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If there are any members here living in Ireland (Republic) who might be interested in setting up a pen sharing scheme, then please let me know. I know a successful one operates in the UK, but given Brexit and customs duties now payable on items going between the two countries, it's practically impossible for a resident of Ireland to belong to the UK one. (I would have to investigate, but we may be able to include Northern Ireland in this as the NI Protocol to the UK's EU Withdrawal agreement may allow for unimpeded cross-border swapping). If you don't know what pen sharing entails, I'm sure there are resources here which can explain - or I'll have a go if you message me.

I'm back after a long hiatus, so I figured it would be a good idea to introduce myself again. I live in rural Donegal, Ireland. I've been into fountain pens for well over a decade now. My workhorse pen is a Sailor Heritage with a soft fine nib. I've recently become more adventurous with modifications, and with coloured inks. I've installed full flex nibs (from fpnibs.com) into a bunch of TWSBIs and an Opus 88. I also have a couple of vintage pens. I also have a Leonardo Momento Zero with the elastic fine nib. I gave away most of my non-flex pens. I'm not into calligraphy (yet?), but I love a flexible nib for the character it gives my writing, and because it forces my hand to relax. I was active on this forum until about 2009, when I went back to school. Finished up my PhD in 2017 at age 57. I am a researcher, mostly in Artificial Intelligence, Artificial Life, and Mathematics. I've been working from home ever since the pandemic started, and plan to continue to do so. It suits me well, because I can concentrate better. It also means that I can make better use of multiple fountain pens and an array of inks. (I didn't want to take an entire collection to the office!) Writing is a big part of my thought process. I'm often wrestling with complex ideas that are too big to hold in my brain at once. As I come to grips with some little part of an idea, I write it down -- not so much to remember the thought as to "solidify" it in my mind, to mark it as promising. I do most of my writing in a single journal that functions as a research journal, commonplace book, diary, cartoon sketchbook, and more.

Hi guys, Does anyone know of a nib grinder/nibmeister in the Dublin area, or in Ireland in general? I'm looking to get my M Lamy 2000 ground to an architect nib and trying to avoid paying for international shipping. Thanks in advance, Rob

Hi again. I just acquired a threesome of Cross instruments, that were listed a "Windsor" Medalists. However, FP was made in Ireland, so I could not pass up, being 25% of me from the Old Sod, y'know. The price was right. 2 questions: 1. I believe the FP to be a Century II medalist. It is engraved 2169 A1167 near the threads. Is there a resource for date codes? Please advise, would like to know when made. Also, am I on right track with ID? I've also had my own Matte Black Irish Century II for years. 2. Was the threesome shown ever actually sold as a set? I have no box, no papers, and no idea if they are "related" except by appearance. Thanks!

I visited a flea market a few days ago and bought a Cross Century set for $43. The price in my opinion was really good and the case and mechanical pencil was a bonus. After a little inspection I found some interesting markings on both of them. Both the fountain pen and the pencil were made in Ireland. I found on the net that if the fountain pen was made in Ireland it is from around 1982. Obviously they are the gold filled versions but there is not inscription like on my USA made ballpoint "-1/20 12kt gold filled". I checked the hallmarks used in Ireland but found nothing similar to these. On the pencil is written "CROSS , Made in Ireland , Plaque ORL" and a little hallmark with a T inside (see photo). The fountain pen has "CROSS , Made in Ireland" and a hallmark on the cap with a shield divided by an "X" with "A C T" (photo) also a similar hallmark is found on the nib "A C T Sté". Even if they seem like a set (in the inside of the box there is an inscription 14kt gold filled) they are diffirent: -Difference #1: the CROSS inscription on the fountain pen is in cursive and on the pencil is printer font -Difference #2: they have different colour pen is more pink and pencil more yellow My questions are: -What is the meaning of those hallmarks on the caps? -Were they from different sets? -Why is there no "gold filled" text on them? -The box is quite large, what was inside the box beside the pen and pencil? Any information, idea is greatly appreciated! Have a nice day!