I’m not sure if I just tell myself this because it’s how I justify the amount of pens I have, but there is a lot of truth to this. Leave it to Andreas Ambrou to say something so spectacular about such great instruments! How do you feel about your pens? Are they just instruments? Are they companions? Both?
We are often asked for an attractive pen with a flexible nib, not just a user-grade pen. This 1905 A.A. Waterman is a #3 Twist-fill Cone Cap in a Gold-filled Filigree overlay on black hard rubber. The filigree is reminiscent of the Parker 16 and may also have been done by Heath of New York. Indicia engraved in script, “AW.” The nib on this specimen is a fine, triple-flexible, and the pen is complete with original box. …
How do I know if an ink will fade? If an ink is not labelled as light-fast, fade-resistant, or iron-gall, it will likely fade over time – and faster when exposed to sunlight/light. If you need an archival ink, iron-gall inks were designed for this purpose. Permanent inks should not fade either.
I enjoy using a variety of nibs, depending on the ink I feel like using, or on what I feel like writing. Round nibs tend to be smoother and easier to use, but a crisp italic can offer some spectacular line variation and very expressive writing.
Long before Danitrio made the more modern Snake, the snake motif was also produced by manufacturers Waterman and Parker. Parker produced this very successful Snake in 1908. This 38 Snake eyedropper-filler is Gold-filled on black hard rubber. The eyes are emerald, making this pen even more unique. Parker ordered George Heath, a skilled designer of jewelry, to cover a pen with a snake motif, with the motivation of having something eye-catching to get his salesmen’s foot into …
Are these new sparkly inks safe for my vintage pens? If you want to be really, really safe, then putting inks like Waterman or Sheaffer in your vintage pens is best. As there is shimmery, or gold/silver particles ink these newer inks, it can reduce flow if the ink dries out in your pen. It can also be more difficult to clean out of pens that use sacs – the particles may stick to the …
I saw this quote and it made me think about what this could mean for me as a pen user. I’m not a collector. I definitely use all my pens, even the limited edition/expensive ones (call me crazy, but I can’t afford to collect). Also, this is one of my absolute favorite vintage flex nibs. It’s soft, and it flows so well. Hard to beat, and impossible not to love. Do you collect or do …
A name like that already suggests a rare and special pen! This 1950 Parker 51 Princess Demi Aerometric-filler is gorgeous. It is the smooth gold-filled finish, with a cap surrounded by 12 rectangular clear glass crystals. According to Zazove & Shepherd in their Parker 51 book (2004, p. 71), “The rarest Demi in existence…was designed by Don Doman and introduced in the mid west USA. Only a limited number were made and it never went …
I’m looking for a water-resistant ink. Can I put India ink in my fountain pen? Although water-resistant, you should not use India ink in your fountain pen as the ink contains pigments and other components that can (and will) clog your pen’s feed. If you need a water-resistant ink, consider an iron-gall fountain pen ink, but do remember this requires proper care and maintenance of your pen.
Oblique, stub, round… broad nibs are not always just giant nibs that can’t be written with! I suppose that depends on your handwriting, but oblique double broad nibs, or stubby double broads can be a lot of fun to write with and can make your handwriting look very interesting and fun. The amount of tipping that is often found on broader nibs often makes them very suitable for nib modification, should you wish to have …
