Hello From Glasgow

November 9, 2018

Hello all. First of all very humbled to have been accepted into the network. Thanks to the administrators and moderators of this site.

I am an Indian living in Scotland since the last 13 years. I went to school during the 80s when it was compulsory for everyone in my school to use a fountain pen from 4th grade onwards. (Before that it was an HB pencil)

With that came many ink stained pockets, toppled inkpots, messed up notebook corners in the school bag when a pen leaked, spraying ink on friends from the back bench .... but many wonderful memories of association to a pen. (Not many can say that about a ballpoint I suppose) then there was the discipline of cleaning and looking after your pen.

I went through a few pens, and the most memorable pen was gifted to me by my grandfather when I must have been about 10 year old. It was a Parker 45 stainless steel cap and maroon burgundy barrel and a steel nib. I cherished it a lot but during one cleaning session lost the little plastic screw ring that holds the nib and feed together. School boy error some may say.

Growing up trends changed, gel pens, single use pens, fibre tip pens, roller balls etc flooded the market in all shapes sizes and colours but I never got around to using them. Tried them but none tickled my fancy.

I went on to study architecture in 90s which opened up a whole new world of pen names for me. I used Rotring technical pens to draw through 6 years at the university and still have a full set of 8 isograph pens. In 2000 I accidentally chanced upon a silver Rotring Newton at a small independent pen shop. I paid 500 indian rupees at the time which was roughly my monthly salary at the time.

Fast forward 18 years I now live and work in Scotland. I keenly hunt car boot sales and charity shops looking for my next bargain fountain pen. For all the pens I do own I still however have a major liking for Rotrings. Still have my original newton from 2000 and have added a silver and a black 600 knurled to keep newton company. Also managed to get the replacement ring for grandads gifted Parker 45.

Looking forward to connecting with all you fountain pen fans

Cheers