Fountain pens - ostentatious?

Richard Warren · Sep 22, 2010

Nick D said:
I'm afraid this makes little sense to me. I've been using a fountain pen since high school, and I write with one a lot. On my current pen, I empty the ink sac every two or three days. I wrote my MA dissertation with it before typing it up.

I also had a professor who did all his marking with a fountain pen, mainly because of a hand injury that left him unable to use a ball-point. Didn't make his handwriting any more legible, though.

Sometimes my experiences don't make sense to me, either.

Talbot · Sep 23, 2010

rlk said:
Some can be ostentatious or over large(like watches) but not because they are Fountain Pens.
In defense of Montblanc:
No. 14

Nice!

Mr Vim · Sep 23, 2010

You know, the idea of a fountain pen being too much never occurred to me.
Anytime I use my FP in public, if folks react at all, they react positively and nearly always ask to write with it.

And that is a fine Montblanc.

Otium · Sep 23, 2010

Its the person, not the pen

Don't blame the poor pen for the owner's bad taste. As Balzac said: The boor covers himself, the rich man or the fool adorns himself, and the elegant man gets dressed.

Subvet642 · Sep 23, 2010

I've been collecting fountain pens for quite a while now and what I like about them is that they're a blend of art and engineering. And in defense of Mont Blanc, I used to dismiss them as overpriced status symbols until I got my first one, a Boheme Blue, and looked at it under a loupe. The fit and finish is just spectacular. As far as ostentation, a MB 146 is no bigger or fancier than a Levenger True Writer; it's just that the engineering is much more precise with a bigger and more robust filling system.

Nick D · Sep 23, 2010

I used to use a modern Cross Townsend, which is fairly big (it doesn't fit in most of my waistcoat pockets) and stainless steel. Now I use a small refurbished lever-fill pen, it's better balanced and writes easier.

rlk · Sep 23, 2010

There are the "Limited Editions"

http://www.montblanc.com/products/30.php

DStuttgen · Sep 23, 2010

My Duofold Jr set. Unfortunately not matched. The bladder in the pen was shot when I got it from Ebay so I use an old ink cartridge which is just the right size to screw onto the threads inside the pen. I fill the cartridge with a syringe.
I found the pencil in an alleyway when I was a kid and have kept it all these years.

Cheers, Dan

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Subvet642 · Sep 23, 2010

DStuttgen said:
My Duofold Jr set. Unfortunately not matched. The bladder in the pen was shot when I got it from Ebay so I use an old ink cartridge which is just the right size to screw onto the threads inside the pen. I fill the cartridge with a syringe.
I found the pencil in an alleyway when I was a kid and have kept it all these years.

Cheers, Dan

[/URL][/IMG]

It's a shame to have to work around a dead sac when there are so many good repair guys. Replacing a sac is fairly straight forward with the possible exception of Duofolds that have an intact "Lucky Curve" feed. The below link will take you to one of the very best restorers there is:
http://www.richardspens.com/

Richard Warren · Sep 23, 2010

Subvet642 said:
I've been collecting fountain pens for quite a while now and what I like about them is that they're a blend of art and engineering. And in defense of Mont Blanc, I used to dismiss them as overpriced status symbols until I got my first one, a Boheme Blue, and looked at it under a loupe. The fit and finish is just spectacular. As far as ostentation, a MB 146 is no bigger or fancier than a Levenger True Writer; it's just that the engineering is much more precise with a bigger and more robust filling system.

Is that why every Mont Blanc fountain pen I have ever had leaked?

This whole thing really does puzzle me. Do you guys have actually have fountain pens that don't leak?

Hemingway Jones · Sep 23, 2010

7 out of 10 leak regardless of price point.

I often carry my Cartier Diabolo to be ostentatious!

Miss Neecerie · Sep 23, 2010

define leaking?

some ink coming out of the nib...well yes...every pen has that...and if you drop or hit it or shake it too much ink leaks out there, because its a tube..nature of the beast...shake a full drinking straw and stuff comes out too

But actual leaking from anywhere else in the pen...no way normal, or even 7 out of 10.

Dave E · Sep 23, 2010

I use a fountain pen every day in a work situation and never really get a comment, I doubt anyone even notices. Ostentation is all about how much attention you draw to the damn things, both with decoration and manner. A plain pen used without comment isn't ostentatious, a blingy biro flaunted with intent would be.

Richard Warren · Sep 23, 2010

Miss Neecerie said:
define leaking?

some ink coming out of the nib...well yes...every pen has that...and if you drop or hit it or shake it too much ink leaks out there, because its a tube..nature of the beast...shake a full drinking straw and stuff comes out too

But actual leaking from anywhere else in the pen...no way normal, or even 7 out of 10.

When I use the pen, and ink gets on my fingers, no matter how careful I am, that's leaking. Does seem to be the nature of the beast.

Smithy · Sep 23, 2010

There can be a certain amount of wank with fountains pens but in just the same way as people will do the same with cars, watches, clothes, even mobile phones. As someone above said it's more to do with the user than the object. We all have met types, where they are more interested in what other people will think about them having or using a particular thing, rather than actually having any particular interest or enthusiasm for the actual object. It's all about what others think. And that can apply to fountain pens as well as anything which can be seen to be exclusive, expensive or carry a certain perceived worth.

I personally often use a fountain pen. It was compulsory to use one when I was at intermediate school and it's something that has stuck with me. I just enjoy writing with one and so do.

Shangas · Sep 24, 2010

I've been collecting fountain pens for over five years. I've got everything from 110 years old to 1 year old pens in my collection. They all work perfectly.

Leaking is not a regular thing with fountain pens. If it was, nobody would make them anymore. Like trying to sell buckets to the fire-department with holes in them.

Some pens do have "nib creep" which is where excess ink seeps out of the breather-hole over the nib. In some cases, this is unavoidable, but it is NOT a sign of a poorly made pen. It's when ink comes dripping out uncontrollably that it becomes a leak.

Neophyte · Sep 24, 2010

I use a fountain pen with casual wear to take notes in class. Granted, its a $40 cross affair, but I simply like how it writes. Anyone that jeers me over my pens is obviously not worth one damn fraction of a second of my time.

Hemingway Jones · Sep 24, 2010

Ink comes out of nib and gets on cap and element. Ink gets on shaft when posted, ink gets on hand from element and again from shaft. FP makes mess. I have had this issue with Esterbrook, Cross, and Waterman; pens that cost $40 to $400.

Never an issue with Scheaffer and Cartier, for whatever reason.

Tomasso · Sep 24, 2010

Yeah, to say that they aren't messy would be a misstatement.

Widebrim · Sep 24, 2010

I've been using fountain pens since junior high, and have only had compliments about 'em. Esterbrook was my only brand for years, but I've branched out some...

Fountain pens - ostentatious?

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