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Hello, total fountain pen newb from NYC here. I don't know what came over me but one day I just had to get myself a fountain pen. I had been dissuaded because we had them in the house as a kid, with bottles of Parker ink, and I associated them with getting ink on one's hands, and clogs, and nothing worked, etc. I avoided them. OK, enough, I got over it and ordered a Pilot Metropolitan. Came yesterday - it's gorgeous. The gray one with the houndstooth ring around the top of the barrel (?), not sure what it's called. I had a funny experience. It came with a cartridge. I have a bottle of Noodler's on order, and I just couldn't wait to use it, so I attached the cartridge and....nothing. I was catapulted back to childhood with my parents' non-functional fountain pens. I got it together & consulted an instructional video, which suggested you squeeze the cartridge a couple of time. LOL, I squirted a big puddle of ink, luckily on paper, so no harm done. I gentle squeeze was all that was needed. Questions: 1. Do I store the pen right-side up? 2. I notice a bit of stray ink on the nib, so I clean it off w/a bit of paper towel. When I pass the paper towel over the breather hole, ink comes out. Is it supposed to be that way? Thanks! I love my pen. I can't wait for my Noodler's to come to experiment w/the converter.

I got and Esterbrook FP (I guess it is a J) in a flee market in Mexico City for about 15 dollars more than ten years ago. I have not given it any serious use because after a while it started to drip, and besides it has a somewhat scratchy feeling. Lately, after my addiction for pens increased (look at this if you want to see why: https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php/topic/267147-why-i-am-here-or-just-another-tragic-story/), I decided to give it another try. The other day I saw that it had the tines misaligned, so I aligned them. Now it writes really smooth, but it still drips, and it also writes quite wet and the nib is not so fine for my taste. Well, only yesterday I discovered that the nib could be screwed out and be changed. I just had no idea! This discovery brought my view of this pen to another level, and I am decided to enliven it! Of course it needs a resac or whatever repair to control the dripping. Then, and this is my main question, I would like to hear suggestions about Esterbrook extra fine nibs or finer! Finally, anybody has an idea about what to do with this 1461 nib? It was already curved when I got it. I thought it was normal. Now I am almost sure it is not. I guess someone did the curving trying to control the dripping or the wetness... (The barrel reads "Esterbrook. Hecho en México. Marca reg.". The nib is 1461 and says "Made in U.S.A.") Open to your consideration! A pair of photos follow...