A Favoured Pen

Fountain Pen

@Ronrybs (21492)

London, England

May 13, 2019 3:38pm CST

A bit of a throwback in this age of compterised and AI augmented word processing, but when it comes to writing by hand you cannot beat using a fountain pen. There is something about the flow of the ink that seems to positively encourage writing. When I am at home I use a fountain for all my writing, even scribbling notes to myself. I have several pens to choose from, although the one in the picture is my Favourite. Fountain pens need to be used regularly or the ink will dry and cause a blockage. They also need a bit of maintenance every now and again. Not having the ease of use of a biro is one of their charms, I feel. You can spend a small fortune on one, but there is a range of cheaper alternatives. My one is modestly priced from Parker. Are there any other Luddites out there who enjoy the old fashioned art of writing in flowing ink?

12 people like this

13 responses

Arthur Chappell

@arthurchappell (44941)

• Preston, England

14 May 19

I prefer ball-point to fountain pens

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Arthur Chappell

@arthurchappell (44941)

• Preston, England

14 May 19

@Ronrybs I found messing with ink and cartridges messy

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@Ronrybs (21492)

• London, England

15 May 19

@arthurchappell To me, it is just another part of the charm!

@Ronrybs (21492)

• London, England

14 May 19

Each to their own. I do use ball points, but when I am out and about.

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@mayka123 (17083)

• India

16 May 19

There was a time when I would collect all types of fountain pens and I had a nice collection of them. Then ball point pens came and I started collecting those too. Had to stop it after I got married. Unfortunately my brother threw out my entire collection.

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@mayka123 (17083)

• India

19 May 19

@Ronrybs I too keep just a couple of them around now.

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@Ronrybs (21492)

• London, England

19 May 19

@mayka123 I keep one close to chair, along with a note book for those essential scribbles!

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@Ronrybs (21492)

• London, England

16 May 19

That's a pity, I used to have a large number of pens, but even the ball points dry out, with time. Now I just have a couple of, mixed, pens handy.

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changjiangzhibin89

@changjiangzhibin89 (17243)

• China

15 May 19

You have a very neat handwriting ! I have a few of fountain pens,but haven't used them for ages.Now I use gel pens all the time.

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changjiangzhibin89

@changjiangzhibin89 (17243)

• China

16 May 19

@Ronrybs My problem with gel pens is that no handwriting comes out sometimes .

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@Ronrybs (21492)

• London, England

15 May 19

I was being careful when I wrote that list out! My mum prefers gel pens, but they always seem to leak when I use them!!

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@Ronrybs (21492)

• London, England

16 May 19

@changjiangzhibin89 I have had that happen once, but I hadn't used the pen for a long while before that moment

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@TiarasOceanView (70020)

• United States

16 May 19

Yes Ron, you are a fine fellow to be writing with such a lovely pen. I remember the fountain pens very well and was very picky about which one I would write with when I was a child. I did a lot of my lessons in a fountain pen.

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@TiarasOceanView (70020)

• United States

16 May 19

@Ronrybs We are so lucky to have this experience with pens Ron. Truly think of the kids now ..they have no idea usually. Good you saw both sides of the ocean. I did too.

@Ronrybs (21492)

• London, England

16 May 19

I first went to school in the US and returning to the UK, when I was about nine in the mid 60s, was where I first met fountain pens and have loved them ever since

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@garymarsh6 (24028)

• United Kingdom

13 May 19

OH yes I am with you there. I used to write with a fountain pen all the time. What used to annoy me was when someone would ask to borrow it and I refused they became quite offended and personal about it The fountain pen should only be used by the owner and NO ONE ELSE. Even my colleagues would get quite obnoxious about it and yet you would think Doctors would be aware of this fact. Unfortunately in the end I had to stop using them at work as often I would drop the pen which damaged the tip. I still use one at home and much prefer it to biro pen.

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@Ronrybs (21492)

• London, England

13 May 19

Very true, I never let my pens out of my hand, as you say it is hard to explain why I don't lend it out. I carried extra biros for other people to barrow.

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@garymarsh6 (24028)

• United Kingdom

14 May 19

@MALUSE OH yes do. I love my pen and treat them as my own.

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@Ronrybs (21492)

• London, England

15 May 19

@MALUSE Look forward to a read

@CarolDM (203396)

• Nashville, Tennessee

13 May 19

I always had a favorite pen that I never let anyone borrow.

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@Ronrybs (21492)

• London, England

14 May 19

For sure. I used to have extra biros at work to pass out, keep your hands off my fountain!

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@CarolDM (203396)

• Nashville, Tennessee

26 May 19

@Ronrybs Indeed and I do understand.

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@RebeccasFarm (91297)

• United States

11 Feb 21

Had those when I was a kid in school Ron..loved them

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@Ronrybs (21492)

• London, England

11 Feb 21

I love my fountain pens!

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@Lolaze (5092)

• St. Louis, Missouri

14 May 19

I like handwriting better but it makes my hand hurt. I’ve always loved those pens which are more like modern fountain pens - the ink just flows out instead of you feeling the ballpoint.

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@Ronrybs (21492)

• London, England

14 May 19

I read a short book about improving your writing style. Have to say I was the pen wrong and using my fingers to move the pen. I know keep fingers still and using the wrist for movement. Took a while to get used to but it does help

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@jstory07 (148749)

• Roseburg, Oregon

16 May 19

I just buy a regular ink pen and use that.

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@Ronrybs (21492)

• London, England

16 May 19

While I like fountain pens, I do carry a 'Space Pen, when I am out and about. It fits in a pocket and is handy for quick notes

@Tampa_girl7 (54716)

• United States

20 May 19

I use an ink pen daily.

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@Ronrybs (21492)

• London, England

20 May 19

I do use the old ball point, but try to use my fountain pen a couple of times a day

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Vicki, #1 Creek Girl

@1creekgirl (44560)

• United States

5 Nov 19

When I was a young adult, I always loved writing with a fountain pen. Haven't in years, though.

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@Ronrybs (21492)

• London, England

6 Nov 19

At home I like a fountain pen for writing, by hand. I carry a disposable one for note taking while out and about. Not eco-friendly, but not expensive if I lose it

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@JohnRoberts (109841)

• Los Angeles, California

13 May 19

Flowing ink was passe even when I was a kid and that was in the dark ages.

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@Ronrybs (21492)

• London, England

14 May 19

I'm a traditionalist!

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@isweartokira (3459)

• United States

13 May 19

oops, I read this as flavored pen and immediately thought of the scented markers I had as a kid

I don't use pens like that very often, I've done some art/calligraphy with fountain pens but not in a while

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@Ronrybs (21492)

• London, England

14 May 19

My writing is pretty scrappy, but when I try to do neater writing I sometimes use an old dip pen. I have since lost the pen, which is no bad thing as I was always afraid of knocking over the ink well!

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