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I have a Alfred Dunhill Limited Bulldog fountain Pen, that I received as a gift. Does anyone know the value of this pen and history of it. I am having a hard time finding this out. The pen is sterling silver, and looks great. Thanks, Concord Pen

Hello, pen historians. I’m writing a fiction story, and I’m hoping you can help me out with a few period details because while I love the modern pens I have, my knowledge of vintage is practically nil. What uniform-rules-compliant pen is the most likely choice for a very poor US soldier to have purchased in 1943? I’ve read up a bit on pens with military clips, but am still rather unclear regarding the prices as they would have stood then. Any recommendations you folks have would be a big help. So, again: inexpensive pen with military clip available for purchase by US servicemen in 1943. What am I? Thank you, ~DorothyNotGale PS: Also, information on where to go to learn about likely inks and the performance of the hypothetical pen for sketching as well as writing purposes would be appreciated.

HEIKO was the largest producer of fountain pens in East Germany from 1950-ish until 1990, when they were purchased by Schneider. Who were they, what were they, before they became state-owned by German Democratic Republic? What was their origin? When did they begin? Surely there was a reason the GDR based its pen production in the Treuhand. Gotta be a story here, somewhere in history.

"We are at one of those turning points, for the written word, that come only rarely in human history. We are witnessing the introduction of new writing tools and media. It has only happened twice before as far as the Roman alphabet is concerned – once in a process that was several centuries long when papyrus scrolls gave way to vellum books in late antiquity, and again when Gutenberg invented printing using movable type and change swept over Europe in the course of just one generation […]. Changing times now mean that for a brief period many of the conventions that surround the written word appear fluid; we are free to re-imagine the quality of the relationship we will make with writing, and shape new technologies. How will our choices be informed - how much do we know about the medium's past? What work does writing do for us? What writing tools do we need? Perhaps the first step towards answering these questions is to learn something of how writing got to be the way it is." I am quoting here the introduction to a book I am very much looking forward to read: "The golden thread" by Ewan Clayton. It sounds so promising and interesting, just about two things I hold very dear - (the history of) reading and writing, written from the perspective of both a calligrapher and designer. So far I just managed to read about 40 pages and it is packed with information and ideas. You can find a short review here on the website of the FT http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/2/c36c371e-3006-11e3-9eec-00144feab7de.html#axzz2hsO9lNXP and more about the author here http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/2/4240f110-1a04-11e3-93e8-00144feab7de.html#slide0 I thought maybe some of you may be interested as well. Stefanie (I hope this is the right forum, I wasn't sure. But I didn't put it in the book section because it is not "only" about calligraphy – but if it should be moved there I am totally ok with that )

Dear friends it’s my pleasure announce you the out printing of my book, The Secrets of writing instruments - History, design, materials, production. A depth research on the topic of writing instruments, with a new and dynamic ways of reading with historical curiosities, information on the materials and methods of production, research supported with the laboratory analysis whose the methodology it’s explain to appendix . you can find it online and in the bookshop. http://bupress.unibz.it/it/i-segreti-degli-strumenti-di-scrittura.html faithfully A. Titone http://bupress.unibz.it/media/catalog/product/cache/2/small_image/290x/040ec09b1e35df139433887a97daa66f/i/m/image_101.jpg

I bought a set of 6 of these pens on eBay 4-5 years ago, all for under $50. They came in 6 different colors, if I recall correctly. I gave 5 of them away, and stuck this last one in the drawer. Inked it today, and was surprised at how great it writes. Obviously a steel nib (F), plastic parts everywhere else, but a genuine Waterman nonetheless. Good medium size, light feel, a lot of fun to write with, and it accepts the Waterman converter so you can use any kind of ink. Does anyone have any history on this? I can find nothing on any Internet search. Another name it may go by? I'd love to pick up more, and give 'em out to friends, if I could still pick 'em up for under $10 apiece. Thanks!

Hi all, I've been thinking about how different nib sizes came about. I'm relatively new to fountain pens, but have seen the huge variety of nibs available to tailor to each persons hand. Out of curiosity I must ask. If manifold nibs and flexible nibs were born out of a need or necessity for practical purposes (which for the above I understand to be primarily accountancy and legal documents respectively), then how did the bold nib come about? I know it's an unusual question, and in current times it's all about preference but who came up with the idea of a big fat line and why? The only practical application that I can think of would be for use in signatures. Was there some common purpose or reason that meant that historically if you could only afford one fountain pen you'd be advised to carry a bold nib? Hope this question makes sense and thanks in advance, Badger

Hi, me again! Now, next year, I'll be taking five modules of History and a German module at University. My question is... what inks do these modules make you think of? Public History (How History is perceived by the public) - my first thought was brown. Probably an indication of how dull it sounds! Piracy and Privateering - might use my Waterman's Green for this. Thinking About the Past - purple, possibly? TBA TBA German - Red?