International Fountain Pen Day! Thoughts on Fountain Pens in 2022
A photo essay. Yes, this is a thing
photo by author
Fountain pens are a connection to our literary past. The look and feel of a shiny metal nib on paper is one of a kind. The capillary action of the ink flowing from the reservoir to the trough it carves in the paper if pure joy.
Actually, writing by hand is a connection to our past these days. I say this as I hammer away at my keyboard like an angry woodpecker. But in those times when I need to slow down and admire the act of putting ink on paper, a fountain pen is my weapon of choice.
And since today is International Fountain Pen Day, we should celebrate this niche hobby.
My foray into fountain pen culture didn't come naturally. Several years ago I was visiting a client who had worked in a paper mill for years. He had a thing for notebooks and paper, and gave me a notebook as a gift one day. He also told me he only used fountain pens, which at the time I thought to be old-timey and quite steampunk.
It was one of those kernels of an idea that germinates over time. It took root and sprouted, and I found myself intrigued by the idea. Not knowing where to begin, I searched the internet, and found a place to start.
Many recommended the Pilot Metropolitan or the TWSBI Eco to get started, since the cost was low. Somewhere between $20–$30. For a pen.
Are you kidding me? This thing better write by itself and also mow the lawn.
I decided on the Pilot Metro, which I got in a "Retro Pop Green" for about $20. I thought the finer nib the better, so I went with the fine nib and black ink cartridges. The writing experience was very nice, but it wasn't life-changing. It was basically just an expensive black pen.
Still, something about it felt refined. It felt like an elegant weapon for a more civilized age. I didn't realize until later that it was a gateway pen. As I read and learned more about the world of fountain pens, I came across websites, YouTube channels, entire businesses, and even pen conferences - like Comic-Con but for fountain pens.
Yep. Hobbies beget hobbies, I guess.
As I read and watched and learned, I had to try these things myself. Over time I invested more time and money into them, learning as I went - just like all hobbies.
I learned about different ink qualities and paper characteristics. I learned about pen materials and nib metals and sizes. I learned about filling mechanisms and ease of care. It was all so fascinating! I know you're riveted. They're all vastly different in a micro kind of way, but that's the fun of it.
The inks come in all shapes and sizes of beautiful little bottles, and have imaginative names like Adventurine and Polar Glow and Bad Blue Heron and Matador and Azurite and Nightshade and Winter Miracle and Zhivago and Emerald Of Chivor. The possibilities are endless.
Between the pen, ink, nib, paper, and coffee selection, it's like the search for the Holy Grail. We are constantly searching for the perfect writing experience, but of course it's subjective. There are even pens the community considers "grail pens" because they are so expensive and sought-after, and mostly cost-prohibitive.
Ranging from a few bucks to tens of thousands, I've never invested more than a couple hundred clams for one. Here are a few of my favorites.
The TWSBI Eco
TWSBI Eco w Noodler's Apache Sunset ink. Photo by author.
After three years of writing and filling with different inks, this one is still one of my favorites because it's so consistent. Enough juicy ink flow from the Medium nib that it shows great ink characteristics.
The Pilot Custom 74
Pilot Custom 74 and ink. Photo by author
This one was the first gold nib pen I bought, and there's a reason Pilot has such a clean reputation. Quality and consistency, and this pen performs.
The Nahvalur (Narwhal) Nautilus
This pen is made of Ebonite and it's wonderful. Photo by authorA warm pen to hold, and soothing to write with. I just like the look and feel of it, and it's a piston filler like the TWSBI above.
Side note: Max also likes writing in the morning.
Diplomat Aero
photo by author
A smooth, bold nib. Very bold for a medium, and the grip section is small. I don't have terribly large hands, but after a while this pen tires out my hand. It's a substantial pen, for sure. While it's made from Aluminum, it's a rather large chunk of metal, and feels like it in your hand. The juicy nib is worth the weight, and I love this pen because of it.
The feeling when you uncap and re-cap this pen is incredibly satisfying. This one will set you back close to $200+ though.
Opus 88 Omar Demonstrator
photo by author
There are more, but I think I've spread enough fountain pen propaganda for the day.
Write on, my friends.
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