Looking for an education

[ballboy]

Hi fountain pen afficionados

 

I've been perusing this site since mid '05 and think I registered then, but couldn't remember my details like username (duh ) or password.

 

Anyway, I've often flirted with the idea of collecting fountain pens, but then wimped out and bought the equivalent ballpoint of the FP I was lingering on which with a dissapointing Carene and uninspiring Parkers (with the possible exception of my Ellipse,) I feel I should take the plunge and nib it!

 

My brands for past ballpoint purchases have been

 

Parker :blink: Waterman Lamy Cross

 

Only the Cross survive due to their non-clicking, smooth writing qualities. But would I like their FPs or any other brand that I haven't thought of. I'm a modern pen fancier if that helps for advice - and boy do I need it!

[twdpens]

Welcome to FPN, ballboy !

 

Although it's not going to make me rich you might be best off going to a good pen shop and trying some out before purchase. At least this way you're not going to waste some of your hard-earned on a pen that will just end up on eBay.

 

You've had some experience of a good range of manufacturers by owning some ballpens. This should give you an idea of the general characteristics you like, eg size, shape, weight, balance to give you a head start with FP's.

 

Alternatively, get yourself something cheap but very cheerful as an introduction, eg a Lamy Vista or Safari. They're really school pens and built to withstand that environment but having used a couple myself I can honestly say they are great pens!

 

I'll sign off by issuing the usual health warning: Fountain Pens are Addictive!

 

Enjoy!

 

Martin

[Carrie]

Just a quick hello from down the road in Cheshire, not too far from the airport. Whereabouts in Manchester are you? I've got to agree with Martin, fountain pens should definitely come with a health warning because they are definitely addictive.

[chainwhip]

welcome ballboy! how'd you come up with that moniker?

 

[Gerry]

Welcome back.

 

I'm sure you'll never look back once you've made the switch.

 

From the list of BP's you've submitted, any one would be a good maker to try. Personally, I've been very happy with my Cross, and would recommend it without reservation. I know it doesn't necessarily have the pedigree a Waterman might, but for a solid feel, reliable performance etc. it can't be beat.

 

Since you already like the Cross BP - it might be a good place to start. Hopefully you can fing a B&M store in the area where you might take one out for a test drive.

 

Gerry

[ballboy]

Thanks fellow pen users

 

Martin: your shop has some very nice looking Lamys and Pelikans, although I'd just ordered a Lamy 2000 with medium nib from an ebay seller in Thailand. He offered me it for 53GBP including postage. It should complement my slim black Lamy a friend bought me some years ago; I'd have to check what it is but it writes first time so smoothly even if not used for months Will probably buy some Lamy ink off you though!

Carrie: I live on the A6 near Disley; not so far from our fellow Manchester pen user Simon Wang.

Chainwhip: ball(point)boy: because I really only use ballpoint pens mostly, but want to appreciate appropriately attractive & functional fountain pens.

Gerry: I like the look of the Cross Apogee FP in Titian Red (that's currently my fave ballpoint) but the timeless functionality/reliability of Lamy has seduced me first. There's one on ebay from a fellow UK seller, so I might put another bid in for that, unless it goes for much over 63GBP, then I might as well get one from Hero or the ebay seller in NY that I bought my Apogee BP.

 

Happy noodling

[Carrie]

Carrie: I live on the A6 near Disley; not so far from our fellow Manchester pen user Simon Wang.

I was up in your neck of the woods last week because I was working at Lyme.

[southpaw]

Hello and welcome! Many of us joined up here for the very same reason. FPN has a wealth of knowledge available and the great community is a huge bonus! Hope to see you around.

[Slush99]

Welcome!

[ballboy]

Hi Carrie, my Mum works at Lyme as a volunteer room steward. What do you do?

[Carrie]

Hi Roger, for my sins I work in the Curatorial Department at a museum. I was at Lyme last week to work shadow the professional photographer they had working there, hopefully I'll be going back doing the same again in a couple of weeks time. Does your mum generally steward in the same room or do the volunteers move from room to room? I was looking at some details for Lyme earlier, they really do have a huge number of volunteers. Usually when I've been at Lyme it's been for a disaster planning emergency exercise (got to love that air raid siren! ). I keep meaning to go back sometime just for a proper walk through the grounds, it's crazy that it's so close by and yet I've only ever driven through the grounds to the hall rather than having a walk anywhere.

[Goodwhiskers]

Welcome!

My recent habit-starter in FPs was a Lamy Al-Star (Safari innards & nib) Broad. Now I have all four widths of the Safari family, and several other pens, too. Enjoy!

[ballboy]

Carrie: she tends to move around; sometimes more than one room in a day. It depends on the number of people going home or having a break. I am devillishly lucky to be only 15 mins walk from the gates, and frequently go via the fields under the the railway bridge and up Red lane or to the Cage, depending on which way round I want to walk to the top path. National Trust member too of course!

 

Hi Goodwhiskers: Yes I've started with Lamy; a slim black FP with medium nib and have ordered a L2000 off ebay. Should be complementing this with a Rotring Initial FP in Silver with fine nib.

[JRodriguez]

The Lamy 2000 is a great choice. No turning back now!

Edited February 18, 2006 by rigo311

[JRodriguez]

Oh yeah, I meant to ask, what other than the "timeless functionality/reliability of Lamy" drew you to the pen?

[ballboy]

I always liked the look and feel of them in the shops, plus I already have a slim Lamy FP. It just looks like it will be a keeper, now matter what other styles of makers' FP I collect. I'm starting my collection off on a German footing, by adding a Roting Initial in silver with fine nib. It was cheaper to buy it as a twinset with the matching ballpoint and pen case in presentation box, even though I already have the bp.

[Viseguy]

Congratulations, ballboy, the Lamy 2000 is a great pen to take the plunge with. Be aware that 2000 nibs tend to run wide; you may find that the M nib writes more like a B, F more like an M, etc. Either one will put out a wider (wetter, nicer, more satisfying) line than your average ballpoint. You will be a nib boy before you know it!

[ballboy]

Thanks Viseguy, I heard about the nib width and liked the sound of that. Wet and Smooth it will be ^_^

 

My slim Lamy writes just fine in a medium (if you know what I mean) so I have great confidence in enjoying my 2000. I figure since the 2000 has been in production since 1966, it's a modern classic and bridges the gap between old classics and modern contemporary pens.

 

Now to see which way I go ofter that!

[Carrie]

I hope you enjoy your 2000 once it arrives, I love the look of that pen, but the wider nibs put me off, I don't think it would suit my small writing.

 

I'm sure the walks through Lyme must be wonderful, must make the effort to get over there for something which isn't work. We've got all out lovely woodland and the River Bollin round here, but having grown up in Lancashire, I have to say that nothing beats rugged moorland.

[ballboy]

I was born in Yorkshire. That type of landscape is magnificent. However, the hills and valleys of Derbyshire rule for me, especially around Bakewell near Haddon Hall and, of course, Chatsworth.

 

Such beautiful surroundings should make us want to take our moleskin journals and favourite fountain pen out to write lyrical musings on!