Yes. All the fountain pens I tried in the 1980’s. Probably about 10. This was before the internet and that would have helped my issues with these pens! Thank goodness I can “google” things now! 😂😂
I gave away my Pelikan M200 because the sharp edge of the grip lip bugged me, and I've since regretted it. It had such a delightful nib, and I'd loved the aesthetics and sold pens in order to buy it...
I would kill for a well kept vintage pen. It’s one of my life goals to have a good Esterbrook pen and an old-school Parker. I was lent a Sheaffer Lady with a Stylpoint nib and I very nearly failed to return it, I got so attached. You and I are going to have words about appreciating the beauty of good craftsmanship from decades ago.
Although the idea of a Parker attempting to have a chinwag with a brood of Benu glitter explosions is hilarious, thank you for that image. It’s like watching a businessperson in a perfectly tailored suit awkwardly trying to fit in at a drag show.
I have the same Parker pen in my possession, but it was my father's school pen and it has not been restored. I keep playing with the idea of restoration by someone who really knows what they are doing, but I'm not sure it would be worthwhile for me in actual usage. Then again I can buy one exactly like it, already restored. I'm not so sentimental that it would ruin the experience not being THE actual pen. I'd still keep the original. As for other vintage pens, the only one I ever purchased that is genuinely OLD is a Mabie Todd Swan 2, but either it's finicky or I'm not meant to use a really ancient pen. When I try to use it for any length of time, it leaks ink terribly. I think my hands get too hot and cause the ink to burp out. At any rate, I'm sticking to vintage mid century pens that were more pedestrian and less precious!
Oddly enough, one other vintage pen I have is my dad’s old Parker 50 (not 51), and I rarely use it; same issue with hand cramping as the grip is small. But it’s a gorgeous pen!
So far, I don’t have a pen I regret selling.
I love this Substack btw, the way you write makes me happy.
The way you expressed your joy made me happy too. Thank you!
Yes. All the fountain pens I tried in the 1980’s. Probably about 10. This was before the internet and that would have helped my issues with these pens! Thank goodness I can “google” things now! 😂😂
I gave away my Pelikan M200 because the sharp edge of the grip lip bugged me, and I've since regretted it. It had such a delightful nib, and I'd loved the aesthetics and sold pens in order to buy it...
If it makes you feel better, I also have a M200 (well, 205) that I’m thinking of giving up on… we are bad :(
I would kill for a well kept vintage pen. It’s one of my life goals to have a good Esterbrook pen and an old-school Parker. I was lent a Sheaffer Lady with a Stylpoint nib and I very nearly failed to return it, I got so attached. You and I are going to have words about appreciating the beauty of good craftsmanship from decades ago.
Although the idea of a Parker attempting to have a chinwag with a brood of Benu glitter explosions is hilarious, thank you for that image. It’s like watching a businessperson in a perfectly tailored suit awkwardly trying to fit in at a drag show.
I have the same Parker pen in my possession, but it was my father's school pen and it has not been restored. I keep playing with the idea of restoration by someone who really knows what they are doing, but I'm not sure it would be worthwhile for me in actual usage. Then again I can buy one exactly like it, already restored. I'm not so sentimental that it would ruin the experience not being THE actual pen. I'd still keep the original. As for other vintage pens, the only one I ever purchased that is genuinely OLD is a Mabie Todd Swan 2, but either it's finicky or I'm not meant to use a really ancient pen. When I try to use it for any length of time, it leaks ink terribly. I think my hands get too hot and cause the ink to burp out. At any rate, I'm sticking to vintage mid century pens that were more pedestrian and less precious!
Oddly enough, one other vintage pen I have is my dad’s old Parker 50 (not 51), and I rarely use it; same issue with hand cramping as the grip is small. But it’s a gorgeous pen!