Another first for me...a fountain pen

[Doug B]

I have had a couple of requests from some of my customers for a fountain pen. I looked hard at them before deciding to try this one out - Classic Fountain Pen from PSI - this one is the black finish.

I chose it because it uses a 10mm tube, so it is smaller diameter than most of the other fountain pens. All 3 requests for fountain pens have come from females, so I wanted the smallest one I could find, that I liked the looks of. And of course pen kit cost was also a consideration.

The wood is some Boxelder Burl that Autobodyman sent me (thanks again Mike!) and it has some really fantastic pink coloring in it that is hard to believe it is natural. Unfortunately, I could not get a picture that really shows the pink coloring in this wood. I tried everything I could think of to get the true colors to come through, including using a flash, photo color editing of all kinds, and even changing the background color for the pics. Nothing seems to work, dangit!

Well, here are the pics...best as I could get.

[rhull]

I've always wondered about the fountain pens. I don't know anybody who uses a fountain pen. Is it just like, calligraphers that use them, or is there some other audience?

[boodrow]

Doug very nice pen , should be a good seller for u . Love the color of the wood!
Boodrow

[maverick31]

I agree with the others, I like it a lot. should sell very good

[sachbvn]

That is a BEAUTIFUL pen - I love box elder.... I love natural box elder the most...the stuff when you can get that orange-ish pink-ish color, but w/o dyes.

I think people like fountain pens....not as their "every day" type pen - but a "show" pen.... a "desk pen" OR....just people who collect pen/pencil sets.


Question - did the kit pretty much go together the same except using a foutain nib?


Zac

[Doug B]

Thanks for the comments guys.

Rob, I don't really know why the fountain pens were asked about, but I am going to find out now that I have a few to make. I'm wondering if some people just like the way they look, or enjoy using them to write longhand - like personal letters or journals or diaries. That's an interesting question, and I'll see if I can find out.

Zac, the pen went together very easily once I figured out the "Engrish" instructions Much simpler than I thought it would be because the nib comes as a unit that just screws into a press in fitting on the nib end. The weird thing was that the instructions called for cutting a 1/8" wide "tenon" all the way to the tube for the center band - it took me a while to be convinced that was really what needed to be done and would actually work...it was and it did.

There were lots of parts and pieces to the kit and it looked a little intimidating at first, but it actually goes together pretty easily once you figure out what all the pieces are used for.

Thanks again everyone for your feedback - I really appreciate it.

[Beezlebub]

Dec 23, 2009 5:16:53 GMT -6 rhull said:

I've always wondered about the fountain pens. I don't know anybody who uses a fountain pen. Is it just like, calligraphers that use them, or is there some other audience?

When I grew up there was no other way to write in ink, everyone used Fountain pens and wrote much clearer than today's scribbling.

[Doug B]

Hehehe...you must be very old Beeze ;D

When I grew up we had number 2 pencils and Big Chief writing tablets.

Did you dip the girls pony tails in the ink well too? It could be worse I suppose...you could have used a feather like really, really old guys did.

Seriously Beeze, do you prefer to use a fountain pen now?

[Doug B]

I just had a thought...are the ink cartridges all alike and available at the local office supplies stores like Staples?

I hope I am not going to have the be the supplier for the ink refills.

[Joe Lyddon]

Dec 23, 2009 10:45:05 GMT -6 Doug B said:

Hehehe...you must be very old Beeze ;D

When I grew up we had number 2 pencils and Big Chief writing tablets.

Did you dip the girls pony tails in the ink well too? It could be worse I suppose...you could have used a feather like really, really old guys did.

Seriously Beeze, do you prefer to use a fountain pen now?

I remember those ink wells... FUN!! ;D

I remember fountain pens that had a rubber bladder where you lift a lever that squeezes it to SUCK the ink up into it... and they were also known to really leak all over the place... like in shirt pockets! ;D

I guess the new ones use a New Fangled cartridge that are not refillable? ;D ;D

I sure liked writing with them though...
... even if you had to dip them into the "Ink Well"! ;D

[Doug B]

Well, the fountain pen sold today.

I was supposed to go to the Farmers and Crafts market today but it was rainy and windy and cold, so I decided to go to my old work place today instead.

Among other things, my new fountain pen was sold. The lady was someone I did not know, but when I asked, she said she did Calligraphy. So, at least some people want the fountain pens for Calligraphy. This was not one of my previous requests for a fountain pen, so it was a surprise. I never even popped the ink cartridge, so I have no idea how this pen writes.

I also asked her about the nib - she said there are special nibs for Calligraphy and I got the impression she knew how to replace the nib on this pen. I think it might be able to be done, but honestly I have no clue. I have some learning to do...it feels a little strange to be selling something that I don't really have a good feel for yet.

[Joe Lyddon]

Very good!

How much did it go for?

You shudda picked her brain a little...

[Doug B]

Hey Joe, I only talked to her a little bit and knew she was interested in the fountain pen. Then I got caught up with some other ladies and my wife got stuck with finishing up the deal when the lady decided she really did want the pen. We had not even determined the price for the pen - she got it for $40.00. If it is a good fountain pen that will work well for Calligraphy then she got a good price...I just wish I knew for sure...

I was going to give it to someone who I know would put it to good use and let me know how it held up, but I took it with me just to show it off...not really expecting to sell it. But I am not going to turn down a sale I'll just have to make another one for that person who has been asking for one for so long...

[CajunRider]

Dec 23, 2009 5:16:53 GMT -6 rhull said:

I've always wondered about the fountain pens. I don't know anybody who uses a fountain pen. Is it just like, calligraphers that use them, or is there some other audience?

Yes there is. Old timers like me who grew up using ink pen in schools.

[Gecko]

That is one beautiful pen. I love the look of box elder. I can't wait for the day I get a hold of of some.

[Beezlebub]

Dec 23, 2009 10:45:05 GMT -6 Doug B said:

Hehehe...you must be very old Beeze ;D

When I grew up we had number 2 pencils and Big Chief writing tablets.

Did you dip the girls pony tails in the ink well too? It could be worse I suppose...you could have used a feather like really, really old guys did.

Seriously Beeze, do you prefer to use a fountain pen now?

I'm using ballpoints that I make as there are very few fountain pens available that use the bladder / inkwell. I detest the cartridge pens!

[Doug B]

I don't know about most of the other kits, but the Fountain Pen I just made has an optional fountain pen pump available at very reasonable cost - a pack of 5 pumps for $7.50 for the "premium" pumps.

I just figured that the cartridge was less of a hassle than the refillable pumps so I did not order any of the pumps.

[Beezlebub]

When school made us change to cartridge pens they were cheap and leaked, messed up some good shirts. (t-shirts not allowed back then in school nor sneakers except for PE) Still have trouble with $10 sneakers costing $100+ just because of an overpaid athlete.

[sdb777]

Doug,

This link might help you, although it will be very vague you can see what some of these pens go for in $$

www.nibs.com/nibvalues.html


I write with an older Wahl fountain and it is a dream to write with. I didn't see it listed on this site that I linked, but my grandfather owned it. Calligraphy requires a LOT of patients.....kind of like waiting for green wood to dry enough to turn.


Scott (very special group) B

[Doug B]

Yeah Beeze, I was very worried about whether or not the cartridge would leak, so I did not install it in the fountain pen and figured the new owner can do that on their own. So, I have not even written with one of those pens yet.

I feel like I have just opened up a new can of worms...lots of new stuff to learn about these fountain pens. I can see I'm going to have to put some time into researching and using these pens if I'm going to keep on making them.

Scott, thanks for that link. If folks are willing to pay $50.00 and upward for just the nibs, those are the kind of folks that are probably willing to purchase a hand crafted wood pen to go with that expensive nib. I'm betting there is a decent market for hand made fountain pens.