I am poor--see my pens!

[mtrudeau]

I have been reading some of the posts--I am new here and you guys might laugh at what I own. Everybody else seems to have such fancy pens. Here is a photo of my whole pen collection:

 

The first pen is a Sheaffer I bought at a drugstore probably 10 or so years ago, but I used a pen identical to it in high school (early '70's). Everybody used to have these things. They only cost a few bucks. I guess Sheaffer must have quit making them, but you could still get them just a few years ago.

 

The second pen I have no idea where it came from. I found it in the closet the other day. It's made by Reynolds and is probably pretty old. It might have been my grandmother's, which would make it '70's. It looks like it sold for even less than the Sheaffer.

 

The third pen is my "fancy" pen. I bought it from a TV commercial last Christmas. (You know, "Only $19.95--available at Rite-Aid, Meijer, Walgreens . . .) It was in a box of pens that also had three types of ballpoints, a roller ball, and a mechanical pencil, plus refills for everything. It was called the "Classic Pen Set." The nib on this pen says "Iridium Point Germany" but the rest of the pen was probably made in China because the box says "Made in China."

 

Okay, I'm just getting to the good part now. I'm so cheap I actually save my empty cartridges and refill them from a bottle of Higgins Fountain Pen Ink I bought for $3.99 at Michaels. (Probably should have used one of their 40% off coupons.) I use a blunt-tipped hypodermic needle I got from an inkjet cartridge refill kit. Well, those cartridges are expensive to me and not always so easy to find in the stores.

 

--Mary

 

[Coyotebd]

No worries, you aren't the only one who refills ink cartridges. They are expensive. I try to buy at least pens with converters so I don't have to use catridges

[RevAaron]

Welcome Mary- right on!

 

The second pen looks like it's from the 70s or 80s? Guessing by the design of the nib and the pen in general.

 

It's funny, because you've a lot of habits that people often ask about here all the time- most folks need to ask about refilling carts, but you're rad enough to have figured out the syringe thing yourself.

 

If you get sick of the syringe, you can also buy something called a converter, which you put in your pen like a cartridge. You can suck ink into it from a bottle. You still save money, but you get to skip the potentially messy step of using the syringe.

 

That said, do what works for you- from here, it sounds like you're doing well enough without our suggestions.

 

 

 

[PAKMAN]

Is the TV ad pen the one they advertised as being able to be stabbed through a tin can? Welcome to FPN. Be assured if you hang around here long you will be corrupted and will have to have more pens!

[hollyuk]

Welcome! It's all about the hobby - using your pens and writing. It's not about how expensive the pen is. There are some really beautiful pens about that I for one can only dream about - but I still enjoy writing with any pen that gives me pleasure, no matter it's make, model or cost.

[tomscs]

Depends on your definition of corrupted- have fun

[Slush99]

Welcome!!! When I started out, I had less pens than you did... I was much poorer

[penspouse]

Welcome to FPN! Buy what you can afford. Save for bigger purchases and don't go in debt. You'll be a happier camper. The time will come when you have more money.

 

Edited for spelling and caps.

Edited December 11, 2008 by penspouse

[MYU]

Mary, I think I can safely say that there is not much in the way of "pen snobbery" on FPN. All pens are treated with due consideration. Some of the cheap and reliable workhorse pens are very well respected. And whether someone has little money or is unable to fathom spending much on a fountain pen despite their wealth, chatter about any pens almost always field replies from people who own them or those who wish to.

 

Welcome aboard!

[CarolinaWriter]

Hi Mary!

 

Welcome!

 

One of my first pens was one off eBay that cost less than $10 shipped. I love that pen and it's one of my best writers. Just the other day I saw a set of those $19.95 pens in CVS...I was tempted How's it write?

 

Seriously, though, this is a great place. People here have a wide variety of pens, so you'll fit right in .

 

Connie

[arz]

I think that pen spouse gives good advice. I started reading FPN as a poor grad student, and have really learned a lot.

Three years later, I've been able to buy some of the pens I only dreamed about before, but part of it for me is the chase: falling in love with a pen, searching high and low for the best deal, sometimes even changing my mind in the process.

 

 

 

[MVice78]

Hello Mary!

 

I have to admit that some of the best pens are actually the cheaper ones. My first pen was a Waterman I only paid $15 for brand new. Even though the fat writing nib and my small handwriting don't get along, it's not going anywhere!

 

 

[Kurtz]

Hi! Welcome to FPN.

 

[mtrudeau]

 

Is the TV ad pen the one they advertised as being able to be stabbed through a tin can? Welcome to FPN. Be assured if you hang around here long you will be corrupted and will have to have more pens!

 

 

Yep--it sure is!

[mtrudeau]

Hi Mary!

 

Welcome!

 

One of my first pens was one off eBay that cost less than $10 shipped. I love that pen and it's one of my best writers. Just the other day I saw a set of those $19.95 pens in CVS...I was tempted How's it write?

 

Seriously, though, this is a great place. People here have a wide variety of pens, so you'll fit right in .

 

Connie

 

I think it writes pretty well--better than my Sheaffer and leaks a lot less, but I don't have much to compare it to. I didn't know any stores still had those pens. I tried to go back a week later after I bought mine to buy another set for a gift and couldn't find them anywhere in town. We don't have any CVS though.

 

[Deirdre]

Welcome! There's plenty of people here who have modest pens, they probably just don't post as frequently as blowhards like myself.

[yingko]

I've been fortunate. The first fountain pen I wrote with for very long was a disposable FP. I think it was a Parker. It was green. Had green ink.

 

I wrote with a cheapie Parker, one of the $6 pens from the office supply store. Did fine for me for a long time. Then, I just happened to spy the Rotring Core and was amazed I'd dropped more than $20 for a pen.

 

I've had that one a few years, despite several attempts at losing it.

 

If you enjoy your pens, and write with them, then that's all that really matters is what I guess I'm trying to get around to saying.

[penhound]

Your collection of pens looks just about the same as my first grouping of pens. Only difference is that I picked up a $3-$5.00 Parker 51 in the last seventies and it worked right off and is still working.

 

Enjoy what you have and grow as your skills and desires do. A pen doesn't have to be expensive to be good.

[Sailor Kenshin]

Welcome aboard---love those Sheaffer school pens.

 

The tomato-colored pen looks interesting, too.

[HDoug]

Frugal is the new chic! I think we'll start seeing more vintage and restored pens, and other pens modified and salvaged here at FPN.

 

Doug

 

P.S. Oh, and welcome to FPN.