.

Edited November 26, 2015 by ac12